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It's a split decision.
Choose eBacon if you need construction-focused prevailing-wage payroll, certified reports, job-cost reporting, or fringe management. Its pricing is quote-based, and the pricing notes do not publish a starting price. Choose Payroll4Free for basic payroll if you pay 9 or fewer employees monthly; the company says that service is free, but details and fees for PTS, DDS, and add-ons are unclear. These products target different business sizes and needs, so neither is a universal winner.
01Side by side
| eBacon | Payroll4Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote; starting price not published | Basic service advertised as free for 9 or fewer employees |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | Basic service advertised as free; terms need confirmation |
| Best for | Construction contractors with 15–500 employees | Small businesses paying 9 or fewer employees monthly |
| Core strength | Certified payroll, prevailing wage, fringe, and job costs | Basic employee and contractor payroll |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Integration details not published; certified reports listed | Integration details not published; payroll reports listed |
| Team/seat costs | Custom quote; per-employee terms not published | Free offer capped at 9 employees; other fees unclear |
| Support | Support details not published | Support details not published |
eBacon Choose eBacon if
- Choose eBacon if you run construction payroll with prevailing-wage requirements.
- Choose eBacon if you need WH-347 or state certified payroll reports.
- Choose eBacon if fringe annualization or job-cost reporting matters.
Payroll4Free Choose Payroll4Free if
- Choose Payroll4Free if you pay 9 or fewer employees monthly.
- Choose Payroll4Free if its advertised free basic service fits your needs.
- Choose Payroll4Free if you can confirm any PTS, DDS, and add-on fees.
02Pricing compared
eBacon does not publish a starting price. Its pricing is custom and quote-based, with monthly and annual terms not published on the vendor's site. The listed option is a custom quote, with a sales consultation and demo.
Payroll4Free says its basic service is free when you pay 9 or fewer employees monthly. But the published pricing notes do not list a price for PTS, DDS, or fee-schedule add-ons, and do not explain what those options include. Billing intervals for PTS and DDS are also not published. The notes classify the free plan status as unconfirmed, so verify current eligibility and any fees with the provider before switching.
The value comparison depends on fit: Payroll4Free may cover basic payroll at no charge for a very small team, while eBacon requires a quote for its construction-specific capabilities.
03Features and depth
These products cover different payroll problems. eBacon is built for construction contractors, with prevailing-wage payroll, WH-347 and state certified payroll reports, fringe annualization, and job-cost reporting by job and cost code. Its mobile GPS clock-in and geofencing address field time tracking. It also supports onboarding, license and certification tracking, benefits enrollment, paystubs, and time-off requests. A fringe trust is available for directing prevailing-wage fringe into benefits for non-union work.
Payroll4Free’s listed features are narrower: paying employees and contractors, payroll tax calculations, vacation tracking, payroll reports, and an employee portal. It offers direct deposit or paper checks. The published information does not list certified payroll reports, prevailing-wage compliance, GPS time tracking, fringe management, or construction job-cost reporting for Payroll4Free. If those are requirements, confirm them directly rather than assuming a general payroll tool will cover them. For a small business seeking basic payroll, its stated feature set may be enough.
04Ease of use and learning curve
We can’t rank either product’s interface or setup process from the published information. The likely workload depends more on what you need to configure: eBacon covers construction payroll, field time, fringe handling, and workforce records, so a contractor may need to map jobs, cost codes, and payroll practices during evaluation. The source does not describe setup steps or training.
Payroll4Free lists a smaller set of core payroll tasks, but the published details do not explain onboarding, support, or how its paid options work. Before choosing, ask for a walkthrough using your actual payroll process and confirm what is included in the quoted or free service. Don’t treat a shorter feature list as proof that setup is easier.
Questions people ask
How much does eBacon cost?
eBacon pricing is custom and quote-based. The published pricing notes do not publish a starting price or monthly or annual billing terms. The listed option includes a sales consultation and demo, so request a quote based on your employee count and required construction payroll features.
Is Payroll4Free really free?
Payroll4Free says its basic service is free when you pay 9 or fewer employees monthly. The published pricing notes do not clarify all eligibility rules or list prices for PTS, DDS, or fee-schedule add-ons. Confirm the current terms and any charges directly before relying on a zero-cost estimate.
Which product handles certified payroll and prevailing wages?
eBacon is the fit described for construction prevailing-wage payroll and certified reporting, including WH-347 and state reports. The published Payroll4Free feature list does not mention certified payroll or prevailing-wage tools. Confirm your required forms and jurisdiction coverage with eBacon before switching.
Can Payroll4Free pay employees by direct deposit?
Yes. The published feature information says Payroll4Free supports direct deposit or paper checks. It does not provide details about any related fees or eligibility conditions, so ask the provider to confirm those terms. eBacon’s published feature list does not specify its payment methods.