Square Payroll vs OnPay 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…
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 leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 15 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
Square PayrollOnPay
The core difference between Square Payroll and OnPay lies in their target industries and integration capabilities; Square Payroll is tailored for service-based businesses needing seamless integration with Square POS, while OnPay focuses on providing automated payroll solutions for a broader range of small businesses. Ideal buyers for Square Payroll are service business owners and payroll managers, while OnPay is best suited for small business HR and finance professionals seeking efficient payroll automation.
- Best for small to medium service businesses - Ideal for businesses with hourly or tipped employees - Effortless integration with Square POS - Designed for retail, food service, and hospitality sectors - Suitable for payroll managers and accountants - Priced at $34
- Best for small businesses across various sectors - Focuses on automated payroll processing - Excellent customer support for users - Ideal for HR managers and office administrators - Suitable for nonprofits and professional services - Priced at $40
Square Payroll vs OnPay — at a glance
| Feature | Square Payroll | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Reviews | 15 | 434 |
| Starting price | $34 /User/Month | $40 /Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | — | 10+ apps |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | — |
| Support modes | Business Hours | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between Square Payroll and OnPay
- Pricing: Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month, while OnPay starts at $40 /Month.
- Target audience: Square Payroll is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while OnPay targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
- User satisfaction: Square Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
- Deployment: Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Square Payroll vs OnPay — 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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Square Payroll vs OnPay: 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 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.
Square Payroll: Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking. OnPay: Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support.
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 | 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 |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability | ||
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesMedium Business | 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.
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.
- 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
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
- Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants
- 1-100 employees
- Healthcare, SaaS, Consulting, Professional Services, Nonprofits, Financial Services, Marketing Agencies
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Finance Managers, Small Business Owners
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.
- 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.
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How do Square Payroll and OnPay Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 13 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Square Payroll and OnPay 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 OnPay: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Square Payroll vs OnPay 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 |
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 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
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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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Square Payroll and OnPay Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  BlueBird  Cartecay  Evergreen |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  6 Screenshots |  7 Screenshots |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  3 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Square Payroll and OnPay 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 OnPay?
- 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 Square Payroll and OnPay offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Square Payroll and OnPay offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Square Payroll vs OnPay?
- Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month. OnPay starts at $40 /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 OnPay?
- Top alternatives to OnPay include Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.