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Heartland Payroll vs Paymate Comparison

Last updated:

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…

Paymate

4.4(5 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Paymate, the cost-effective HR and Payroll Solutions provider, has been helping out businesses, small and large, for years. Our simple and reliable software honed through years of expertise in the North American market p…

Heartland Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 118 reviews.

Heartland Payroll vs Paymate — at a glance

FeatureHeartland PayrollPaymate
Rating4.6 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews1185
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forMedium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modes24/7 (Live rep)Online
Certifications
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Heartland Payroll and Paymate

  • Target audience: Heartland Payroll is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while Paymate targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Heartland Payroll scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Paymate supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Heartland Payroll vs Paymate — 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.

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

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

Paymate

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Heartland Payroll typically suits Medium Business and Small Business. Paymate tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

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

Paymate, the cost-effective HR and Payroll Solutions provider, has been helping out businesses, small and large, for years. Our simple and reliable software honed through years of expertise ... Read More about Paymate

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

7.4/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.61

(118)

4.4

(5)

Best Company Size

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

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.

Paymate

No key benefits available yet.

Best fit

Best fit

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

Paymate

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

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.

Paymate

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Paymate has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do Heartland Payroll and Paymate Compare on Features?

Total Features

12 Features

4 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Heartland Payroll and Paymate 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

      Heartland Payroll vs Paymate: 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

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Heartland Payroll vs Paymate Security & Compliance

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

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Heartland Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      3

      2

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 5 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Offers excellent value, especially for small to mid-sized businesses looking for a budget-friendly HR/payroll tool.
      • With years of usage in the North American market, the software reflects maturity and stability.
      • Designed to be intuitive and simple, allowing quick adoption without steep learning curves.

      Common complaints

      • Doesn’t appear to include newer automation tools or AI-driven features like predictive analytics.
      • Primarily optimized for North America, potentially limiting use for companies with international teams.
      • While suitable for small and medium enterprises, large businesses may find the feature set limiting as they scale.

      Pros and Cons

      • 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

      • Cost-effective solutions cater to various business sizes.

      • User-friendly interface simplifies payroll management.

      • Comprehensive HR features support diverse industries.

      • Limited advanced features may not meet all needs.

      • Training may be necessary for new users.

      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 Heartland Payroll or Paymate? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to Heartland Payroll and Paymate 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, Heartland Payroll or Paymate?
      Heartland Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Heartland Payroll and Paymate offer a free trial?
      Neither Heartland Payroll nor Paymate currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Heartland Payroll vs Paymate?
      Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Paymate starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
      What are the top alternatives to Paymate?
      Top alternatives to Paymate include CloudPay, Heartland Payroll, CheckWriters, PrimePay, Zenefits.