Gusto is the best HR and payroll software for most small US teams. Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person per month, with payroll, hiring, and HR tools in one account. The headline price is rarely the full bill. Most vendors charge a base fee plus a per-person fee, and HR, payroll, time tracking, and global hiring are often separate products. Square Payroll is the budget pick for teams that already use Square, at $35 per month plus $6 per person per month. OnPay matches Gusto on per-person cost, with multi-state payroll in its single plan.
Pick by where your people work and what you need beyond a pay run. A US-only team needs tax filing, time off, and benefits admin. A team with hires in five countries needs local contracts and local tax rules. Prices below are published starting prices from vendor pricing pages opened on 12 November 2026.
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What is the best hr and payroll software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | Small US teams that want payroll and HR together | $49 per month | No | Visit |
| 2 | Rippling | Growing teams that want HR, payroll, and IT in one system | $8 per employee per month | No | Visit |
| 3 | Deel | Global teams that need HR, payroll, and hiring abroad | $5 per employee per month | No | Visit |
| 4 | OnPay | Small US teams that want one simple payroll plan | $49 per month | Free trial (first month) | Visit |
| 5 | BambooHR | Small and mid-size teams that need HR records first | $10 per employee per month | Free trial (7 days) | Visit |
| 6 | Justworks | US teams that want a PEO with benefits and compliance | $50 per month | No | Visit |
| 7 | Square Payroll | Square sellers that need payroll tied to sales and shifts | $35 per month | No | Visit |
| 8 | Remote | Global teams that need payroll where they own an entity | $19 per employee per month | No | Visit |
The 8 best what is the best hr and payroll software tools, in detail
Gusto
Best for: Small US teams that want payroll and HR together
Gusto Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person per month, Plus at $80 plus $12, and Premium at $180 plus $22. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, and Gusto says it is month to month. Simple covers basic payroll in one state, hiring, and core HR tools.
- Plus adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll, and performance reviews.
- Gusto bills the per-person fee for each active employee, and contractors are billed at the per-person rate of the plan you choose, only in months when
- That matters after 1 October 2026, when Gusto closed its Contractor Only plan to new customers.
- A 10-person team pays $109 per month on Simple, $200 on Plus, and $400 on Premium before add-ons.
Pros
- Published three-tier prices
- unlimited payroll runs on every plan
- multi-state payroll and time tracking on Plus
Cons
- Simple covers payroll in one state only
- broker integration costs $6 per employee per month as an add-on on Premium
- no free plan
Rippling
Best for: Growing teams that want HR, payroll, and IT in one system
Rippling plans start at $8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee, and its small-business page lists a $40 monthly base fee with payroll starting at $8 per user per month. That $8 figure is a starting point, not a complete price. HR, benefits, time tracking, IT, spend, global contractors, and employer of record services are each quoted separately.
- A team that wants payroll plus device management, app access, and spend controls can run them from one employee record, so a new hire gets payroll, a
- A team that wants a fixed monthly total up front will find the quote step slow, because the final bill depends on headcount and the modules selected.
- Choose Rippling to combine HR, payroll, and IT.
Pros
- One system for HR, payroll, IT, and spend
- published $8 starting rate
- modular products you add as you grow
Cons
- Most products need a custom quote
- no free plan
- the $8 rate does not cover the full suite
Deel
Best for: Global teams that need HR, payroll, and hiring abroad
Deel prices by product, not by one platform tier. Deel HR Core starts at $5 per employee per month, Advanced at $19, and Elite at $29. US payroll starts at $29 per employee per month for self-service, global payroll starts at $29, contractor management starts at $49 per contractor per month, and employer of record starts at $599 per employee per month.
- US PEO starts at $125 per employee per month.
- HR Core at $5 covers worker records, org charts, documents, time off, workflows, and approvals, while EOR at $599 covers full legal employment where y
- Global payroll also carries a one-time $1,000 implementation fee per entity.
- Choose Deel if you hire across borders and want each product priced on its own line.
