QuickBooks Online Payroll alternatives

01Why people leave QuickBooks Online Payroll

02The alternatives, ranked by fit

1. Small teams

   GustoGusto

   Gusto is a direct option if you want to leave QBO Payroll for a small-team payroll and HR product. Its listed best-fit includes small teams in one state, time tracking, and payroll plus HR tools. A Reddit commenter specifically recommended Gusto after a Desktop-to-Online payroll problem. Its listed starting price is $49.

   Trade-off: Per-person pricing and support complaints temper the case for switching.

   Gusto reviewQuickBooks Online Payroll vs Gusto
   6.3/10

   from
   $49/mo
2. Straightforward payroll

   SurePayrollSurePayroll

   SurePayroll suits small businesses looking for straightforward payroll and automatic tax filing, rather than a broader HR suite. Its listed best-fit also includes households paying one in-home employee. The starting price is listed at $20, compared with QuickBooks Online Payroll’s $25 starting figure, but verify what each plan includes before comparing bills.

   Trade-off: Verify the price and plan details before you move.

   SurePayroll review
   6.2/10

   from
   $20/mo
3. Payroll and benefits

   JustworksJustworks

   Justworks fits a small US team that wants payroll bundled with HR and benefits administration, or needs to hire employees internationally. That broader bundle may suit a business replacing more than its payroll run. Its listed starting price is $8, but the published information does not specify what that price includes.

   Trade-off: Budget for possible benefits cost increases.

   Justworks review
   7.2/10

   from
   $8/mo
4. Payroll and HR

   PaychexPaychex

   Paychex is worth comparing if you want payroll and HR together and may need HR advisory or PEO services. That makes it a broader option than a payroll-only switch. The pricing page gives no starting price, so request a quote before treating it as cheaper than QuickBooks Online Payroll.

   Trade-off: Pricing is opaque, and Reddit feedback is a caution, not a product verdict.

   Paychex reviewQuickBooks Online Payroll vs Paychex
   6.2/10

   from
   Custom
5. Automated workflows

   PaycomPaycom

   Paycom may fit if you want to consolidate HR and payroll, offer employee self-service, or automate payroll workflows. Those are the strengths listed for the product, but the published information does not publish a starting price. Ask for a quote tied to your headcount and required workflows before comparing its cost with QuickBooks Online Payroll.

   Trade-off: You need a quote to judge its value.

   Paycom review
   6.5/10

   from
   Custom
6. Broader HR workflows

   PaylocityPaylocity

   Paylocity is a candidate if you want to consolidate HR and payroll and include finance or IT workflows alongside HR. Its listed fit is broader than payroll alone, so it may make sense when you are replacing more of your stack. The published information does not give a starting price; request a custom quote.

   Trade-off: Get a detailed quote and service commitments before switching.

   Paylocity review
   5.9/10

   from
   Custom

03Side by side

Tool	Score	From	Free plan	Best for
QuickBooks Online Payroll QuickBooks Online Payroll (current)	5.8	$25/mo	No	Businesses already using QuickBooks accounting
Gusto Gusto	6.3	$49/mo	No	Small teams running payroll in one state
SurePayroll SurePayroll	6.2	$20/mo	No	Small businesses with straightforward payroll
Justworks Justworks	7.2	$8/mo	No	Small US teams needing payroll and HR
Paychex Paychex	6.2	Custom	No	Businesses wanting payroll and HR together
Paycom Paycom	6.5	Custom	No	Organizations consolidating HR and payroll
Paylocity Paylocity	5.9	Custom	No	Employers consolidating HR and payroll workflows

Prices from each vendor's pricing page, checked Nov 7, 2026.