OnPay Review — Simple Payroll, Tax Filing, and Benefits Administration for Small Businesses

Name: OnPay
Brand: OnPay
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OnPay is the payroll platform that small businesses find when they search for 'payroll that just works.' The product handles payroll processing, federal and state tax filing, benefits administration, and basic HR tools at a flat $40 per month plus $6 per employee — with every feature included, no upsells, and no hidden tiers. OnPay serves businesses from 1 to roughly 50 employees and positions itself as the alternative to Gusto, Paychex, and ADP for owners who want simplicity over scale.

What makes OnPay worth reviewing in 2026 is the pricing transparency and the refusal to nickel-and-dime customers with add-on modules. In a market where Gusto charges $40 to $80 per month before per-employee fees and ADP requires a sales conversation for pricing, OnPay's one-plan model eliminates the 'which tier do I need?' decision entirely. My review covers whether that simplicity holds up in practice — where the payroll execution saves real time, where the HR tools hit their limits, and whether the platform scales beyond the smallest businesses.

OnPay uses flat rate: $40/month base + $6/employee/month pricing, runs on cloud, supports Web, and 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

Visit OnPay website Start free trial OnPay pricing OnPay alternatives OnPay vs Gusto: The Value Play vs the Feature Play for Small Business Payroll OnPay vs ADP

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Written by Maya PatelFact-checked by ChandrasmitaLast updated Mar 22, 2026

Pricing model

Flat rate: $40/month base + $6/employee/month

Deployment

Cloud

Supported platforms

Web

Trial status

30-day free trial, no credit card required

Review rating

Not yet rated

Vendor

OnPay

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OnPay pricing, plan structure, and how the $40 plus $6 model compares to competitors

OnPay's pricing is refreshingly simple. The base fee is $40 per month, and each employee costs $6 per month. There are no plan tiers, no feature restrictions, and no required add-ons. A 10-employee company pays $100 per month. A 25-employee company pays $190 per month. A 50-employee company pays $340 per month. The pricing page at onpay.com/pricing shows these numbers clearly with no asterisks.

The 30-day free trial requires no credit card, which removes the friction that competitors like Paychex and ADP create with their quote-based sales processes. OnPay also offers a first-month-free promotion for businesses that migrate from another payroll provider — check the website for current promotional terms.

See the full OnPay pricing breakdown

OnPay (single plan): $40/mo base + $6/employee/mo ()

Verified from the official pricing page on March 17, 2026. View source

Why OnPay stands out for small business payroll buyers who want transparent pricing

My take on OnPay is that it is the best value in small business payroll for companies with 1 to 50 employees that do not need advanced HR features.

The payroll processing is reliable, the tax filing is automated, and the single-plan pricing means you never wonder whether you are on the right tier. The 30-day free trial with no credit card requirement shows confidence in the product — OnPay does not need a sales conversation to convert you.

Where OnPay falls short is everywhere beyond payroll and basic HR. There is no performance management, no applicant tracking, no engagement surveys, and no advanced workforce analytics. The platform does one thing well and makes no pretense about being a full HR suite.

If your primary need is running payroll accurately and filing taxes on time without overpaying, OnPay is the correct choice. If you need a platform that grows into broader HR capabilities, Gusto or Rippling will serve you better long-term.

OnPay is best for

OnPay is best for small businesses with 1 to 50 employees that need reliable payroll processing, automated tax filing, and basic benefits administration without the complexity or cost of enterprise-grade HR platforms.

It fits business owners and office managers who handle payroll as one of many responsibilities — not dedicated payroll specialists who need advanced configuration options.

If your primary buying criterion is 'run payroll correctly without surprises on the invoice,' OnPay belongs at the top of your list. If you need applicant tracking, performance reviews, or engagement tools alongside payroll, look at Gusto or Rippling.

