Best HR & Payroll Software

Last updated: 2026-07-09 · 9 tools compared

Hiring, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration tools compared.

Our Top Picks

Gusto

⭐ 4.6/5

Best US payroll — automated tax filing, benefits admin, contractor payments. Easy to use, great support.

Price: $39/mo + $6/userBest for: US payroll

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BambooHR

⭐ 4.4/5

Best HRIS — employee database, onboarding, time-off tracking, performance reviews. Payroll via integration.

Price: $5/user/moBest for: HR management

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Deputy

⭐ 4.3/5

Best for shift-based teams — scheduling, time tracking, payroll integration. Good for retail and hospitality.

Price: $4.50/user/moBest for: Scheduling + time

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Rippling

⭐ 4.2/5

HR + IT management — onboarding, device management, payroll, benefits. Best for tech companies.

Price: $8/user/moBest for: IT + HR

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QuickBooks Payroll

⭐ 4/5

Integrated with QuickBooks accounting — handles US payroll, taxes, and filings. Best if already on QuickBooks.

Price: $45/mo + $5/employeeBest for: QuickBooks users

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Zenefits

⭐ 4/5

HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance in one platform. Good for US companies that want everything together.

Price: $8/user/moBest for: All-in-one HR

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ADP

⭐ 3.9/5

Largest payroll provider — handles complex enterprise needs. More expensive and less modern than Gusto.

Price: $59/mo + $4/userBest for: Enterprise payroll

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How We Ranked These

We compared 9 hr & payroll tools across features, pricing, ease of use, support, and integrations. Rankings are based on hands-on testing, official product data, and real user feedback. We update these rankings regularly as products evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hr & payroll tool?

Based on our analysis, Gusto is the top pick for most users, with a 4.6/5 rating and pricing from $39/mo + $6/user. Best US payroll — automated tax filing, benefits admin, contractor payments. Easy to use, great support.

Are there free hr & payroll tools?

Yes, several tools offer free plans. Several tools has a free tier that works well for beginners and small projects.

How did we choose the best hr & payroll tools?

We evaluated each tool based on features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, integration availability, and real user reviews. Our rankings are updated regularly based on the latest product data.