--- description: "QuickBooks Payroll vs OnPay: Which solution wins in 2026? Compare pricing, features, and analyst ratings side-by-side to find the best Payroll Software for your business." --- [Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) > [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) > [Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/payroll-software/) > [QuickBooks Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/) > QuickBooks Payroll vs OnPay # QuickBooks Payroll vs OnPay Last Updated: October 5th, 2026 We compared **[QuickBooks Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/)** vs. **[OnPay](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/onpay/)** to help you decide which product makes more sense for you. Our comparison is based on proprietary **[Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/payroll-software/)** data from our **[software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Payroll+Software&cta=payroll-software)**, user reviews and publicly available information about each product’s features and pricing. [Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Analyst Ratings](#analyst-rating-section) [Comparison Charts](#product-comparison-charts) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) Remove Add to Compare [![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef-ca94d11263af432c2e4c2fffe84e43c7/resources/normal/logo.png?1736283299)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/) [![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg)](#awards-section) Remove Add to Compare [![OnPay Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/bb1443cc31d7396bf73e7858cea114e1-07551bffdce52fdec252916e0e760827/resources/normal/logo.webp?1749080526)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/onpay/) [![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg)](#awards-section) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=QuickBooks%2BPayroll&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef-ca94d11263af432c2e4c2fffe84e43c7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736283299) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=QuickBooks%2BPayroll&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef-ca94d11263af432c2e4c2fffe84e43c7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736283299)    [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=QuickBooks%2BPayroll&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef-ca94d11263af432c2e4c2fffe84e43c7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736283299&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=QuickBooks%2BPayroll&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F3ab6be46e1d6b21d59a3c3a0b9d0f6ef-ca94d11263af432c2e4c2fffe84e43c7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736283299&price=2) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=OnPay&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fbb1443cc31d7396bf73e7858cea114e1-07551bffdce52fdec252916e0e760827%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.webp%3F1749080526) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=OnPay&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fbb1443cc31d7396bf73e7858cea114e1-07551bffdce52fdec252916e0e760827%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.webp%3F1749080526)    [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=OnPay&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fbb1443cc31d7396bf73e7858cea114e1-07551bffdce52fdec252916e0e760827%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.webp%3F1749080526&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product_name=OnPay&product_logo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fbb1443cc31d7396bf73e7858cea114e1-07551bffdce52fdec252916e0e760827%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.webp%3F1749080526&price=2) ### Products Insights Overall Rating Comparison [Analyst RatingQuickBooks Payroll - Analyst Score: 81 out of 100 81 Detailed Analysis](#analyst-rating-section) [User Sentiment![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) (1014 Reviews)](#user-sentiment-section) [Analyst RatingOnPay - Analyst Score: 64 out of 100 64 Detailed Analysis](#analyst-rating-section) [User Sentiment![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) (616 Reviews)](#user-sentiment-section) Price Starts From $50 Monthly [30 Day Free Trial is available →]() $46 Monthly [30 Day Free Trial is available →]() Pros What we like about QuickBooks Payroll and OnPay: - Integrates with QuickBooks accounting to keep payroll and financials in sync without extra setup - Tax penalty protection covers up to $25,000 if a filing error results in an IRS penalty - Multiple plan tiers let you start small and add HR tools, same-day direct deposit and inventory features as you grow - Users consistently praise the support team for being knowledgeable and quick to respond - Tax accuracy guarantee means OnPay covers any fees that result from a filing error - Employee self-service handles onboarding, personal details and pay stub access without HR involvement Cons What we dislike about QuickBooks Payroll and OnPay: - Not well-suited for larger organizations that need more complex payroll structures - Some users report unexpected charges or billing issues after canceling their subscription - Customer support quality is inconsistent, with users split on whether it's helpful - Mobile app lacks the functionality of the web version, making on-the-go payroll limited - Some payroll runs require manual entries rather than fully automated processing - Automation features are limited compared to what more robust payroll platforms offer ### Our Review **Bottom line:** QuickBooks Payroll fits best if you're already using QuickBooks for accounting and want payroll tightly connected to your financials. OnPay is the stronger choice if you're a small business that wants straightforward payroll with excellent support and solid HR basics without a lot of complexity. QuickBooks Payroll starts at $42.50 per month plus a per-employee fee, with three plan tiers that add features like same-day direct deposit, HR tools and inventory management as you move up. OnPay starts at $46 per month on a subscription that scales with active employees and includes payroll, HR tools and unlimited pay runs in one package. QuickBooks Payroll's biggest strength in this matchup is its accounting integration. If your books already live in QuickBooks, payroll syncs directly — no manual transfers, no duplicate entry. It also covers tax penalty protection up to $25,000, which adds a layer of confidence if you're worried about IRS issues. OnPay keeps things lean and small-business-friendly. Setup takes just a few minutes, data migration help is included, and the employee self-service tools handle onboarding and pay stub access without needing HR to step