Why OnPay stands out

OnPay stands out because of what it refuses to do. In a market where every payroll provider tries to upsell you into higher tiers, add-on modules, and multi-year contracts, OnPay charges one price for everything and lets you cancel anytime. That transparency is rare and valuable for small business owners who have been burned by hidden fees from larger providers.

The tax filing automation is the other standout. OnPay handles federal, state, and local tax calculations, filings, and payments automatically — including multi-state payroll for businesses with remote employees. Tax filing errors trigger a guarantee: OnPay will resolve any issues and pay the penalties if the error was theirs.

For businesses that have experienced the pain of incorrect tax filings or surprise invoices from payroll providers, OnPay's combination of transparent pricing and tax guarantee addresses both anxieties directly.

Commercial fit for OnPay

Commercially, OnPay targets the segment of the market that Gusto and ADP overlook — the small business that needs payroll done right without bells, whistles, or aggressive upselling. The $40 plus $6 pricing is designed to be understood in 10 seconds, and the 30-day free trial converts buyers without a sales conversation.

The trade-off is clear: OnPay will never be the platform you grow into. It is the platform that serves you well while you are small and that you replace when your HR needs exceed payroll and basic benefits. For the 5 million+ US businesses with fewer than 50 employees, that is exactly the right value proposition.

OnPay sits in the Payroll Software category. Browse all payroll software tools to see how it compares to the full shortlist.

Still comparing? Dig deeper:

See OnPay pricing breakdown Compare OnPay alternatives OnPay vs Gusto: The Value Play vs the Feature Play for Small Business Payroll

OnPay in depth

OnPay is best evaluated in the context of the specific payroll workflows your team is trying to improve.

Shortlist quality depends less on surface-level feature parity and more on how well OnPay fits your operating model, reporting expectations, and the amount of change management your people team can absorb. Use this page to understand fit before moving into direct vendor comparisons.

Test whether OnPay supports the workflows that matter in the next 90 days.
Validate pricing mechanics against actual headcount, payroll, or manager usage assumptions.
Check whether the implementation path matches your internal resourcing and change timeline.

OnPay features: payroll processing, tax automation, benefits admin, and onboarding

OnPay payroll processing and automated pay runs

OnPay's core payroll engine processes paychecks for salaried and hourly employees with support for multiple pay schedules, pay rates, and compensation types.

OnPay's core payroll engine processes paychecks for salaried and hourly employees with support for multiple pay schedules, pay rates, and compensation types. Payroll can be run on a custom schedule — weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly — and the system supports unlimited payroll runs per month at no additional cost.

The payroll interface walks users through each run with a step-by-step process: review hours, confirm earnings, check deductions, approve, and submit. Errors are flagged before submission, and a preview screen shows the exact amounts before funds are disbursed.

Hourly and salaried payroll processing

The system handles both hourly employees with variable hours and salaried employees with fixed pay. Overtime calculations follow FLSA rules and state-specific overtime laws automatically. Retroactive pay adjustments and off-cycle payments can be processed without affecting the regular payroll schedule.

Contractor payments and 1099 filing

OnPay processes contractor payments alongside employee payroll. Year-end 1099 forms are generated and filed electronically. The contractor payment workflow is separate from employee payroll but managed within the same interface.

OnPay tax filing and compliance automation

Tax filing covers federal income tax, FICA, FUTA, state income tax, state unemployment, and local taxes where applicable.

Tax filing covers federal income tax, FICA, FUTA, state income tax, state unemployment, and local taxes where applicable. OnPay calculates withholdings each pay period, remits payments to the appropriate agencies on schedule, and files quarterly and annual returns automatically.

The tax guarantee means OnPay assumes responsibility for accuracy. If a filing error results in a penalty, OnPay resolves the issue and covers the cost. New-hire reporting is filed automatically with state agencies, and year-end W-2s and 1099s are prepared and distributed electronically.