Pros
- Published per-product prices
- HR Core from $5 per employee per month
- EOR in 130 or more countries
Cons
- EOR costs $599 per employee per month
- global payroll adds a $1,000 implementation fee per entity
- no free plan
OnPay
Best for: Small US teams that want one simple payroll plan
OnPay Payroll Essentials costs $49 per month plus $6 per worker per month, and the same per-worker rate applies to employees and contractors. The plan includes unlimited pay runs, federal, state, and local tax filings, multi-state payroll, new hire reporting, and year-end W-2 and 1099 forms. New customers get the first month free, and OnPay says there is no implementation fee.
- A 10-worker team pays $109 per month for payroll alone.
- HR and time tracking sit outside that base price.
- The HR add-on costs $15 per month plus $2 per worker per month, and time tracking costs $15 per month plus $4 per worker per month.
- A payroll plus HR plus time bundle is listed at $70 per month plus $10 per worker per month.
Pros
- One plan with multi-state payroll included
- unlimited pay runs
- first month free
Cons
- HR and time tracking are add-ons with their own base fees
- no free plan beyond the first month
- benefits cost plan premiums on top
BambooHR
Best for: Small and mid-size teams that need HR records first
BambooHR Core starts at $10 per employee per month, Pro at $17, and Elite at $25, for companies with more than 25 employees. Companies with 25 or fewer employees pay a flat monthly rate starting at $250 per month. Core covers employee records, reports, workflows and approvals, hiring and onboarding, time-off management, benefits tracking, and e-signatures.
- Pro adds performance management, and Elite adds compensation management and HR benchmarks.
- Payroll, benefits administration, time and attendance, and global employment are add-ons with no published price, and payroll covers US employees only
- A 10-person team pays the $250 flat rate, which is $25 per person, not $10.
- Choose BambooHR if HR records, hiring, and time off matter more than payroll,.
Pros
- Published Core, Pro, and Elite prices
- 7-day free trial
- payroll and benefits can bundle at a 15 percent discount for US customers
Cons
- Payroll is a separate add-on with no published price
- Core covers 5 job openings only
- flat $250 minimum applies at 25 or fewer employees
Justworks
Best for: US teams that want a PEO with benefits and compliance
Justworks Payroll starts at $50 per month plus $8 per employee per month. PEO Basic starts at $59 per employee per month and includes HR tools, payroll, benefits administration, and compliance support. PEO Plus starts at $109 per employee per month and adds medical, dental, and vision administration and COBRA administration.
- EOR costs $599 per employee per month.
- Justworks says it does not charge a setup fee.
- Justworks acts as a co-employer, which gives small teams access to group health insurance, workers comp, and compliance help that a payroll-only tool
- A 10-person team pays $590 per month on PEO Basic and $1,090 on PEO Plus, before benefits premiums, against $130 per month for Justworks Payroll alone
Pros
- Published payroll and PEO prices
- no setup fee
- PEO Basic includes HR tools, payroll, and compliance support
Cons
- PEO Plus costs $109 per employee per month
- time tracking is an add-on
- no free plan
Square Payroll
Best for: Square sellers that need payroll tied to sales and shifts
Square Full-Service Payroll costs $35 per month plus $6 per person per month, and contractor-only payroll costs $6 per person per month with no base fee. The plan includes unlimited pay runs, off-cycle payments, auto payroll, multistate payroll, multiple pay rates, two-day and four-day direct deposit, timecard import from Square POS, and automated federal and state tax payments and filings. Square Payroll also reads shifts, tips, and timecards from Square, so hours flow into pay without a separate time system.
- A 10-person team pays $95 per month, the lowest full-service total in this list.
- Choose Square Payroll if you already sell through Square and want payroll that shares the same staff data.
Pros
- Lowest base fee at $35 per month
- per-person fee charged only in months you pay that person
- unlimited pay runs
Cons
- HR tools are thin next to Gusto and BambooHR
- health insurance and 401(k) are add-ons with no published price
- no free plan
Remote
Best for: Global teams that need payroll where they own an entity
Remote Global Payroll starts at $19 per employee per month for teams that own a local entity, with gross-to-net calculated locally, tax filings and statutory contributions remitted in each country, and time off, timesheets, and expenses in the same system. Contractor management starts at $29 per contractor per month, contractor of record starts at $325, and employer of record starts at $599 per employee per month on annual contracts. Remote owns its own legal entities in the countries where it employs people, rather than using third-party partners in every market, and its pricing page says the Remote Platform is included with no base fee and no setup or onboarding fees.
