--- title: The Best Free Payroll Software of 2026 --- # The Best Free Payroll Software of 2026 Last Reviewed: March 6, 2026 17 min read [No comments](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/free-payroll-software/#respond) [ ![Joslyn Allen](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_3958-96x96.jpg) ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/joslyn-allen/) [Written by Joslyn Allen](https://www.selecthub.com/author/joslyn-allen/) Technical Content Writer [ ![Grace Savides](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/325a4725a6f855d11144b5667811ee98c1a70f09400af42b2b3afa2ad716258c?s=96&d=mm&r=g) ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/grace-savides/) [Content Editor Grace Savides](https://www.selecthub.com/author/grace-savides/) Content Editor [ ![Aayushi Kishor Sharma](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-Aayushi-Kishor-Sharma-96x96.jpg) ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/aayushi-kishor-sharma/) [Technical Research by Aayushi Kishor Sharma](https://www.selecthub.com/author/aayushi-kishor-sharma/) Senior Analyst Table of Contents Explore the Payroll Hub What's your top priority today? * [Learn](#) * [What Is Payroll Software?](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/what-is-payroll-software/) * [Payroll Software vs. Services](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-and-services/) * [Payroll Software Features](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/best-payroll-software-features-leaders/) * [Plan](#) * [Payroll Software Requirements](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/) * [Payroll Software RFP](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-rfp/) * [Compare](#) * [Best Payroll Software Vendors](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-vendors/) * Best Free Payroll Software * [Why You Can Trust Us](#Why%5FYou%5FCan%5FTrust%5FUs) * [Our Picks for the Best Free Payroll Software](#Our%5FPicks%5Ffor%5Fthe%5FBest%5FFree%5FPayroll%5FSoftware) * [Payroll4Free: Best For Overall Payroll Management](#Payroll4Free%5FBest%5FFor%5FOverall%5FPayroll%5FManagement) * [HR.my: Best For Overseas Businesses](#HRmy%5FBest%5FFor%5FOverseas%5FBusinesses) * [Excel Payroll: Best For Recordkeeping](#Excel%5FPayroll%5FBest%5FFor%5FRecordkeeping) * [How We Chose Products](#How%5FWe%5FChose%5FProducts) * [Pros and Cons of Free Payroll Software](#Pros%5Fand%5FCons%5Fof%5FFree%5FPayroll%5FSoftware) * [Pros](#Pros) * [Cons](#Cons) * [Alternatives to Free Payroll Software](#Alternatives%5Fto%5FFree%5FPayroll%5FSoftware) * [Best Premium Payroll Software](#Best%5FPremium%5FPayroll%5FSoftware) * [Software with Free Trials or Benefits](#Software%5Fwith%5FFree%5FTrials%5For%5FBenefits) * [Other Affordable Solutions and Resources](#Other%5FAffordable%5FSolutions%5Fand%5FResources) * [Free Payroll Calculators](#Free%5FPayroll%5FCalculators) * [Free Payroll Newsletters and Websites](#Free%5FPayroll%5FNewsletters%5Fand%5FWebsites) * [Needs Analysis](#Needs%5FAnalysis) * [FAQs](#FAQs) * [Next Steps](#Next%5FSteps) * [Best Cloud Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/cloud-payroll-software/) * [Top Gusto Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/gusto-alternatives/) * [Top ADP Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/adp-competitors/) The best free payroll software gives you basic capabilities to pay employees fairly and on time without the cost of a [premium solution](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/). If you’re looking for a budget option, this guide is for you. Here’s my shortlist of the top free payroll software based on in-depth research from our analyst team: * **Payroll4Free:** Best for overall payroll management * **HR.my:** Best for overseas businesses * **Excel Payroll:** Best for recordkeeping [Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software) ## Why You Can Trust Us We’ve been independently researching payroll software since 2018, helping buyers find solutions that truly fit their needs. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous research to provide you with unbiased guidance. Vendors can’t pay to be ranked on our lists. For this roundup, our analysts only included products that are free or have a free tier. They carefully evaluated each product, looking at core features, market reputation, customer reviews and more, ensuring that each tool delivers real value. [Read about our full process.](#detailprocess) ## Our Picks for the Best Free Payroll Software ### Payroll4Free: Best For Overall Payroll Management Payroll4Free provides free online financial services to small businesses with 10 or fewer users. Its capabilities include compensation processing, vacation tracking, tax forms, HR assets, reporting options and more. It also provides live customer support, handles direct deposits for workers using their personal bank and integrates with other solutions. #### Limitations In terms of limitations, it doesn’t have any 401(k) tracking, it’s free only up to 10 employees and only runs on Windows OS. However, Macs can run it with a Windows OS installation. #### Payment Info You may wonder, is Payroll4Free actually free? The answer is yes, but there are two paid services. They are: * It files and