---
title: The 5 Best Payroll Software Vendors of 2026
---
# The 5 Best Payroll Software Vendors of 2026
Last Reviewed: March 6, 2026 16 min read [No comments](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-software-vendors/#respond)
[](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/) [Written by Olivia Edens](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/)
Technical Content Writer
[](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hunter-lowe/) [Edited by Hunter Lowe](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hunter-lowe/)
Content Editor
[](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
- [Best Payroll Software Vendors](#Best_Payroll_Software_Vendors)
- [Paychex: Best for Dashboard and Reporting](#Paychex_Best_for_Dashboard_and_Reporting)
- [Workday HCM: Best for Security and Compliance](#Workday_HCM_Best_for_Security_and_Compliance)
- [Namely: Best for Payroll and Tax Management](#Namely_Best_for_Payroll_and_Tax_Management)
- [TriNet: Best for Time and Attendance Management](#TriNet_Best_for_Time_and_Attendance_Management)
- [Paycor: Best for Benefits Management](#Paycor_Best_for_Benefits_Management)
- [How We Choose Products](#How_We_Choose_Products)
- [How to Compare Payroll Vendors](#How_to_Compare_Payroll_Vendors)
- [Next Steps](#Next_Steps)
- [Best Free Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/free-payroll-software/)
- [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/)
We’ve come a long way from paying employees in bread thanks to the invention of paper money and [payroll software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/payroll-software/). Modern payroll solutions make efficient, accurate calculations and deductions possible while protecting you from hefty non-compliance fees.
If you’re feeling burnt out on manually managing payroll or tired of dealing with an outdated system, it’s time for an upgrade. In this article, we’re diving into the best payroll vendors and tips for comparing payroll software.
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
## Best Payroll Software Vendors
On average, a typical [payroll error costs](https://eyquest.com/files/Cost_and_Risks_Due_to_Payroll_Errors_2022_Final.pdf) about $291, meaning just a handful of mishaps can cost your business thousands. Fortunately, thanks to payroll software, you can reduce errors while saving time on tedious calculations and deductions.
Ready to see the best of the best? Kickstart your search with our top payroll vendor picks below.
Compare up to **5 products** at a time below:
\> <
| Product | Analyst Scorei Our Overall analyst rating for Payroll Software products is based on scores in our selection platform for 128 functional requirements, 19 technical requirements and 15 analyst verification questions. Each functional and technical requirement is scored on a scale of 0 (not supported) to 100 (fully supported out of the box). The analyst verification questions are scored as Yes (100) or No (0). | Awards | User Sentiment Scorei The percentage of users who would recommend this product based on user reviews collected from popular reviews sites. | Start Price | Free Trial | Deployment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [TriNet HR Plus](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/trinet/) | TriNet HR Plus - Score: 78 out of 10078 | Best for Self-Service Portal | 82%
Great | $8 Per Employee, Monthly | | Cloud On-Premise |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Paychex](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/paychex/) | Paychex - Score: 76 out of 10076 | Best for Time and Attendance Management | 83%
Great | $39 Monthly | | Cloud On-Premise |
| [Namely](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/namely/) | Namely - Score: 76 out of 10076 | None | 81%
Great | $9 Per User, Monthly | | Cloud On-Premise |
| [Workday HCM](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/workday-hcm/) | No Score | None | 86%
Great | Custom Quote i Workday HCM doesn't have a fixed starting price. For pricing details, you'll need to request a custom quote. Factors that can influence final pricing for Payroll Software typically include number of users, chosen modules or features, level of support, services like implementation, and add-ons. | | Cloud On-Premise |
| [Paycor](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/paycor/) | No Score | None | 84%
Great | Custom Quote i Paycor doesn't have a fixed starting price. For pricing details, you'll need to request a custom quote. Factors that can influence final pricing for Payroll Software typically include number of users, chosen modules or features, level of support, services like implementation, and add-ons. | | Cloud On-Premise |
Compare Compare Compare the top leaders
### [Paychex](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/paychex/): Best for Dashboard and Reporting
Paychex is a cloud-based payroll solution for [payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/category/hris/payroll-solutions/) and HR management. It automates employee hours and expenses calculation, ensuring accuracy while simplifying tax filing, time tracking, benefits management and payroll processing.
