When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn Choosing the right payroll software is crucial for accountants managing complex client portfolios. With ongoing changes in tax regulations and the growing need for remote work solutions, finding the right software to integrate with existing accounting tools is a necessity.
The best payroll software for accountants will offer great automations, detailed tax management, and customizable reports to improve efficiency and precision. On this page, we’ve tested and listed the top 7 payroll solutions for accountants to help you find the best tailored options for your needs.
The Best Payroll Software for Accountants 2024
The Best Payroll Software for Accountants
- Paychex: Best for Year-End Tax Preparation
- Rippling: Best for Scalable Automations
- OnPay: Best for Tailored Customer Support
- ADP: Best for Reporting and Analytics
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for Current QuickBooks Users
- Gusto: Best Accountant Partner Program
- Patriot: Best for Small Accounting Firms and Solopreneurs
- Show Full Guide
The Best Payroll Software for Accountants Reviewed
To develop this product comparison guide, we reviewed more than a dozen payroll software solutions, focusing on criteria such as scalability, customer support, automations, tax compliance, and filing features, analytics and reporting capabilities, accounting and other relevant software integrations, and resources designed specifically for accountants and their clients.
1. Paychex – Best for Year-End Tax Preparation
| Price From | $39/Mo. + $5 per Employee |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅ |
| Top 3 Features | Accountant HQ dashboard, Tax compliance, General ledger service |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅, though somewhat limited formatting options |
Pros
- Dedicated accountant service team
- Accountant HQ customizable dashboard
- Accountant year-end reference center feature
Cons
- Many features require paid add-ons
- Some difficulties with user training resources
2. Rippling – Best for Scalable Automations
| Price From | $8/month per user |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅ |
| Top 3 Features | Job-specific pay scales and dimensions, Partner program discounts, Auto-adjustments and other automations |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅ |
Pros
- Auto-flagging for manual data errors
- Hardcoded time splits and auto calculations for pay rates
- Automated tax calculations, deductions, and filing
Cons
- Little transparency in pricing
- Some issues with reporting setup
3. OnPay – Best for Tailored Customer Support
| Price From | $0 for accounting firms |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅, free payroll for firms with at least one client |
| Top 3 Features | Multiple pay rates, Free client data migrations, Granular permissions |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅ |
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Experience with restaurants, farms, churches, and other small businesses
- Configurable user access permissions
Cons
- Expensive for larger businesses
- U.S. payroll only
- Limited automations compared to competitors
4. ADP – Best for Reporting and Analytics
| Price From | $29 per month plus $5 per employee (for Roll by ADP) |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ❌, though three months of free access is available for Roll by ADP |
| Top 3 Features | Smart analytics and benchmarking, Accounting and other integrations, Free access to Accountant Connect |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅, though somewhat limited formatting options |
Pros
- Wide range of accounting software integrations
- Client insights and smart analytics through Accountant Connect
- Subscriptions for small businesses and enterprises
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Difficulty with implementation and onboarding
5. QuickBooks Payroll - Best for Current QuickBooks Users
| Price From | $0 for accounting firms |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅, access to QuickBooks Payroll Elite is free for accounting firms |
| Top 3 Features | Tax penalty protection, Auto payroll and time tracking, Revenue share pricing plan |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅ |
Pros
- Free access to Payroll Elite for accounting firms
- Full-service payroll and tax management on all plans
- ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing discounts
Cons
- Primarily designed for smaller businesses
- Limited third-party integrations
- Limited time tracking
6. Gusto - Best Accountant Partner Program
| Price From | $0 for accounting firms that follow partner program standards |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅, accounting firms in the partner program can get free Gusto Plus access if they onboard at least one client every 12 months |
| Top 3 Features | Gusto Pro dashboard, Gusto Partner Directory, Extensive third-party integrations |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ |
| Reporting | ✅ |
Pros
- Free firm access and additional discounts through partner program
- Relevant accounting and expense management integrations
- Opportunity to earn CPE credits through Gusto webinars
Cons
- Expense management only through integrations
- Little to no payroll tools for international employees
- Can get expensive for larger clients
7. Patriot - Best for Small Accounting Firms and Solopreneurs
| Price From | $17 per month plus $4 per employee/contractor |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ❌ |
| Top 3 Features | Free accountant partner program, Two-day direct deposit, Multiple pay rates and flexible rate changes |
| Accounting Integration | ❌ |
| Reporting | ✅, though somewhat limited formatting options |
Pros
- Affordable and catered to small businesses
- User-friendly interface
- Positive user reviews of customer support
Cons
- Only U.S.-based services available
- More limited feature set than most competitors
- Few third-party integrations
The Best Payroll Software for Accountants Compared
| Payroll Software | Paychex | Rippling | OnPay | ADP | QuickBooks Payroll | Gusto | Patriot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Year-End Tax Preparation | Scalable Automations | Tailored Customer Support | Reporting and Analytics | Current QuickBooks Users | Accountant Partner Program | Small Accounting Firms and Solopreneurs |
| Starting Price | $39/Mo. + $5 per Employee | $8/month per user | $0 for accounting firms | $29 per month plus $5 per employee (for Roll by ADP) | $0 for accounting firms | $0 for accounting firms that follow partner program standards | $17 per month plus $4 per employee/contractor |
| Accounting Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Tax Compliance | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reporting and Analytics | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Standout Features | Accountant HQ dashboard, Support professionals for tax compliance, General ledger service | Job-specific pay scales and dimensions, Partner program discounts for third-party software, Auto-adjustments and other automations | Revenue share partner program, Free client data migrations, Granular permissions | Smart analytics and benchmarking, Accounting and other integrations, Free access to Accountant Connect | Tax penalty protection, Auto payroll and time tracking, Revenue share pricing plan | Gusto Pro dashboard, Gusto Partner Directory, Extensive third-party integrations | Free accountant partner program, Two-day direct deposit, Multiple pay rates and flexible rate changes |
How We Review And Test Payroll Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular payroll products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features: We examine the features to determine what capabilities are offered, how useful those capabilities will be for the user, and how the variety of features compare to competitor software.