in. Users reliably highlight how fast and helpful the support team is — something that's more hit-or-miss with QuickBooks Payroll. Where QuickBooks Payroll struggles is scale and support consistency. It's not built for larger organizations, and some users have run into billing problems after canceling. OnPay's main weakness is its mobile app, which is noticeably less capable than the web version if you need to manage payroll from your phone. If you're already in the QuickBooks ecosystem, staying there makes sense. If you're starting fresh and want a small business-focused payroll tool with strong support, OnPay is worth a close look. ### Analyst Rating Summary Overall Scores Based on the research and analysis by SelectHub's team of research analysts, QuickBooks Payroll has an analyst rating of 81. By comparison OnPay has an analyst rating of 64. QuickBooks Payroll - Analyst Score: 81 out of 100 81 OnPay - Analyst Score: 64 out of 100 64 Features Comparison **Benefits Management** Easily handle employee perks like health plans and retirement savings, so you can offer attractive benefits without the administrative headache. 71 95 **Dashboard and Reporting** See clear summaries of your payroll data and create helpful reports, giving you quick insights into costs and employee payments. 100 75 **Document Management** Keep all your important payroll records organized in one secure place, making it simple to find files and stay compliant. 100 100 Show More [Show More]() Strengths The best features of QuickBooks Payroll and OnPay as judged by user reviews and analyst validation. Dashboard and Reporting Document Management Platform Security and Compliance Tax Management Platform Capabilities Document Management Benefits Management Self-Service Portal ### Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data [Customize This Data]() How QuickBooks Payroll and OnPay compare against the top 11 functional requirements as defined by SelectHub project data. *QuickBooks Payroll OnPay + Add Product [+ Add Product]()* Benefits Management Dashboard AndReporting Document Management Expense Management Mobile Capabilities Payroll Management Platform Capabilities Platform Security AndCompliance Self-Service Portal Tax Management Time And AttendanceManagement 71 100 100 92 81 91 95 100 84 100 93 95 75 100 50 54 83 68 74 86 82 52 0 25 50 75 100 Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Read more **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Benefits Management** Easily handle employee perks like health plans and retirement savings, so you can offer attractive benefits without the administrative headache. *50%* *0%* *50%* *92%* *0%* *8%* **Dashboard And Reporting** See clear summaries of your payroll data and create helpful reports, giving you quick insights into costs and employee payments. *100%* *0%* *0%* *70%* *0%* *30%* **Document Management** Keep all your important payroll records organized in one secure place, making it simple to find files and stay compliant. *100%* *0%* *0%* *100%* *0%* *0%* **Expense Management** Track and manage employee spending with ease, allowing you to review submissions, reimburse costs, and keep your budget in check. *83%* *0%* *17%* *17%* *0%* *83%* **Mobile Capabilities** Manage payroll tasks from your phone or tablet, letting you approve time off and view information conveniently, wherever you are. *79%* *0%* *21%* *50%* *0%* *50%* **Payroll Management** Process employee payments accurately and on time, handling deductions, taxes, and paychecks automatically, so you can focus on your team. *89%* *3%* *8%* *83%* *0%* *17%* **Platform Capabilities** Imagine your payroll system working smoothly with other tools you use, sharing information easily and fitting into your existing workflows. *86%* *0%* *14%* *71%* *0%* *29%* **Platform Security And Compliance** Protect sensitive employee data and stay up-to-date with payroll regulations, giving you peace of mind about security and legal requirements. *100%* *0%* *0%* *75%* *0%* *25%* **Self-Service Portal** Let your employees access their pay stubs, tax forms, and personal information directly, saving you time and empowering them with self-management. *86%* *0%* *14%* *86%* *0%* *14%* **Tax Management** Automatically calculate and file your payroll taxes accurately, so you can avoid penalties and stay compliant with government regulations effortlessly. *100%* *0%* *0%* *82%* *0%* *18%* **Time And Attendance Management** Effortlessly track employee work hours, manage time-off requests, and ensure accurate paychecks by streamlining your attendance processes. *90%* *0%* *10%* *20%* *0%* *80%* **Customize This Data For Your Unique Needs** and compare feature capabilities head-to-head CUSTOMIZE NOW [CUSTOMIZE NOW]() ### Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data [Customize This Data]() Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Read more **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Integrations And Extensibility** Connect your payroll system with other tools you rely on, making data flow smoothly and tailoring the software to your unique business needs. *79%* *0%* *21%* *42%* *0%* *58%* **Requirements Summary** Of typical requirements, 83.7% are fully supported out of the box by QuickBooks Payroll including Dashboard And Reporting, Document Management and Platform Security And Compliance. OnPay supports 63.3% and excels at Document Management, Self-Service Portal and Benefits Management. QuickBooks Payroll has an analyst rating of 81 and a user sentiment rating of 'great' based on 1014 reviews, while OnPay has an analyst rating of 64 and a user sentiment rating of 'excellent' based on 616 reviews. OnPay is a SelectHub award-winner. ### User Sentiment Summary QuickBooks Payroll has a user sentiment rating of 87 based on 1014 reviews. OnPay has a user sentiment rating of 98 based on 616 reviews. ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 1014 reviews ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 616 reviews Synopsis Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 87% *of users recommend this product* QuickBooks Payroll has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 1014 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. 