Cover your HR bases with safeguard features for eliminating payroll errors, intuitive dashboards for monitoring team productivity and user-friendly mobile onboarding tools for streamlining the hiring process.
**What Users Like:** User-friendly UI and easy-to-navigate website. Users also mentioned the budget-friendly pricing structure and considered the system worth the investment.
**What They Don’t:** Customer service issues including long response times and high turnover.
![Payroll Software Vendors Paychex]()
Manage payroll data at a glance, including last payroll, tasks, employee registration, analytics and more, using the Paychex payroll dashboard. [Source](https://www.paychex.com/payroll-services)
| **Analyst Rating** | 90 |
| --- | --- |
| **User Sentiment Score** | 83% |
| **Free Trial** | Still gathering data |
| **Free Demo** | Yes, request a [free demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=Paychex&origin_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fproduct_directory.php%3Fcategory_slug%3Dpayroll-software%26product_slug%3Dpaychex&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F30c8e1ca872524fbf7ea5c519ca397ee-527a4bf0b9cd078edaeb479e3e2a0f44%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316413) |
#### Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data
- Dashboard and Reporting — 100
- Expense Management — 100
- Security and Compliance — 100
- Benefits Management — 94
- Time and Attendance — 91
#### Top Benefits
- **Improved Accuracy:** Ensure error-free payroll processing through various safety measures, like notifications letting managers know when the system finds an issue, to quickly problem-solve.
- **Greater Flexibility:** Review and submit payroll, view reports, and enable updating info on the go for your employees all through the app. By taking advantage of the cloud, employees complete essential tasks remotely.
- **Enhanced Visibility:** View employee leaves, payment schedules, insurance information and retirement benefits, making it more efficient for HR and accounting to address pressing issues, answer questions quickly and boost employee transparency.
- **Nonstop Support:** Get around-the-clock online payroll processing support. Connect with a payroll specialist for personal consultations on payment and tax concerns. For startups and smaller businesses, Paychex also provides consulting and guides for key aspects like business management and marketing.
#### Primary Features
- **Reporting and Analytics:** Choose from over 160 templates to customize reports and analytics. Visualize key data to simplify decision-making.
- **Learning Resources:** Empower employees with continued learning through online courses on multiple topics from compliance training to professional development programs.
- **Time and Attendance:** Track employee time through TrueShift physical time clocks and InVision iris recognition clocks. Get a real-time view of team activity through the manager’s dashboard and check schedules.
- **Tax Filing and Payroll Management:** Get automatic tax calculations to compute, file and pay taxes at federal, state and local levels. Simplify payroll processing with a streamlined approach to computing hours, setting up direct deposits and defining hours per pay period.
#### Limitations
- Steep learning curve.
- Late tax filings leading to penalties for missed deadlines.
- Unhelpful customer support experiences.
#### Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data
- Mobile Push Notifications — Not Supported
- Prorate Paychecks — Not Supported
- Performance Management System Integration — Not Supported
- Benefits Plans Recommendation — Not Supported
- Global Payroll — Supported With Integrations
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
### [Workday HCM](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/workday-hcm/): Best for Security and Compliance
Workday HCM is a SaaS solution for managing payroll, time and attendance, expense reporting, benefits, and compliance. With categories readily available on the home screen, finding what you need is just a click away.
Define criteria for specific earnings, roll out multiple payroll calculations and run reports to analyze trends anytime. For a more in-depth look, watch our [Workday review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4voLEVFrdo)!
**What Users Like:** Workday’s multiple functionality makes it a one-stop-shop for HR and payroll tasks. Users also note the interface is intuitive, allowing easy navigation, even for beginners.