Multi-state tax compliance

OnPay handles tax registration, withholding calculations, and filing for employees in all 50 states. For businesses with remote employees in multiple states, the platform automates the compliance obligations that would otherwise require a payroll specialist or CPA.

Year-end tax documents and filing

W-2s and 1099s are generated, reviewed, and filed electronically by January 31 each year. Employees and contractors access their forms through the self-service portal. Amendments can be processed if corrections are needed after initial filing.

OnPay benefits administration and health insurance shopping

Benefits administration supports health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and retirement plan management.

Benefits administration supports health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and retirement plan management. OnPay partners with licensed insurance brokers who help small businesses evaluate and enroll in group health plans directly through the platform — no separate broker relationship required.

Employee benefit elections, deductions, and carrier integrations are managed within OnPay. Deductions flow automatically into payroll processing, and COBRA administration is handled for businesses subject to continuation requirements.

Health insurance plan shopping

OnPay's licensed brokers help businesses compare health plans from major carriers based on budget, coverage needs, and employee demographics. The shopping experience is guided and does not assume prior benefits expertise. Plans are presented with clear cost comparisons.

401(k) and retirement plan administration

OnPay integrates with retirement plan providers to automate employee contribution deductions, employer match calculations, and compliance reporting. Supported 401(k) providers include Guideline, Vestwell, and others. Setup is streamlined through the integration, reducing the administrative overhead of offering retirement benefits.

OnPay employee onboarding and self-service portal

The onboarding workflow sends new hires a self-service link to complete tax forms (W-4, state withholding), I-9 employment verification, direct deposit enrollment, and benefits elections before their first day.

The employee self-service portal provides ongoing access to pay stubs, tax documents, PTO balances, benefits information, and personal data updates. Employees can update their direct deposit, change withholding elections, and download documents without HR involvement.

Digital onboarding document collection

New-hire onboarding collects all required employment documents electronically with e-signature support. Custom documents — company policies, non-disclosure agreements, handbook acknowledgments — can be added to the onboarding packet alongside standard tax and employment forms.

Employee self-service capabilities

The portal allows employees to view current and historical pay stubs, download W-2s, update personal information, request PTO, and view benefits enrollment. The self-service functionality reduces HR inbox volume for routine requests and gives employees 24/7 access to their employment information.

OnPay PTO tracking and leave management

PTO tracking supports configurable accrual policies, leave request and approval workflows, and balance tracking by employee.

PTO tracking supports configurable accrual policies, leave request and approval workflows, and balance tracking by employee. Accrual rules can be set by tenure, employment type, and location. Approved PTO flows automatically into payroll calculations.

The leave management is straightforward — employees request time off through the portal, managers approve, and the system updates balances and payroll. There is no advanced leave management for FMLA, ADA, or complex state leave laws beyond basic tracking.

PTO accrual policy configuration

Administrators configure accrual rates, maximum balances, carryover rules, and waiting periods by employee group. Multiple PTO types — vacation, sick, personal — can be tracked separately with distinct accrual policies for each.

Leave request and approval workflow

Employees submit leave requests through the portal with date ranges and PTO type. Managers receive notification and approve or deny from their dashboard. Approved leave appears on the team calendar and is reflected in the next payroll run automatically.

OnPay integrations and accounting software connectivity

OnPay integrates with major accounting platforms — QuickBooks Online, Xero, and FreshBooks — to sync payroll journal entries automatically.

OnPay integrates with major accounting platforms — QuickBooks Online, Xero, and FreshBooks — to sync payroll journal entries automatically. The integration eliminates the manual double-entry between payroll and accounting that wastes time and introduces errors.

Additional integrations include time tracking tools (Deputy, When I Work, QuickBooks Time), retirement plan providers (Guideline, Vestwell), and workers' compensation carriers. The integration list is smaller than Gusto's or ADP's marketplace but covers the tools most small businesses use.

