The Payroll4Free Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Payroll4Free in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Payroll4Free
The Insider’s Guide
Free online payroll for US businesses paying nine or fewer people
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among payroll services, read from Payroll4Free’s own pages.
Made by Payroll4Free.com, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Payroll4Free’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Payroll4Free’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 17 of the 40 other payroll services we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Payroll4Free, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The FAQ says it needs a browser extension and that Macs must run Windows to use it.
- 1
Best for free payroll for tiny US businesses
Tax filing and bank deposits cost extra with no prices shown, and it needs a browser extension that Macs can only run through Windows.
- 2
There is a 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.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Employees and contractors
Pays W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and the FAQ says year-end tax forms are included for both.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 17 of 40
That is against the other payroll services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
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.
Payroll4Free at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Payroll4Free.com, Inc., since 2012
- Category
- Payroll
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Basic 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free for 9 or fewer employees paid once a month, which covers a small business, but nothing is free beyond that. |
| Features | C | Pay runs, tax calculations, time off, an employee portal and reports. Filing and extra states are paid, and it is US only. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. The FAQ says it needs a browser extension and that Macs must run Windows to use it. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with QuickBooks the only named connection. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- US businesses with nine or fewer people on payroll, paid monthly or less often
- Owners who are comfortable handling their own tax deposits and filings
- Businesses that pay both employees and 1099 contractors
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
1
plan
Payroll4Free has a free plan.
Tax filing and its deposit service cost extra, with no price shown.
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.
The 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.
Read from payroll4free.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free online payroll for US businesses paying nine or fewer people. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, payroll, time off.
Pay runs, tax calculations, time off, an employee portal and reports.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- QuickBooks
Payroll4Free is made by Payroll4Free.com, Inc., and has been around since 2012.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
17/40
Other payroll services it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 40 of 40
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 40
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 40
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 40
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Wagepoint, OnPay, Patriot Payroll and Gusto
The 4 tools Payroll4Free is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Wagepoint
Free trial · from $20/mo
Canadian payroll with T4s, ROEs and optional time tracking.
- Payroll4Free has a free plan. Wagepoint does not, though it has a free trial.
- Wagepoint also covers time clock.
- 2.6GPA
OnPay
Free trial · from $49/mo
US payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons.
- Payroll4Free has a free plan. OnPay does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only OnPay lists iOS and Android apps.
- Payroll4Free also covers time off.
- 2.6GPA
Patriot Payroll
Free trial · from $17/mo
Low-cost online payroll for small US businesses.
- Payroll4Free has a free plan. Patriot Payroll does not, though it has a free trial.
- Payroll4Free also covers time off.
- Patriot Payroll also covers time tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Gusto
From $49/mo
Payroll and HR for small businesses, with apps for owners and staff.
- Payroll4Free has a free plan. Gusto does not.
- Only Gusto lists iOS and Android apps.
- Payroll4Free also covers reports and time off.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Payroll4Free free?
Payroll4Free has a 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.
How much does Payroll4Free cost?
Payroll4Free lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Payroll4Free work on?
Payroll4Free is available on Web.
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.
What does Payroll4Free integrate with?
Payroll4Free's listing names QuickBooks. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Payroll4Free?
Payroll4Free is made by Payroll4Free.com, Inc. It dates from 2012.
What are the alternatives to Payroll4Free?
The closest alternatives to Payroll4Free in our directory are Wagepoint, OnPay, Patriot Payroll and Gusto.
How does Payroll4Free compare with other payroll services?
Payroll4Free's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 17 of the 40 other payroll services we grade, and level with 7.
Could I make my own version of Payroll4Free?
To replace Payroll4Free you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Payroll4Free’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Payroll4Free.com, Inc. Prices change, so check payroll4free.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Payroll4Free, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/payroll4free
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Payroll4Free: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/payroll4free
Know someone choosing between payroll services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/payroll4free/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded payroll services after Payroll4Free, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Payroll Insider's GuideEvery one of the 41 payroll services we grade, compared
- Roll by ADP Insider's GuideChat-based payroll app for very small US businesses2.8 GPA
- SimplePay Insider's GuideSouth African online payroll with leave and self-service2.8 GPA
- BrightPay Insider's GuideUK cloud payroll with HMRC submissions and auto-enrolment2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Payroll4Free’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Payroll4Free is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Payroll4Free.com, Inc. Prices and plans change: check payroll4free.com before you buy.