7 Best Paychex Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid)

Gusto is the most popular modern alternative to Paychex for SMBs. It focuses on clean design, a smooth payroll workflow, and strong benefits administration. If Paychex feels dated and slow, Gusto feels refreshingly simple.

The payroll engine is reliable, with automated tax filings, multi-state support, and contractor payments. Benefits, onboarding, and employee self-service are all well designed. Gusto also integrates with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero, making it easy to sync payroll data.

Where Gusto shines is usability. Managers can run payroll in minutes, and employees can access pay stubs and tax forms without friction. Support quality is generally higher than Paychex, especially for smaller businesses.

The downside is that advanced HR features are limited compared to Rippling or Paychex’s higher-end offerings. But for most SMBs, Gusto is the better overall experience.

OnPay is the best Paychex alternative for businesses that want transparent, affordable payroll. The pricing is straightforward, the interface is simple, and customer support is excellent. If Paychex’s pricing and contracts feel confusing, OnPay is a breath of fresh air.

OnPay handles payroll, tax filings, and basic HR tools like onboarding and document management. It also includes time tracking and benefits administration at no extra cost, which Paychex often charges for. The platform integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and other accounting tools.

OnPay’s strength is simplicity. It doesn’t try to be everything, but it does payroll exceptionally well. Setup is quick, and the support team is responsive. Reporting is basic but sufficient for most SMBs.

If you want payroll that just works without complex contracts or upsells, OnPay is one of the best options.

ADP Run is the closest competitor to Paychex in terms of enterprise-grade payroll expertise. If you want a large, established provider but prefer ADP’s ecosystem, it’s a strong alternative. ADP’s compliance tools and reporting are especially valuable for companies with complex payroll requirements.

ADP Run supports multi-state payroll, garnishments, certified payroll, and detailed reporting. You also get HR and benefits add-ons, plus integration with many accounting and ERP platforms. The support experience often includes an account rep, which can be a big advantage over smaller providers.

Like Paychex, the UI is not modern, and pricing is not transparent. Setup can take longer, and the system feels heavier than Gusto or OnPay. But if you need maximum reliability and compliance, ADP is a safe bet.

For companies that value stability over design, ADP Run is a solid Paychex replacement.

Rippling is the modern, automation-heavy alternative to Paychex. It combines payroll, benefits, HR, and IT management in a single platform, which can replace multiple tools if you’re scaling fast. For tech-forward teams, it’s a huge upgrade from Paychex’s older interface.

Rippling’s automation is its killer feature. New hires can get accounts, apps, benefits, and payroll set up automatically. You can build workflows for approvals, onboarding, and compliance tasks, which saves time for HR teams. Reporting is deeper and more customizable than Paychex’s default reports.

The tradeoff is cost and complexity. Rippling’s modular pricing can become expensive, and the setup requires more technical know-how. But if you want a future-proof system that handles HR and IT together, Rippling is worth it.

For SMBs that want maximum automation and integration, Rippling is a compelling alternative.

Square Payroll is a strong Paychex alternative for retail, restaurants, and service businesses already using Square POS. It integrates directly with Square timecards, making payroll for hourly workers fast and accurate. If you’re already in the Square ecosystem, it’s one of the easiest setups.

The interface is modern and simple, with a streamlined payroll workflow. It supports W-2 and contractor payments, automatic tax filings, and direct deposit. Pricing is transparent and often lower than Paychex for small teams.

Square Payroll doesn’t offer deep HR features, but it covers the essentials. It’s ideal for hourly teams that don’t need a full HRIS. Reporting is basic but sufficient for payroll and labor costs.

If your business already runs on Square, this is one of the easiest payroll upgrades you can make.

QuickBooks Payroll is the most natural alternative to Paychex if you already use QuickBooks for accounting. The integration is seamless: payroll data flows directly into your books, reducing manual entry and reconciliation work.

The payroll engine is reliable, supporting automatic tax filings, direct deposit, and multi-state payroll. It also offers basic HR tools, including onboarding forms and employee self-service. For SMBs already invested in QuickBooks, the convenience is hard to beat.

Where it falls short is flexibility. The platform is tightly tied to QuickBooks, so it’s less appealing if you use other accounting tools. Pricing can also add up with higher tiers and add-ons.

For QuickBooks-first businesses, QuickBooks Payroll is a strong Paychex alternative with minimal setup friction.

Justworks is a strong Paychex alternative if you want more than software. As a PEO, it provides payroll, benefits, and HR compliance support under a co-employment model. This can be a major advantage for small companies that want enterprise-grade benefits.

The platform includes payroll, time tracking, onboarding, and benefits administration. The real differentiator is benefits access: Justworks negotiates rates that are often better than what SMBs can get on their own. You also get HR compliance guidance, which can reduce risk.

It’s not the cheapest option, and the PEO model isn’t for everyone. But for SMBs that want hands-on HR support and premium benefits, it’s one of the best alternatives to Paychex.

If you want payroll plus HR peace of mind, Justworks is worth the premium cost.