Independent · No vendor pays for placement
We track the real prices and plan changes of the major small-business payroll providers, compare them head-to-head, and tell you who each one is actually best for — including the downsides of our own top pick.
Our verdicts
Three providers cover almost every small business well. Which one is right depends on your team size and how much hand-holding you want at tax time.
Best for most small teams
$49/mo + $6 per person
Simple plan, priced per month + per person
Best for 1–10 employees, tight budget
$17/mo + $4 per person
Basic plan; Full Service adds tax filing
Best for farms, nonprofits & restaurants
$49/mo + $6 per person
Single plan, all features included
Start here
Seven providers compared on price, tax filing, support and ease — with a clear winner for each team size.
Head-to-headThe two most-asked-about platforms, compared feature by feature — and the honest answer depends on your size.
ReviewCheapest doesn't have to mean worst. Where Patriot genuinely shines, and where the low price shows.
Payroll is a minor category for the big comparison sites — their pages are generic and their prices go stale. We cover only payroll, we re-check every price on this site monthly, and we stamp each page with the date we checked. When a provider raises prices, we say so — including when it's our #1 pick.
SMB Payroll Guide