Top 10 ADP Payroll Services Alternatives 2026

What reviewers like about WavePayroll

• Affordable solution for small to medium-sized businesses offering essential payroll and accounting features.
• Interface is easy enough for non-accountants and beginners.
• Integrates with other Wave apps for invoicing, expense tracking, and accounting.

Where WavePayroll falls short

• Customer service is slow and frequently unresponsive, making issue resolution time-consuming.
• Limited customization for non-US/Canada financial regulations, creating difficulties for international users.
• Slower payment transfer times and limited ability to run emergency or extra payroll.

What reviewers like about OnPay

• OnPay stands out for its intuitive design, making it easy for supervisors, managers, and payroll specialists to navigate and execute payroll tasks efficiently
• It supports both hourly and salaried employees, allowing companies to manage diverse workforce needs under one system.
• By automating key payroll functions, OnPay helps organizations cut down on the time and expenses typically involved in payroll operations.

Where OnPay falls short

• While great for SMBs, larger companies might find customization options less robust for complex payroll needs.
• OnPay focuses on payroll and may require additional tools for functions like recruitment or performance management.
• As a cloud-based solution, internet connectivity is required, which might be a constraint in certain environments.

What reviewers like about CheckWriters

• Exceptional and responsive customer service, often noted for its promptness and professionalism.
• User-friendly platform that simplifies payroll, reporting, and HR tasks, making processes efficient for both small and large organizations.
• Accurate payroll and tax compliance, reducing errors and providing peace of mind for users.

Where CheckWriters falls short

• Long wait times when contacting customer service representatives, and potential difficulties in reaching familiar account specialists.
• Steep learning curve for certain report functions or features, with some reports being hard to customize or export properly.
• Frequent account representative turnover, making it challenging to build consistent support relationships.

What reviewers like about EPAY HCM

• Exceptional customer support, available 24/7, ensuring quick and effective troubleshooting.
• User-friendly interface with simple navigation, both on the mobile app and website.
• Efficient time tracking features allowing easy access, editing, and management of employee attendance and payroll.

Where EPAY HCM falls short

• Occasional complexity with certain features, like adding mass PTO with different hour allocations for part-time vs. full-time employees, creating additional work.
• Fingerprint mismatches causing errors in payroll, especially with certain employees, despite re-registering fingerprints.
• Issues with login reliability, such as cases where users struggle to access accounts due to password or keyboard settings.

What reviewers like about PrimePay

• Customer service is responsive, with representatives frequently singled out for praise.
• Interface requires minimal technical expertise to use.
• Employee self-service options reduce HR workload.

Where PrimePay falls short

• Lack of dedicated account representatives for some users, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistent problem resolution.
• Issues with updated features such as cloud registration, resulting in errors and frustration.
• Complexity in some functionalities, such as tax reporting and transaction tracking, needs further refinement.

What reviewers like about CheckMark Payroll

• Offers multiple check printing formats so businesses can customize how employee paychecks are printed.
• The ability to print paychecks, reports, and federal tax forms directly from your own printer gives businesses full control over payroll operations without relying on third parties.
• Reduces the administrative burden of payroll processing, making it suited for small to mid-sized businesses.

Where CheckMark Payroll falls short

• 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 reviewers like about Heartland Payroll

• The self-service portal is intuitive and easy to navigate, offering features for payroll entry, custom reporting, and data access.
• Dedicated payroll specialists are knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive, resolving issues efficiently.
• Payroll automation eliminates the need for manual calculations by handling taxes, deductions, and filings at local, state, and federal levels.

Where Heartland Payroll falls short

• 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.

What reviewers like about Papaya Global

• Handles global payroll processing and hiring across multiple countries with local compliance.
• Centralized interface for managing payroll with an accessible platform.
• Dedicated payroll specialists and Customer Success Managers provide responsive support.

Where Papaya Global falls short

• Invoices often lack detail, making it hard to associate charges with specific employees.
• Bulk updates to employee data require manual processes or specific file requests.
• PTO imports and certain technical features need improvement.

What reviewers like about SurePayroll

• Payroll setup is quick, easy to use, and simplifies previously cumbersome tasks like tax deductions and filings.
• Easy-to-use platform with a simple interface, making it accessible for non-technical users.
• Exceptional customer support with dedicated representatives offering hands-on assistance and problem resolution.

Where SurePayroll falls short

• Occasional issues with missing payments or discrepancies that require follow-up.
• While customer service is generally positive, isolated instances of less satisfactory support were mentioned.
• Limited flexibility for advanced users or features when compared to some competitors.

What reviewers like about Remote.com

• Exceptional customer support that is quick, responsive, and patient, ensuring all user queries are resolved efficiently.
• Support team members frequently go above and beyond to resolve issues, offering personalized and friendly assistance.
• Easy-to-use platform with smooth navigation, enhancing the overall user experience.

Where Remote.com falls short

• Occasional delays in resolving issues on public or holiday schedules, leading to minor inconveniences.
• Some users mention limited flexibility or dependency on support for solving certain issues that may hinder self-service.