Payroll4Free review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Free online payroll for US businesses paying nine or fewer people
Black Friday: is there a Payroll4Free sale?
Payroll4Free report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for free payroll for tiny US businesses
Payroll4Free runs basic payroll at no charge for US businesses paying 9 or fewer people no more than once a month, paid for by partner ads shown inside the software. Tax filing and bank deposits cost extra with no prices shown, and it needs a browser extension that Macs can only run through Windows.
Who Payroll4Free is for
- Fits if you pay 9 or fewer people in the US once a month
- Works for owners who accept ads in the software to avoid a bill
Who Payroll4Free is not for
- Not for you if you pay staff more than once a month or have 10 or more
- Watch out: tax filing and bank deposits are paid, with no price shown
- Not for you if you use a Mac: it needs Windows and a browser extension
- Not for you if you run payroll outside the US: it is US only
Why Payroll4Free gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyBasic payroll is free for 9 or fewer people, paid for by partner ads. Tax filing and its deposit service cost extra, with no price shown.
- BFree plan and trialFree for 9 or fewer employees paid once a month, which covers a small business, but nothing is free beyond that.
- CFeaturesPay runs, tax calculations, time off, an employee portal and reports. Filing and extra states are paid, and it is US only.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record. The FAQ says it needs a browser extension and that Macs must run Windows to use it.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with QuickBooks the only named connection.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Payroll4Free's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/payroll4free#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/payroll4free.svg" alt="Payroll4Free: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Payroll4Free stands among payroll services
Payroll4Free's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 17 of the 40 other payroll services we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 40 of 40) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 41 payroll services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Payroll4Free’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 28 of 40, level with 7
- BFree plan and trialAbove 40 of 40
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 40, level with 15
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 40
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 40, level with 10
Keep Payroll4Free, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Payroll4Free you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
What you could make
- Time off and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
What this rests on. Payroll4Free’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Payroll4Free?
Payroll4Free is a US online payroll service that does not charge for its basic payroll software when a business pays nine or fewer people, no more than once a month. It calculates federal, state and local payroll taxes, pays employees and 1099 contractors by direct deposit or paper check, and lists two optional paid services for tax filing and bank-handled deposits. The site says it is funded by companies that place small ads inside the software.
Worth knowing
- Free only for 9 or fewer people paid no more than once monthly; the site publishes no prices beyond that.
- Tax filing for you (Payroll Tax Service) and deposits through its bank (Direct Deposit Service) are paid, with no price shown.
- Each extra state or location carries a fee the site does not price. Payroll is for US businesses only.
- The FAQ says it needs a small browser extension, and Macs must run Windows to use it.
Key features
- Employees and contractors
- Pays W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and the FAQ says year-end tax forms are included for both.
- Tax calculations and reports
- Calculates federal, state and local payroll taxes and gives access to filled-out tax forms. Filing the forms for you is an optional paid service.
- Direct deposit or checks
- Employees and contractors can be paid by paper check, direct deposit or a mix of both. Direct deposit through your own bank is free.
- Time off tracking
- Vacation, sick and PTO time can be set up to accrue by length of service or hours worked.
- Employee portal
- Employees can view pay information, reprint paystubs and W-2s, check accrued time and change personal details online.
- Exports and imports
- Payroll data can be exported to accounting packages, banks and benefit companies, and employee hours can be imported from a time clock file.
Payroll4Free pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Payroll4Free has a free plan.
- Starts at
- Not published
- Free plan
- Basic payroll services are free while you pay 9 or fewer people, no more than once a month, including payroll processing, tax calculations, direct deposit through your own bank, paper checks, reporting and support.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All basic payroll services for businesses paying 9 or fewer people no more than once monthly, with ads from partner companies shown inside the software. |
Read from payroll4free.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Payroll4Free before you buy.
Works with
Payroll4Free alternatives
- Payroll4Free vs Wagepoint
Free trial · from $20/mo
- Payroll4Free vs OnPay
Free trial · from $49/mo
- Payroll4Free vs Patriot Payroll
Free trial · from $17/mo
- Payroll4Free vs Gusto
From $49/mo
Common questions
Does Payroll4Free have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Payroll4Free is listed for Web.
Does Payroll4Free have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Payroll4Free is listed for Web.
Is Payroll4Free open source?
Payroll4Free is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.