deposits taxes for $12.50 per month. * Workers can use a bank provided by Payroll4Free to transfer direct deposit funds for $12.50 monthly for a max of $25 per month. #### Employee Use Your workers can log into their portal from any device to review vacation time, reprint pay stubs and W-2s and update their information. It’s also easy-to-use with a step-by-step account setup tool for enrollment. #### Payment and Taxes Payroll4Free handles payroll management and tax administration. For compensation, it pays employees and 1099 contractors. It can calculate on the user’s behalf and do the end of the year processing for state, federal and local taxes for a monthly fee. #### Administrative Functions Keeping track of PTO can be a headache. Payroll4Free calculates and tracks vacation hours. It also manages PTO, sick leave and tracks the amount of paid leave earned for each hour worked. HR officers and other designated users can customize the information and print employee payslips. Last, it pulls reports for taxes, benefits, earnings, accrued time, financial journal entries and more. #### Other Features Payroll4Free can export data to banks, accounting, benefits companies and data from time clock platforms. It’s secure with 2048 bit SSL encryption and data stored on Amazon Cloud. The one downside is that it doesn’t protect saved passwords and form data on browsers. Users will want to find a well-regarded extension to protect browser info. [Compare Payroll Software Pricing & Costs with our Pricing Guide](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-pricing-report-pdf-onsite/) ### HR.my: Best For Overseas Businesses HR.my is a cloud-based solution that offers HR, leave and payroll management. It automates financial processing with auto-created payslips for employees and processes monthly, semi-monthly, weekly, and bi-weekly. Some capabilities include time and attendance, document workflow, expensive claims and document sharing. It supports many languages, multiple users online at once and can export data anytime. #### Built by Users If you’re a customer of HR.my, you can request new, free capabilities. The community crowdfunds this solution, so it answers directly to its users. In fact, many new features were added because of a fan request. #### Payment and Limitations In terms of price, it’s free payroll software with no paid features. However, some functions get reserved for sponsors. Some downsides include: * A lack of specific customizations for the U.S. * An inability to facilitate wage garnishment or 401(k) tracking out of the box. * There’s no mobile app, but users can review and manage expense claim applications from smartphones. #### Workflow Management Each manager can add unlimited employees with individual accounts and set up workflows for different groups. Through assigned roles, workers can manage HR functions. It’s available for Mac, Windows and tablets. It streamlines the process by sending applications and claims submissions to department and branch heads. Most importantly, it logs application workflows to create an audit trail. #### Employee Use Through the self-service dashboard, workers can check their pay stubs, submit claims for expenses, look at historical records and see their application status from their account. If needed, workers can attach documentation for expense claims and leave applications. They get notified for each new application and status change for their application. HR.my provides a worker discussion board so management can listen to feedback on various company procedures or policies and send out surveys. The solution also helps employees keep up on credentials with education, training and tracks legal documents. #### Attendance With geolocation from Google Maps and the ability to take selfies, organizations can track overtime, attendance, tardiness and more. Hours can be auto-calculated and the system generates monthly attendance reports. #### PTO and Availability Management can control and approve employee leave applications and paid time off, access historical records, look at monthly leave statistics, see days off and check schedules in the same department or over the whole organization. To make communication clearer, coworkers, branch heads and department heads can see availability to make educated decisions. #### Communication You’ll get alerts about expiring contracts, probation ending, work permit expirations, birthdays, job anniversaries, job reviews and more. It’s also possible to send out announcements and notifications to all employees. This helps everyone stay up to date and get to events. #### Document Management The system can maintain a content library. It migrates paper documents into the system. This includes expense claims, timesheets, overtime requests or purchase requests. It enters all of them into the document workflow. Users can also share forms such as company policies, employee handbooks, SOPs and more. They can also submit reports for manager reviews or send disciplinary letters. They can also print and manage leave transactions, attendance, time clock and payroll data. Last, it can export to Excel. #### Security It’s encrypted with SSL (TLS) protocol, secured with daily off-site backups and data exports, has privacy protection with no