Compare Gusto, ADP, Rippling, and QuickBooks Payroll on price, features, and ease of use — then calculate your exact monthly cost.
Price: Simple Plan: $40/mo + $6/employee | Plus Plan: $80/mo + $12/employee
Why it wins: Gusto handles full-service payroll, automated tax filing, direct deposit, and W-2/1099 generation in one clean interface. The onboarding is the easiest in the industry. Employees get a self-service portal for pay stubs, W-2s, and time-off requests.
Best for: 1-50 employees, tech-forward businesses, startups
Drawbacks: More expensive than QuickBooks Payroll for 1-2 employees. No dedicated HR rep.
Try Gusto Free (1 month) →Price: $8/employee/mo base + modules (payroll, HR, IT all à la carte)
Why it wins: Rippling is the most modular payroll platform. You pay for what you need — payroll is just one component. It syncs with 500+ apps (Slack, Google, Salesforce) and automates onboarding/offboarding completely. Best choice if you also want device management.
Best for: 10-200 employees, tech companies, remote-first teams
Drawbacks: Pricing is complex (call for quote). Overkill for solopreneurs.
Get a Rippling Demo →Price: Core: $45/mo + $5/employee | Premium: $80/mo + $8/employee
Why it wins: If you already use QuickBooks Online for accounting, adding payroll makes sense — it syncs automatically with zero data entry. Tax calculations are accurate and it handles multi-state payroll well.
Best for: QuickBooks accounting users, 1-20 employees
Drawbacks: Not worth switching to if you don't use QuickBooks. Customer service is inconsistent.
Try QuickBooks Payroll →Price: Essential: ~$59/mo + $4/employee | Enhanced: ~$99/mo + $8/employee (call for exact pricing)
Why it wins: ADP is the payroll industry veteran. Best for companies with complex compliance needs (restaurants, construction, healthcare), multiple states, or union payroll. Excellent customer support and legal compliance updates.
Best for: 10+ employees, compliance-sensitive industries, established businesses
Drawbacks: Opaque pricing. UI feels dated. Overkill for most small businesses.
Get ADP Pricing →Price: Free for contractor 1099s | $20/mo + $6/employee for W-2 (tax-service states)
Why it wins: If you only pay contractors, Wave Payroll is completely free. It generates 1099s, handles direct deposit, and syncs with Wave's free accounting. The cheapest legitimate option for solopreneurs with contractors.
Best for: Freelancers paying contractors, 1-5 people, tight budgets
Drawbacks: Limited HR features. Not available for W-2 in all states. Less polished than Gusto.
Try Wave Free →| Software | Base Price | Per Employee | 1099s | HR Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Gusto | $40/mo | $6/mo | ✅ Included | ✅ Full HR | Best overall |
| 💻 Rippling | Custom | $8/mo+ | ✅ | ✅ + IT Mgmt | Growing teams |
| 📊 QuickBooks | $45/mo | $5/mo | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic | QB users |
| 🏢 ADP Run | ~$59/mo | $4-8/mo | ✅ | ✅ Full | Compliance |
| 📋 Wave | $0-20/mo | $6/mo (W-2) | ✅ Free | ❌ Minimal | Budget |
Before choosing payroll software, see the true cost difference between hiring W-2 employees vs 1099 contractors.
Use the Contractor vs Employee Calculator →