The best HR and payroll software for small business
A small business needs payroll that is accurate, affordable and simple enough to run without an HR department. We weighted tax filing, value and ease of use, then ranked the six that serve small teams best.
Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
Tools compared6
Criteria weighted5
Last reviewedJune 2026
Paid placements0
How we ranked the field
Scored on our standard five criteria, reweighted for a small business: dependable payroll and tax filing, real value, and an interface an owner can run. See the full rubric →
Payroll and tax filing25%
Value for money25%
Ease of use20%
HR features and depth15%
Support and onboarding15%
01
RANK
★ Editor’s Choice
Gusto
Best for most small teams
For the majority of small businesses, Gusto is the right answer. Published per employee pricing, automatic tax filing in every state, benefits and contractors in one calm interface. It is less suited to very large or heavily global operations.
When a small business is scaling quickly, Rippling unifies payroll, HR and IT so the stack does not fragment. The catch is modular pricing that adds up and a platform that can feel heavy if you only need payroll today.
RUN Powered by ADP brings decades of tax and compliance expertise and a clear upgrade path as you grow. Pricing is quote only and the experience feels more corporate than Gusto, but few match its filing reliability.
Paychex pairs published entry pricing with a dedicated specialist, ideal for an owner who would rather hand payroll off entirely. The platform is dated next to newer tools, and add ons stack up quickly.
A PEO that gives a small team access to large group health plans alongside bundled payroll and compliance. Simple to run, though the benefits driven cost is far higher than the flat platform fee suggests.
If people management matters as much as payroll, BambooHR leads on records, onboarding and performance. Payroll is a US add on rather than the main event, and pricing is quote based.