third-party allowed to access data, hashed passwords and restricted permissions to certain info for workers [Compare Payroll Software Pricing & Costs with our Pricing Guide](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-pricing-report-pdf-onsite/) ### Excel Payroll: Best For Recordkeeping ExcelPayroll is precisely what it sounds like. Four Microsoft Excel files work together to provide the user with compensation management functions. It’s free, provided you already own Microsoft Suite. All you have to do is download it from the ExcelPayroll website. Some of its key functionality includes printing W-2, W-3, 941 and DE-9 forms. From there, it can compute the tax liabilities. It also processes 401(k)s, 125P,s HDAs, garnishments and more. Last, it calculates info for workers’ compensation reports and vacation time. #### Limitations Since it’s run on Excel files, users need to self-host or put it on a shared drive. It’s not a true Software-as-a-Service. There’s an email for site issues at ExcelPayroll@gmail.com, but that’s the extent of the customer service. Crowd-sourced answers can also help. While it can compute taxes, it won’t file them. It’s also worth nothing that this includes a lot of manual information entering, which takes a significant amount of time. #### Parameters It’s free to download and use. Computers must have Excel version 2007 and to run it and at least 10 free megabytes on the hard drive. It can support up to 200 workers, but active employees can’t be over 57. #### Payroll Management Through ExcelPayroll, users can make batch payments and select and compute weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual pay periods. When workers switch in mid-year, they can convert their old manual program. It can enter any date for a payroll check so payroll liabilities occur on the same date as check dates. Users can redo/reprint old records for back years. #### Checks It provides check formatting for Great Plains, Peachtree, Platinum, QuickBook, Quicken, SBT and self-design check formats. Employees can select, print and design layouts and make adjustments if print-outs don’t match the check position. #### Benefits and Deductions The solution covers four different deductions. They are: * **401(k)**: A pre-income exemption on federal and state taxes * **Partial Tax Exemption**: A health savings account or similar contributions * **Post Tax Deduction**: This happens after taxes and includes garnishments, loan payments and others. * **All Deductions Types**: This means income, FICA and local and FUTA and SUTA. It also covers vacation time earned by the workers. #### Taxes There are special, detailed instructions for how to select employees while printing W-2 and W-3 forms. It can print worker copies, IRS red copies and other necessary copies for W-2s. Carefully read instructions before printing. #### Time Cards The timecard option allows people to track job costs, record hours for each job and keep a history of time cards. ExcelPayroll has four separate sheets for the Timecard File. This includes: * **Timecard Sheet:** Users can enter the hours for each employee. * **JobList Sheet:** This optional sheet allows workers to enter the job list and record costs. * **LaborType Sheet:** Users can enter labor type and keep track of the costs of hours on the job. Also optional. * **EquipmentType Sheet:** This last optional sheet lets employees enter equipment type and track equipment hours. ## How We Chose Products The recommendations in this list are based on in-depth research from our analysts. They selected the 5 best products based on a blend of the following criteria: * Feature comprehensiveness * Product popularity * User reviews and ratings * SelectHub in-house data * Hands-on experience * Market analysts’ reports * Thought leaders’ opinions * Information available in the public domain Products with better user reviews were given preference, provided they adequately met the other criteria listed. Jump back to the product comparison. Or learn more about our [**research methodology**](https://www.selecthub.com/research-methodology/) and [**editorial standards**](https://www.selecthub.com/editorial-guidelines/). ## Pros and Cons of Free Payroll Software Now that we’ve gone over the best solutions, it’s time to ask a question. Is free payroll truly the best for your business? There is no absolute right or wrong answer. What’s perfect for one company could be a nightmare for another. It’s necessary to have a long conversation about whether free payroll software works for you. Here’s what you should consider: ### Pros #### Low Cost What’s the best thing about free platforms? They’re free, of course! It’s hard to get a better price than that. According to business.com, online payroll services typically charge [$29 to $150](https://www.business.com/articles/how-much-payroll-services-cost/) base fee, plus $2 to $12 per employee. If you do the math, it can add up quickly and become an expense some companies can’t afford. #### Frees Up Staff Time Doing manual calculations for money matters can dominate the time of accounting staff. This makes it hard for them to do much else. The [NSBA reports](https://nsba.