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

Spotsaas logo
Last updated:

CheckMark Payroll Alternatives: 7 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Explore 7 alternatives to CheckMark Payroll, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The best free CheckMark Payroll alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

In short, the best free alternatives to CheckMark Payroll are Zenefits, OnPay and Justworks. Zenefits is first with a SpotScore of 9.5 and 4.5★ from users. All 7 are compared on score, rating, and pricing below.

If CheckMark Payroll isn't the right fit on price, features, or ease of use, these 7 payroll software free 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
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.96(447)Freefrom $40/moteams of all sizes
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
MicrokeeperEfficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(90)Freefrom $2.25 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
PaybooksEffortlessly manage payroll with Paybooks.8.5★★★★★ 5(3)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Based · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
ADP Payroll ServicesEfficient HR solutions at your fingertips.7.6★★★★☆ 4.3(226)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams 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

4.5

545 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

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, ...

Read more about Zenefits
Free TrialTry Free →·

Zenefits offers custom pricing plan

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 →

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

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 →

8.7

SpotScore

Microkeeper - Payroll Software

Microkeeper

Efficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

90 verified reviews

Add to compare

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 ...

Read more about Microkeeper
Free TrialTry Free →

8.5

SpotScore

Paybooks - Payroll Software

Paybooks

Effortlessly manage payroll with Paybooks.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

3 verified reviews

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

7.6

SpotScore

ADP Payroll Services - Payroll Software

ADP Payroll Services

Efficient HR solutions at your fingertips.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

226 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is ADP Payroll Services?

ADP Payroll Services offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help businesses of all sizes comply with payroll, taxes, and other HR regulations. The latest tools from ADP provide access to a live HR support team, a job description wizard, employee handbook guidelines, proactive ...

Read more about ADP Payroll Services
Free TrialTry Free →·

ADP Payroll Services offers custom pricing plan

How CheckMark Payroll competitors stack up

Buyers comparing CheckMark Payroll usually weigh it against these 7 payroll software competitors, starting with Zenefits, OnPay and Justworks. 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 7 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ADP Payroll Services7.6Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly interface, making it accessible even for non-technical users.

Watch for: Periodic customer service complaints regarding responsiveness and reliability.

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 7 free alternatives: 7 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2.25–$40, 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★), OnPay (5.0★). Compare all 7 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, OnPay and Justworks 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].