Accounting software sync

Payroll data syncs to QuickBooks Online, Xero, or FreshBooks after each pay run. The integration maps payroll line items — gross pay, taxes, deductions, employer contributions — to the correct accounts in your chart of accounts. Setup takes minutes and eliminates the reconciliation headache.

Time tracking integrations

Approved hours from Deputy, When I Work, and QuickBooks Time flow into OnPay for payroll processing. The integration reduces manual hour entry and ensures the hours employees track match the hours they are paid for.

OnPay pros and cons: payroll, tax filing, benefits, and scalability limits

Evaluating OnPay means separating what sounds strong in the demo from what holds up after implementation for payroll software teams.

Strengths

Where OnPay earns its place on the shortlist for smb teams once practical fit matters more than feature breadth.

OnPay single-plan pricing eliminates tier confusion and surprise costs

Every OnPay customer gets every feature at the same $40 plus $6 per employee price. There are no restrictions on payroll runs, no feature gates on benefits administration, and no upsells for tax filing in additional states.

This single-plan model is a genuine differentiator. Small business owners who have dealt with Paychex's opaque pricing or ADP's sales-driven quoting process find OnPay's transparency refreshing.

Multiple Capterra reviewers specifically mention the pricing clarity as the reason they chose OnPay over competitors with lower headline rates but higher total costs once add-ons are included.

OnPay tax filing automation handles federal, state, and local obligations accurately

OnPay calculates, files, and remits federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically. This includes quarterly tax filings, annual W-2 and 1099 preparation, and new-hire reporting to state agencies.

The tax accuracy guarantee means OnPay assumes liability for errors in their calculations and filings. If a tax penalty results from an OnPay error, they handle the resolution and pay the penalty.

For small business owners who lose sleep over payroll tax compliance, this guarantee provides genuine peace of mind. Multi-state support is included at no additional charge — important for businesses with remote employees in multiple states.

OnPay benefits administration lets small businesses offer health insurance without a broker

The built-in benefits administration supports health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k) plans. OnPay partners with licensed brokers to help small businesses shop for and enroll in group health plans directly through the platform.

Deductions are calculated automatically and flow into payroll processing, eliminating the manual reconciliation between benefits carriers and payroll that bogs down businesses using separate systems.

For companies with 5 to 50 employees that want to offer benefits but cannot justify a benefits broker or HR consultant, OnPay fills a real gap. The benefits shopping experience is guided and does not assume prior expertise.

OnPay 30-day free trial with no credit card removes buying friction entirely

The 30-day free trial requires no credit card, no sales call, and no commitment. You can set up your business, add employees, run a test payroll, and evaluate the platform before spending anything.

This trial model is meaningfully different from Paychex and ADP, which require sales conversations and often demos before providing access. Gusto offers a demo but not a full self-service trial.

For business owners who want to evaluate before committing — which is most of them — OnPay's trial converts on product experience rather than sales pressure.

OnPay multi-state payroll support handles remote team tax complexity

OnPay supports payroll in all 50 states and handles the tax registration, filing, and compliance requirements for employees in multiple states. This is included in the base price — unlike some competitors that charge extra for multi-state support.

For small businesses that have embraced remote work and now employ people in three or four states, multi-state payroll compliance is a significant administrative burden. OnPay automates the state tax registrations and filings that would otherwise require a payroll consultant.

The multi-state support extends to new-hire reporting, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance filings for each state where you have employees.

OnPay onboarding workflow digitizes new-hire paperwork for small teams

The onboarding module lets new employees complete W-4 forms, I-9 verification, direct deposit setup, and benefits enrollment before their first day through a self-service portal.

For businesses that have been onboarding employees with paper forms and email attachments, the digital workflow saves hours per hire and reduces the risk of missing critical compliance documents.

The onboarding experience is simple rather than sophisticated — it does not include task assignments for managers or pre-boarding content like BambooHR offers — but it covers the essential paperwork that payroll and compliance require.

