What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (freelancers) on 2026-10-13

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-10-13

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. Gusto mentioned
   Gusto - my default pick.
2. Patriot mentioned
   Patriot Software - pick this if cost is the deciding factor.
3. OnPay mentioned
   OnPay - $49/mo + $6/person with no feature gating;
4. QuickBooks mentioned
   QuickBooks Payroll - only worth it if you already keep your books in QuickBooks Online.
5. QuickBooks Online mentioned
   QuickBooks Payroll - only worth it if you already keep your books in QuickBooks Online.
6. Square Payroll mentioned
   Square Payroll (contractor-only) - $6/mo per contractor, no base fee.
7. QuickBooks Contractor Payments mentioned
   QuickBooks contractor payments - ~$15/mo including 20 contractors, +$2 each after.
8. Wise mentioned
   (Wise (https://wise.com/us/blog/batchtransfer-contractor-payroll-software))
9. Gusto Contractor mentioned
   Gusto contractor-only - $35/mo + $6/contractor (currently promoting $0 base for 6 months).
10. Gusto Contractor-Only mentioned
    Gusto contractor-only - $35/mo + $6/contractor (currently promoting $0 base for 6 months).
11. Remote mentioned
    Remote ($29/contractor/mo) or Deel ($49/contractor/mo) - only for international subcontractors.
12. Deel mentioned
    Remote ($29/contractor/mo) or Deel ($49/contractor/mo) - only for international subcontractors.
13. Wave mentioned
    If you came here because you're a freelancer trying to get organized, the tool you likely need is invoicing + expense tracking, not payroll - Wave (free invoicing) or FreshBooks ($23/mo) covers that.
14. FreshBooks mentioned
    If you came here because you're a freelancer trying to get organized, the tool you likely need is invoicing + expense tracking, not payroll - Wave (free invoicing) or FreshBooks ($23/mo) covers that.

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

## First, the honest framing If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC (default tax treatment), **you don't need payroll software at all.** You can't legally put yourself on payroll - you take owner's draws and pay quarterly estimated taxes. Buying payroll for that is wasted money. Payroll actually matters for freelancers in two cases. Here's what I'd pick for each. ## If you've elected S-corp (you must pay yourself a W-2 salary) 1. **Gusto** - my default pick. $49/mo + $6/person, and it's the only one with S-corp-specific tooling: reasonable-salary calculator, Form 2553 election help, automatic federal/state/local filings. For a one-person S-corp that's ~$55/mo. ([Gusto](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee)) 2. **Patriot Software** - pick this if cost is the deciding factor. Full Service is $37/mo + $5 per worker *paid*, so ~$42/mo (~$504/yr vs Gusto's ~$660). Same core job, less polish, no S-corp advisory. ([Patriot](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/compare/patriot-software-vs-gusto/)) 3. **OnPay** - $49/mo + $6/person with no feature gating; everything's in one tier. Good if you dislike being upsold. 4. **QuickBooks Payroll** - only worth it if you already keep your books in QuickBooks Online. The integration is the entire argument; standalone it's not better than the above. For a one-person S-corp, Patriot vs. Gusto is roughly a $150/year decision. I'd pay the extra for Gusto the first year while you're figuring out reasonable comp, then reassess. ## If you're a freelancer paying subcontractors 1. **Square Payroll (contractor-only)** - $6/mo per contractor, **no base fee**. Cheapest real option for 1-3 subs, includes direct deposit and 1099-NEC filing. ([pricing roundup](https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/)) 2. **QuickBooks contractor payments** - ~$15/mo including 20 contractors, +$2 each after. Best value once you're paying 3+ people. ([Wise](https://wise.com/us/blog/batchtransfer-contractor-payroll-software)) 3. **Gusto contractor-only** - $35/mo + $6/contractor (currently promoting $0 base for 6 months). Worth it mainly if you expect to add W-2 employees and want one system. ([Gusto pricing](https://costbench.com/software/hr/gusto)) 4. **Remote** ($29/contractor/mo) or **Deel** ($49/contractor/mo) - only for *international* subcontractors. Remote is the better value for pure contractor payments; Deel's premium buys a broader compliance network you probably don't need as a freelancer. ([comparison](https://resources.rework.com/tools/erp-finance/best-patriot-software-alternatives)) One thing to verify with your accountant: the 1099-NEC filing threshold reportedly rises from $600 to $2,000 for 2026 payments, which may mean you don't need to file for small one-off subs at all. ## What you probably actually want If you came here because you're a freelancer trying to get organized, the tool you likely need is **invoicing + expense tracking**, not payroll - **Wave** (free invoicing) or **FreshBooks** ($23/mo) covers that. Revisit payroll the year your net profit makes an S-corp election worthwhile, usually somewhere north of ~$80-100k. Sources: - [Affordable Payroll Software for Self-Employed Business Owners in 2026](https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/) - [Gusto: Best Payroll Service for One Employee](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee) - [Patriot Software vs. Gusto 2026](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/compare/patriot-software-vs-gusto/) - [Wise: Best Contractor Payroll Software for US Employers](https://wise.com/us/blog/batchtransfer-contractor-payroll-software) - [Gusto pricing breakdown](https://costbench.com/software/hr/gusto) - [Patriot alternatives / Deel vs Remote pricing](https://resources.rework.com/tools/erp-finance/best-patriot-software-alternatives)

Near this answer

The same question, recorded on other dates: 2026-10-10, 2026-10-08, 2026-10-06, 2026-10-05, 2026-10-03, 2026-10-01, 2026-09-26, 2026-09-24, 2026-09-22, 2026-09-20, 2026-09-16.

payroll software, asked for other audiences: small businesses (asked 2026-10-13), nonprofits (asked 2026-10-13).

Other categories with a recorded answer: accounting software, accounts payable automation, audit management software, bookkeeping services.

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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.