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

## In short

On 2026-09-10, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best payroll software for freelancers". It named 14 brands, in this order: S-corp, Gusto, OnPay, Wave, Square, QuickBooks.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best payroll software for freelancers |
| Asked on | 2026-09-10 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 14 |
| Sources cited | 17 |
| Audience | freelancers |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-10 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-freelancers-2026-09-10
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-10 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> 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 yo

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S-corp | mentioned |
| 2 | Gusto | recommended |
| 3 | OnPay | recommended |
| 4 | Wave | recommended |
| 5 | Square | recommended |
| 6 | QuickBooks | recommended |
| 7 | RUN Powered | recommended |
| 8 | ADP | recommended |
| 9 | Remote | mentioned |
| 10 | Deel | compared |
| 11 | Wise | mentioned |
| 12 | PayPal | mentioned |
| 13 | Payoneer | mentioned |
| 14 | Collective | compared |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/best-payroll-software-for-contractors/ (other)
- https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/best-simple-payroll-software/ (other)
- https://freelancer-tools-guide.com/blog/2026-06-26-best-payroll-software-freelancers (other)
- https://work-club.com/best-payroll-apps-freelancers-2026/ (other)
- https://research.com/software/payroll-software-for-freelancers (other)
- https://www.getapp.com/hr-employee-management-software/payroll/org/freelancers/ (review)
- https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-contractor-payroll-software (vendor)
- https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-software-one-employee (vendor)
- https://www.collective.com/blog/money-management/payroll-solutions-for-solopreneurs-a-comparison-guide (vendor)
- https://www.technology.org/how-and-why/best-payroll-software-for-s-corp/ (other)
- https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/ (other)
- https://softwarefinder.com/resources/best-payroll-software-1099-employees (other)
- https://www.wisemonk.io/blogs/deel-vs-remote (other)
- https://remotepeople.com/providers/deel-vs-wise/ (other)
- https://www.authencio.com/blog/deel-review-hidden-costs-compliance-best-alternatives (other)
- https://onpay.com/insights/1099-reporting-threshold-updates/ (vendor)
- https://blog.taxbandits.com/1099-threshold-for-2026-what-the-new-irs-rules-mean-for-you/ (other)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/payroll-software/freelancers

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.