emoji_events Best Payroll

Top-rated payroll ranked by our AI-powered scoring system.

50
Products Ranked
8.1
Avg Score
5
Rated Excellent
9.7
Top Score
Summary: The best payroll in 2026 is ADP Workforce Now with a score of 9.7/10, followed by QuickBooks Online (9.5) and Zoho Payroll (9.3). This ranking is based on Lunoo's AI-powered scoring system which evaluates 50 payroll across quality, features, user satisfaction, and value. Rankings are updated daily.

table_chart Top 5 at a Glance

Rank Name Score Price Best For
#1 ADP Workforce Now 9.7 From $10/user/month Ideal for mid-sized to large businesses seeking a comprehens... Visit
#2 QuickBooks Online 9.5 Free / $25/mo Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a rob... Visit
#3 Zoho Payroll 9.3 From $9/employee/month Small to medium-sized businesses already using Zoho applicat... Visit
#4 Paychex Flex 9.3 From $39/month Ideal for small businesses seeking robust payroll processing... Visit
#5 Ceridian Dayforce 9.1 Ideal for large organizations with global operations needing... Visit

leaderboard Full Payroll Rankings

Best 1 ADP Workforce Now
ADP Workforce Now
From $10/user/month

ADP Workforce Now is a scalable HCM suite from the payroll giant, designed for mid-sized to large businesses. It offers a full range of services: payroll, HR management, time and attendance, talent ma...

9.7 Brilliant
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2 QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online
Free Plan Available From $25/mo

QuickBooks Online (QBO) is Intuit's flagship cloud-based accounting platform, with invoicing as one core component of a comprehensive financial management system. It's the industry standard for small...

9.5 Brilliant
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3 Zoho Payroll
Zoho Payroll
From $9/employee/month

Zoho Payroll is a comprehensive and affordable solution ideal for small to medium-sized businesses already using Zoho's suite of applications. It offers automated payroll processing, tax calculations,...

9.3 Excellent
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4 Paychex Flex
Paychex Flex
From $39/month

Paychex Flex is a long-standing, reliable HR and payroll solution that caters to businesses of all sizes. It is particularly strong in its payroll and tax compliance services, offering a wide range of...

9.3 Excellent
Visit
5 Ceridian Dayforce
Ceridian Dayforce

Ceridian Dayforce is a comprehensive human capital management platform known for its real-time payroll engine. Unlike traditional systems that batch process payroll, Dayforce calculates payroll in rea...

9.1 Excellent
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6 ADP Run
ADP Run

ADP RUN is the industry veteran, specifically designed for small to mid-sized businesses that require the reliability of a massive payroll provider. It offers deep compliance expertise, ensuring that...

8.9 Very Good
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7 Paylocity
Paylocity
From $30/user/month

Paylocity is a cloud-based provider offering a full suite of HR and payroll solutions tailored for medium-sized organizations. Its platform includes payroll and tax services, talent management (recrui...

8.8 Very Good
Visit
8 Square
Square
Free Plan Available From $27/mo

Square is a popular choice for small businesses, particularly those with both online and brick-and-mortar operations. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including a point-of-sale (POS) system,...

8.8 Very Good
Visit
9 Paychex
Paychex
From $20/mo

Paychex provides payroll, HR, and benefits management solutions for small businesses. Its software includes features such as tax filing assistance, direct deposit, and employee self-service portals. P...

8.7 Very Good
Visit
10 TSheets by QuickBooks
TSheets by QuickBooks
Free Plan Available From $9/user/month

TSheets, now fully integrated into QuickBooks Online as QuickBooks Time, is a time tracking and scheduling solution. It features GPS location tracking, job costing, mobile clock-in/out, and seamless s...

8.7 Very Good
Visit
11 Personio
Personio
Free Plan Available From 25/user/month (basic plan)

Personio is a leading HR software for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. It serves as a central HR Information System covering recruiting, onboarding, employee data management, absen...

8.7 Very Good
Visit
12 UKG Pro (formerly UltiPro)
UKG Pro (formerly UltiPro)
From $10/user/month (varies)

UKG Pro is a comprehensive HCM suite from UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) targeting mid-sized to large enterprises. It integrates HR, payroll, talent management, time and attendance, and HR service delive...

