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OnPay vs CheckMark Payroll Comparison

Last updated:

OnPay

5.0(434 reviews)

Starting at $40 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps companies of all sizes reduce cos…

CheckMark Payroll

4.2(6 reviews)

Starting at $449

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll application for small business owners who want to run payroll in-house without outsourcing. It handles check printing, W-2 generation, and federal tax reports directly from the user…

OnPay leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 434 reviews.

OnPay vs CheckMark Payroll — at a glance

FeatureOnPayCheckMark Payroll
Rating5.0 / 54.2 / 5
Reviews4346
Starting price$40 /Month$449
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2
Data residencyUS

Key differences between OnPay and CheckMark Payroll

  • Pricing: OnPay starts at $40 /Month, while CheckMark Payroll starts at $449.
  • Target audience: OnPay is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while CheckMark Payroll targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: OnPay scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; CheckMark Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

OnPay vs CheckMark 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.

OnPay - Payroll Software
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CheckMark Payroll - Payroll Software
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OnPay vs CheckMark Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

OnPay

Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support.

Choose if
  • You run a small business with 1-100 employees needing straightforward payroll processing.
  • You want to automate payroll calculations and tax filings to reduce errors and save time.
  • You value exceptional, responsive customer service and easy integration with accounting tools.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a large enterprise requiring complex payroll customizations and advanced features.
  • You need an all-in-one HR platform including recruitment or performance management.

CheckMark Payroll

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

OnPay typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. CheckMark Payroll 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

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps ... Read More about OnPay

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll application for small business owners who want to run payroll in-house without outsourcing. It handles check printing, W-2 generation, and federal tax ... Read More about CheckMark Payroll

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $40
  • Starts from $449

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.4/10

8.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.96

(434)

4.17

(6)

Best Company Size

1-100 employeesSmall 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

OnPay

  • OnPay simplifies payroll processing, saving hours each week by automating calculations and filings—so you can focus on running your business.
  • With a user-friendly interface and intuitive dashboards, your team can easily manage payroll, benefits, and taxes without needing extensive training.
  • OnPay integrates smoothly with popular accounting tools, improving efficiency and eliminating manual data entry.
Best fit

Best fit

OnPay

  • 1-100 employees
  • Healthcare, SaaS, Consulting, Professional Services, Nonprofits, Financial Services, Marketing Agencies
  • HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Finance Managers, Small Business Owners
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

OnPay

  • Users may explore alternatives if they require more advanced HR management features, such as extensive employee onboarding, robust benefit administration, or detailed performance tracking.
  • Companies seeking greater scalability might prefer alternatives that easily accommodate rapid growth, complex payroll structures, or increased employee counts without compromising system performance.
  • Businesses operating internationally or with global teams might consider alternatives offering broader international payroll support and compliance tools for multiple regions and currencies.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do OnPay and CheckMark Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

13 Features

8 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare OnPay and CheckMark 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

      • $40
      • $449

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      OnPay pricing
      CheckMark Payroll pricing

      OnPay vs CheckMark 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

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

      OnPay vs CheckMark Payroll Security & Compliance

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

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US

      OnPay User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      379

      4

      2

      0

      1

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers overwhelmingly praise OnPay for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and excellent customer support, especially among small businesses and nonprofits.

      What buyers like

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

      Common complaints

      • Limited customization for complex payroll
      • Lack of broader HR features

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 6 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Offers multiple check printing formats so businesses can customize how employee paychecks are printed.
      • The ability to print paychecks, reports, and federal tax forms directly from your own printer gives businesses full control over payroll operations without relying on third parties.
      • Reduces the administrative burden of payroll processing, making it suited for small to mid-sized businesses.

      Common complaints

      • The product focuses primarily on check printing and payroll processing, and may not include broader HR functionalities like onboarding, time tracking, or benefits administration.
      • Some functions, such as data entry or record updates, may require manual intervention, which can be time-consuming and prone to user error.
      • The product description suggests a desktop-based system, which may lack modern cloud features like remote access, automatic updates, or mobile support.

      Pros and Cons

      • Intuitive design that simplifies payroll tasks for supervisors and managers

      • Automates payroll calculations and tax filings, reducing time and errors

      • Robust integration with popular accounting tools to eliminate manual data entry

      • Limited customization options for complex payroll needs in larger companies

      • Focuses solely on payroll, lacking broader HR functionalities like recruitment

      • Multiple check printing options enhance flexibility.

      • User-friendly interface simplifies payroll tasks.

      • Affordable pricing makes it accessible for SMBs.

      • Limited online features may hinder some users.

      • Basic customer support may not meet all needs.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used OnPay or CheckMark Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Integrations

      Integration with other apps

      No Integration information available.

      OnPay and CheckMark Payroll Customers

      Customers

      BlueBird

      BlueBird

      Cartecay

      Cartecay

      Evergreen

      Evergreen

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      OnPay Dashboard

      7 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to OnPay and CheckMark 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, OnPay or CheckMark Payroll?
      OnPay edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.2). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do OnPay and CheckMark Payroll offer a free trial?
      Yes, both OnPay and CheckMark Payroll offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of OnPay vs CheckMark Payroll?
      OnPay starts at $40 /Month. CheckMark Payroll starts at $449.
      What are the top alternatives to OnPay?
      Top alternatives to OnPay include Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.
      What are the top alternatives to CheckMark Payroll?
      Top alternatives to CheckMark Payroll include Heartland Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Microkeeper, APS Payroll.