OnPay vs Heartland Payroll Comparison
OnPay
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…
Heartland Payroll
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…
OnPay leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 434 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
OnPayHeartland Payroll
The core difference lies in the target company size and industry focus, with OnPay catering primarily to small businesses (1-100 employees) seeking straightforward payroll solutions, while Heartland Payroll serves small to mid-sized businesses (20-500 employees) across various sectors like retail and hospitality. Ideal buyers for OnPay are small business owners and HR managers looking for simplicity, whereas Heartland Payroll is suited for payroll managers and operations directors in larger organizations needing more comprehensive payroll features.
- Best for small businesses with 1-100 employees - Focus on simple, automated payroll processing - Excellent customer support - Ideal for various industries including healthcare and nonprofits - Helps reduce payroll errors and save time - Price starts at $40
- Designed for small to mid-sized businesses (20-500 employees) - Offers streamlined payroll and integrated payment processing - Strong support for industries like retail and hospitality - Ideal for payroll managers and HR directors - Automates tax filings to minimize manual work - Pricing not publicly listed
OnPay vs Heartland Payroll — at a glance
| Feature | OnPay | Heartland Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 434 | 118 |
| Starting price | $40 /Month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | 10+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | — |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep) |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | — |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between OnPay and Heartland Payroll
- Pricing: OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Heartland Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: OnPay offers a free trial; Heartland Payroll does not.
- Target audience: OnPay is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Heartland Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
- User satisfaction: OnPay scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
- Deployment: OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
OnPay vs Heartland 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
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OnPay vs Heartland Payroll: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support.
- 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.
- 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.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
- 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.
- 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.
OnPay: Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support. Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
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 | 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 |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesSmall 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.
Key strengths
- 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.
- 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
- 1-100 employees
- Healthcare, SaaS, Consulting, Professional Services, Nonprofits, Financial Services, Marketing Agencies
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Finance Managers, Small Business Owners
- 20–500 employees
- Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
- Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- 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.
- 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
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How do OnPay and Heartland Payroll Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 12 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare OnPay 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.
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Pricing Page | ![]() | Pricing information not available |
OnPay vs Heartland Payroll: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
OnPay vs Heartland 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 |
OnPay User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
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
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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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 |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. |
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OnPay and Heartland Payroll Customers
Customers | ![]() BlueBird ![]() Cartecay ![]() Evergreen | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | ![]() 7 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos | ![]() 3 Videos | ![]() 2 Videos |
Top Alternatives to OnPay 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, OnPay or Heartland Payroll?
- OnPay edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do OnPay and Heartland Payroll offer a free trial?
- OnPay offers a free trial. Heartland Payroll does not.
- What is the starting price of OnPay vs Heartland Payroll?
- OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
- 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 Heartland Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
















