The 5 Best Payroll Apps for Small Business 2023

Constantly on the go? Get one of our top payroll mobile apps so you'll always stay connected, no matter where you are.
Best for simplicity
SurePayroll
SurePayroll
Starting monthly price:
Contact for quote
  • pro
    Mobile payroll alerts
  • pro
    User-friendly interface
Best HR + payroll plans
ADP
RUN Powered by ADP
Contact for a quote
  • pro
    Easy remote employee management
  • pro
    HR document access and sharing
Best mobile-friendly site
Gusto
Gusto
Starting monthly price:
$40.00 + $6.00/payee
  • pro
    Thorough employee benefit integrations
  • pro
    Contractor-only plans with no monthly base fee
Mobile-friendly site runner-up
Quickbooks
QuickBooks Payroll
Starting monthly price:
$22.50 + $5.00/payee*
  • pro
    Simple integration with QuickBooks Online accounting software
  • pro
    Mobile tax e-filing
Best for growth
Paychex
Paychex Flex
Starting monthly price:
$39.00 + $5.00/payee
  • pro
    Comprehensive employer- and employee-facing apps
  • pro
    HR administration

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Sales price: 70% off for the first 3 months

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

Only a handful of payroll software companies have employer-focused apps for small-business owners who need to pay employees anywhere, anytime. Luckily, the few brands that do offer employer-facing payroll apps have put in the time, energy, and labor to make absolutely stellar products.

Our favorite payroll app for employers is SurePayroll's app, which is fully featured and highly functional for on-the-go employers. SurePayroll is also one of the simplest sites for running payroll, which makes it perfect for small-business owners doing payroll for the first time.

But if SurePayroll isn't right for you, there are definitely other app and mobile-friendly payroll options you can choose from instead. Here are our picks for the best small-business payroll apps of 2023.

Info
Most mobile-friendly payroll website: Gusto

Several of our favorite payroll providers, including Gusto and Patriot Payroll, have mobile-friendly payroll sites instead of dedicated apps. Mobile sites are slightly less convenient than a full-fledged payroll app, but they're still a completely worthwhile option for on-the-go payroll.


Our most affordable payroll solution: SurePayroll

SurePayroll is an affordable and straightforward payroll software that offers automatic payroll runs, tax filing, and exceptional customer service.


Best payroll apps plans and pricing

Payroll provider
Starting monthly price
App or mobile-friendly site
Payroll type
Get started

Contact for quote

App (iOS and Android)

Self service or full service

Contact for a quote

App (iOS and Android)

Full service

$40.00 + $6.00/payeeMobile-friendly siteSelf service or full service

$22.50 + $5.00/payee*

Mobile-friendly site

Full service

$39.00 + $5.00/payee

App (iOS and Android)

Full service

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Current sale price: 50% off for first three mos.

SurePayroll: Simplest payroll app

SurePayroll
SurePayroll
SurePayroll

Contact for a quote

SurePayroll’s mobile alerts, customer service access, and detailed reporting keep you on top of on-the-go payroll.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

App Store rating: 4.7 stars
Google Play rating: 3.1 stars

SurePayroll is owned by Paychex, one of our other top picks—which goes to show that Paychex’s team is absolutely committed to making simple, user-friendly, accessible apps.

With the SurePayroll app, you can record your employees’ hours worked as well as their vacation days, sick leave, and other PTO accruals. Access customer service right from your phone or tablet, pull up payroll reports on individual employee earnings and tax deductions, and pay both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.

SurePayroll also proactively addresses some of the key concerns users have with payroll apps—namely accuracy and security. Most importantly, it protects your data with industry-leading encryption and never sends account information via the app.

Want a little extra help staying on top of payroll? SurePayroll sends mobile alerts that let you know when your payroll has been submitted and approved. You can also see compliance changes and payroll deadlines with the app.

Pros
pro Solid mobile app with excellent security and notifications
pro Workers compensation and health insurance add-ons
Cons
con Less impressive Android app
con Extra fee for two-day payroll processing and accounting software integration

RUN Powered by ADP: Best HR

RUN Powered by ADP
ADP
RUN Powered by ADP

Contact for a quote

If you need HR solutions alongside mobile payroll, RUN Powered by ADP puts HR management tips, compliance assistance, and new-hire onboarding at your fingertips.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

App Store rating: 4.7 stars
Google Play rating: 4.4 stars

ADP's payroll software is one of our absolute favorites. Like Paychex, ADP offers a slew of HR features, which makes it a great fit for midsize and large businesses. With multiple plans and price points, it's also a scalable choice for businesses planning on growth.

But the app? Well, the app leaves a little to be desired. Customers report problems with forced logouts, and many are frustrated with the app's lack of features—for the most part, it works for payroll runs only and doesn't offer the support of ADP's software.