**What They Don’t:** There’s a learning curve in the beginning, especially when it comes to customization and implementation.
![Workday Payroll Dashboard]()
View pay group head counts, employer costs, monthly taxes and more directly from Workday’s payroll dashboard.
| **Analyst Rating** | 77 |
| --- | --- |
| **User Sentiment Score** | 86% |
| **Free Trial** | Still gathering data |
| **Free Demo** | Yes, request a [free demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=HR+Management+Software&product_name=Workday+HCM&origin_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fproduct_directory.php%3Fcategory_slug%3Dhr-management-software%26product_slug%3Dworkday-hcm&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2Fb2f627fff19fda463cb386442eac2b3d-2099c46d030bd933594df871f8a575f5%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316206) |
#### Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data
- Security and Compliance —100
- Dashboard and Reporting —100
- Payroll and Tax Management — 96
- Time and Attendance — 91
- Benefits Management — 88
#### Top Benefits
- **Data-Driven Decisions:** Empower effective decision-making with reporting tools that provide full KPI insight. Understand your staff, encourage growth, support diversity and, most importantly, plan ahead.
- **Simplified Hiring:** Expedite the hiring process with collaboration tools, task reminders and synced calendars. The referral leaderboard eases hiring by recommending qualified candidates.
- **Streamlined HR Processes:** From onboarding to compliance, streamline HR tasks in one convenient location, like managing benefits efficiently through the ACA dashboard that ensures reliable coverage for employees.
- **Effective Talent Recruitment:** View talent acquisition data on a single dashboard. Use compensation comparisons and benchmarking to ensure job offers are effective and competitive. Machine learning also spots any opportunities for improvement.
- **Better Time Management:** Track time from any device, reducing the number of forgotten time punches. Enable alerts for any time that needs to be adjusted. Admins can approve time on the go. Save time on manual time and attendance tasks, minimizing human error, by automating rules and calculations.
#### Primary Features
- **Payroll Management:** Simplify payroll processing by consolidating all transactions in the payroll module. Equipped with a calculation engine, this module streamlines the task of running customized reports and seamlessly performing calculations for groups and individuals.
- **Expense Management:** Track expenses with mobile receipt scanning and approval workflows. Set spending controls and gain valuable insights into company expenses with data analytics tools.
- **Absence Management:** The Smart Calendar organizes and oversees all types of leave time. Track and report time-off, leave requests, balances and accruals. Track and approve time off on any device, receiving mobile alerts for urgent matters.
- **Learning Management:** Use a range of LMS capabilities for employee training. Sharpen employee skills through quizzes, videos and learning paths. Provide courses to external groups with the WorkDay Content Cloud, granting access to third-party users.
- **Worldwide Compliance:** Customize prebuilt frameworks — with support for 240 countries, over 1,500 reports, 170 absence plans and various geographic controles like privacy preferences and date formats — to match your company’s unique requirements. Ensure compliance with legal assistance spanning over 58 jurisdictions.
#### Limitations
- Steep learning curve.
- Faulty scheduling tools.
- Occasional glitches and slowness.
#### Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data
- Benefits Broker Assistance — Not Supported
- Benefits Broker Assistance — Not Supported
- Benefits Plans Recommendation — Not Supported
- Create Paychecks from Mobile Devices — Not Supported
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
### [Namely](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/namely/): Best for Payroll and Tax Management
Namely is a cloud-based payroll solution for managing compensation, scheduling employees and payroll, and monitoring regulatory compliance. It also has various integration options for third-party applications, helping streamline your HR processes.
Get a full-service payroll system, an advanced employee database, comprehensive time off tracking and robust reporting tools with automation going beyond simple payroll tasks.
**What Users Like:** Most functions are customizable and updates happen regularly, improving platform capabilities.
**What They Don’t:** There’s a lack of integration between payroll and HRIS modules, demanding more time for certain tasks (like manually entering employee mileage for payroll).