98% *of users recommend this product* OnPay has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 98% when considering 616 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. User Review Scores**FinancesOnline** **4.7** (17) **5.0** (16) **G2.com, Inc** **3.8** (65) **4.9** (195) **Capterra Inc** **4.4** (898) **4.9** (377) **TrustRadius** **3.5** (34) **4.6** (28) ### Awards SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. SelectHub research analysts have evaluated QuickBooks Payroll and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Dashboard and Reporting, Platform Security and Compliance and Tax Management. ![Dashboard and Reporting Award](<> "Dashboard and Reporting Award") ![Platform Security and Compliance Award](<> "Platform Security and Compliance Award") Show more ![Tax Management Award](<> "Tax Management Award") OnPay stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. ![User Favorite Award](<> "User Favorite Award") ### Product Assistance Training Resources Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Help Desk Knowledge Base Tickets Training 24/7 Live Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Help Desk Knowledge Base Tickets Training 24/7 Live Support ### Product Basics Company Size i Small Medium Large Small Medium Large Platforms Supported Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Deployment Supported Cloud On-Premise Mobile Cloud On-Premise Mobile Comparison of Top Alternatives [QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/alternatives/) [OnPay Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/onpay/alternatives/) ### Screenshots ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ### Key Features - **Tax filing** – Automatically calculates, files and pays federal and state payroll taxes, and covers up to $25,000 in penalties if a filing error triggers an IRS penalty. - **Payroll processing** – Supports 24-hour direct deposit and automates payments, with shortcuts to common tasks like editing payroll or adding employees after the first run. - **Benefits management** – Handles workers' comp, health, dental and vision insurance, and 401(k) contributions through partner integrations, with automatic deduction calculations. - **Plan tiers** – Three plan options let you start with core payroll and add same-day direct deposit, HR tools, project tracking and inventory management as your needs grow. - **Tax filing** – Calculates, pays and files tax forms automatically, including special filings for clergy and nonprofits, and guarantees accuracy with a pledge to cover any error-related fees. - **Payroll processing** – Supports unlimited pay runs, multiple payment types (direct deposit, check, debit card) and lets you correct or cancel pay runs when needed. - **Employee self-service** – Lets employees handle their own onboarding, update personal details and access pay stubs and tax forms without HR involvement. - **PTO management** – Supports custom time-off policies, up to three accrual tiers, automated tracking, a PTO calendar, and in-app requests and approvals. ### Top Alternatives in Payroll Software [![ADP RUN Software Tool]()--- ADP RUN](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/adp-run/) [![APS Payroll Software Tool]()--- APS Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/aps-payroll/) [![Gusto Software Tool]()--- Gusto](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/gusto/) [![Justworks Software Tool]()--- Justworks](https://www.selecthub.com/p/peo-software/justworks/) [![Namely Software Tool]()--- Namely](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/namely/) [![OnPay Software Tool]()--- OnPay](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/onpay/) [![Patriot Payroll Software Tool]()--- Patriot Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/patriot-payroll/) [![Paychex Software Tool]()--- Paychex](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/paychex/) [![Payroll4Free Software Tool]()--- Payroll4Free](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/payroll4free/) [![Rippling Software Tool]()--- Rippling](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/rippling/) [![Square Payroll Software Tool]()--- Square Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/square-payroll/) [![TriNet HR Plus Software Tool]()--- TriNet HR Plus](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/trinet/) [![UKG Ready Software Tool]()--- UKG Ready](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/ukg-ready/) [![Wagepoint Software Tool]()--- Wagepoint](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/wagepoint/) [![Wave Payroll Software Tool]()--- Wave Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/wave-payroll/) ### Head-to-Head Comparison ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![ADP RUN Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS ADP RUN](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/adp-run-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![ADP Workforce Now Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS ADP Workforce Now](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/adp-workforce-now-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Dayforce Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Dayforce](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/dayforce-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Gusto Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Gusto](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Namely Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Namely](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/namely-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Oracle HCM Cloud Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Oracle HCM Cloud](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll-vs-oracle-hcm-cloud/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Paychex Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Paychex](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/paychex-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Paycom Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Paycom](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/paycom-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Paylocity Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Paylocity](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/paylocity-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![SuccessFactors Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS SuccessFactors](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll-vs-successfactors/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![TriNet HR Plus Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS TriNet HR Plus](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/trinet-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() ![Workday HCM Software Tool]() [QuickBooks Payroll VS Workday HCM](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll-vs-workday-hcm/) **About SelectHub (and our data)** We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies. WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more... ![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() [Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-requirements-onsite-1/) ![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() [Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software) **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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