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Tax-Survey-2018.pdf) that one-fifth of small business owners spend six or more hours internally on payroll per month. If they have it has five or more staff members, that amount jumps to one-third. #### Better Employee Retention Payroll solutions make hiring much faster. Having a streamlined onboarding process means losing fewer new hires. When they feel well trained, they’re more likely to stay. According to [CareerBuilder and SilkRoad](https://financesonline.com/onboarding-statistics/), 93% of employers were unanimous in accepting that a good onboarding experience is crucial for new employees deciding to stay with the company. #### Do I Really Need More? Before buying any platform, it’s always a good idea to go in with a plan and make a checklist of necessary features. Now cross-reference that list with the capabilities of free software. Did you get everything you need? How much money do you spend doing payroll compared to the cost of implementing a robust payroll solution? Small businesses may not need more than what a free compensation platform has to offer. In that case, why pay when you don’t have to? ### Cons #### Not Complex Enough On the flip side, larger companies need more detailed processes. Free solutions might not fit their challenges. Again, it’s crucial to create an implementation plan beforehand to ensure that nothing vital important is missing from the list. #### Lack of Customization An inefficient workflow with bottlenecks and inadequate support is a serious problem. According to [Business Efficiency for Dummies](https://www.dummies.com/business/human-resources/workplace/how-inefficiency-negatively-impacts-your-business/), having inefficiencies can cost an organization between 20 to 30 percent of its revenue per year. That’s why companies with a unique workflow, industry complications or other issues that don’t conform may need something special a free option may not offer. #### May Not Integrate with Legacy Programs Depending on the solution and nature of your pre-existing legacy programs, there could be inherent complications. The [2019 State of Ecosystem and Application Integration Report](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190122005564/en/Poor-Integration-Costs-Businesses-Million-Dollars-Year) found that businesses lose $500,000 a year to integration problems. It’s crucial to thoroughly audit of any software that needs to communicate before selecting a new one. #### Difficulties Scaling No one enjoys reinventing the wheel. What happens if your industry jumps from 10 to 50 employees in the next year? Will your solution be able to handle that? Around 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and [scaling is one of the biggest reasons](https://openviewpartners.com/blog/how-startups-can-deal-with-scaling-problems/#.XoUF9ohKjIU). #### Lack of Consultation Services Some companies need more than just software. If you don’t have the staff, the skills or the resources, completely outsourcing everything might be a better option. Not only will they make sure your organization is compliant, but they’re also likely to find deductions and save money. ## Alternatives to Free Payroll Software If you decide that free platforms aren’t meeting your needs, it’s time to look at paid options. Here’s a list of the payroll solutions that scored highest in our analysis. ### Best Premium Payroll Software [**UKG Ready**](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/ukg-ready/) UKG Ready delivers full-service payroll with real-time calculations, off-cycle runs, and integrations with QuickBooks and accounting systems. Alongside payroll, it unifies HR, benefits, time-tracking, scheduling, compliance, and analytics for small to mid-sized businesses seeking automation and workforce visibility. [**QuickBooks Payroll**](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/) QuickBooks Payroll handles automated wage calculations, tax filing and direct deposits to reduce manual effort and errors. It connects to banking and accounting systems, streamlines admin tasks and integrates benefits/time-tracking. You also get broader HR-adjacent tools like employee self-service, compliance tracking and reporting dashboards. [**Rippling**](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/rippling/) Rippling offers a unified workforce-platform where payroll (including global payroll), HR, IT and spending modules are tightly integrated. Its automation tools sync time, benefits and devices, helping reduce manual steps — though pricing can be unclear for smaller orgs. ### Software with Free Trials or Benefits If a specific focus on your payroll is the right move for your company, here’s a quick rundown of a few other solutions. Some of them have free benefits, allowing you to use them in some capacity. Others offer free trials. By submitting to a trial for a few weeks or a month, it allows you to get more experience with how well something works, how it integrates with systems and lets you scout out other problems before it’s too late. #### CheckMark Payroll It offers compensation management, accounting, ACA reporting, filing for 1099s, checks and envelopes. The platform has four different assets, each ranging in price. A free trial is available. #### eSmart Payroll This limited solution files forms and taxes online such as 1099-MISC, 940, 