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform, and how easy it is to do so, to ensure companies can bring more employees on payroll with ease as they scale their operations.
- Error Handling: Errors in payroll can be disastrous for a company, so it’s critical payroll software safeguards against them. We evaluate how quickly each software can adjust and fix errors to ensure there are no interruptions in payroll operations.
- Price and Value for Money: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers a free trial, and if it is transparent about its pricing plans.
- Integrations: We evaluate the integrations of each piece of software to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack, and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Security: We dig into the security policies of each company, interrogating the safeguards they have in place to ensure the software protects user data properly.
- Compliance: We evaluate payroll software based on whether it offers local compliance when it comes to accounting, taxes, documentation, and more.
How do Accountants Manage Payroll?
Having an accountant manage payroll can be helpful for small businesses and startups as it helps save on hiring budgets. Accountants can efficiently manage payroll using payroll software that automates calculations, tax deductions, and compliance tasks, ensuring accuracy.
The steps below show what payroll processes look like for accountants.
1. Filling out all employee details on the payroll system
The process starts with feeding the payroll system with employees’ information including employment details, social security details, personal information, tax class, and salary.
2. Inputting each employee's work data
Accountants collate employees’ work data based on each employee’s work status. For hourly-based work status, accountants consider the number of work hours, overtime, leave allowance, and bonus. At the same time, this inputting section is not needed for salary workers with fixed payments.
3. Automated payroll calculation
The system calculates the employees’ gross pay based on the details accountants enter into the system. Then, accountants subtract mandatory and voluntary deductions, such as retirement contributions, social security and Medicare, tax, etc, from the gross pay.
4. Payroll preparation
After all deductions have been made, the system presents the gross salary, deductions, and net pay. Then, through the employee self-service portal, accountants make the payroll information available to employees. Employees are able to access their payroll information, paycheck stubs, W-2 forms, and more.
5. Payment disbursement and reporting
Once employees confirm their payment information and are satisfied, accountants disburse payment using employees’ preferred payment channels and make payment based on the company’s payroll schedule.
For adequate monitoring, especially for compliance, accountants stay up-to-date with regulatory changes and maintain detailed records for smooth payroll processing and reporting.
How Much Does Payroll Software for Accountants Cost?
Payroll software is available at a variety of price points. Some payroll solutions are free, while others may cost tens or hundreds of dollars per month. The main reason for the varying cost depends on whether it's a per-employee or per-user pricing. Some other factors influencing payroll software costs include setup fees, training costs, data integration support, and features needed.
The base plan for payroll software starts from $8/month per user, like the case of Rippling, while standard payroll systems like Paychex could cost up to $40/month per user.
Even as all payroll systems focus on streamlining payroll management, each software's capabilities and efficiency differ.
Price Comparison Table for Payroll
| Company Size | Average Cost | Common Features Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Small business of 1-50 employees | $40 - 100/month + $5 - $6/employee |
|
| Midsize businesses of up to 500 employees | $100+/month + $6+/employee |
|
| Large enterprises of up to 1000 employees | Custom pricing |
|
How to Choose the Best Payroll Software
Choosing the best payroll software for your accounting firm or other business type is all about determining what you expect across the following criteria:
Determine your available budget and what features you need at that price. Look for solutions with accounting-specific discount programs.
Look for tools that are easy to set up and use on an ongoing basis. It’s a good idea to pick solutions with strong customer support and client onboarding strategies.
Identify solutions that easily integrate with your accounting software and any other relevant tools.
Closely examine the vendor’s pricing tiers to determine if your most-needed features are available in the pricing plan you can afford. Some features may be limited in lower-tier plans.
Regardless of your current plan choice, look at how well the software will scale as your needs grow.
Look at the vendor’s website to determine support channels and availability, but also read customer reviews to learn about customer support quality.
