NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

Spotsaas logo
Last updated:

6 Best APS Payroll Alternatives in 2026 — Free Options Included

Explore 6 alternatives to APS Payroll — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The 6 best free APS Payroll alternatives, summed up

Quick answer

If you're after a APS Payroll alternative, start with OnPay, SurePayroll and QuickBooks Payroll. OnPay leads on SpotScore (9.4), backed by a 4.96★ rating. See how all 6 compare on score, rating, and price below.

Maybe APS Payroll costs too much, misses a feature you need, or just feels clunky. Whatever the reason, these 6 payroll software free alternatives are the picks worth a closer look. We order them by SpotScore, a mix of verified user satisfaction and market presence, plus ratings and pricing. Use the table to compare at a glance, then dig into each below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.96(447)Freefrom $40/moteams of all sizes
SurePayrollEfficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.9.2★★★★★ 4.86(1436)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★☆ 4.4(56)Freefrom $49/mosmall businesses
JustworksEfficient payroll management on the go.9.2★★★★☆ 3.9(50)Freefrom $8 /user/monthteams of all sizes
Square PayrollStreamline your payroll with ease.8.8★★★★★ 5(15)Freefrom $34 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
Patriot PayrollEfficiently streamline your payroll process.8.8★★★★★ 4.87(3151)Freefrom $14/moteams of all sizes

9.4

SpotScore

OnPay - Payroll Software

OnPay

Streamline your payroll process and save time and money.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

447 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is OnPay?

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 costs for processing payroll checks, making tax reports, tracking down pay ...

Read more about OnPay
Free TrialTry Free →

9.2

SpotScore

SurePayroll - Payroll Software

SurePayroll

Efficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.9

1436 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is SurePayroll?

SurePayroll is a cloud-based, Payroll Software with Time Tracking Service. The software can be accessed from any device and is hosted by SurePayroll in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center for fast processing and performance.It automates most employee related tasks including accurate and ...

Read more about SurePayroll
Free Trial·

SurePayroll offers custom pricing plan

Spotsaas Ads

Want your product up here? Put it in front of buyers the moment they're comparing your category.

Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year
Advertise your product

9.2

SpotScore

QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software

QuickBooks Payroll

Streamline your payroll process with ease.

Best for: SMB teams

Start Free Trial

4.4

56 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is QuickBooks Payroll?

QuickBooks Payroll makes it easy to stay on top of your HR needs. It’s payroll software that gives you the power to handle all the payroll processing you need, from modeling an employee’s paycheck to tracking deductions and taxes. Whether you need a few employees or thousands, QuickBooks ...

Read more about QuickBooks Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

9.2

SpotScore

Justworks - Payroll Software

Justworks

Efficient payroll management on the go.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.9

50 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Justworks?

Justworks is payroll software that offers international payroll, payroll tax filing and realtime benefits administration. The Justworks app is a simple way for teams to bill their hours directly from their iPhone or Android devices. This mobile solution provides employees with a transparent ...

Read more about Justworks
Free TrialTry Free →

8.8

SpotScore

Square Payroll - Payroll Software

Square Payroll

Streamline your payroll with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

15 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Square Payroll?

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 deposit, and pulls time tracking data directly from Square tools to eliminate ...

Read more about Square Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

8.8

SpotScore

Patriot Payroll - Payroll Software

Patriot Payroll

Efficiently streamline your payroll process.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.9

3151 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Patriot Payroll?

The Patriot's secure payroll solution is designed to lower the total cost of payroll administration, while helping you reduce your staffs' workload. With its fully integrated interface with Patriot's fund accounting and other core compliance solutions, Patriot Payroll Software automates the ...

Read more about Patriot Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

The main APS Payroll competitors

APS Payroll competes with 6 other payroll software tools tracked on Spotsaas. The closest by feature overlap are OnPay, SurePayroll and QuickBooks Payroll. Each is compared against APS Payroll on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like APS Payroll?

Searches for "sites like APS Payroll" and "apps like APS Payroll" land on the same set of options as "APS Payroll alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each earned a place here

OnPay9.4Best for teams of all sizes

OnPay stands out for its intuitive design, making it easy for supervisors, managers, and payroll specialists to navigate and execute payroll tasks efficiently

Watch for: While great for SMBs, larger companies might find customization options less robust for complex payroll needs.

SurePayroll9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Payroll setup is quick, easy to use, and simplifies previously cumbersome tasks like tax deductions and filings.

Watch for: Occasional issues with missing payments or discrepancies that require follow-up.

QuickBooks Payroll9.2Best for small businesses

Automates tax filing, paycheck generation, and sends real-time notifications to reduce manual effort.

Watch for: Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.

Justworks9.2Best for teams of all sizes

International payroll capabilities

Watch for: Higher cost for small businesses

Square Payroll8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Square Payroll integrates effortlessly with existing payroll providers, making it an ideal plug-and-play solution without the need for major system overhauls.

Watch for: While great for small businesses, it may lack some of the advanced reporting, analytics, or customization features needed by larger enterprises.

Patriot Payroll8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Very user-friendly software, making tasks straightforward and efficient for startups and small businesses.

Watch for: Occasional learning curve during setup or for newcomers, though consistently offset by good support.

Why teams look for a APS Payroll alternative

There are a few common reasons buyers start shopping for a APS Payroll alternative:

  • Implementation can be disorganized with some inconsistencies and delays in setup or onboarding.
  • Customization is limited in certain features like deduction fields, reporting, and benefits management.
  • Reporting features can be challenging for new users until they gain familiarity with the system.
  • QuickBooks integration and carrier connections for benefits take longer than expected to set up.

What to focus on in a APS Payroll alternative

Side by side, the 6 free alternatives break down like this: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $8–$49, with Justworks the cheapest entry point; and Square Payroll is the highest rated at 5★ across 15 reviews.

The logic behind the ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to APS Payroll are Square Payroll (5.0★), OnPay (5.0★), Patriot Payroll (4.9★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to APS Payroll, prioritize: Wage Garnishment, W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Self Service Portal, Multi-country, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply APS Payroll is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Deciding on the right APS Payroll alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — OnPay, SurePayroll and QuickBooks Payroll let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Square Payroll has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: OnPay has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.4) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Switching from APS Payroll

Replacing APS Payroll is easiest when you plan the data move first. Export your records, confirm the new tool imports them, and verify your key workflows hold. Pilot the switch free, then migrate fully, keeping APS Payroll open as backup until you're settled.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].