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Paymate Alternatives: 12 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to Paymate — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

12 free Paymate alternatives, ranked at a glance

Quick answer

The most popular free payroll software alternatives to Paymate are Zenefits, Justworks and greytHR. Zenefits tops the ranking with a SpotScore of 9.5 and 4.5★ from users. Compare all 12 on score, rating, and pricing below.

Thinking about life after Paymate? These 12 payroll software free alternatives are the options most worth your time, ranked by SpotScore (real-user satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing. We check every tool ourselves. The table sums them up quickly; the breakdowns below give you the reasoning.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
ZenefitsStreamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.9.5★★★★★ 4.5(545)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
JustworksEfficient payroll management on the go.9.2★★★★ 3.9(50)Freefrom $8 /user/monthteams of all sizes
greytHRStreamline payroll management, anytime, anywhere.9.1★★★★★ 4.91(353)Freefrom $3495/moteams of all sizes
RemofirstEffortlessly hire, manage, and grow your remote team.7.3★★★★★ 4.55(50)Freefrom $25 per person/monthteams of all sizes
BambooHRStreamline your HR processes for better business results.9.8★★★★★ 4.74(1093)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
GustoModern HR for Growing Businesses9.7★★★★ 4.38(947)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
HomebaseStreamline team collaboration with Homebase.9.7★★★★ 4.41(131)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
PaycorTransform your workforce with Paycor.9.6★★★★ 3.9(552)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.96(447)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
factoHRStreamline HR management and focus on growth.9.3★★★★ 3.95(10)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★ 4.4(56)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall businesses
SurePayrollEfficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.9.2★★★★★ 4.86(1436)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

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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

Justworks - Payroll Software

Justworks

Efficient payroll management on the go.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

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Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year

9.1

SpotScore

greytHR - Payroll Software

greytHR

Streamline payroll management, anytime, anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is greytHR?

GreytHR is a cloud-based HR and payroll platform used primarily by small and mid-sized companies in India that need to manage statutory compliance, attendance, and salary processing without a large HR department. It handles PF, ESI, TDS, and other Indian regulatory requirements alongside leave ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

7.3

SpotScore

Remofirst - Payroll Software

Remofirst

Effortlessly hire, manage, and grow your remote team.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Remofirst?

Remofirst is a comprehensive platform designed to simplify the process of hiring, onboarding, and managing remote teams across the globe. With its all-in-one software, businesses can efficiently onboard new employees while ensuring compliance with international labor laws. The platform offers ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

9.8

SpotScore

BambooHR - HR Software

BambooHR

Streamline your HR processes for better business results.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is BambooHR?

BambooHR is an HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses — typically 10 to 500 employees — covering employee records, onboarding, time-off tracking, and performance management in one system. It replaces fragmented spreadsheets and disconnected tools by centralizing all employee data ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

BambooHR offers custom pricing plan

9.7

SpotScore

Gusto - Payroll Software

Gusto

Modern HR for Growing Businesses

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

HIPAA
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What is Gusto?

Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to grow and nurture your team. Trusted by over 300,000 businesses across the U.S., Gusto combines payroll, ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $49/user/month when monthly

9.7

SpotScore

Homebase - Employee Scheduling Software

Homebase

Streamline team collaboration with Homebase.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Homebase?

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing administrative workload. The platform allows users to generate insightful ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $0/ location / month when monthly, also offers free forever plan

9.6

SpotScore

Paycor - HR Software

Paycor

Transform your workforce with Paycor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Paycor?

Paycor is a human capital management platform for mid-size businesses and nonprofits that need payroll processing, time tracking, benefits administration, and employee onboarding managed in a single system. It eliminates the need for separate payroll and HR tools by centralizing people ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Paycor 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

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $40/Month

9.3

SpotScore

factoHR - HR Software

factoHR

Streamline HR management and focus on growth.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is factoHR?

FactoHR is a mobile-first, fully integrated HCM platform designed to empower businesses in building a high-performing workforce while streamlining HR operations. The solution offers a feature-rich mobile app, enabling employees to access their data and perform HR tasks anytime, anywhere, ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

factoHR offers custom pricing plan

9.2

SpotScore

QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software

QuickBooks Payroll

Streamline your payroll process with ease.

Best for: SMB teams

Start Free Trial

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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 ...

Read more about QuickBooks Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $49/Month

9.2

SpotScore

SurePayroll - Payroll Software

SurePayroll

Efficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

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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

Paymate vs its closest competitors

Buyers comparing Paymate usually weigh it against these 12 payroll software competitors, starting with Zenefits, Justworks and greytHR. Each is compared against Paymate on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like Paymate

Searches for "sites like Paymate" and "apps like Paymate" land on the same shortlist as "Paymate alternatives" — the 12 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each tool is in the running

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.

Justworks9.2Best for teams of all sizes

International payroll capabilities

Watch for: Higher cost for small businesses

greytHR9.1Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly interface simplifies navigation and reduces the need for extensive training.

Watch for: Limited features for larger firms

Remofirst7.3Best for teams of all sizes

Easy-to-navigate and user-friendly platform, ensuring smooth use for administrators and employees alike.

Watch for: Initial setup process can be tricky or confusing for some users without prior experience in EOR operations.

BambooHR9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Automates HR processes including document signing, onboarding, and payroll.

Watch for: Lacks advanced features found in more comprehensive HRIS platforms.

Gusto9.7Best for small & mid-size businesses

Handles payroll processing and tax compliance without requiring accounting expertise.

Watch for: Occasional reports of errors in support communication or inconsistencies in handling complex account issues.

Homebase9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Streamlines scheduling processes, making it easy to set and manage employee schedules.

Watch for: Limited customization options in the free version, with some advanced functionalities restricted.

Paycor9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Covers payroll, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration in one platform.

Watch for: Customer service response times are consistently slow, with no assigned representatives and frequent case mismanagement.

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.

factoHR9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Simplifies payroll and attendance management with features like punch in/out tracking and automated calculations.

Watch for: Limited mention of advanced or specialized features may reflect a lack of versatility for larger or complex organizations.

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.

Why teams look for a Paymate alternative

Teams looking past Paymate often cite reasons like these:

  • Doesn’t appear to include newer automation tools or AI-driven features like predictive analytics.
  • Primarily optimized for North America, potentially limiting use for companies with international teams.
  • While suitable for small and medium enterprises, large businesses may find the feature set limiting as they scale.

What to look at before switching from Paymate

The quick comparison across all 12 free alternatives: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $8–$3495, with Justworks the cheapest entry point; and OnPay is the highest rated at 4.96 across 447 reviews.

Behind the order.

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 Paymate are OnPay (5.0★), greytHR (4.9★), SurePayroll (4.9★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Paymate, prioritize: Multi-country, Compensation Management, Check Printing, 401(k) Tracking, 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 Paymate 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 best Paymate alternative for your goals

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, Justworks and greytHR let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: OnPay has the strongest star rating (4.96★) 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.

The switch from Paymate

A low-stress switch from Paymate starts with exporting your data and confirming the new tool imports it. Check feature parity for your real workflows, run a short pilot, and keep Paymate active until the move is finished. The free tiers above let you trial first.

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