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OnPay vs Heartland 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…

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…

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

FeatureOnPayHeartland Payroll
Rating5.0 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews434118
Starting price$40 /MonthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep)
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

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.

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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Heartland Payroll - Payroll Software
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OnPay vs Heartland 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.

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.

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

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $40
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.4/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.96

(434)

4.61

(118)

Best Company Size

1-100 employeesSmall Business
20-50 employees51-500 employees
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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.

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.
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

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
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.

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.

Software Demo

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

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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.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $40
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      OnPay pricing

      Pricing information not available

      OnPay vs Heartland 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 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

      Rating Distribution

      379

      4

      2

      0

      1

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      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

      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

      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

      • 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

      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 OnPay or Heartland Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Integrations

      Integration with other apps

      No Integration information available.

      OnPay and Heartland 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

      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.