Software that streamlines payroll management in organisations. Managing payroll efficiently is crucial. We test and compare the top payroll software to help you handle payroll processing, tax filing, and employee payment all in one place.
Written by Rajat Gupta
last updated : 12 May, 2025
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1
BambooHRRecommended
The Best Payroll Software for startups and small companies with affordable pricing
(25700)
What is BambooHR?
BambooHR has been one of the go-to payroll software for startups & SMBs for years: It comes with stellar customer support, is easy to use, and gives companies some flexibility in purchasing the modules they want.
Pros & Cons
Flexible packages allows you to select individual modules and add other features based on your requirements.
A user-friendly platform that’s easy to navigate and customize.
All plans and packages come with custom pricing that users find reasonable.
Smooth onboarding process with numerous automation features.
Offers free trial.
The payroll process is prolonged by manual edits and entering special payments, such as bonuses.
No checks prevent overbooking vacation time.
Time tracking, performance reviews, and surveys are add-ons.
Major Features
Includes standard benefits tracking, time tracking and offers comprehensive administration as an add-on.
Provides on-demand pay, enabling employees to access earned wages before payday.
Self-serve employee portal allows employees to access their pay stubs and manage their payroll information
Securely stores employee data, allows self-service, and sends profile change notifications.
Offers automated payroll processing, streamlining payroll calculations and payments.
It integrates with time tracking, syncing employee hours directly with payroll for accurate processing.
Customers
BambooHR is trusted by over 20,000 companies, including well-known organizations like Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, Asana, Change.org, University of Maryland, and Grammarly.
How much it cost to me?
Free Trial available
Free trials and demo extensions are available, with no annual contract required.
BambooHR uses a flat monthly rate for companies with 20 or fewer employees and a per-employee-per-month rate for larger teams, offering volume discounts as headcount increases
The Essentials package costs $108/month for 20 employees, while the Advantage package costs $180/month.Payroll is an add-on at $150/month for up to 20 employees, with additional charges for more employees.
Essentials includes basic HR management and employee self-service, while Advantage adds hiring, onboarding, advanced reporting, and an open API.
Additional add-ons include payroll, benefits administration, performance management, and time tracking
BambooHR reviews
"BambooHR is a game changer for my small business. It’s easy to use, and their customer service is top-notch, implementing requests quickly. I use all their modules—HR, payroll, performance, benefits, time tracking—and appreciate their responsiveness to feedback. Great job, BambooHR!"
Donna N
Director - Small Business (Kid Country Childcare)
"What I love most about BambooHR is having everything in one place—employee info, hiring, time off, payroll, and more. The platform is user-friendly on both computer and phone. The sales process was smooth, with excellent support and a genuine sales rep."
Jocelyn
Human Resources Director
2
Paychex
Great HRIS for US-Based Teams.
(18450)
What is Paychex?
Paychex provides payroll, HR, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Its services include payroll processing, tax administration, compliance support, and employee benefits management.
Pros & Cons
Easy-to-use payroll and HR solutions.
Strong tax compliance and reporting features.
Scalable services for businesses of all sizes.
Comprehensive employee benefits management.
Reliable customer support with dedicated specialists.
Some users report occasional delays in customer service response times.
Major Features
Employee management, hiring, and compliance support.
Employee scheduling, time tracking, and reporting.
Automated payroll with tax calculations and direct deposit.
Retirement plans, health insurance, and workers’ compensation.
Customers
Among the 12,000+ companies that use Paychex, you'd find names like Wells Fargo, First Citizen Bank, TCF bank.
How much it cost to me?
Free Trial available
6 months free offer going on.
Pricing starts at $39 per month, plus $5 per employee.
Benefits administration and time tracking are available as add-ons.
Free trial details and offer is available from the sales team.
Paychex reviews
"What I like best about Paychex is the friendly and helpful customer support team. They always assist me with problem-solving, making the experience smooth. The website is easy to use, and I can quickly make changes or adjust my account to fit the needs of my projects and payroll."
Sean S.
Co-founder - Bull
"Being a Paychex client has been a great experience. Since 2005, their knowledgeable and helpful staff have made payroll easy, always providing excellent support."
Mark A.
President - SMB
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at hello@spotsaas.com.
