OnPay vs Square 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…
Square Payroll
Starting at $34 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Square Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those already running payments or point-of-sale through Square's ecosystem. It automates pay runs, tax filings, and direct deposi…
Square Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 15 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
OnPaySquare Payroll
The core difference lies in OnPay's focus on providing comprehensive payroll support for various industries, while Square Payroll is tailored specifically for service-based businesses that require time tracking. Ideal buyers for OnPay are small business owners across diverse sectors, whereas Square Payroll is best suited for those in the retail and hospitality industries.
- Best for small businesses with 1-100 employees - Offers automated payroll processing and tax filings - Excellent customer support - Suitable for various industries including healthcare and nonprofits - Ideal for HR and finance managers - Priced at $40
- Designed for small to medium service businesses - Integrates seamlessly with Square POS - Supports hourly and tipped employee payroll - Ideal for retail, food service, and hospitality sectors - Suitable for business owners and payroll managers - Priced at $34
OnPay vs Square Payroll — at a glance
| Feature | OnPay | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Reviews | 434 | 15 |
| Starting price | $40 /Month | $34 /User/Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | 10+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | — | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between OnPay and Square Payroll
- Pricing: OnPay starts at $40 /Month, while Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month.
- Target audience: OnPay is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Square Payroll targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Square Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
- Deployment: OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
OnPay vs Square Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
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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
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OnPay vs Square 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 medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.
- You run a small to medium business with hourly or tipped employees.
- You want effortless integration with Square POS and existing payroll providers.
- You need a simple, user-friendly payroll system with built-in time tracking.
- You require advanced payroll reporting, customization, or analytics.
- You manage complex pay structures, multiple locations, or international staff.
OnPay: Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support. Square Payroll: Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.
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 | Square Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those already running payments or point-of-sale through Square's ecosystem. It automates pay runs, ... Read More about Square Payroll |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability | ||
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.4/10 | 8.8/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesSmall Business | 1-100 employeesMedium 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.
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.
- Seamless Integration with Square POS: Syncs easily with Square’s point-of-sale system, making it ideal for hourly or tipped workers in service industries.
- Contractor & Employee Support: Easily pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors with direct deposit and generate tax forms from a single dashboard.
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
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
- Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants
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 already using Square for POS may seek deeper payroll integrations or industry-specific HR features.
- Employers needing more advanced reporting, analytics, or benefits management might explore broader HR platforms.
- Companies managing multi-state or international employees could require tools with expanded compliance capabilities.
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How do OnPay and Square Payroll Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 13 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare OnPay and Square 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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OnPay vs Square Payroll: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
OnPay vs Square Payroll Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
OnPay User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
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 Square Payroll's ease of use, integration capabilities, and time-saving automation, though some desire more advanced features for larger or more complex businesses. 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 |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. |
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OnPay and Square Payroll Customers
Customers |  BlueBird  Cartecay  Evergreen | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  7 Screenshots |  6 Screenshots |
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Videos |  3 Videos |  1 Videos |
Top Alternatives to OnPay and Square Payroll in 2026
Alternatives |
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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 Square Payroll?
- Square Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 5.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do OnPay and Square Payroll offer a free trial?
- Yes, both OnPay and Square Payroll offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of OnPay vs Square Payroll?
- OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month.
- 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 Square Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Square Payroll include OnPay, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.