8.7 Very Good
Visit
13 Ultimate Software Gusto
Ultimate Software Gusto
Free Plan Available From $20/mo per employee

Gusto by Ultimate Software is a user-friendly HR and payroll solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers easy-to-use tools for managing remote teams, including time tracking, lea...

8.6 Very Good
Visit
14 Time Doctor
Time Doctor
Free Plan Available From $9/user/month

Time Doctor is a robust productivity monitoring and time tracking tool built for remote team management. It offers detailed activity tracking, optional screenshot capture, website and application usag...

8.6 Very Good
Visit
15 Gusto
Gusto
Free Plan Available From $20/mo

Gusto is a modern, user-friendly platform focused on payroll, benefits, and HR for small businesses. It simplifies complex processes like running payroll, managing health insurance and 401(k) plans, a...

8.6 Very Good
Visit
16 PaySimple
PaySimple

PaySimple is a good option for businesses that need to combine payroll with invoicing and payment processing, which can be relevant for independent contractors or agencies managing payments for senior...

8.5 Very Good
Visit
17 Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is a specialized time and attendance tool designed for shift-based workforces. It excels at managing clock-ins, clock-outs, and complex scheduling. With features like geofencing and IP loc...

8.5 Very Good
Visit
18 ADP Nonprofit
ADP Nonprofit
Free Plan Available From $25/user/month

ADPs nonprofit-specific solution provides payroll, HR, and benefits management tools tailored to the unique needs of nonprofits. It includes features like compliance tracking, time and attendance, and...

8.5 Very Good
Visit
19 Workday ERP
Workday ERP

Workday ERP is a cloud-based system primarily known for its HR and finance capabilities, but increasingly encompassing broader ERP functionality. It offers modules for human capital management, financ...

8.4 Very Good
Visit
20 BambooHR Payroll
BambooHR Payroll

BambooHR Payroll integrates seamlessly with BambooHR's core HRIS platform, offering a unified solution for managing employees. It handles payroll processing, tax filings, and integrates with features...

8.3 Very Good
Visit
21 Homebase
Homebase

Homebase is the gold standard for small businesses that need an all-in-one solution for time tracking, scheduling, and payroll. It is specifically designed for local businesses like cafes, salons, and...

8.2 Very Good
Visit
22 Paycom
Paycom

Paycom is a pioneer in employee-driven HR technology. Its 'Beti' (Better Employee Transaction Interface) feature is a game-changer, allowing employees to manage their own payroll and data changes dire...

8.2 Very Good
Visit
23 Square Payroll
Square Payroll

Square Payroll is the ideal solution for businesses already using the Square ecosystem, particularly in the retail and restaurant sectors. It is designed to handle hourly employees, tips, and commissi...

8.2 Very Good
Visit
24 Sage HR
Sage HR

Sage HR is a modular HR solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a range of features including core HR, time and attendance, performance management, and recruiting. Sage HR i...

8.2 Very Good
Visit
25 Jibble
Jibble

Jibble is a modern time-tracking platform that stands out for its use of biometric facial recognition to prevent buddy punching. It is an excellent choice for businesses that need high-security attend...

8.0 Very Good
Visit
26 Paycor
Paycor

Paycor is a reliable and feature-rich platform tailored for mid-sized businesses. It excels at simplifying the complexities of payroll, tax compliance, and HR administration. Paycor is particularly we...

8.0 Very Good
Visit
27 MYOB Business
MYOB Business
From $25/mo

MYOB is a major accounting software provider in Australia and New Zealand. Its MYOB Business plan is tailored for sole traders and micro-businesses, offering invoicing, expense tracking, bank feeds, a...

8.0 Very Good
Visit
28 Namely
Namely
Free Plan Available From $25/user/month

Namely is an HR, payroll, and benefits platform built specifically for mid-sized companies (typically 25-1000 employees). It combines robust core HRIS functionality-including payroll processing, benef...