941, W-2 and more. It files PIN applications for 941, 940 and 944 forms free. For other filings, the price varies per individual form. #### [SurePayroll](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/surepayroll/) Software for small businesses, accounts, HR and nanny finances. It offers multiple pay rates, unlimited payroll, direct deposit, deductions, benefits and new hire functions. It comes with a free, one-month trial and a free financial calculator. #### [Wave](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/wave-payroll/) This platform handles bank and credit card payments, taxes, payment for independent contractors, invoicing and more. Certain accounting, receipt scanning and invoicing features are free. It has a 30-day free trial. #### [WebHR](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/webhr/) This full-service HR solution has several capabilities such as payroll processing, direct deposit, check printing and others. It has a complete range of HR functions. It’s free for companies with five or fewer users. ![WebHR Screenshot]() Screenshot from WebHR. #### [Zenefits](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/zenefits/) Zenefits helps with HR, payroll, PTO, onboarding, benefits, org charting, integrations and time and attendance functions. It comes with a 14-day free trial. After that, pricing is per employee. ## Other Affordable Solutions and Resources If you’re looking to calculate a few specific formulas and don’t need or have money for a full payroll system, it’s a quick and easy solution. Paid software often offers calculators for free. They can calculate state or federal tax rates, per diem or other shortcuts. ### Free Payroll Calculators * **eSmart Paycheck**: A free payroll tax calculator. * [**Fingercheck**](https://fingercheck.com/calculator/): Tax calculator. * [**OnPay**](https://onpay.com/payroll-calculator-tax-rates): A payroll and tax calculator with tax rates for each state. * **Paycheck Manager**: Another free tax calculator. * **Per Diem Rates Calculator**: From the U.S. General Services Association. * [**SurePayroll**](https://www.surepayroll.com/resources/calculator/small-business): A small business payroll calculator. ### Free Payroll Newsletters and Websites It’s critical to keep up with the latest industry news to avoid running into compliance or law changes. Proactive companies want their workers to be well-educated and able to be proactive with their solutions. Here are a few newsletters, websites and wires professionals need to succeed. * **IRS Newswire**: Two to three press releases per week covering changes in laws, filing season updates, tax admin and more. * [**E-news for Small Business**](https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/subscriber/new): Free information covering tips for tax compliance, reminders of upcoming filing dates and IRS news releases. * [**E-news for Payroll Professionals**](https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/subscriber/new): It covers special announcements, recent legislative changes, new employment procedures and more for financial employees. * **IRS Guide Wire**: Covers guidance straight from the IRS on revenue procedures, revenue rulings, announcements and notices from the IRS. * **American Payroll Association**: It provides resources for both members and nonmembers, including educational materials, compliance info, news and conferences. * [**EEOC Homepage**](https://www.eeoc.gov/): News, information and resources from the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. * **Social Security Website**: Provides news and information on changes to social security. * [**U.S. Department of Labor**](https://www.dol.gov/): Contains labor news, information and other assets from the labor department. ## Needs Analysis Before evaluating any piece of tech, it’s essential to set your priorities straight. A company of five won’t have the same HR challenges as one of 50\. Each business has different challenges. Still, this list of crucial requirements is an excellent place to start. Here’s what you should keep in mind when deciding if a free payroll software solution is right for you: * **Core HR:** You’ll need HR capabilities to facilitate an effective workforce. HR processes may include benefits administration, [performance management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/hris/employee-performance-management/), employee demographics, database management and more. * **Payroll Administration:** To run the organization’s finances, you’ll need something that handle forms, calculate deductions and tax rates, file taxes, operate direct deposit and meet other financial requirements. * **Scheduling:** It’s essential to keep butts in seats when you absolutely need them. That’s why some platforms offer scheduling, time and attendance, PTO and leave requests. * **Compensation Admin:** To attract and keep top workers, you’ll need a thorough understanding of fair compensation. Some solutions offer tools to help ensure your workers are getting paid fairly. * **Taxes:** Make sure your platform can do essential work such as calculating deductions, tax rates, benefits and other functions for state, local and federal taxes. * **Reporting:** Look at reporting and analytics functions so