Payroll is not the dispatch board
Gusto’s own note in this directory says it does not replace scheduling software. Pick Jobber, Housecall Pro, or another field tool for the jobs. Pick payroll for W-2s, tax filings, and the time clock.
Buyer's guide
Best payroll software for a small crew
Gusto and OnPay are the payroll tools here with a published price, both starting at $49/mo plus $6 per person on the plan we checked. ADP, Square Payroll, and QuickBooks Payroll still say see vendor pricing.
Field-service tools are listed before phone, fleet, and general apps. Inside a group the order is alphabetical. That is not a score, and nobody paid for a slot. Affiliate disclosure.
How the tools compare
Pros, cons, and the “best for” line come from the directory record. A price appears only when we checked it on the vendor’s site, and those figures are marked as of Oct 2026. Otherwise the cell says see vendor pricing.
| Tool | Best for | Pros and cons | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADP RUN Payroll Visit ADP RUN | Shops whose accountant already lives in ADP and will get a written quote. |
| See vendor pricing Price source |
| Gusto Payroll Visit Gusto | A W-2 crew that wants payroll, tax filing, and a price on the website. |
| Simple from $49/mo + $6 per person, as of Oct 2026 Price source |
| OnPay Payroll Visit OnPay | A crew that wants a similar published sticker and mobile clock-in. |
| $49/mo + $6 per worker, as of Oct 2026 Price source |
| QuickBooks Payroll Payroll Visit QuickBooks Payroll | Employers whose books are already in QuickBooks. |
| See vendor pricing Price source |
| Square Payroll Payroll Visit Square Payroll | Shops that already use Square for invoices or card payments. |
| See vendor pricing Price source |
Visit links on this page use each vendor’s public website. None is an affiliate link. Disclosure.
Buying advice
Use the published math
Gusto Simple is $49/mo plus $6/mo per person. Plus is $80/mo plus $12/mo per person, and Premium is $180/mo plus $22/mo per person, on the pricing page we checked. OnPay lists $49 per month plus $6 per worker. A crew of five is a different bill than the base fee. ADP, Square Payroll, and QuickBooks Payroll do not have a confirmed figure here.
No payroll affiliate
None of these Visit buttons is an affiliate link. They go to the public website.
Questions people ask
- What payroll software publishes a price for a small crew?
- Gusto and OnPay. Both list a $49 base and $6 per person on the plan we checked, as of Oct 2026. Gusto also publishes Plus at $80/mo plus $12 per person and Premium at $180/mo plus $22 per person. Confirm the current page before you buy.
- Can I run payroll inside QuickBooks?
- QuickBooks Payroll is in this directory for employers already on QuickBooks. We did not confirm its plan prices. The editorial note says to compare the per-person fee with Gusto.
- Is this payroll guide sponsored?
- No. Visit links use each vendor’s public site. Nobody paid for the order.
More buyer's guides
- Best field service software for plumbersField service software whose vendors name plumbing: Jobber, Housecall Pro, Service Fusion, and simPRO, plus Goodcall and Rosie for missed calls. Prices only when we checked them, as of Oct 2026.
- Best scheduling software for HVAC companiesHVAC scheduling tools whose vendors name the trade: Jobber, Housecall Pro, Service Fusion, mHelpDesk, and ServiceTrade, plus Rosie for missed calls. Checked prices are marked as of Oct 2026.
- Best invoicing software for electriciansInvoicing options for an electrical contractor: Jobber, Housecall Pro, and Service Fusion name the trade. Zoho Invoice, Square Invoices, and Invoice2go are general invoice tools. Prices as of Oct 2026 only when checked.
- Best CRM for landscaping businessesLandscaping customer records in this directory: Jobber and Housecall Pro name the trade. HubSpot CRM is a free general CRM. CompanyCam is job photos, not a pipeline. Prices as of Oct 2026 when checked.
New tools, in plain language
A short email when we add a tool or check a price. No account required.