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Most buyers should pick SurePayroll.
For a small employer who wants a published starting price and payroll/tax filing, choose SurePayroll—but confirm which listed price applies: the published pricing shows both $20/$29 No Tax Filing and $29/$39 Full Service entries. Paychex fits businesses seeking payroll plus HR, benefits, or advisory services, but its pricing page is quote-only. Neither lists a free plan. If employee costs or total spend decide it, request a Paychex quote and verify SurePayroll's current plan price.
01Side by side
| SurePayroll | Paychex | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/month listed; also $29 alternate, plus $4/employee | Quote-only; monthly price not published |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | No free plan listed |
| Best for | Small businesses, household employers, contractors | Businesses needing payroll, HR, benefits, or PEO |
| Core strength | Unlimited payroll; Full Service files and deposits taxes | Payroll bundled with HR, benefits, and compliance |
| Learning curve | Learning-curve data not published; narrower payroll focus | Learning-curve data not published; broader HR suite |
| Integrations/data | 24/7 online records; accounting integration $4.99/month | Integration details not published on the vendor's site |
| Team/seat costs | $4 or $7 per employee monthly | Quote varies by employee count and needs |
| Support | Customer support listed | Advisory services; dedicated support with PEO |
SurePayroll Choose SurePayroll if
- Choose SurePayroll if you want published starting prices.
- Choose SurePayroll if you need household payroll or contractor support.
- Choose SurePayroll if you want 24/7 online payroll records.
Paychex Choose Paychex if
- Choose Paychex if you need payroll alongside HR services.
- Choose Paychex if benefits, compliance, or PEO services matter.
- Choose Paychex if you want advisory or dedicated PEO support.
02Pricing compared
SurePayroll is the only one here with listed monthly prices, but its published pricing data conflicts. It shows No Tax Filing at $20/month plus $4 per employee, and also an alternate $29/month entry for the same plan. Full Service appears at $29/month plus $7 per employee, with an alternate $39/month entry. The pricing notes say monthly billing and cancellation anytime; annual plan pricing is not published. Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms cost $50 annually plus $5 per form. Multi-state payroll is listed at $9.99/month, with the first state included.
Paychex publishes no monthly or annual rates and asks businesses to request a quote. Its listed Basic, Foundations, Advanced, Complete, HR Pro, and HR PEO options have no published prices. Neither company lists a free plan. Before switching, confirm SurePayroll’s current base price and ask Paychex for a quote based on headcount and services.
03Features and depth
SurePayroll centers on payroll for small businesses and household employers. Both plans list unlimited payroll runs. No Tax Filing is for employers who handle their own tax filing and deposits; Full Service calculates, files, and deposits federal, state, and local payroll taxes. The published details also list free 2-day direct deposit, automatic payroll scheduling, online access to records, and support for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Local tax areas may carry a separate fee.
Paychex covers payroll, but its listed services reach further into HR and workforce administration. Basic includes payroll tax filing and W-2 and 1099 year-end processing; Foundations adds AI and HR features. Other listed options include time and attendance, recruiting and onboarding, benefits, HR guidance, and PEO services for outsourced HR administration. Both providers list unlimited payroll processing or runs, but the published Paychex details don’t specify a comparable set of payroll add-on prices. Choose SurePayroll for a narrower payroll-and-tax job; consider Paychex when you also need HR or benefits services.
04Ease of use and learning curve
SurePayroll’s listed workflow is straightforward: run payroll online, schedule automatic runs, and access reports, paystubs, and payroll history 24/7 from a device. It allows unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle runs without an extra off-cycle charge. The main operational choice is tax handling: No Tax Filing leaves filing and deposits to the employer, while Full Service handles them.
Paychex also runs payroll online, but its offer can extend into HR, time and attendance, benefits, recruiting, or PEO services. That wider scope means more decisions about which services to buy. The published information does not publish setup steps, training requirements, or a learning curve for either product. Ask Paychex for an itemized quote and confirm which services are included before comparing package names.
Questions people ask
Are SurePayroll and Paychex the same?
No. SurePayroll and Paychex are separate payroll providers. SurePayroll’s listed offer focuses on payroll and tax filing for small businesses and household employers. Paychex lists payroll alongside HR, benefits, time and attendance, recruiting, and PEO services.
What is the best payroll software for small businesses?
It depends on what you need and what it costs for your team. SurePayroll lists monthly starting prices, though the published pricing has conflicting entries to verify. Paychex offers payroll plus broader HR and benefits services, but its rates are quote-only. Compare total costs and required services.
How can I contact Paychex Flex customer service?
The published Paychex information does not list a Flex-specific customer service number, hours, or contact route. We can’t verify those details from the available material. Check Paychex’s official website or your account’s support options for current contact information.
How much does Paychex payroll cost per month?
Paychex’s pricing page lists quote-only pricing; monthly and annual rates are not published. The published details also don’t provide a per-employee rate. Request a quote based on your headcount and the payroll, HR, benefits, or other services you need.