What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (freelancers) on 2026-09-10

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-09-10

Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

The question asked, verbatim: best payroll software for freelancers

Brands named, in the order the engine gave

1. S-corp mentioned
   You only need payroll if you've elected S-corp status, because then you must pay yourself a "reasonable salary" through W-2 payroll.
2. Gusto recommended
   Gusto.
3. OnPay recommended
   OnPay.
4. Wave recommended
   Wave.
5. Square recommended
   Square Payroll.
6. QuickBooks recommended
   QuickBooks Payroll.
7. RUN Powered recommended
   RUN Powered by ADP.
8. ADP recommended
   RUN Powered by ADP.
9. Remote mentioned
   - Remote.
10. Deel compared
    $29 per contractor per month, cheaper than Deel.
11. Wise mentioned
    $49 per contractor per month, with the most payout options (bank, Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, crypto).
12. PayPal mentioned
    $49 per contractor per month, with the most payout options (bank, Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, crypto).
13. Payoneer mentioned
    $49 per contractor per month, with the most payout options (bank, Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, crypto).
14. Collective compared
    - Collective - Payroll Solutions for Solopreneurs (https://www.collective.com/blog/money-management/payroll-solutions-for-solopreneurs-a-comparison-guide)

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

Most people asking this mean one of two things: you're a business paying freelancers, or you're a freelancer who needs to pay yourself. If you work alone as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, you don't need payroll software at all. You pay yourself by transferring money from your business account and pay quarterly estimated taxes. You only need payroll if you've elected S-corp status, because then you must pay yourself a "reasonable salary" through W-2 payroll. In the order I'd recommend them: 1. **Gusto.** My default pick. It pays contractors and employees in one place, e-files 1099s automatically, can pay international contractors, and handles S-corp owner-employee payroll, including guidance on what counts as a reasonable salary. There's a contractor-only option, so you don't have to buy a full employee plan. Owner payroll starts at about $49/month plus $6 per person. It's also easy to use if you're not an accountant. 2. **OnPay.** The best-value choice if you run a solo S-corp. There's one plan with everything included, at $49/month plus $6 per person, covering multi-state payroll, year-end filings and 1099 e-filing with no add-ons. 3. **Wave.** The cheapest option if you already use Wave for invoicing and bookkeeping. It costs $20/month plus $6 per person where you file taxes yourself, or $35/month plus $6 in states where Wave files for you. Check that full-service filing covers your state. 4. **Square Payroll.** A good pick for paying US contractors cheaply, and an easy choice if you already take payments through Square. 5. **QuickBooks Payroll.** Worth it only if your books are already in QuickBooks. The integration is the reason to choose it, not the price. 6. **RUN Powered by ADP.** Solid contractor onboarding and 1099 filing, with 24/7 document access for contractors. It's more than most freelancers need, but it makes sense if you expect to grow. **If you pay freelancers in other countries:** - **Remote.** $29 per contractor per month, cheaper than Deel. Good for teams made up mostly of contractors, and it includes IP protection tools. - **Deel.** $49 per contractor per month, with the most payout options (bank, Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, crypto). The real cost is higher once you add its currency conversion markups of about 1.5-2%. - **Wise.** Not payroll, just cheap international transfers at the mid-market exchange rate. It's enough for a handful of freelancers if you handle contracts and compliance yourself. **Note on 1099s:** Starting with payments made in 2026, you only need to file a 1099-NEC once you've paid someone $2,000 or more in a year, up from $600. Some 2026 roundups still say $600. The freelancer still owes tax on everything they earn, even below the threshold. **My quick pick:** Gusto if you want one tool that does everything, OnPay for the lowest all-in cost on a solo S-corp, Wave if budget matters most, and Remote or Wise for international freelancers. Sources: - [People Managing People - Best Payroll Software for Contractors](https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/best-payroll-software-for-contractors/) - [People Managing People - Best Simple Payroll Software](https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/best-simple-payroll-software/) - [Freelancer Tools Guide - Best payroll software for freelancers](https://freelancer-tools-guide.com/blog/2026-06-26-best-payroll-software-freelancers) - [Work Club - 10 Best Payroll Apps for Freelancers in 2026](https://work-club.com/best-payroll-apps-freelancers-2026/) - [Research.com - Best Payroll Software for Freelancers](https://research.com/software/payroll-software-for-freelancers) - [GetApp - Payroll Software with Freelancers](https://www.getapp.com/hr-employee-management-software/payroll/org/freelancers/) - [Gusto - Best Contractor Payroll Software](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-contractor-payroll-software) - [Gusto - Best Payroll Software for One Employee](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-software-one-employee) - [Collective - Payroll Solutions for Solopreneurs](https://www.collective.com/blog/money-management/payroll-solutions-for-solopreneurs-a-comparison-guide) - [Technology.org - Best Payroll Software for S-Corp 2026](https://www.technology.org/how-and-why/best-payroll-software-for-s-corp/) - [SelfEmployed.com - Affordable Payroll Software for Self-Employed](https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/) - [Software Finder - Best Payroll Software for 1099 Employees](https://softwarefinder.com/resources/best-payroll-software-1099-employees) - [Wisemonk - Deel vs Remote (2026)](https://www.wisemonk.io/blogs/deel-vs-remote) - [Remote People - Deel vs Wise](https://remotepeople.com/providers/deel-vs-wise/) - [Authencio - Deel Review 2026: Hidden Costs](https://www.authencio.com/blog/deel-review-hidden-costs-compliance-best-alternatives) - [OnPay - 1099 Threshold Changes under OBBBA](https://onpay.com/insights/1099-reporting-threshold-updates/) - [TaxBandits - 1099 Threshold for 2026](https://blog.taxbandits.com/1099-threshold-for-2026-what-the-new-irs-rules-mean-for-you/)

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Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.