you can analyze trends, financial reports, budgeting and even deliver employee surveys. * **Compliance:** If compliance is vital in your industry, look for automatic compliance and the ability to generate reports for 401(k) and the EEO, EEOC, HIPPA and other organizations. Want to learn more about evaluating solutions? See our full article of [payroll software requirements](https://www.selecthub.com/hris/payroll-solutions/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/). [Select the Right Software with the Free Lean Selection Book](https://pmo.selecthub.com/lean-selection-book/) ## FAQs [Why do I need payroll software?](#group%5F910) Payroll systems take the weight off a business owner’s shoulders regarding the daunting tasks of tax filing, customization, synchronizing HR and much more. Not paying particular attention to payroll can result in a loss of employees and a jumbled mess of paperwork. Investing in software can save your company time and money while also you care for your people. [When should I invest money in payroll software?](#group%5F905) Clearly, there are some great benefits available via free payroll software tools, especially the free part. However, it won’t always be the best option for every company. Consider upgrading to a paid service when: * You expect your amount of employees to increase quickly. * You need more internal support for potential issues. * There aren’t enough customization options available. * The features given don’t provide exactly what your company requires. * You can fit it in your budget. [What if I don’t want to use payroll software?](#group%5F205) If using paid-for or free payroll software doesn’t seem to be the best option for you, that’s fine. But be aware of the potential manual labor challenges and time constraints that may present themselves. You’ll have to know and understand all tax laws to prevent any unnecessary IRS headaches down the road. Be prepared to conduct your own calculations as well. Luckily there are resources available to assist you, such as free payroll templates and Excel spreadsheets. [Get our Payroll Software Requirements Template](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-requirements-onsite-1/) ## Next Steps For large enterprises, free payroll software is rarely a good option. They often lack necessary requirements, customizations, complexity and capabilities to handle large business operations. In that case, a paid [payroll software](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/) service or even a full-service [HR software](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/) solution may be the right choice. However, for small organizations operating on a shoestring budget, free payroll software may be the way to go. Payroll4Free offers basic compensation and tax administration, can export data to other companies and has encrypted data. However, it only runs on Windows OS. HR.my has many payroll administration features, is crowdfunded and adds new features upon user request. However, its mobile capabilities are limited and it has no mobile app. TimeTrex Community Edition offers attendance, recruiting and scheduling in addition to compensation management but can’t import data from punches that come from a MySQL database. Lastly, ExcelPayroll is made from four excel files linked together. For companies that already own Excel, it’s an affordable solution, but it doesn’t file taxes and takes a lot of time. Before selecting anything, the most critical step is figuring out the core functionality you need for your company and what is your highest priority. Going through a [list of requirements and crafting an implementation plan](https://www.selecthub.com/hris/payroll-solutions/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/) is a must. Free payroll software could be the perfect answer, but don’t cut corners. Keep your eyes on the priorities so you and your employees can get paid and thrive. Have you used any of the free payroll software platforms we listed? What was your experience? Do you like or dislike these solutions? Are there any great platforms we missed? Leave us your comments below! **Analyst-Picked Related Content** [**Pricing Guide:** Discover the true cost of Payroll software ](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-pricing-report-pdf-onsite/) [**Comparison Report:** An Interactive analyst report with comparison ratings, reviews and pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software) [ Previous Best Payroll Software Vendors ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-vendors/) [ Next Best Cloud Payroll Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/cloud-payroll-software/) ### Trending Topics #### [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) [Payroll Software vs. Payroll Services: Key Differences](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-and-services/) [Payroll management isn’t just essential for business. 