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APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll Comparison

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APS Payroll

4.7(340 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

APS Payroll is a payroll and HR management platform for mid-sized businesses that need customizable reporting, employee self-service, and third-party integrations alongside core payroll processing. Its report builder let…

Heartland Payroll

4.6(118 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Medium Business
  • Small Business

Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…

APS Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 340 reviews.

APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll — at a glance

FeatureAPS PayrollHeartland Payroll
Rating4.7 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews340118
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep)
Certifications
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll

  • Target audience: APS Payroll is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Heartland Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: APS Payroll scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: APS Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

APS Payroll - Payroll Software
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Heartland Payroll - Payroll Software
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APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

APS Payroll

Best for medium businesses needing reliable, integrated payroll and HR management.

Choose if
  • You are a medium-sized healthcare, nonprofit, or professional services organization.
  • You want a unified payroll and HR platform with attendance and recruiting features.
  • You value strong integration with Sage Intacct and responsive customer support.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require highly customizable deduction fields and benefits management.
  • You need rapid, seamless QuickBooks integration and extensive benefits carrier connections.

Heartland Payroll

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.

Choose if
  • You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
  • You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
  • You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
  • You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.

APS Payroll: Best for medium businesses needing reliable, integrated payroll and HR management. Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.

Description

APS Payroll is a payroll and HR management platform for mid-sized businesses that need customizable reporting, employee self-service, and third-party integrations alongside core payroll ... Read More about APS Payroll

Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland Payroll

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.69

(340)

4.61

(118)

Best Company Size

50-1,000 employeesMedium Business
20-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

APS Payroll

  • Unified Payroll & HR Platform: Offers a centralized system for payroll, HR, attendance, and recruiting, improving efficiency across employee management.
  • Compliance & Tax Automation: Manages payroll tax calculations, filings, and payments across federal, state, and local jurisdictions with accuracy.
  • Customizable Reporting & Analytics: Provides reliable, real-time insights into workforce data to support informed HR and finance decisions.

Heartland Payroll

  • Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
  • Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
  • User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
Best fit

Best fit

APS Payroll

  • 50–1,000 employees
  • Healthcare, nonprofits, education, professional services, manufacturing, and hospitality
  • HR Directors, Payroll Managers, Finance Leaders, Operations Managers, and Compliance Officers

Heartland Payroll

  • 20–500 employees
  • Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
  • Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

APS Payroll

  • Companies needing international payroll support may consider platforms with global compliance capabilities.
  • Businesses seeking highly customizable HR workflows or advanced talent management tools might opt for full-suite HCM systems.
  • Organizations prioritizing rapid deployment and out-of-the-box integrations could explore more plug-and-play solutions.

Heartland Payroll

  • Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
  • Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
  • Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

12 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      APS Payroll pricing

      Pricing information not available

      APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      APS Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      290

      56

      6

      0

      0

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers generally praise APS Payroll for its ease of use, integration capabilities, and customer support, though some express concerns about implementation delays and limited customization.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support
      • Integration with third-party software

      Common complaints

      • Implementation delays
      • Limited customization options

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support quality
      • Automation of tax filings

      Common complaints

      • Onboarding process
      • Portal accessibility problems

      Pros and Cons

      • Integration with Sage Intacct reduces manual work

      • User-friendly interface for admins and employees

      • Responsive and knowledgeable customer support

      • Implementation can be disorganized with delays

      • Limited customization in deduction fields, reporting, and benefits

      • Intuitive self-service portal with easy payroll entry and custom reporting

      • Responsive and knowledgeable dedicated payroll specialists

      • Automated tax filings and payroll calculations reducing manual work

      • Disorganized and manual onboarding process causing errors

      • High turnover of payroll representatives affecting service continuity

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used APS Payroll or Heartland Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll Customers

      Customers

      Central Christian

      Central Christian

      Antoine’s Restaurant

      Antoine’s Restaurant

      Faith Promise Church

      Faith Promise Church

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, APS Payroll or Heartland Payroll?
      APS Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do APS Payroll and Heartland Payroll offer a free trial?
      Neither APS Payroll nor Heartland Payroll currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of APS Payroll vs Heartland Payroll?
      APS Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to APS Payroll?
      Top alternatives to APS Payroll include OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll, Heartland Payroll.
      What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.