Square Payroll has made payroll accessible for small businesses, but as your needs grow, its simplicity can turn into a limitation. From multistate filings and benefits management to deeper integrations and automation, there are smarter platforms out there ready to scale with your team.
The SaaSworthy team dug deep into the top Square Payroll alternatives in 2025, analyzing their pricing, features, strengths, and ideal use cases. Here’s the breakdown to help you pick the right fit for your business. But before we dive in, here is shortlist of top Payroll Software for 2025:
Table of Contents
How We Evaluate Top Square Alternatives
We didn’t just skim feature pages. We rated each payroll software based on:
| Criteria | Weightage | What We Looked For |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Core Functionality | 30% | Accuracy, multistate support, direct deposit, tax filing automation |
| Compliance & HR Tools | 20% | Benefits, ACA/W2/1099 handling, onboarding, PTO, document storage |
| Pricing Transparency | 20% | Clear monthly/user-based pricing with minimal surprise add-ons |
| Ease of Use | 15% | Dashboard experience, user onboarding, team accessibility |
| Integrations & Ecosystem | 10% | Support for accounting tools, benefits, HRIS, and third-party apps |
| Customer Support & Reviews | 5% | 24/7 support, advisor access, customer satisfaction metrics |
Now, let’s dive into the top 7 Square Payroll alternatives of 2025.
Quick Overview: Square Payroll vs Alternatives
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | SaaSworthy Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | All-in-one HR + payroll for SMBs | $40/mo + $6/user | Best overall alternative |
| OnPay | Growing teams needing benefits too | $40/mo + $6/user | Most transparent pricing |
| Patriot Software | Ultra-small businesses on a budget | $30/mo + $4/user | Best for tight budgets |
| Rippling | Modern tech-enabled teams | ~$8–10/user/mo | Best for IT + HR unification |
| ADP RUN | Multistate compliance-heavy orgs | Custom | Best for regulated industries |
| Paychex Flex | Midsize businesses scaling up | Custom | Best for HR + payroll combo |
| SurePayroll | Household employers & contractors | $19.99+/mo | Best for niche & home payroll |
Gusto – Best All-in-One HR & Payroll Platform
Why switch from Square: Gusto offers a complete HR suite, not just payroll. With automated tax filings in all 50 states, built-in benefits, onboarding, time tracking, and performance tools—it’s a full People Platform.
Key features:
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Automated payroll tax filings (nationwide)
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Benefits admin (health, 401(k), commuter, etc.)
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Built-in time tracking and PTO management
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Employee self-service portal
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100+ integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, Asana)
Pricing:
Starts at $40/month + $6/user (Simple plan)
Higher tiers add advanced HR and compliance tools.
SaaSworthy Take:
If you’ve outgrown Square Payroll, Gusto is the natural upgrade. It blends automation and usability with real HR firepower—perfect for startups scaling fast.
OnPay – Best Value for Full-Service Payroll
Why switch from Square: OnPay does full-service payroll, benefits, and HR at a flat, all-inclusive price with no hidden tiers.
Key features:
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Multistate payroll filing included
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Free W-2s, 1099s, and end-of-year filings
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Health benefits in all 50 states
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Org charts, offer letters, HR docs
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Accountant dashboard for bookkeepers
Pricing:
Flat $40/month + $6 per employee
All features included in one plan.
SaaSworthy Take:
OnPay is perfect for companies that want simplicity without sacrificing power. You get Gusto-like features at a lower price and predictable billing month over month.
Patriot Payroll – Best Budget-Friendly Payroll Tool
Why switch from Square: Patriot’s minimalist approach to payroll makes it affordable, intuitive, and easy for smaller teams to adopt.
Key features:
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Full-service payroll or DIY options
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W-2, 1099, and multi-pay rate support
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Time tracking and basic HR add-ons available
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Transparent pricing, no contracts
Pricing:
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Basic Payroll: $10/mo + $4/employee
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Full Service: $30/mo + $4/employee
SaaSworthy Take:
If Square’s costs are creeping up and you want total control over budget, Patriot is one of the leanest, clearest payroll tools around. Great for businesses under 10 employees.
Rippling – Best for Tech-Enabled Workforces
Why switch from Square: Rippling blends payroll, IT, HR, and device management in one platform—ideal for fast-growing, remote-first, or tech-savvy teams.
Key features:
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US and global payroll support
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Device + app provisioning (Slack, Google Workspace, Zoom)
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Custom workflow automations
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Modular platform: buy what you need only
Pricing:
Starts at $8–10/employee/month, depending on modules.
SaaSworthy Take:
No other platform combines IT + HR like Rippling. If you onboard with company laptops, software, and benefits—this is your future-ready solution.