8.0 Very Good
Visit
29 Rippling
Rippling
Free Plan Available From $10/user/month (Enterprise pricing available)

Rippling takes a unique approach by unifying HR, IT, and Finance operations on a single platform. It manages employee data, payroll, benefits, and compliance while also automating IT tasks like app pr...

8.0 Very Good
Visit
30 Keka HR
Keka HR

Keka HR is a cloud-based HR and payroll platform designed for small to medium-sized agencies. It offers payroll automation, attendance management, performance reviews, and an employee directory. Keka...

7.8 Good
Visit
31 CakeHR
CakeHR

CakeHR is a user-friendly HRIS platform that includes payroll functionality. It offers features like recruiting, performance reviews, and an employee directory. CakeHR provides a free trial, allowing...

7.8 Good
Visit
32 Insperity Payroll
Insperity Payroll

Insperity Payroll is a comprehensive HR outsourcing solution that includes payroll processing. It offers automated payroll processing, tax filing, and reporting, alongside features for benefits admini...

7.8 Good
Visit
33 FreshBooks Payroll
FreshBooks Payroll

FreshBooks is primarily an accounting and invoicing platform for freelancers and small businesses. It offers payroll through integrations, making it a convenient choice for those already using FreshBo...

7.8 Good
Visit
34 Paychex Nonprofit
Paychex Nonprofit
From $25/mo

Paychex offers a suite of HR and payroll management tools designed for nonprofits. It includes features like time tracking, benefits administration, and compliance support, making it easy to manage em...

7.8 Good
Visit
35 Gusto Wallet
Gusto Wallet

Gusto Wallet is a companion app for employees of businesses using Gusto, providing them with tools to manage their pay, savings, and financial health. It allows employees to split paychecks, access em...

7.7 Good
Visit
36 Paychex Workforce Cloud
Paychex Workforce Cloud
From $25/user/month

Paychex Workforce Cloud is a comprehensive HR and payroll management solution that supports global organizations with its extensive features, multilingual support, and robust payroll capabilities. It...

7.7 Good
Visit
37 Kronos
Kronos
From $20/user/month

KRONOS (now UKG) is a workforce management solution that includes payroll processing and time and attendance tracking. It offers features for scheduling, labor optimization, and compliance. Pricing is...

7.7 Good
Visit
38 QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll
From $20/mo

QuickBooks Payroll is the natural choice for businesses already using QuickBooks for their accounting. It offers seamless integration, ensuring that payroll data flows directly into the general ledger...

7.6 Good
Visit
39 Justworks
Justworks

Justworks is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that simplifies payroll, benefits, and compliance for startups and small businesses. By acting as a co-employer, Justworks provides access to hi...

7.5 Good
Visit
40 HireRight
HireRight

HireRight is a cloud-based HR platform that supports small to mid-sized businesses, including staffing agencies. It offers features like automated onboarding, performance tracking, and payroll integra...

7.4 Good
Visit
41 Kronos Workforce Ready (now UKG Ready)
Kronos Workforce Ready (now UKG Ready)
From $25/user/month

UKG Ready (formerly Kronos Workforce Ready) is a cloud HCM suite with comprehensive onboarding capabilities for deskless and remote workers. It handles digital onboarding, I-9 verification, and policy...

7.4 Good
Visit
42 AccountEdge Pro
AccountEdge Pro

AccountEdge Pro is a robust desktop accounting software for Mac and Windows, popular among small businesses that prefer a one-time purchase. It offers comprehensive features including full-service pay...

7.3 Good
Visit
43 MYOB Essentials
MYOB Essentials
From $25/mo

MYOB Essentials is a cloud-based accounting software for small businesses. It provides basic customization options, including the ability to create custom reports and workflows. MYOB integrates with p...

7.2 Good
Visit
44 OnPay
OnPay

OnPay is a refreshingly simple and affordable payroll solution designed specifically for small businesses. Unlike many competitors that use complex, tiered pricing, OnPay offers a single, transparent...

7.1 Good
Visit
45 ABR Accounting
ABR Accounting

ABR Accounting is a desktop accounting software designed for small businesses. It offers a range of features including invoicing, expense tracking, reporting, payroll, and inventory management. ABR Ac...