![Namely Performance Dashboard]()
View employee review info at a glance, including status and due date, using Namely’s performance dashboard.
| **Analyst Rating** | Still gathering data |
| --- | --- |
| **User Sentiment Score** | 81% |
| **Free Trial** | Still gathering data |
| **Free Demo** | Yes, request a [free demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=HR+Management+Software&product_name=Namely&origin_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fproduct_directory.php%3Fcategory_slug%3Dhr-management-software%26product_slug%3Dnamely&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F4837ba5cd49c7f03caaa423049e66daf-f34970e0bee444e8f6dacf829fc31dcd%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317367) |
#### Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data
- Security and Compliance — 100
- Dashboard and Reporting — 100
- Payroll and Tax Management —95
- Benefits Management —94
- Time and Attendance—91
#### Top Benefits
- **Automated Tasks:** Automatically perform essential tasks like approving promotions and pay raises. Set up role-based approvals by job titles, eliminating the need to assign new users every time an employee leaves or changes positions.
- **Custom Workflows:** Create different workflows for different departments, teams and additional groups within the company, better organizing key processes.
- **Centralized Company Info:** Stay in the loop on company news and announcements with a central news feed that supports uploading images, GIFs and videos.
- **Increased Accountability:** Boost accountability with Org Charts. Org Charts present an overview of how all employees and teams relate to one another, clarifying roles and responsibilities for everyone.
- **Role-Based Permissions:** Custom access controls for data by assigning user roles and setting permissions (all while keeping your data safe).
#### Primary Features
- **Talent Management:** Streamline talent management with onboarding, eSignature, performance review customizations, task tracking, employee surveys, goal management and review cycle automation.
- **PTO On-the-Go:** Through the mobile app (available on iOS and Android devices), employees track their time with geo-fencing and request time off, while managers receive real-time notifications and view and approve PTO.
- **Benefits Administration:** Manage a wide range of benefits, including health insurance, FSA and HSA options, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and wellness programs. Offer additional coverage for pets and identity theft.
- **Analytics:** Evaluate HR analytics, examining diversity through gender and age, and analyze pay gaps by gender and ethnicity across job levels and departments. Customize reports and performance benchmarks against industry standards. View a dashboard with KPIs on headcount, time-off and trends.
#### Limitations
- Tedious timesheet and attendance data entry.
- Lack of communication and integration between the payroll and HRIS modules.
- Long wait times for customer service.
#### Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data
- Benefits Plans Recommendations — Not Supported
- Geocoding — Not Supported
- Mobile Expense Management — Not Supported.
- Process Advance Salary — Not Supported
- Blackout Dates — Not Supported
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
### [TriNet](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/zenefits/): Best for Time and Attendance Management
TriNet (formerly Zenefits) is a cloud-based suite for conducting core HR and payroll tasks. View and manage employee info in real-time, including title changes, contract updates and PTO requests. Ensure workplace communication and transparency through TriNet’s platform, centralizing reports, compliance regulations, pay stubs and time clocks.
**What Users Like:** Available integrations streamline and simplify onboarding and offboarding.
**What They Don’t:** Long wait times for support ticket responses. In some cases clients waited months for a resolution.
![Zenefits Payroll Dashboard]()
Edit existing payroll data to account for errors, compensation changes and more using the pay runs tab in TriNet.
| **Analyst Rating** | 89 |
| --- | --- |
| **User Sentiment Score** | 82% |
| **Free Trial** | Yes, [request for free](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product_name=Zenefits&category=Payroll%20Software&product_logo=https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/30a237d18c50f563cba4531f1db44acf-968b444524f3115d43b464398d3ecfda/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317273) |
| **Free Demo** | Yes, request a [free demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=Zenefits&origin_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fproduct_directory.php%3Fcategory_slug%3Dhr-management-software%26product_slug%3Dzenefits%26from_category%3D375&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F30a237d18c50f563cba4531f1db44acf-968b444524f3115d43b464398d3ecfda%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317273) |
#### Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data
- Time and Attendance —100
- Security and Compliance —100
- Dashboard and Reporting — 100
- Payroll and Tax Management — 92
- Benefits Management — 89
#### Top Benefits
- **Simplified Time and Attendance:** Track employees’ clock-in and clock-out times, along with their worked hours, using real-time dashboards. Customize your PTO policy and calendar views. Save time with single-click approvals and empower your team with self-service options for requesting time off and managing sick days (including on the mobile app).