Still, the app does offer some payroll features alongside its HR assistance:

  • Access to employees’ contact information and pay rates
  • HR tips and alerts
  • HR document access
  • Report sharing

We know that's vague, but bear in mind that ADP is still one of the few payroll providers to even have an employer-facing app. That's something to be valued.

Pros
pro Comprehensive plans with thorough HR features
pro Time and attendance integration
pro Versatile plans to accommodate small businesses (1 employee) to big businesses (1,000+ employees)
Cons
con Poorly reviewed app
con Expensive plans with no transparent pricing on site
con Poor customer reviews

Gusto: Best mobile-friendly site

Gusto
Gusto
Gusto Payroll

Starting at $40.00/mo. + $6.00/payee/mo.

Gusto's comprehensive payroll plans include easy integration with healthcare benefits, workers compensation insurance, and other employee benefits like commuter perks.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Gusto is hands-down one of the best payroll solutions for small businesses. Gusto offers three plans: Core, Complete, and Concierge. Each full-service payroll plan includes health benefit add-ons, workers compensation administration, and PTO policy creation. At $40 a month with a $6 additional fee per employee, it’s reasonably priced (though the heftier plans are substantially more expensive than the basic plan). 

For better or worse, Gusto Payroll doesn't have a payroll app. However, it does have a mobile-friendly website that ensures you can still run payroll for your employees wherever you are. and like we said above, you can. Gusto also has an autopay feature. If you know you're going to be out of the office (or if you want to save some time each pay period), schedule automatic payroll runs to make sure everyone gets paid on time with little to no effort on your part.

Pros
pro Expansive, built-in employee benefits options
pro Integration with most accounting software
pro Multiple plans for growing businesses
Cons
con Higher price points

QuickBooks Payroll: Mobile-friendly site runner-up

QuickBooks Payroll
Quickbooks
QuickBooks Payroll

Starting at $22.50/mo. + $5.00/payee/mo.*

Already using QuickBooks Online? QuickBooks Payroll syncs easily with your existing accounting software, making bookkeeping a breeze.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Current sale price: 70% off for three mos.

QuickBooks Payroll recently got rid of its payroll app in favor of a mobile-friendly website, but we're pleased to report that QuickBooks' site works just as well as its app did. From QuickBooks' site, you can schedule payroll runs, set reminders, and take care of direct deposit, all with bank-grade security.

Like QuickBooks Online's accounting app, its payroll software has a low learning curve. With a sleek dashboard and few glitches, we'd say after SurePayroll, it's the most user friendly of all our payroll software options listed here.

It's particularly user-friendly if you're already familiar with QuickBooks Online's interface—so if you're already using QuickBooks Online to track accounting, using QuickBooks Payroll is the logical next step once you've hired your first employee.

Pros
pro Syncs flawlessly with QuickBooks Online
pro User-friendly app with low learning curve
pro On-the-go tax e-filing
Cons
con Fewer mobile features than some competitors

Paychex Flex: Best for growth

Paychex Flex
Paychex
Paychex

Starting at $39.00/mo. + $5.00/payee/mo.

Paychex Flex’s plans aren’t the cheapest, but its payroll app is easily the best one out there. If running payroll from anywhere in the world on any web-enabled device is a must for you, Paychex Flex is the way to go.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

App Store rating: 4.8 stars
Google Play rating: 3.8 stars

Paychex Flex’s app does basically everything Paychex's cloud-based payroll software can do—and the software does quite a lot. Paychex's plans include standout HR support, including dedicated HR specialists with pricier plans. Accessing all that info on the go on a fantastic app that nixes bugs and app crashes is a bargain.

Speaking of bug- and crash-free apps, Paychex's software and app also sync effortlessly with each other. If you start entering payroll data on your office laptop but have to take off early to make a meeting, you can pick up right where you left off on your phone after you're through. Employees can use the employee-facing version of the app to access their payroll data, check out their W-2 forms and paystubs, and even tweak their 401(k) contributions.

Pros
pro Fantastic mobile app for employers and employees
pro Robust plans featuring dedicated HR solutions
pro Three full-service plans starting at $39 flat plus $5/payee, monthly
Cons
con Pricier plans than many competitors
con Extra fee for accounting software integration and multiple employee pay options
Small Business Loan Requirements Checklist
Applying for a small-business loan soon?
Our free checklist can help you understand what lenders are looking for.

By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use.

Still not sure? We’ll help you find the right payroll software for your business.

If you don't feel great about these five payroll apps for small businesses, give us some basic info about your payroll needs and we'll send you up to five personalized payroll quotes to choose from.

Honorable Mentions

Compare payroll apps plans and pricing: Honorable mentions

Payroll provider
Starting monthly price
App or mobile-friendly site
Payroll type
Learn more
$6.00/contractor*App (iOS and Android)

Full service

$17.00 + $4.00/payee**

Mobile-friendly site

Self service or full service

Data as of 6/7/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Base price waived for contractor plan only.
**Base price for self-service plan only. Full-service plan starts at $37.00 per month plus $4.00 per payee.

