What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (small businesses) 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 small businesses

Brands named, in the order the engine gave

1. Gusto mentioned
   For most US small businesses I'd pick Gusto first, then OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll depending on your setup.
2. OnPay mentioned
   For most US small businesses I'd pick Gusto first, then OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll depending on your setup.
3. QuickBooks mentioned
   For most US small businesses I'd pick Gusto first, then OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll depending on your setup.
4. ADP mentioned
   ADP RUN.
5. ADP RUN mentioned
   ADP RUN.
6. Square mentioned
   Square Payroll.
7. Rippling mentioned
   Rippling (or Deel for international).
8. Deel mentioned
   Rippling (or Deel for international).
9. Zoho mentioned
   Many of these rankings come from payroll companies ranking themselves (Gusto, ADP, OnPay, Patriot, Paycom and Zoho all publish "best payroll" lists), so I compared them against independent reviews.
10. Patriot Payroll mentioned
    - eLearning Industry - Patriot Payroll Pricing 2026 (https://elearningindustry.com/patriot-payroll-pricing)

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

For most US small businesses I'd pick **Gusto** first, then **OnPay** or **QuickBooks Payroll** depending on your setup. The full list, in the order I'd suggest them: 1. **Gusto.** It's the easiest to use, it files payroll taxes for you, and it includes enough HR tools (onboarding, benefits) that you probably won't need a separate HR system while you're small. The Simple plan costs **$49/month + $6 per employee**, up from $40/month in March 2026. Some reviewers call support slow, and that plan only covers one state. 2. **OnPay.** It does about what Gusto does for the same **$49/month + $6 per worker**, but you get one plan with **no extra fees per state**. That makes it the better deal if you have staff in more than one state. 3. **QuickBooks Payroll.** Choose it if you already do your books in QuickBooks. It connects directly to your accounting. You'd switch only if you later need stronger HR tools. 4. **ADP RUN.** Better once you're past about 25 employees or if your payroll is complicated (several states, unions, heavy compliance). Expect a more corporate feel, less clear pricing, and more upselling than with Gusto or OnPay. 5. **Patriot Software.** The cheapest full-service option I found: **$37/month + $5 per worker**, and it files federal, state and local taxes for you. Each extra state costs $12. Good for simple payroll where you don't need extras. 6. **Square Payroll.** Makes sense if you already use Square for payments, especially in restaurants or retail. If you only pay contractors, it's **$6 per contractor, with no base fee**. 7. **Rippling** (or **Deel** for international). Worth it if you're growing fast (roughly 25-500 people), want payroll, HR and IT in one system, or pay people in other countries. It automates the most but costs noticeably more per employee and takes longer to learn. In short: under about 25 people, start with Gusto, or with OnPay if you're in several states. Use QuickBooks Payroll if you're already on QuickBooks, and Patriot if price matters most. A few caveats. Many of these rankings come from payroll companies ranking themselves (Gusto, ADP, OnPay, Patriot, Paycom and Zoho all publish "best payroll" lists), so I compared them against independent reviews. Prices change often, so check them before you buy. All of these are US-focused; outside the US you'd need different providers. Sources: - [Homebase - Payroll Software for Small Business: 2026 Guide](https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/payroll-software-for-small-business) - [Airwallex - 10 Best Payroll Software Providers 2026](https://www.airwallex.com/en-us/blog/best-payroll-software) - [TechRadar - Best payroll software 2026](https://www.techradar.com/uk/in/best/best-payroll-software) - [Equal Pay Today - Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses 2026](https://www.equalpaytoday.org/best-payroll-software-small-businesses/) - [Amber's Bookkeeping - ADP vs. Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll 2026](https://ambersbookkeeping.com/learning-center/adp-vs-gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) - [SelectHub - Gusto vs Rippling 2026](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-rippling/) - [US Tech Automations - Rippling vs Gusto vs ADP 2026](https://ustechautomations.com/resources/blog/rippling-vs-gusto-vs-adp-for-accounting-clients-2026) - [OnPay - Best payroll software picks 2026](https://onpay.com/insights/best-small-business-payroll-software-picks/) - [WhichPayroll - Gusto Pricing 2026](https://whichpayroll.com/pricing/gusto) - [SpotSaaS - Gusto Pricing 2026](https://www.spotsaas.com/blog/gusto-pricing) - [Patriot Software - Pricing](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/pricing/) - [eLearning Industry - Patriot Payroll Pricing 2026](https://elearningindustry.com/patriot-payroll-pricing) - [Business.org - Square Payroll Review 2026](https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/square-payroll-review/) - [Capterra - Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)

Markdown edition · the question page, with every recording · Answer Watch · AEO Watch

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.