- **Streamlined Tasks:** Facilitate daily tasks with approval workflows for employee changes, such as promotions, terminations and new hires.
- **Data-Driven Insights:** Get real-time data with prebuilt reports on turnover, compensation and equal opportunity. Customize reports for important KPIs.
- **Self-Service Tools:** Let employees manage their information, including viewing pay stubs and updating benefits elections, giving your staff more flexibility with employee self-service (ESS).
- **Mobile Access:** Access benefits, pay stubs and the company directory and handle admin capabilities for performance reviews, payroll and paid time off on iOS and Android devices.
- **Strict Compliance:** Stay compliant with built-in explanations, configuration suggestions, e-filing and visibility into compliance status. TriNet also provides configuration recommendations using info like company data, e-filing and [ERISA](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/erisa.asp) data storage.
#### Primary Features
- **Payroll and Tax Management:** Run payroll with just three clicks. The platform automatically files taxes and keeps a payroll timeline.
- **TriNet Pay Connect:** Connect TriNet with an external payroll system and compile all changes into a checklist for complete visibility, with the option for manual updates.
- **Time and Attendance:** Monitor clock-in and clock-out times and PTO. Ease time management with real-time dashboards, single-click approvals and the employee self-service platform.
- **Performance Management:** Manage goals, meetings, action items and performance tracking. Streamline performance reviews with prebuilt templates and customizable questions.
- **Document Management:** Keep all your employee documents in one place for easy, efficient access. Filters, categorization and in-product guidance make it easy to drill down and update documents.
#### Limitations
- Lack of integrations with third-party applications.
- Occasional technical glitches and slow performance.
- Unresponsive customer service.
#### Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data
- Benefits Plans Recommendations — Not Supported
- Mobile Wallet — Not Supported
- Automated Reminders — Not Supported
- Mobile Expense Management — Not Supported
- Global Payroll — Not Supported
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
### [Paycor](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/paycor/): Best for Benefits Management
Paycor is a cloud-based [HR system](https://www.selecthub.com/c/hr-management-software/) that facilitates payroll and [time and attendance](https://www.selecthub.com/category/time-and-attendance/) management. Base employee pay on key factors like skillset, performance and educational background.
Self-service features, like self-enrolling in benefits, reduce the admin’s workload and empower employees. Provide employees with access to pay histories, pay stubs and tax documents, saving time on gathering and delivering basic information.
**What Users Like:** User-friendly and intuitive payroll features as well as convenient self-service tools.
**What They Don’t:** Inconsistent customer support with communication gaps and long wait times (specifically when escalated or dealing with more intricate issues).
![Payroll Software Vendors Paycor Portal]()
Paycor provides employee portals so your staff can view company news, contact team members, receive alerts, track punch-in time and more from a central location.
| **Analyst Rating** | 86 |
| --- | --- |
| **User Sentiment Score** | 84% |
| **Free Trial** | Yes, [request for free](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product_name=Paycor&category=Payroll%20Software&product_logo=https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/3eefceb8087e964f89c2d59e8a249915-a4637ab333bf6796235b51323dba98a0/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317838) |
| **Free Demo** | Yes, request a [free demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=Paycor&origin_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fproduct_directory.php%3Fcategory_slug%3Dhr-management-software%26product_slug%3Dpaycor%26from_category%3D375&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F3eefceb8087e964f89c2d59e8a249915-a4637ab333bf6796235b51323dba98a0%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317838) |
#### Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data
- BenefitsManagement — 100
- Security and Compliance — 100
- Payroll and Tax Management — 93
- Time and Attendance — 91
- Dashboard and Reporting — 80
#### Top Benefits
- **Empowered Learning Development:** Provide clear advancement paths, align individual goals with business objectives, reward high performers and offer accessible learning tools for skill development on any internet-connected device.
