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6 Heartland Payroll Alternatives for Android, Ranked (2026)

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

The 6 best Heartland Payroll alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

Our pick of payroll software alternatives to Heartland Payroll: Zenefits, QuickBooks Payroll and SurePayroll. Zenefits leads the pack with a SpotScore of 9.5 and a 4.5★ rating. Compare all 6 on score, rating, and pricing below.

If Heartland 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
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★☆ 4.4(56)Freefrom $49/mosmall businesses
SurePayrollEfficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.9.2★★★★★ 4.86(1436)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Square PayrollStreamline your payroll with ease.8.8★★★★★ 5(15)Freefrom $34 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
APS PayrollEfficient payroll management, with precision and security.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(352)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
MicrokeeperEfficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(90)Freefrom $2.25 /User/Monthteams 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

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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

9.2

SpotScore

QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software

QuickBooks Payroll

Streamline your payroll process with ease.

Best for: SMB teams

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4.4

56 verified reviews

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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 ...

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9.2

SpotScore

SurePayroll - Payroll Software

SurePayroll

Efficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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4.9

1436 verified reviews

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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 ...

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Free Trial·

SurePayroll 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

5.0

15 verified reviews

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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 →

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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4.7

352 verified reviews

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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

8.7

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

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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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Who competes with Heartland Payroll?

Across Payroll Software, 6 products compete directly with Heartland Payroll. The strongest overlap is with Zenefits, QuickBooks Payroll and SurePayroll. Each is compared against Heartland Payroll on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to Heartland Payroll

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

What sets each pick apart

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why teams look for a Heartland Payroll alternative

When teams go looking for a Heartland Payroll alternative, it's often because of issues like these:

  • Onboarding processes can be disorganized and manual, leading to errors and requiring additional oversight.
  • Frequent turnover of payroll representatives affects continuity and consistency for some customers.
  • Employees often face challenges accessing the portal, with issues like account lockouts or subpar mobile experience.
  • Limited customization in some areas, such as payroll entry screens, reporting, or recurring benefit changes.

Choosing a Heartland Payroll alternative

Here's what the data says about these 6 payroll software alternatives: 5 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2.25–$49, with Microkeeper the cheapest entry point; and Square Payroll is the highest rated at 5★ across 15 reviews.

Our methodology.

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 Heartland Payroll are Square Payroll (5.0★), SurePayroll (4.9★), APS Payroll (4.7★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Heartland Payroll, prioritize: Wage Garnishment, W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Self Service Portal, Direct Deposit, 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 Heartland 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.

How to pick the best Heartland Payroll alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, QuickBooks Payroll and SurePayroll 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.

How to migrate from Heartland Payroll

To switch off Heartland Payroll without disruption, handle your data first: export it and test that the new tool imports it cleanly. Verify your key workflows still function, pilot the move on a free plan or trial, and keep Heartland Payroll active until the cutover is complete.

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