Which is better, APS Payroll or Square Payroll?

Square Payroll edges out APS Payroll based on user ratings across 15 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — APS Payroll may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between APS Payroll and Square Payroll?

Key differences between APS Payroll and Square Payroll include pricing (APS Payroll starts at undisclosed vs Square Payroll at $34); free trial availability (Square Payroll offers one, APS Payroll does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both APS Payroll and Square Payroll offer a Free trial?

Square Payroll offers Free Trial, but APS Payroll does not.

Who are the typical users of APS Payroll?

APS Payroll is built primarily for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business — worth checking against your own team profile before comparing further.

Who are the typical users of Square Payroll?

Square Payroll is built primarily for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business — worth checking against your own team profile before comparing further.

What is the starting price of APS Payroll and Square Payroll?

The starting price of Square Payroll is $34/User/Month. Pricing for APS Payroll is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to APS Payroll?

Some top alternatives to APS Payroll include OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll, Heartland Payroll.

What are the best alternatives to Square Payroll?

Some top alternatives to Square Payroll include OnPay, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll Comparison

Last updated: July 22, 2026

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…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Square Payroll

5.0(15 reviews)

Starting at $34 /User/Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Square Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those already running payments or point-of-sale through Square's ecosystem. It automates pay runs, tax filings, and direct deposi…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Square Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 15 reviews.

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll — at a glance

Feature	APS Payroll	Square Payroll
Rating	4.7 / 5	5.0 / 5
Reviews	340	15
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$34 /User/Month
Free trial	No	Yes
Free version	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Payroll Software	Payroll Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
API	Available	Available
Support modes	Business Hours, Online	Business Hours
Certifications	—	SOC 2, GDPR
Data residency	US	US

Key differences between APS Payroll and Square Payroll

Pricing: Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month. APS Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Square Payroll offers a free trial; APS Payroll does not.
User satisfaction: Square Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
Deployment: APS Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

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

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

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.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	APS Payroll (352) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Square Payroll (15) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

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APS Payroll vs Square Payroll: Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

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.

Square Payroll

Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.

Choose if

You run a small to medium business with hourly or tipped employees.
You want effortless integration with Square POS and existing payroll providers.
You need a simple, user-friendly payroll system with built-in time tracking.

Consider alternatives if

You require advanced payroll reporting, customization, or analytics.
You manage complex pay structures, multiple locations, or international staff.

APS Payroll: Best for medium businesses needing reliable, integrated payroll and HR management. Square Payroll: Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.

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	Square Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those already running payments or point-of-sale through Square's ecosystem. It automates pay runs, ... Read More about Square Payroll
Entry Level Pricing	Not Available	Starts from $34
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial
SpotScore What's this? ↗	8.7/10	8.8/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.69 (340)	5 (15)
Best Company Size	50-1,000 employeesMedium Business	1-100 employeesMedium Business
	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.

Square Payroll

Seamless Integration with Square POS: Syncs easily with Square’s point-of-sale system, making it ideal for hourly or tipped workers in service industries.
Contractor & Employee Support: Easily pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors with direct deposit and generate tax forms from a single dashboard.

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

Square Payroll

1–100 employees
Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants

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.

Square Payroll

Businesses already using Square for POS may seek deeper payroll integrations or industry-specific HR features.
Employers needing more advanced reporting, analytics, or benefits management might explore broader HR platforms.
Companies managing multi-state or international employees could require tools with expanded compliance capabilities.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do APS Payroll and Square Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features	12 Features	13 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote

Compare APS Payroll and Square 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
Starting From	Not Available	$34
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

APS Payroll vs Square 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	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll Security & Compliance

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

SOC 2	—	✓ Yes
HIPAA	✗ No	✗ No
GDPR	—	✓ Yes
Single Sign-On (SSO)	—	✓ Yes
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	—	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	—	✓ Yes
Audit Logs	—	✓ Yes
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🇺🇸 US

APS Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.69 (based on 340 reviews)	5 (based on 15 reviews)
Rating Distribution	290 56 6 0 0	15 0 0 0 0
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 Square Payroll's ease of use, integration capabilities, and time-saving automation, though some desire more advanced features for larger or more complex businesses. What buyers like Ease of use Integration with Square POS Time tracking and payment speed Common complaints Limited advanced features Lack of flexibility outside Square ecosystem
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	Effortless integration with existing payroll providers and Square POS Simple and intuitive design suitable for non-technical users Built-in time tracking for accurate hours and faster employee payments Limited advanced reporting and customization features for larger enterprises Best functionality achieved within the Square ecosystem, limiting flexibility
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews

APS Payroll and Square Payroll Customers

Customers	Central Christian Antoine’s Restaurant Faith Promise Church	No Customers information available.

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	No screenshots available.	6 Screenshots
Videos	3 Videos	1 Videos

Top Alternatives to APS Payroll and Square Payroll in 2026

Alternatives	OnPay 4.96 Square Payroll 5 Patriot Payroll 4.87	OnPay 4.96 APS Payroll 4.69 Heartland Payroll 4.61

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, APS Payroll or Square Payroll?: Square Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do APS Payroll and Square Payroll offer a free trial?: Square Payroll offers a free trial. APS Payroll does not.
What is the starting price of APS Payroll vs Square Payroll?: APS Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month.
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 Square Payroll?: Top alternatives to Square Payroll include OnPay, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll Comparison

APS Payroll

Square Payroll

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll — at a glance

Key differences between APS Payroll and Square Payroll

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

APS Payroll

Square Payroll

Download this APS Payroll vs Square Payroll comparison

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll: Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Where each option fits best

Key strengths

Best fit

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Software Demo

Demo

Get decision help from a software advisor

How big is your team?

How do APS Payroll and Square Payroll Compare on Features?

Compare APS Payroll and Square Payroll on pricing

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll: Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

APS Payroll vs Square Payroll Security & Compliance

APS Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

APS Payroll and Square Payroll Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Top Alternatives to APS Payroll and Square Payroll in 2026

Related Blogs and Articles for Payroll Software

Frequently asked questions