- **Improved Communication and Performance Tracking:** Use Paycor’s 1-on-1 tool for streamlined communication between managers and direct reports. Track goals, align individual goals with organizational objectives and highlight employees’ significant impacts.
- **Enhanced Productivity:** Use real-time analytics for proactive planning to prevent staffing shortages and ensure operational continuity, even when employees are out sick.
- **Streamlined HR Processes:** Consolidate core HR tasks in a unified platform, eliminating the need to log in to multiple systems. Track and consolidate data for generating high-level overview reports on HR practices.
- **Comprehensive Compensation Management:** Ensure accurate pay based on factors such as experience, skillset, education, certifications, job title and performance to reduce turnover and boost morale.
#### Primary Features
- **Payroll:** Simplify payroll processing by integrating general ledger data and enabling self-service features for employees to access pay stubs, historical data and tax forms.
- **Time and Attendance Management:** Monitor employee hours, predict labor costs using historical data, manage time-off requests and address time clock errors through the mobile app for clocking in with the [time and attendance module](https://www.selecthub.com/c/time-and-attendance-software/).
- **Benefits Management:** Centralize employee information, enabling self-enrollment in benefits plans and using analytics for insights into optimizing employee benefit packages.
- **Reporting and Analytics:** Consolidate HR, payroll and time data into unified reports. Track and store data across all HR fields, enabling comprehensive reports for managerial insights into standard business practices.
- **Recruitment and Onboarding:** Automate recruiting and onboarding via branded career sites and implement employee referral rewards.
#### Limitations
- Occasional bugs while updating reports.
- Cumbersome review process.
- Noncomprehensive integration between the time and attendance module and payroll/benefits systems.
#### Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data
- Auto-Schedule Reports — Not Supported
- Create and Print Checks — Not Supported
- Create and Print Checks — Not Supported
- Geocoding — Not Supported
- Blackout Dates — Not Supported
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
## How We Choose Products
Our team of writers and analysts at SelectHub is committed to giving you the best recommendations based on our data. To make our list, products had to meet two criteria:
1. Closely match the topic
2. Earn a top-5 analyst score in our selection platform
Our analyst scores are based on an in-depth research process using primary and secondary sources. This includes SelectHub Analyst Briefings, direct communication with vendors, and reviewing materials such as user reviews, product brochures, specification sheets, case studies, user manuals, and technical documentation.
Our platform’s Scoring Engine processes the research and computes the analyst score. The score also factors in platform settings such as industry and company size.
Learn more about our [**research methodology**](https://www.selecthub.com/research-methodology/) and [**editorial standards**](https://www.selecthub.com/editorial-guidelines/)
## How to Compare Payroll Vendors
There are plenty of fish in the sea when you’re searching for a new [payroll system](https://www.selecthub.com/hris/payroll-solutions/what-is-payroll-software/). So how do you narrow down payroll vendors? Start by assessing your major payroll management pain points.
Develop a list of must-have features from your new payroll app. From there, you’ll eliminate any system that doesn’t meet your needs and scope out reviews from current or previous clients.
With so many features and functions to sort through, knowing where to start is tough. Get a head start on building your list of must-have features by taking a look at some of our key requirements below:
- Core HR: HR and payroll services go hand in hand. Some systems have employee self-service functions, allowing your employees to adjust their benefits independently.
- Payroll Processing: Customize your payroll processing based on your business and employee needs, like setting up direct deposits and opting for paperless pay stubs. Remember that this feature varies from vendor to vendor, so consider what payment processing the system supports before committing.
- Payroll Management: A lot of administrative work goes into effectively conducting payroll. This feature includes calculating taxes and generating relevant payroll forms. View financial records like gross earnings and deductions, enhancing accessibility.