Square: Best for paying contractors

Square Payroll
Square
Square

Starting at $6.00/contractor/mo. (contractor-only plan)*

If you work primarily with contractors, don’t want to pay extra for running payroll as many times as you need during the month, and need a super intuitive app, Square Payroll is the best (and most affordable) payroll option for you.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Base price waived for contractor plan only.

App Store rating: 4.8 stars
Google Play rating: 4.2 stars

The Square Payroll app is super versatile—it’s just as easy to pay your W-2 hourly and salaried employees as it is to pay your contractors.

Plus, Square’s payroll app syncs easily with its point-of-sale app; you can import employee and contractor hours and then pay them in just a few clicks.

Want to take payroll off your plate entirely? Square Payroll’s app includes an autopay option (though this option is for the employee plan only, not the contractor plan). If your salaried workers get paid on a consistent pay schedule and make a consistent rate, automatic payroll keeps things simple and ensures employees are paid—even if you forget about payday completely.

Finally, along with running payroll, you can use Square’s app to track employees’ paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and overtime. That's not bad for a straightforward, completely affordable app.

Pros
pro Syncs with other popular Square products like Square Point of Sale
pro No monthly base fee for contractor-only plan
pro Intuitive, user-friendly app
Cons
con Less scalable than competitors like Paychex and ADP
con Fewer payroll reports than competitors

Patriot Software: Most affordable payroll-only plans

Patriot Payroll
Patriot Software

Self-service: $17.00/mo. + $4.00/employee
Full-service: $37.00/mo. + $4.00/employee 

Don’t mind dealing with taxes yourself? Patriot Software’s $17-a-month plan still includes key features like workers comp integration and unlimited payroll processing.

Data as of 7/10/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Patriot’s full-service plans are cheaper than Gusto’s at $37 a month for full-service payroll with a $4 add-on cost per employee. It also offers a self-service plan, meaning a plan without automatic payroll tax filing at $17 a month with the same per employee cost. (That's even cheaper than SurePayroll's full-service plan, which costs nearly ten dollars more per month.) If you have only a handful of employees and aren’t too stressed about taxes, Patriot’s reliable self-service software could be a good choice.

Both the self- and full-service plans include free direct deposit, employee self-service payroll portals, workers compensation integration, and unlimited payroll runs. 

The takeaway

While Paychex Flex offers our favorite employer-facing app, the other top brands we reviewed here are ahead of the curve in making payroll management as easy, accessible, and convenient as possible. Whether you’re on the road heading to your next farmers market, or taxiing on the runway before your next business trip, these cloud-based solutions give you the flexibility to pay your employees on time, every time.

Looking for more than payroll software? Check out our favorite cloud-based accounting software for small businesses—most of which pair easily with your preferred payroll solution.

Related content

Payroll app FAQ

We ranked Paychex Flex as the best small business payroll mobile app due to its power and user-friendliness. Nearly everything available on the desktop version of Paychex is also offered on the mobile app. For comparison, many other payroll mobile apps, like Gusto’s Wallet app, are employee-facing only. Apps like Gusto's don't offer features that let employers cut paychecks or check financial reports on the go.

Ultimately, the best small business payroll app depends on your business’s size and growth plans. Some services, like Patriot Software and Gusto, target smaller businesses needing simplicity. Other contenders, like ADP and QuickBooks Payroll, offer up more complex, richly featured platforms suitable for long-term expansion.

The apps listed here are free with the purchase of the associated software. For example, Paychex Flex’s app is included at no additional cost with your Paychex Flex payroll subscription.

None of the payroll software we listed here is free, but you can hop over to our piece on the best free payroll software to learn more.

Methodology

We examined each software brand's full-service payroll availability, suitability for mobile devices, small-business appeal, user-friendliness, and ability to perform unlimited payroll runs, among other factors.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Ian Agar
Written by
Ian Agar
Former Business.org staff writer writes about human resource administration. His work has been featured in The Motley Fool and Yahoo! Finance.
Recent Articles
two people shaking hands on an abstract background
The Best Payroll Companies for Small Businesses in 2023
We looked at 15 of the top payroll processing companies and evaluated their user friendliness,...
Best-Payroll-Software-for-Small-Business-on-laptop-screen
Best Payroll Software for Small Business 2023
To rate each payroll software program, we assessed payroll and HR features, ease of use,...
male using ipad on an abstract background
The 5 Best Payroll Apps for Small Business 2023
Constantly on the go? Get one of our top payroll mobile apps so you’ll always...
a middle-aged white woman in glasses and a white collared shirt holds a paycheck in her hand and smiles across the table at a dark-haired woman
QuickBooks Payroll Review 2023
QuickBooks Payroll’s low per-user fee makes it a good pick for budget-conscious employers. Best for...