Payroll Research helps small business owners, startups and first-time employers choose payroll software without overpaying for it.
Why we built it
Payroll pricing looks simple until you try to compare it. Every provider combines a monthly base fee with a per-employee fee, then adds plan tiers, extra-state surcharges and add-ons, and some won’t publish a price at all. The cheapest option for a three-person team is often not the cheapest at twenty-five, and a single remote hire in another state can flip the answer.
We built Payroll Research to put every provider on the same math so you can see what your team will actually cost each month.
What you will find here
- Payroll Match Quiz: three questions about your team size, your POS or accounting software, and where your employees work, matched to the provider that fits best.
- Total Cost of Ownership calculator: drag a slider from 1 to 50 employees and watch every provider re-sort by monthly cost, with an option to price in a second state.
- Side-by-side comparisons: plans, tax penalty protection, multi-state rules, integrations, and the pros and cons of each provider.
- Buying guides: plain-English articles on head-to-head matchups, industry-specific payroll, and the tax rules that shape your choice.
How we research prices
- We start with each provider’s own pricing page and confirm figures against recent independent sources.
- We use list prices, not short-term promotions, so comparisons stay fair.
- Providers that only quote privately (such as ADP, Paychex and Rippling) are shown with clearly labeled estimates.
- We re-check pricing every month and show the month prices were last verified.
If you spot a price that looks out of date, tell us at contact@payrollresearch.com and we will check it.
How we make money
Payroll Research is free to use. Some links on the site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up with a provider, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change our rankings or our math. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Contact
Questions, corrections or partnership inquiries: contact@payrollresearch.com. You can also read our Privacy Policy.