Limitations

What to press on in OnPay pricing calls and technical validation before treating it as a safe choice for cloud deployment.

OnPay HR features are basic and do not extend beyond payroll-adjacent functionality

The 'HR tools' included in OnPay cover employee document storage, PTO tracking, an org chart, and basic reporting. There is no performance management, no applicant tracking, no engagement surveys, and no workforce analytics.

For businesses that want to consolidate payroll and HR into one platform, OnPay's HR capabilities are too thin. You will need separate tools for recruiting, performance reviews, and employee development.

This is a conscious product decision — OnPay focuses on payroll rather than trying to be an HRIS — but it means growing businesses will eventually need to add platforms like BambooHR, Gusto, or Rippling to cover the HR gaps.

OnPay scalability ceiling limits usefulness beyond 50 employees

While OnPay technically supports larger companies, the platform is designed for businesses with 1 to 50 employees. The reporting tools, permissions model, and administrative interface become cumbersome as headcount grows.

At 50+ employees, businesses typically need features — advanced reporting, multi-level approval workflows, departmental budgeting, and compliance automation — that OnPay does not provide.

Multiple G2 reviewers who outgrew OnPay migrated to Gusto Plus, Rippling, or Paylocity when their team size and HR complexity exceeded what OnPay was built to handle.

OnPay reporting and analytics are limited to basic payroll summaries

The reporting module covers payroll summaries, tax liability reports, deduction breakdowns, and basic employee reports. There are no custom report builders, no workforce analytics dashboards, and no trend analysis over time.

For business owners who need a payroll register and a tax filing confirmation, the reports are sufficient. For HR teams that want to analyze labor costs, overtime trends, or compensation benchmarking, OnPay's reporting is not enough.

Exporting data to Excel is available, but the export formats are basic and may require manual formatting before they are useful for financial analysis.

OnPay same-day direct deposit is not available — next-day is the fastest option

OnPay supports direct deposit with a two-day processing window for standard deposits and next-day processing for qualifying accounts. Same-day direct deposit is not available.

Competitors like Gusto (on the Plus plan) and QuickBooks Payroll (on Premium and Elite plans) offer same-day deposit, which is increasingly expected by employees accustomed to instant payment experiences.

For most small businesses running regular biweekly payroll, the two-day window is not a significant issue. But businesses that need to process ad-hoc payments quickly — final paychecks, off-cycle bonuses — may find the deposit timing restrictive.

OnPay customer support hours are limited compared to larger payroll providers

OnPay provides phone, email, and chat support during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET). There is no weekend support and no 24/7 availability.

For businesses on the West Coast or those that process payroll outside business hours, the support window can feel narrow. ADP and Paychex offer extended support hours, and Gusto provides email support seven days a week.

The support quality within business hours is consistently praised on review sites — OnPay's support team is US-based and knowledgeable. But availability is limited compared to the infrastructure of larger providers.

OnPay plan structure and what buyers should verify

How OnPay pricing compares to Gusto, Paychex, and ADP for small businesses

Gusto's Simple plan starts at $40 per month plus $6 per employee — identical to OnPay on the surface. But Gusto's Plus plan ($80 per month plus $12 per employee) and Premium plan (custom pricing) include features like next-day direct deposit, time tracking, and compliance alerts that OnPay includes at the base price. For a fair comparison, OnPay's all-inclusive $6 PEPM competes with Gusto's Plus tier at $12 PEPM.

Paychex Flex and ADP Run both require sales conversations for pricing, making direct comparison difficult. Third-party estimates from Expert Market and Tech.co place Paychex at roughly $39 per month plus $5 per employee and ADP at $59 per month plus $4 per employee, but both charge separately for tax filing, benefits, and HR features that OnPay includes. The total cost comparison favors OnPay for businesses under 50 employees.