Workforce Management: The amount written on your employees’ paychecks varies weekly, depending on how many hours they work. This feature contains tools that track all this information, including time tracking, absence management and scheduling.
- Compliance Management: There are a lot of laws and regulations to consider when compensating employees, like minimum wage per state and deadlines for benefits enrollment. These laws and regulations change over time. Fortunately, automatic updates are available (depending on your vendor), ensuring there’s never a lapse in compliance.
If you’re looking for more guidance, consider checking out our free [requirements checklist](https://www.selecthub.com/hris/payroll-solutions/payroll-software-requirements-checklist/) to streamline your search and ensure your unique business needs aren’t forgotten.
[Compare Top Payroll Software Leaders](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
## Next Steps
Just like a calculator solves complex mathematical problems, payroll software simplifies calculations, making your payroll process more efficient and manageable — proving to be a smart investment.
Whether you go for [payroll software or payroll services](https://www.selecthub.com/hris/payroll-solutions/payroll-software-vs-services/), you’ll be in good hands with automation options for saving time and enhancing accuracy.
Remember to thoroughly analyze your options to ensure you land on the best payroll software for your business needs. Need more guidance? We’re here to help! Narrow down choices and see how top solutions stack up against each other with our free, in-depth [comparison report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-leaderboard/?category=Payroll%20Software).
Which payroll vendors land on your list? Which payroll vendor has the essential features you’re looking for? Let us know in the comments below!
**Analyst-Picked Related Content**
[**Pricing Guide:** Discover the true cost of Payroll solutions](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-pricing-report-pdf-onsite/)
[**Comparison Report:** An Interactive analyst report with comparison ratings, reviews and pricing for Payroll solutions](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software)
[Previous Payroll Software RFP](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/payroll-rfp/)
[Next Best Free Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/free-payroll-software/)
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Originally published in April 2019 and last updated in March 2026. Contributions from Olivia Edens, Aayushi Kishor Sharma, Nithin Shetty, Jaisri Narasimman, and Hunter Lowe.
## About the Contributors
The following team members helped research, create, and review this content.
[![Olivia Edens]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/)
Written by
[Olivia Edens](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/)
Technical Content Writer
As a SelectHub Technical Writer, Olivia Edens loves helping readers navigate through the world of HR, payroll, field service, PSA, and time and attendance software. Olivia earned a B.A. in English from the University of Phoenix. When she's not researching or editing, she loves rewatching The Office, scootering around the city and taking her cat for a walk. Fun fact: In high school, she won an award for most ideas per minute.
[See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/olivia-edens/)
[![Aayushi Kishor Sharma]()](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/)
[![Nithin Shetty]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/nithin-shetty/)
Technical Research by
[Nithin Shetty](https://www.selecthub.com/author/nithin-shetty/)
Senior Analyst
With experience in research and consulting going back to 2015, Nithin Shetty is an asset to SelectHub's research team. In his Senior Research Analyst role, he works on projects in categories like HR, CRM, EHR and ERP. He's also a big movie buff and sports fan. When he isn't watching his favorite film or game, he's usually volunteering his free time to causes like blood drives and environmental cleanup.
[See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/nithin-shetty/)
[![Jaisri Narasimman]()](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/)
[![Hunter Lowe]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hunter-lowe/)
Edited by
[Hunter Lowe](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hunter-lowe/)
Content Editor
Hunter Lowe is a Content Editor, Writer and Market Analyst at SelectHub. His team covers categories that range from ERP and business intelligence to transportation and supply chain management. Hunter is an avid reader and Dungeons and Dragons addict who studied English and Creative Writing through college. In his free time, you'll likely find him devising new dungeons for his players to explore, checking out the latest video games, writing his next horror story or running around with his daughter.
[See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hunter-lowe/)
Olivia EdensThe Top 8 Payroll System Requirements Implementation Checklist & Template
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**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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