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Calculating hours worked, rates of pay,… ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/cloud-payroll-software/) [ ![Mariah Hansen](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mariah-Hansen-96x96.jpg) Mariah Hansen ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/mariah-hansen/) Mar 06, 2026 #### [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) [What is a Payroll System?](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/what-is-payroll-software/) [While it may not be the most exciting part of running a company, processing payroll… ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/what-is-payroll-software/) [ ![Ivy Pope](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ivy-Pope-96x96.jpg) Ivy Pope ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/ivy-pope/) Mar 06, 2026 #### [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) [The Top 7 Payroll Software Features in 2026](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/best-payroll-software-features-leaders/) [Sorry payroll service providers, you’ve gone out of style. Nowadays, a do-it-yourself payroll management approach… ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/best-payroll-software-features-leaders/) [ ![Olivia Edens](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-Olivia-Headshot-96x96.jpg) Olivia Edens ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/) Mar 06, 2026 #### [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) [The Top 8 Payroll System Requirements Implementation Checklist & Template](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/) [When you’re looking for new payroll software, there’s no time to waste. Just one manual… ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/) [ ![Olivia Edens](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-Olivia-Headshot-96x96.jpg) Olivia Edens ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/) Mar 06, 2026 #### [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) [How to Create an Effective Payroll RFP](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-rfp/) [If you’ve started thinking about the mountain of work that is payroll processing, then you’re… ](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-rfp/) [ ![Mariah Hansen](https://www.selecthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mariah-Hansen-96x96.jpg) Mariah Hansen ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/mariah-hansen/) May 09, 2025 Originally published in June 2021 and last updated in March 2026\. Contributions from Joslyn Allen, Aayushi Kishor Sharma, Jaisri Narasimman, and Grace Savides. ## About the Contributors The following team members helped research, create, and review this content. [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/joslyn-allen/) Written by [Joslyn Allen](https://www.selecthub.com/author/joslyn-allen/) Technical Content Writer As a Technical Content Writer and Market Analyst at SelectHub, Joslyn produces content and examines the B2B industry specifically for the site's LMS, Payroll and Talent Management categories. Outside of work, Joslyn enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains and spending time with her friends, family and pets. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/joslyn-allen/) [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/aayushi-kishor-sharma/) Technical Research by [Aayushi Kishor Sharma](https://www.selecthub.com/author/aayushi-kishor-sharma/) Senior Analyst Aayushi Sharma has been part of SelectHub since 2021\. In her role as a Senior Analyst, she leads research efforts for categories including HR, EHR and marketing. She also earned an MBA in marketing. Outside of work, she's a social butterfly who loves exploring new things and places. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/aayushi-kishor-sharma/) [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/jaisri-narasimman/) Technical Research by [Jaisri Narasimman](https://www.selecthub.com/author/jaisri-narasimman/) Principal Analyst A graduate of NTU Singapore, Jaisri Narasimman honed her data mining and curation skills during her post-graduate education, focusing on developing strategies to help businesses make the most of their data. In her role at SelectHub, her research spans categories like HR, CRM and EHR. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/jaisri-narasimman/) [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/grace-savides/) Content Editor [Grace Savides](https://www.selecthub.com/author/grace-savides/) Content Editor A digital specialist and content marketer, Grace joined the SelectHub team at the end of 2019\. She's an editor, and her team writes about learning management systems (LMS), talent management, payroll and other HR-related software. She's passionate about the HR industry and how changes can empower the workforce. In her free time, Grace hangs out with her boyfriend, dogs and a ridiculous amount of books she refuses to throw out. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/grace-savides/) Mariah HansenHow to Create an Effective Payroll RFP * ‹ * › ### Conversation ![Avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/281d3616cf761f3582c0d76c23517846?s=32&d=mm&r=g) Write a response [Cancel reply](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/free-payroll-software/#respond) Your message Your name \* Your email \* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Compare **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 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