What the single-plan model means for scaling beyond 50 employees

OnPay's simplicity is a strength for small businesses but becomes a limitation as headcount grows. At 50 employees, OnPay costs $340 per month — reasonable for what you get. At 100 employees, the cost reaches $640 per month, and you start comparing against platforms like Gusto, Rippling, and Paylocity that offer significantly more HR functionality at that scale.

The platform does not offer volume discounts for larger employee counts, which means the per-employee cost stays flat as you grow. For businesses on a growth trajectory, this linear pricing model makes sense at 20 employees but may not at 100+. Plan for the possibility of outgrowing OnPay before the cost-to-capability ratio tips.

Before you book a demo

OnPay trial checklist, migration tips, and buying motion for small businesses

If OnPay is on your shortlist for small business payroll, the evaluation is straightforward — the 30-day free trial lets you test the actual product before committing. Here is what to verify during that trial.

Run a complete payroll cycle during the trial, including tax calculations, deductions, and direct deposit preview. Do not evaluate OnPay based on the setup wizard alone — process an actual payroll run with your real employee data to confirm the tax calculations match your expectations. Compare the results against your current payroll provider's output to catch any discrepancies before switching.

Test the multi-state tax handling if you have employees in more than one state. Verify that OnPay has registered your business with the appropriate state tax agencies and that withholding calculations are correct for each state. Multi-state compliance is one of OnPay's strengths, but confirm it works for your specific state combination during the trial.

Evaluate the benefits administration workflow if you plan to offer health insurance through OnPay. Connect with OnPay's licensed brokers during the trial to understand the plan options, costs, and enrollment process. If you already have a benefits carrier, confirm the integration and deduction automation work before migrating payroll.

Assess the reporting against your accounting and compliance needs. If you need reports beyond basic payroll summaries — labor cost analysis, departmental breakdowns, custom exports — test the reporting during the trial. OnPay's reports are adequate for basic needs but limited for analytical use cases. Determine whether the available reports meet your CPA's or bookkeeper's requirements.

Browse all payroll software tools OnPay vs Gusto: The Value Play vs the Feature Play for Small Business Payroll OnPay vs ADP

Frequently asked questions about OnPay payroll, pricing, and small business features

Question 1

Is OnPay good for businesses with fewer than 10 employees?

Yes, OnPay is one of the best payroll options for very small businesses. At $40 per month base plus $6 per employee, a 5-employee business pays $70 per month for full-service payroll with tax filing, benefits administration, and HR tools included. The 30-day free trial lets you evaluate the product before spending anything. The single-plan pricing means you get every feature from day one, which is important for small businesses that cannot afford to guess which tier they need.

Question 2

How does OnPay compare to Gusto for small business payroll?

OnPay and Gusto's Simple plan are priced identically at $40 per month plus $6 per employee. The key difference is that OnPay includes all features in one plan, while Gusto gates features like next-day direct deposit, time tracking, and compliance alerts behind the Plus ($80/mo + $12/employee) and Premium tiers. OnPay offers better value for businesses that want everything included. Gusto offers better HR features — applicant tracking, performance reviews, and a broader integration marketplace — for businesses that need more than payroll.

Question 3

Does OnPay handle multi-state payroll for remote teams?

Yes. OnPay supports payroll processing and tax filing in all 50 states at no additional charge. The platform handles state tax registration, withholding calculations, quarterly filings, and year-end reporting for employees in multiple states. For small businesses that have adopted remote work and now have employees scattered across several states, this removes a significant compliance burden without requiring a payroll specialist or CPA.

Question 4

What is OnPay's tax guarantee and what does it cover?

OnPay guarantees the accuracy of all tax calculations and filings processed through the platform. If a tax filing error occurs due to OnPay's system and results in a penalty from a tax agency, OnPay will resolve the issue with the agency and pay the penalty. The guarantee covers federal, state, and local tax filings. It does not cover errors resulting from incorrect data entry by the employer — if you enter the wrong salary or tax classification, the guarantee does not apply.

