Best Payroll Software for Small Business

4 Payroll tools ranked by verified entry price, cheapest first. Every price comes from the company’s official pricing page (latest check October 8, 2026). The lowest listed price is Patriot Payroll at $17 per mo plus $4/worker.

1. Patriot Payroll

   Basic Payroll: $17 per mo plus $4/worker · billed monthly

   Best for: Small businesses running basic payroll with free direct deposit.

   See Patriot Payroll pricing

   • Patriot vs Gusto
   • Patriot vs Square Payroll
   • Patriot vs Wave Payroll

2. Square Payroll

   Full-service: $35 per mo + $6/person · billed monthly

   Best for: Retailers wanting full-service payroll integrated with Square POS.

   See Square Payroll pricing

   • Square Payroll vs Gusto
   • Patriot vs Square Payroll
   • Square Payroll vs Wave Payroll

3. Wave Payroll

   $40 USD base + $6/employee · billed monthly

   Best for: US small businesses wanting simple payroll with tax filings.

   See Wave Payroll pricing

   • Wave Payroll vs Gusto
   • Patriot vs Wave Payroll
   • Square Payroll vs Wave Payroll

4. Gusto

   Simple: $49 per mo + $6/person · billed monthly

   Best for: Teams running basic single-state payroll with tax filings.

   See Gusto pricing · Gusto alternatives

   • Patriot vs Gusto
   • Square Payroll vs Gusto
   • Wave Payroll vs Gusto

Ranking is by the entry price we verified, not by features or commissions. Units differ between some tools (per user vs per account), so check the unit line under each price. Higher plans are available for every tool.