Canny Picks / Payroll
Payroll for a team of two to ten
Payroll software files your taxes and pays your people. At this size the good ones cost about the same, so the difference is what they charge extra for.
Prices checked October 5, 2026 on each company's own pricing page. Written by Canny Software, Palm Desert.
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OnPay, $79 a month for five
One plan: $49 a month plus $6 per person. That is $79 for five employees. It includes tax filings, W-2s and 1099s, unlimited pay runs and employees in more than one state. HR and time tracking are optional add-ons.
Gusto Simple, $79 a month for five
Same price for five people in one state, with a longer list of extras you can add. Hire someone in a second state and you move to Plus at $80 plus $12 a person, which is $140 a month.
ADP RUN
ADP does not publish a price. You get a number after a sales call, which makes it impossible to compare, and extra fees for year-end forms are widely reported. A five-person shop has simpler options.
What five people actually pay
| Tool | Entry price | Five employees | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OnPay | $49 + $6 per person | $79 a month | HR and time tracking are add-ons. |
| Gusto | $49 + $6 per person | $79, or $140 with a second state | Next-day pay and priority support cost extra on Simple. |
| Square Payroll | $35 + $6 per person | $65 a month | Best if you already use Square. Mailed tax forms are $3 each. |
| Wave Payroll | $40 + $6 per person | $70 a month | Pairs with Wave bookkeeping. |
Per-month prices in US dollars before tax. Annual-billing prices are shown as the monthly equivalent where the company lists them that way.
How to decide in two minutes
Everyone in one state and you use Square at the register? Square Payroll at $65 is the cheapest sound choice.
Otherwise choose OnPay, because the price does not change when you hire a remote worker in another state. Ask your accountant which they prefer before signing up.
Common questions
Do these services file payroll taxes for me?
Yes. Full-service payroll from each company in the table files federal and state payroll taxes and produces W-2s. You still need to register with your state, and some charge to do that for you.
Can I switch payroll in the middle of the year?
Yes, but the start of a quarter is cleanest. The new provider will need your year-to-date pay records.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is a price comparison. Talk to your accountant about your own payroll obligations.
Paying for more than one of these?
List everything on the stack audit page and see a free draft of what to cut.