Payroll Software

What is Payroll Software?

Payroll software offers a centralized suite of tools that help organizations manage and automate employee payments, achieve compliance with tax laws, and reduce operational and HR costs. Payroll systems integrate with other business software systems to help guarantee accurate, timely compensation, and allow employees to manage their personal information and payment preferences.

Payroll software benefits organizations by improving payment reliability, streamlining payroll tasks, and increasing flexibility in payment types for global employees. Companies using payroll software can also obtain deep business insights, and improve employee payment reporting capabilities.

Key Features of Payroll Software

The key features and capabilities of Payroll software include the following:

  • Payroll Processing: Payroll software helps organizations streamline payroll processing by integrating with time and attendance tools to automatically pull necessary data, make ACH deposits, and print checks.
  • Direct Deposit: Payroll software provides direct deposit functionality, which helps companies reduce payroll processing costs, provides employees with immediate access to funds, and reduces the risk of fraud or lost paychecks.
  • Tax Calculations & Filing: Payroll software automates tax calculations and filing by automatically generating necessary forms with tax information, which helps businesses reduce errors and file taxes on time.
  • Payroll Compliance: Payroll software helps organizations maintain compliance with federal, state, county, and city payroll regulations by double-checking entries against current laws, to minimize the chance of legal problems and fines.
  • Mobile Apps for Self-Service: Payroll software often provides mobile access that organizations can use to run payroll and view reports while on the go. Employees can also use mobile payroll apps to manage personal information and view pay stubs.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Payroll software offers extensive reporting capabilities that help organizations analyze spend, budgets, tax summaries, and other financial metrics to better manage employee resources and payroll.

Common Payroll Software Integrations

Payroll software often integrates with the following business software systems:

  • HR Software: Integrating Payroll software with HR software helps organizations process payments, manage employees more efficiently, and frees up HR teams to focus on improving employee experience and building a positive workplace culture. This integration also streamlines HR and payroll workflows, improves compliance, and enhances data visibility to help HR teams work with increased efficiency and accuracy.
  • Accounting Software: Integrating Payroll software with Accounting software eliminates the need for double data entry, automatically updates ledgers, and reduces the risk of manual data entry errors. This integration also helps companies improve financial efficiency by ensuring that payroll data such as deductions, overtime, and other payroll spending is accurately tracked within their business accounting system.
  • Expense Management Software: Integrating Payroll software with Expense Management software helps companies streamline their employee reimbursement processes, ensure timely, accurate reimbursements, and improve HR team efficiency by automatically incorporating expenses into payroll.

Top 10 Payroll Software Providers

NetSuite / Sage Intacct / Gusto / APS / RUN / QuickBooks Accounting / isolved / Oracle ERP / Paychex Flex / Patriot Payroll

WH Score
7.7
Wave
11reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
Wave Accounting is a powerful, user-friendly accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. With Wave Accounting, you can easily manage your finances and stay on top of your business operations.
WH Score
7.6
Foundation
8reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Foundation ERP is an accounting-focused software solution for the construction industry, presented by Foundation Soft. It handles the end-to- end operations of constructions projects, including job posting, scheduling and project management. Foundation ERP is available both as on-premise and cloud-b...
WH Score
7.4
BerniePortal
9reviews
Starting Price:$11 per employee / per month
BerniePortal is an all-in-one HRIS that allows small and mid-sized businesses to optimize HR, improve employee experiences and spend more time building the businesses they love.  
WH Score
7.4
ECOUNT ERP
6reviews
Starting Price:$600 per user / per year
ECOUNT is a cloud-based integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution suitable for small and midsize businesses. This ERP provides tools and features designed to help manage inventory, production, logistics, sales, accounting and payroll.
WH Score
7.3
Jonas
15reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Jonas ERP is a comprehensive ERP, serving the construction industry for over two decades. Jonas ERP solution has won many prestigious awards for its automation, paperless service and business management applications. 
WH Score
6.8
Optimum
2reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Optimum is a comprehensive HR solution that tackles the needs of demanding businesses. While Optimum functions as a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) by providing dedicated HR outsourcing services, its software suite is powerful in its own right.
WH Score
6.6
Workly
0reviews
Starting Price:$29 per employee / per month
Workly is an easy, cloud-based time and attendance solution that can help companies across different verticals streamline their time tracking, scheduling, and payroll activities. Workly serves industries such as:  
WH Score
5.7
Square Payroll
0reviews
Starting Price:$5 per employee / per month
Square Payroll is a comprehensive software solution that simplifies the process of managing employee payroll. The software offers a wide range of features to help businesses of all sizes automate their payroll process, streamline compliance, and improve accuracy. With Square Payroll, businesses can ...
WH Score
5.5
Denali Business
1review
Starting Price:N/A
Cougar Mountain Software’s Denali Business is a complete accounting solution with the ability to customize modules to perfectly adapt to your business’ needs, making Denali Business the ideal solution for any growing business.
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