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Best QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives — 7 Compared, With Free Tools (2026)

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

QuickBooks Payroll alternatives: our 7 top picks at a glance

Quick answer

The best free payroll software tools to replace QuickBooks Payroll are Zenefits, OnPay and SurePayroll. Zenefits sits at number one with a SpotScore of 9.5 and 4.5★ from reviewers. Compare all 7 on score, rating, and pricing below.

QuickBooks Payroll works for plenty of teams, but it isn't the only choice. If price, features, or the learning curve are pushing you to switch, these 7 payroll software free alternatives are the strongest replacements. We rank by SpotScore, a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence, alongside ratings and pricing. Start with the table, then read each breakdown.

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
SurePayrollEfficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.9.2★★★★★ 4.86(1436)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams 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
Patriot PayrollEfficiently streamline your payroll process.8.8★★★★★ 4.87(3151)Freefrom $14/moteams 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

9.4

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

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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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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

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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

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

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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 →

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 ...

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

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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 →

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 →

The main QuickBooks Payroll competitors

Across Payroll Software, 7 products compete directly with QuickBooks Payroll. The strongest overlap is with Zenefits, OnPay and SurePayroll. Each is compared against QuickBooks Payroll on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like QuickBooks Payroll

Searches for "sites like QuickBooks Payroll" and "apps like QuickBooks Payroll" land on the same set of options as "QuickBooks Payroll alternatives" — the 7 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

What earned each one a spot

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.

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.

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.

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 QuickBooks Payroll alternative

Teams rarely leave QuickBooks Payroll without a reason — usually it's one of these:

  • Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.
  • Complexity in resolving reporting errors or adjusting liabilities, often requiring external support or advanced accounting knowledge.
  • Occasional glitches, lag, and freezes, especially with the online version, impacting usability and efficiency.
  • Customer service inconsistency, with challenges in reaching support on weekends or resolving advanced issues promptly.

What to look for in a QuickBooks Payroll alternative

Comparing pricing, ratings, and strengths across the 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.

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 QuickBooks Payroll are Square Payroll (5.0★), OnPay (5.0★), Patriot Payroll (4.9★). Compare all 7 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to QuickBooks 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.

QuickBooks Payroll starts from $49 /Month. 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 QuickBooks 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.

Which QuickBooks Payroll alternative fits your needs?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, OnPay 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.

Leaving QuickBooks Payroll behind

Planning your exit from QuickBooks Payroll? Pull your data out first and confirm the replacement imports it without loss. Make sure the workflows you depend on are covered, run a short trial before committing, and keep QuickBooks Payroll live as a fallback until you're settled. Many tools here offer a free path to test.

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