Square Payroll vs Microkeeper Comparison
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…
Microkeeper
Starting at $2.25 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll processing has never been easier or…
Square Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 15 reviews.
Square Payroll vs Microkeeper — at a glance
| Feature | Square Payroll | Microkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Reviews | 15 | 90 |
| Starting price | $34 /User/Month | $2.25 /User/Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | GDPR |
| Data residency | US | AU |
Key differences between Square Payroll and Microkeeper
- Pricing: Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month, while Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month.
- User satisfaction: Square Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
- Deployment: Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Microkeeper supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Square Payroll vs Microkeeper — 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
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
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Square Payroll vs Microkeeper: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
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.
Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
- You operate a 10-500 employee business in Australia requiring automated Fair Work award compliance.
- You want a simple, user-friendly platform combining payroll, rostering, timesheets, and HR tasks.
- You need integrated real-time attendance tracking with GPS clock-ins and digital timesheets.
- Your company is outside Australia and needs localized payroll compliance for other regions.
- You require a highly modern or customizable user interface with advanced design aesthetics.
Square Payroll: Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking. Microkeeper: Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
Description | 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 | Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll ... Read More about Microkeeper |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability | ||
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesMedium Business | 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.
Key strengths
- 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.
- All-in-One Australian Payroll & HR: Combines payroll, time tracking, rostering, onboarding, and superannuation management in one localised platform.
- Automated Award Interpretation: Automatically applies Australian Fair Work awards to confirm accurate employee pay and compliance.
- Streamlined Workforce Management: Offers real-time attendance, GPS clock-ins, and digital timesheets for efficient labour tracking and scheduling.
Best fit
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
- Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants
- 10–500 employees
- Trades, construction, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and other shift-based sectors in Australia
- Payroll Officers, Operations Managers, HR Administrators, Business Owners, and Compliance Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- 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.
- Businesses outside Australia may seek payroll platforms with compliance support tailored to their local tax systems.
- Companies requiring more advanced HR modules like learning management or succession planning might prefer larger HCM platforms
- Organizations with highly complex workforce structures could benefit from industry-specific payroll systems.
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Square Payroll and Microkeeper Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 9 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Square Payroll and Microkeeper 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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Square Payroll vs Microkeeper: 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 |
Square Payroll vs Microkeeper Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇦🇺 AU |
Square Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | 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
| Buyer sentiment Overall, users appreciate Microkeeper’s ease of use, time-saving automation, and comprehensive payroll and HR features, though some note occasional downtime and UI design limitations. 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 |
Square Payroll and Microkeeper Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Red Rooster  Quality Hotel  TELSTRA |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  6 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  3 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Square Payroll and Microkeeper 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, Square Payroll or Microkeeper?
- Square Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Square Payroll and Microkeeper offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Square Payroll and Microkeeper offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Square Payroll vs Microkeeper?
- Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month. Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Square Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Square Payroll include OnPay, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.
- What are the top alternatives to Microkeeper?
- Top alternatives to Microkeeper include Paybooks, Heartland Payroll, Hive Payroll, Papaya Global, APS Payroll.