7.0 Good
Visit
46 Wave Payroll
Wave Payroll

Wave Payroll is a standout choice for freelancers due to its integration with Wave's free accounting software. It offers payroll processing for up to five employees at a flat monthly fee of $32 plus $...

7.0 Good
Visit
47 Peachtree Payroll
Peachtree Payroll

Peachtree Payroll is a payroll module integrated with Peachtree accounting software. Pricing is bundled with the accounting software, starting around $15 per month. It offers payroll processing, tax c...

6.9 Fair
Visit
48 Sage Payroll
Sage Payroll
From $25/mo

Sage is a global powerhouse in accounting and payroll software, particularly strong in the UK and international markets. Its payroll solutions are designed for businesses that need deep compliance and...

6.9 Fair
Visit
49 QuickBooks Online Advanced
QuickBooks Online Advanced

QuickBooks Online Advanced is the premium tier of Intuit's flagship accounting platform, designed for growing businesses requiring deep financial insights. It features advanced bank feeds that automat...

6.8 Fair
Visit
50 Papaya Global
Papaya Global

Papaya Global is a comprehensive platform for managing global payroll and workforce management. It is designed to handle the complexities of international tax, labor laws, and benefits in a single, un...

6.5 Fair
Visit

help Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Payroll in 2026?
According to our AI-powered rankings, ADP Workforce Now is currently rated as the best Payroll with a score of 9.7/10. Other top-rated options include ADP Workforce Now, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Payroll.
How are these Payroll ranked?
Our rankings use an AI-powered scoring system that analyzes features, user reviews, expert opinions, market presence, and value for money. Each Payroll receives an objective score from 0 to 10.
How often are the rankings updated?
Our rankings are updated continuously as new data becomes available. Scores are recalculated regularly to ensure you always see the most current and accurate ratings.
What are the top 5 Payroll in 2026?
The top 5 Payroll in 2026 are: ADP Workforce Now, QuickBooks Online, Zoho Payroll, Paychex Flex, Ceridian Dayforce. These are ranked by our AI-powered scoring system based on features, quality, and user satisfaction.
How many Payroll are ranked on Lunoo?
Lunoo currently ranks 50 Payroll, of which 5 have earned an Excellent rating (9.0+). New options are added and scored regularly.
Which Payroll has the highest score?
ADP Workforce Now currently holds the highest score at 9.7/10 in our Payroll rankings.
Is ADP Workforce Now worth it?
ADP Workforce Now scores 9.7/10, making it one of the highest-rated Payroll available. Its strong rating reflects excellent performance across our evaluation criteria.
What should I look for when choosing a Payroll?
Key factors include your specific use case, budget, features offered, ease of use, and long-term value. Our scoring system evaluates these factors objectively. Compare the top options above to find the best fit.
Are there any free Payroll options?
Some Payroll offer free plans or trials. Check each option's website for current pricing. Our rankings focus on overall quality regardless of price point.
What is the difference between top-rated Payroll?
While ADP Workforce Now and QuickBooks Online are both highly rated, they differ in features, pricing, and target audience. Use our comparison tool to see detailed side-by-side differences.
Can I compare Payroll on Lunoo?
Yes! Lunoo offers a detailed comparison tool. Click the compare icon on any two items to see a side-by-side analysis of scores, features, pros, and cons.
How accurate are Lunoo's Payroll rankings?
Our AI-powered scoring system is calibrated against established ground truth sources and continuously improved. We analyze features, expert reviews, user feedback, and market data to provide the most objective rankings possible.

science How We Rank

Every payroll is scored across 12 weighted criteria from hundreds of verified sources:

  • Features & Capabilities - Comprehensive analysis of what each option offers
  • User Reviews - Aggregated feedback from real users across platforms
  • Expert Opinions - Professional reviews and industry recognition
  • Value for Money - Cost-effectiveness relative to features
  • Reliability & Support - Track record and customer service quality

Rankings are updated continuously as new information becomes available.

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our rankings — all scores are determined by our independent AI-powered evaluation system.

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