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Heartland Payroll vs PrimePay 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…

PrimePay

4.6(38 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

PrimePay is payroll software that offers a full payroll for small and mid-sized businesses. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, while maintaining the requirements needed for a company's payroll. Both new compani…

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

Heartland Payroll vs PrimePay — at a glance

FeatureHeartland PayrollPrimePay
Rating4.6 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews11838
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, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
API
Support modes24/7 (Live rep)Online
Certifications
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Heartland Payroll and PrimePay

  • Target audience: Heartland Payroll is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while PrimePay 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; PrimePay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Heartland Payroll vs PrimePay — 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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PrimePay - Payroll Software
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Heartland Payroll vs PrimePay: 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.

PrimePay

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, compliant payroll solutions.

Choose if
  • You need an intuitive, user-friendly payroll system with minimal technical expertise required
  • Your company values responsive and highly praised customer service support
  • You want integrated time and labor management combined with payroll to reduce errors
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires dedicated account representatives for every user
  • You need highly advanced tax reporting and detailed transaction tracking features

Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support. PrimePay: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, compliant payroll solutions.

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

PrimePay is payroll software that offers a full payroll for small and mid-sized businesses. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, while maintaining the requirements needed for a ... Read More about PrimePay

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

8.6/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.61

(118)

4.57

(38)

Best Company Size

20-50 employees51-500 employees
10-50 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.

PrimePay

  • Flexible Payroll & HR Services: Offers cloud-based payroll, HR, and benefits administration designed to meet the needs of growing U.S. businesses.
  • Compliance-Focused Automation: Simplifies ACA, COBRA, and tax compliance through automated workflows and dedicated support.
  • Integrated Time & Labor Management: Combines time tracking with payroll to reduce errors, improve accuracy, and simplify workforce management.
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

PrimePay

  • 10–500 employees
  • Healthcare, professional services, retail, education, nonprofits, and franchise-based businesses
  • HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Benefits Coordinators, Finance Officers, and Business Owners
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.

PrimePay

  • Businesses needing global payroll capabilities may seek providers with multinational compliance coverage.
  • Organizations looking for end-to-end talent management, such as recruiting or performance tools, may prefer full HCM suites.
  • Companies focused on rapid growth might opt for more scalable platforms with enterprise-grade customization.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Heartland Payroll and PrimePay Compare on Features?

Total Features

12 Features

8 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Heartland Payroll and PrimePay 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 PrimePay: 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 PrimePay Security & Compliance

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

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Heartland Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      50

      5

      2

      1

      3

      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

      Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, responsive support, and comprehensive payroll features, tempered by occasional system glitches and support inconsistencies.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer service
      • Comprehensive payroll and compliance

      Common complaints

      • System errors and glitches
      • Lack of dedicated account representatives

      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

      • Excellent and responsive customer service with highly praised representatives

      • Intuitive and user-friendly interface requiring minimal technical expertise

      • Comprehensive payroll processing, tax filings, and reporting capabilities

      • Lack of dedicated account representatives for some users causing inefficiencies

      • Errors and frustrations related to updated features like cloud registration

      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 PrimePay? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Heartland Payroll and PrimePay 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 PrimePay?
      Heartland Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Heartland Payroll and PrimePay offer a free trial?
      Neither Heartland Payroll nor PrimePay currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Heartland Payroll vs PrimePay?
      Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. PrimePay 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 PrimePay?
      Top alternatives to PrimePay include Fingercheck, SurePayroll, EPAY HCM, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll.