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Try It FreeQuickBooks Payroll makes a lot of sense for businesses that are already neck deep in QuickBooks accounting and want their payroll to live in the same ecosystem.
If you're using QuickBooks Payroll because your business already relies on QuickBooks for accounting, it's worth considering whether keeping payroll and accounting in the same ecosystem is still the best fit for your business. That's especially true following Intuit's July 2026 pricing changes.
Here, we'll compare the best QuickBooks Payroll alternatives for 2026, including what each platform does well, where it falls short, how much it costs, and which types of businesses it suits best.
Quick Picks: The Best QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives
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OnTheClock: Best for Connected Time Tracking and Payroll
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Gusto: Best for HR Depth and Multistate Growth
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OnPay: Best for Flat, No-Tier Pricing
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Paychex: Best for Businesses that Want a Large Platform to Grow Into
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Rippling: Best for Businesses that Want a Broader HR/IT Platform
How We Evaluated These QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives
QuickBooks Payroll's biggest advantage is convenience if you're already using QuickBooks for accounting. When comparing QuickBooks Payroll alternatives, businesses may prioritize different features depending on their existing accounting setup, workforce, and payroll needs. With that in mind, we evaluated each alternative based on:
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Built-in time tracking and payroll capabilities
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Accounting integrations
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HR functionality and support access
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Overall fit for small businesses with hourly employees
The Best QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives for 2026
OnTheClock: Best for Connected Time Tracking and Payroll
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QuickBooks Payroll is built around QuickBooks accounting. That's a real strength if your business already runs on QuickBooks and wants everything tied together, but it also means the product is designed around the QuickBooks ecosystem rather than around time tracking and payroll as a standalone workflow.
OnTheClock takes a different starting point. Employee time tracking is the foundation, and payroll connects directly to the timecards your team is already using. If you still want your accounting to sync with QuickBooks Online, that connection is available, too. It just isn't the only reason to use the product.
What Makes OnTheClock Different From QuickBooks Payroll?
The core difference is what the product is actually built around. QuickBooks Payroll is closely integrated with the broader QuickBooks ecosystem, while OnTheClock starts with time tracking and payroll. QuickBooks Payroll's published pricing runs roughly $50-$75 per month base plus about $6.50 per employee, and Intuit implemented pricing changes in July 2026. Support and billing concerns also appear in public reviews.
OnTheClock is built around the relationship between time tracking and payroll first. If your accounting already runs through QuickBooks Online, you can still connect it, but you're not paying for payroll as an add-on to an accounting product. You're paying for a payroll product that also syncs with your accounting.
OnTheClock Key Features
OnTheClock Pros
OnTheClock Cons
OnTheClock Pricing
- Time tracking: $5 per month base fee + $4 per hourly employee/month
- Payroll: $40 per month base + $6 per employee/month
- Salaried employees: Time tracking fees are waived for salaried employees enrolled in OnTheClock Payroll
- Implementation: One-time $250 payroll implementation fee
A business with 10 hourly employees would pay $145 per month for OnTheClock time tracking and payroll, plus the one-time implementation fee.
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Gusto: Best for HR Depth and Multistate Growth
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Gusto is a strong QuickBooks Payroll alternative for businesses that want more than payroll. Structured onboarding, HR tools, compliance support, and multistate payroll are among its more popular options.
Gusto's Simple plan starts at $49/month plus $6 per employee for single-state payroll. Its Plus plan, which costs $80/month plus $12 per employee, adds multistate payroll and time tracking along with deeper HR functionality.
Who Is Gusto Best For?
Gusto makes sense for a business that expects its HR needs to grow, plans to hire across state lines, or wants more structured onboarding and compliance tools without tying payroll to a specific accounting platform.
If your main goal is simply to connect hourly employee timecards to payroll, you may end up paying for HR functionality you don't need, especially once you move beyond the Simple plan for time tracking.
Gusto Key Features
Gusto Integrations:
Gusto Pros
Gusto Cons
Gusto Pricing
- Simple: $49/month + $6 per employee (single-state, no time tracking)
- Plus: $80/month + $12 per employee (multi-state, time tracking, deeper HR tools)
OnPay: Best for Flat, No-Tier Pricing
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OnPay's approach is simple: One plan, published pricing, and every core payroll feature included without needing to layer on a specific accounting product to make the pricing worthwhile.
It includes multistate payroll and year-end tax forms without requiring a higher tier, and its integrations, including QuickBooks, are optional rather than a requirement to get full value from the platform.
Who Is OnPay Best For?
OnPay is attractive for businesses that want simple, predictable payroll pricing regardless of which accounting software they use, or whether they use one at all. The tradeoff is that OnPay doesn't offer a native employee time clock, so businesses that need time tracking will need a separate system.
OnPay Key Features
OnPay Integrations:
OnPay Pros
OnPay Cons
OnPay Pricing
- Flat plan: $49/month base + $6 per employee/month
- No separate tiers; all core features included
Paychex: Best for Businesses That Want a Large Platform to Grow Into
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Paychex offers a tiered structure that lets a business start small and add HR functionality as it grows, and unlike QuickBooks Payroll, its value doesn't depend on running a specific accounting product alongside it.
That said, only the entry-level Essentials tier is publicly priced, at $39/month plus $5 per employee. Its higher tiers, Select and Pro, are quote-based, and a dedicated support representative is generally reserved for those higher tiers rather than the entry plan most small businesses start on. Public reviews also include complaints about invoices exceeding original quoted prices, making total cost worth considering when comparing Paychex with other providers.
Who Is Paychex Best For?
Paychex can make sense for a business that wants a large, established platform to grow into over time and is comfortable moving up through tiers and negotiating custom pricing as HR needs expand, regardless of which accounting software it uses.
Paychex Key Features
Paychex Integrations:
Paychex Pros
Paychex Cons
Paychex Pricing
- Base (Essentials): $39/month
- Per employee: +$5/month
- Select and Pro tiers: quote-based
Rippling: Best for Businesses That Want a Broader HR/IT Platform
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Rippling is a well-regarded, modular HCM suite that goes well beyond payroll, covering HR, IT device management, and a wide range of add-on modules, all independent of any specific accounting platform.
Payroll on Rippling is sold as a separate module alongside its required core platform. Rippling lists its core HRIS at $8 per employee per month and Domestic Payroll at an additional $8 per employee per month, with other HR, IT, finance, and global workforce modules available separately.
Who Is Rippling Best For?
Rippling makes the most sense for a business that wants a single platform spanning HR, IT, and payroll together and expects to use that broader functionality, without needing it tied to a specific accounting tool. For a small business that mainly needs reliable payroll, that's often more system than necessary.
Rippling Key Features
Rippling Integrations:
Rippling Pros
Rippling Cons
Rippling Pricing
Reported Pricing Estimates
- Core HRIS: $8 per employee/month
- Domestic Payroll: $8 per employee/month
- Additional modules are priced separately
Most businesses report an all-in cost of roughly $25-50 per employee once the platform fee and payroll module are combined
QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives: Side-by-Side Comparison
Why Choose OnTheClock?
See how OnTheClock stacks up against other QuickBooks Payroll alternatives.
| Tool | Best For | Time Tracking | Tied to Specific Accounting Software | Pricing Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnTheClock | Connected time tracking + payroll | Native | No, syncs with QuickBooks Online optionally | Flat, published |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Businesses already running QuickBooks accounting | Add-on | Designed around the QuickBooks ecosystem | Tiered, prices increased July 2026 |
| Gusto | HR depth + growing businesses | Plus tier and above | No | Tiered |
| OnPay | Simple payroll pricing | Not included | No | Single flat plan |
| Paychex | Businesses wanting a large platform to grow into | Available, varies by package | No | Entry tier published, upper tiers quote-based |
| Rippling | Broader HR/IT platform | Available (paid module) | No | Platform fee + separate payroll module |
Pricing shown reflects publicly available vendor pricing as of 2026 and is subject to change. Confirm current pricing directly with each provider before making a purchasing decision.
Which QuickBooks Payroll Alternative Is Best for Your Business?
The right QuickBooks Payroll alternative depends on what you need most from your payroll system. If keeping payroll closely connected to QuickBooks accounting is a priority, staying within the QuickBooks ecosystem may make sense. If time tracking, HR functionality, simpler pricing, or a broader workforce platform matters more, another provider may be a better fit.
If you'd rather start smaller and grow into a larger platform over time, without any of it depending on your accounting software, Paychex offers that path, with the caveat that its most useful support tiers come at a higher price point. If you want a broader HR and IT platform alongside payroll, Rippling is worth a look, with the platform fee and payroll module priced separately.
Frequently Asked Questions About QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives
What is the best QuickBooks Payroll alternative?
For businesses that want time tracking and payroll connected, without being tied to QuickBooks accounting to get full value, OnTheClock is a strong alternative. Gusto suits businesses wanting more HR depth, while OnPay is a good fit for businesses that want the simplest possible pricing.
Why do businesses look for QuickBooks Payroll alternatives?
Businesses may consider QuickBooks Payroll alternatives for several reasons, including Intuit's July 2026 pricing changes, a desire for payroll that isn't tied to a specific accounting ecosystem, or the need for different time-tracking, HR, or support capabilities.
Does switching away from QuickBooks Payroll mean giving up QuickBooks accounting?
Not necessarily. OnTheClock, Gusto, and OnPay can all sync with QuickBooks Online for accounting purposes, so switching payroll providers doesn't automatically mean switching your accounting software too.
Is QuickBooks Payroll increasing its prices in 2026?
According to Intuit's announced pricing changes, a payroll fee increase took effect on July 1, 2026, adding roughly $2 per employee.
Do QuickBooks Payroll alternatives handle payroll taxes?
OnTheClock, Gusto, and OnPay all include applicable federal, state, and local payroll tax filing as part of their payroll service.
Is switching payroll providers difficult?
The difficulty depends on your workforce size, how much payroll history needs to be migrated, and the implementation support your new provider offers. Switching at the start of a calendar year, rather than mid-year, generally simplifies the process.
Is Paychex a good alternative if I don't use QuickBooks?
Yes. Paychex's pricing and functionality aren't tied to any specific accounting platform, so it works the same regardless of what you use for accounting. Only its entry-level Essentials tier is publicly priced; higher tiers require a custom quote.
Does Paychex include time tracking?
Paychex offers time and attendance capabilities, but availability may depend on the package and services selected. Worth confirming what's included at your tier before assuming it matches a dedicated time-tracking platform.
Is Rippling tied to QuickBooks or any other accounting software?
No. Rippling is built as an independent HR, IT, and payroll platform, and its pricing doesn't assume or require a specific accounting tool. It does offer its own integrations, including with QuickBooks, for businesses that want to connect the two.
How much does Rippling cost compared to QuickBooks Payroll?
It's hard to compare directly since both use different pricing structures. Rippling uses modular pricing. Its core HRIS is listed at $8 per employee per month, while Domestic Payroll costs an additional $8 per employee per month. Other modules can increase the total cost depending on the configuration. Rippling uses modular pricing. Its core HRIS is listed at $8 per employee per month, while Domestic Payroll costs an additional $8 per employee per month. Other modules can increase the total cost depending on the configuration. QuickBooks Payroll's published pricing runs roughly $50-75/month base plus about $6.50 per employee, following Intuit’s July 2026 pricing changes. Request a full quote from Rippling for your specific configuration before comparing totals.