ADP Run – Best for Multistate Compliance & Scale
Why switch from Square: ADP’s been in the game for decades, and RUN is its SMB product—offering enterprise-grade compliance and scalability for smaller teams.
Key features:
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Federal, state, and local payroll compliance
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Garnishment, workers’ comp, benefits
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HR add-ons (background checks, training, onboarding)
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Mobile app and dedicated advisor support
Pricing:
Custom quotes based on size and services used.
SaaSworthy Take:
If you’re hiring across states or worried about compliance risk, ADP RUN brings bulletproof expertise. Not the cheapest—but you get deep support, especially for 50+ person teams.
Paychex Flex – Best for Growing Businesses with HR Needs
Why switch from Square: Paychex Flex balances powerful HR tools with simple payroll—ideal for businesses in transition or early-stage scaling.
Key features:
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24/7 live support + HR advisors
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ACA and compliance tracking
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Direct deposit, wage garnishment
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Learning, onboarding, and applicant tracking add-ons
Pricing:
Starts around $39/month + per-employee fees, with tiered plans.
SaaSworthy Take:
Paychex Flex is great if you need expert support without full enterprise pricing. The HR integrations give it an edge over Square for orgs that want more control.
SurePayroll – Best for Contractors and Household Employers
Why switch from Square: SurePayroll is tailored for niche use cases—like nanny payroll, household staff, or contractor-heavy teams.
Key features:
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Tax compliance for nanny/household employers
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Contractor-only payroll option
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Direct deposit, new hire reporting
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Mobile app and tax filing guarantees
Pricing:
Starts at $19.99/month (contractor-only); $49.99+ for full-service W-2 payroll
SaaSworthy Take:
If you’re running payroll for home-based workforces or just contractors, SurePayroll offers laser-focused functionality. Square doesn’t specialize here—SurePayroll does.
Which Square Payroll Alternative Is Right for You?
| Business Profile | Best Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancers & small teams (<5) | Patriot or Gusto | Affordable & easy setup |
| Growing SMBs (5–50 employees) | OnPay or Gusto | Full-service at fair cost |
| Remote or tech-first teams | Rippling | Unified IT + HR system |
| Multi-state or regulated industries | ADP Run or Paychex Flex | Compliance + HR strength |
| Contractor/household payroll | SurePayroll | Best for niche employer needs |
Final Thoughts: Outgrowing Square? You’re Not Alone.
Square Payroll is excellent for side hustles, microbusinesses, and simple payroll runs. But once you scale—whether by headcount, states, or complexity—you’ll likely hit its limits.
Our advice:
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Start with OnPay or Gusto for all-around value.
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Upgrade to Rippling if you want a future-ready, modular system.
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Choose ADP or Paychex if you need HR and compliance muscle.
No matter which path you take, these Square alternatives give you the flexibility and depth to grow payroll with confidence in 2025—and beyond.
Want help comparing plans side-by-side? Use SaaSworthy’s payroll software comparison tool to evaluate features, user reviews, and value scores.
FAQs: Choosing the Right Square Payroll Alternative in 2025
Why should I consider switching from Square Payroll?
Square Payroll is great for basic payroll, but it has limitations when it comes to multi-state support, advanced HR tools, custom reporting, and integrations. If your business is scaling or needs more control and automation, a more robust payroll platform may serve you better.
What’s the best Square Payroll alternative for small businesses under 10 employees?
Gusto is a top pick for teams under 10—it’s affordable, easy to use, and includes automated tax filings, benefits management, and solid onboarding features right out of the box.
Which alternative is best for contractor-heavy teams?
Deel and Justworks stand out here. Deel offers unmatched global contractor payments, while Justworks excels for U.S.-based hybrid teams with 1099 needs and PEO benefits.
Are there any free or low-cost alternatives to Square Payroll?
Most full-service payroll providers charge a base fee, but platforms like Patriot and SurePayroll offer extremely low-cost plans starting at $10–$15/month plus per-employee fees, with the option to handle tax filings manually to reduce costs.
Which platforms include HR and compliance tools too?
If you’re looking for an all-in-one HR + payroll solution, Rippling, Gusto Plus, or ADP RUN (for larger orgs) provide onboarding, PTO, compliance alerts, and document storage alongside payroll.
Can these alternatives handle payroll across multiple states?
Yes—Gusto, Rippling, OnPay, and ADP all support multi-state payroll. Square only recently began to support more than one state, and its features are still limited compared to these.
Which alternative integrates best with accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero?
OnPay, Gusto, and Patriot all offer deep integrations with accounting software, including automated journal entries. Rippling also syncs payroll with finance tools if you need custom mappings.