Question 5

Can OnPay administer health benefits for a company with 10 employees?

Yes. OnPay's benefits administration supports businesses of all sizes within its target market. Licensed brokers guide you through health plan selection from major carriers, and employee enrollment is handled through the platform. Deductions are automated and flow into payroll. For businesses with 10 employees, OnPay can help you find group health plans, dental, vision, and life insurance — options that many small businesses assume are only available to larger companies.

Question 6

What are the biggest limitations of OnPay for growing businesses?

The three main limitations are HR feature depth, reporting capabilities, and the scalability ceiling. OnPay's HR tools cover document storage, PTO tracking, and onboarding but lack performance management, applicant tracking, and engagement features. Reporting is limited to basic payroll summaries without custom report building. And the platform is designed for businesses with 1 to 50 employees — beyond that, the administrative tools become insufficient. Growing businesses should plan for a migration to Gusto, Rippling, or Paylocity when HR complexity exceeds what OnPay provides.

Question 7

Does OnPay offer same-day direct deposit?

No. OnPay offers standard two-day direct deposit and next-day deposit for qualifying accounts, but same-day deposit is not available. For regular biweekly or monthly payroll processing, the two-day window is typically not an issue — you simply submit payroll two days before payday. For businesses that need immediate payment capabilities, such as same-day final paychecks or instant off-cycle payments, Gusto Plus or QuickBooks Payroll Premium offer same-day options at a higher price point.

OnPay alternatives worth comparing

OnPay is a strong choice for straightforward small business payroll, but it does not fit every buyer. Here are the alternatives worth evaluating depending on where OnPay falls short for your needs.

Product	Pricing	Deployment	Free trial	Rating
OnPay	Flat rate: $40/month base + $6/employee/month	Cloud	Yes	—
Rippling	Modular pricing	Cloud	No	—
Workday HCM	Custom quote	Cloud	No	—
Gusto	Per-employee pricing	Cloud	Yes	—
ADP Workforce Now	Custom quote	Cloud	No	—
Deel	Per-employee pricing	Cloud	Yes	—

Rippling

Rippling helps teams run onboarding, paperwork, and first-week workflows with less manual follow-up.

Compare Rippling

Workday HCM

Workday HCM helps people teams run core HR workflows with less manual coordination.

Compare Workday HCM

Gusto

Gusto offers payroll with significantly broader HR features including applicant tracking, performance reviews, and a large integration marketplace. Best for small businesses that want payroll plus HR in one platform and are willing to pay more for the Plus tier.

Compare Gusto

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now helps operations teams schedule workers, manage labor coverage, and reduce frontline coordination friction.

Compare ADP Workforce Now

Deel

Deel helps teams run payroll, manage compliance workflows, and reduce manual processing.

Compare Deel

See all OnPay alternatives

Head-to-head comparisons

Open the comparison pages once OnPay makes the shortlist.

Comparison

OnPay vs Gusto: The Value Play vs the Feature Play for Small Business Payroll

OnPay charges $40 per month plus $6 per employee. One plan. Every feature included. No tiers, no upsells, no surprise fees. Gusto starts at the same price for its basic plan but charges $80 plus $12 per employee for the features most businesses actually need (benefits, time tracking, next-day deposit). Both are good products for small businesses. The difference: OnPay gives you everything at one price and stays out of the way. Gusto gives you a better interface, more HR features, and a bigger ecosystem — but you pay more for it. Not sure which trade-off fits? Take the quick quiz below.

See OnPay vs Gusto: The Value Play vs the Feature Play for Small Business Payroll

Comparison

OnPay vs ADP

OnPay and ADP both show up when buyers search this category, but they're built for different needs. This page breaks down pricing, features, and what should actually decide this — in plain English, for buyers, not vendors. Not sure which fits? Take the quick quiz below to find out in 30 seconds.

See OnPay vs ADP

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