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6 Best CheckMark Payroll Alternatives for Android in 2026

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

The best CheckMark Payroll alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

In short, the best alternatives to CheckMark Payroll are Zenefits, Square Payroll and Microkeeper. Zenefits is first with a SpotScore of 9.5 and 4.5★ from users. All 6 are compared on score, rating, and pricing below.

If CheckMark Payroll isn't the right fit on price, features, or ease of use, these 6 payroll software alternatives are the strongest options. We rank them by SpotScore, which blends real-user satisfaction with market presence, then by star ratings and pricing model. Every tool here is vetted by our editors. Scan the table first, then read the full breakdown below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
ZenefitsStreamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.9.5★★★★★ 4.5(545)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
Square PayrollStreamline your payroll with ease.8.8★★★★★ 5(15)Freefrom $34 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
MicrokeeperEfficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(90)Freefrom $2.25 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
APS PayrollEfficient payroll management, with precision and security.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(352)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
PrimePayStreamline your payroll with ease.8.6★★★★★ 4.57(61)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
PaybooksEffortlessly manage payroll with Paybooks.8.5★★★★★ 5(3)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Based · Subscriptionteams of all sizes

9.5

SpotScore

Zenefits - Payroll Software

Zenefits

Streamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

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What is Zenefits?

Zenefits is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits administration platform for growing companies that want to consolidate onboarding, time-off tracking, payroll processing, and compliance management in a single system. It eliminates the common pattern of using separate tools for HR records, ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Zenefits offers custom pricing plan

8.8

SpotScore

Square Payroll - Payroll Software

Square Payroll

Streamline your payroll with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

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Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year

8.7

SpotScore

Microkeeper - Payroll Software

Microkeeper

Efficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is Microkeeper?

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 more affordable. Microkeeper gives you simplicity and convenience in ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

8.7

SpotScore

APS Payroll - Payroll Software

APS Payroll

Efficient payroll management, with precision and security.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is APS Payroll?

APS Payroll is a payroll and HR management platform for mid-sized businesses that need customizable reporting, employee self-service, and third-party integrations alongside core payroll processing. Its report builder lets HR teams generate custom outputs for workforce cost analysis without ...

Read more about APS Payroll

APS Payroll offers custom pricing plan

8.6

SpotScore

PrimePay - Payroll Software

PrimePay

Streamline your payroll with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

Add to compare

What is PrimePay?

PrimePay is payroll software that offers a full payroll for small and mid-sized businesses. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, while maintaining the requirements needed for a company's payroll. Both new companies just starting on Payroll and companies already on Payroll will benefit ...

Read more about PrimePay

PrimePay offers custom pricing plan

8.5

SpotScore

Paybooks - Payroll Software

Paybooks

Effortlessly manage payroll with Paybooks.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Paybooks?

Paybooks is payroll software for HR teams in mid-sized to large companies managing payroll across multiple business units or tax jurisdictions. It handles salary calculation, statutory compliance, and supports both cloud and on-premise deployment depending on IT policy. Setup requires ...

Read more about Paybooks
Free TrialTry Free →·

Paybooks offers custom pricing plan

How CheckMark Payroll competitors stack up

Buyers comparing CheckMark Payroll usually weigh it against these 6 payroll software competitors, starting with Zenefits, Square Payroll and Microkeeper. Each is compared against CheckMark Payroll on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like CheckMark Payroll

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

What each CheckMark Payroll alternative brings

Zenefits9.5Best for small & mid-size businesses

Handles onboarding, offboarding, payroll, and benefits administration in one workflow, reducing paperwork.

Watch for: Customer support response times are slow, with limited availability during urgent situations.

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.

Microkeeper8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Consolidates payroll, rosters, timesheets, and HR tasks into one platform.

Watch for: Occasional app or feature downtime causes minor disruptions.

APS Payroll8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Integration with Sage Intacct simplifies operations and reduces manual work.

Watch for: Implementation can be disorganized with some inconsistencies and delays in setup or onboarding.

PrimePay8.6Best for teams of all sizes

Customer service is responsive, with representatives frequently singled out for praise.

Watch for: Lack of dedicated account representatives for some users, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistent problem resolution.

Paybooks8.5Best for teams of all sizes

Paybooks offers a robust suite of payroll functionalities that can handle end-to-end payroll processing, making it suitable for a wide range of organizational needs.

Watch for: Due to its high level of customization, setting up Paybooks to suit specific business structures and jurisdictions can be time-consuming without expert assistance.

Why teams look for a CheckMark Payroll alternative

Teams looking past CheckMark Payroll often cite reasons like these:

  • The product focuses primarily on check printing and payroll processing, and may not include broader HR functionalities like onboarding, time tracking, or benefits administration.
  • Some functions, such as data entry or record updates, may require manual intervention, which can be time-consuming and prone to user error.
  • The product description suggests a desktop-based system, which may lack modern cloud features like remote access, automatic updates, or mobile support.

What matters most in a CheckMark Payroll alternative

The quick comparison across all 6 alternatives: 4 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2.25–$34, with Microkeeper the cheapest entry point; and Square Payroll is the highest rated at 5★ across 15 reviews.

The ranking explained.

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 CheckMark Payroll are Square Payroll (5.0★), Paybooks (5.0★), Microkeeper (4.7★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to CheckMark Payroll, prioritize: W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Direct Deposit, Deductions Management, Check Printing, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

CheckMark Payroll starts from $449. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply CheckMark 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.

Choosing the CheckMark Payroll alternative that fits

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, Square Payroll and Microkeeper 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: Zenefits has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.5) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Transitioning away from CheckMark Payroll

Before replacing CheckMark Payroll, do a quick dry run. Export your data, make sure it imports into the new tool, and confirm the features you rely on are there. Pilot the switch with a free tier or trial, and keep CheckMark Payroll alive until the migration finishes cleanly.

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