- Choose Remote if you run payroll on your own entities abroad, or you want EOR through owned entities.
Pros
- Global Payroll from $19 per employee per month
- EOR in 90 or more countries through owned entities
- no setup or onboarding fees
Cons
- EOR starts at $599 per employee per month on annual contracts
- country coverage is narrower than Deel
- no free plan
How we chose
We checked each vendor pricing page on 12 November 2026, and prices and plan limits come from those official pricing pages linked in Sources. We did not test any tool hands-on, we did not run a live payroll, and we did not use customer counts, awards, or review scores to rank the items. The unique angle is the billing split: a base fee plus a per-person fee means the cheapest starting rate can still lose at 10 people, as BambooHR shows with its $250 flat rate, and as Deel shows with HR Core at $5 against EOR at $599.
Which system fits your team size and budget
| Team shape | First pick | Monthly total at 10 people | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| US team, payroll plus HR | Gusto Simple | $109 | Clear tiers, unlimited runs, HR included |
| US team, lowest payroll cost | Square Payroll | $95 | $35 base fee, $6 per person, Square timecards included |
| US team, one simple plan | OnPay | $109 | Multi-state payroll in the single plan, first month free |
| US team, benefits through a PEO | Justworks PEO Basic | $590 | Group benefits and compliance support, at a higher per-person rate |
| HR-first team | BambooHR | $250 flat rate | HR records, hiring, and time off, with payroll as a quoted add-on |
| Global team, payroll on own entities | Remote Global Payroll | $190 | $19 per employee, local tax filing, no setup fee |
| Global team, hire where you have no entity | Deel EOR | $5,990 | EOR in 130 or more countries, at $599 per employee |
| Growing team, HR plus payroll plus IT | Rippling | Quote needed | $8 starting rate, modules quoted separately |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best HR and payroll software for a small business?
Gusto is the best pick for most small US teams, because Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person per month, with payroll, hiring, and HR tools in one account, and Plus adds time tracking and multi-state payroll at $80 plus $12.
How much does HR and payroll software cost per month?
At 10 people, Square Payroll costs $95 per month, Gusto Simple and OnPay cost $109, BambooHR costs $250 on its flat rate, Justworks Payroll costs $130, and Justworks PEO Basic costs $590. Deel HR Core starts at $5 per employee per month, while Deel EOR starts at $599 per employee per month.
Which HR and payroll software is best for global teams?
Deel is the best pick for the widest global hiring, with EOR in 130 or more countries at $599 per employee per month and global payroll from $29 per employee per month. Remote is the best pick for payroll on entities you already own, at $19 per employee per month, with EOR in 90 or more countries.
Is there a free HR and payroll software option in this list?
No full free plan is listed for Gusto, Rippling, Deel, Justworks, Square Payroll, or Remote. OnPay gives new customers the first month free, and BambooHR lists a 7-day free trial. Deel HR Core is the lowest starting price at $5 per employee per month.
What is the difference between HR software and payroll software?
HR software keeps employee records, hiring, onboarding, time off, and performance in one place, while payroll software calculates pay, withholds tax, files tax forms, and moves money to staff. Gusto, Rippling, and Justworks combine both, BambooHR leads with HR, and Square Payroll leads with payroll.
Do I need a PEO, or is payroll software enough?
Payroll software is enough if you only need pay runs, tax filing, and HR records for a US team. A PEO is worth the higher per-person cost if you want group health insurance, workers comp, and compliance support through a co-employer. Justworks PEO Basic starts at $59 per employee per month, against $50 plus $8 for Justworks Payroll alone.
Sources
- https://gusto.com/
- https://gusto.com/product/pricing
- https://www.rippling.com/
- https://www.rippling.com/pricing
- https://www.deel.com/
- https://www.deel.com/pricing/
- https://onpay.com/
- https://onpay.com/pricing
- https://www.bamboohr.com/
- https://www.bamboohr.com/pricing/
- https://www.justworks.com/
- https://www.justworks.com/pricing
- https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll
- https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll/pricing
- https://remote.com/
- https://remote.com/pricing
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.