What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (small businesses) on 2026-09-14

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-09-14

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 recommended
   Gusto - the default recommendation for most small businesses.
2. QuickBooks mentioned
   QuickBooks Payroll - if you already use QuickBooks for accounting.
3. you're mentioned
   If you're not on QuickBooks, this is not a reason to switch to it.
4. OnPay mentioned
   OnPay - best value for straightforward payroll across multiple states.
5. Patriot mentioned
   Patriot Software - if price is the binding constraint.
6. ADP mentioned
   ADP RUN or Paychex Flex - if you're scaling past ~25 employees or want a human to call.
7. ADP RUN mentioned
   ADP RUN or Paychex Flex - if you're scaling past ~25 employees or want a human to call.
8. Paychex mentioned
   ADP RUN or Paychex Flex - if you're scaling past ~25 employees or want a human to call.
9. Paychex Flex mentioned
   ADP RUN or Paychex Flex - if you're scaling past ~25 employees or want a human to call.
10. Square mentioned
    Square Payroll - if you're a retail or restaurant business already on Square POS.
11. Square POS mentioned
    Square Payroll - if you're a retail or restaurant business already on Square POS.

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

# Best payroll software for small businesses **1. Gusto - the default recommendation for most small businesses.** It's the one I'd name first if you have W-2 employees and no strong existing constraints. Full-service payroll (files and pays federal/state/local taxes automatically), unlimited pay runs, built-in benefits administration, onboarding, and a genuinely good interface for non-accountants. Base plan plus roughly $12/employee/month on the mid-tier. Caveat: multi-state filing requires the Plus tier. ([Forbes Advisor](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-payroll-services/), [Gusto comparison](https://gusto.com/product/compare/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll)) **2. QuickBooks Payroll - if you already use QuickBooks for accounting.** The integration advantage is real and hard to beat: payroll journal entries land in your books with no syncing or reconciliation work. If you're not on QuickBooks, this is not a reason to switch to it. Per-employee fees run lower than Gusto's, but the base fee and time-tracking add-ons narrow the gap. ([QuickBooks vs. Gusto](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/compare/gusto-vs-quickbooks/)) **3. OnPay - best value for straightforward payroll across multiple states.** One flat plan, around $49/month plus $6/employee, with multi-state filing, PTO accrual, and e-signing included rather than gated behind upgrades. Strong for businesses with specialized payroll needs (restaurants with tip credits, farms with Form 943, nonprofits, churches). Weakness: only about 10 third-party integrations versus Gusto's 100+. ([OnPay](https://onpay.com/insights/best-small-business-payroll-software-picks/), [Business.org](https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/onpay-vs-gusto-payroll/)) **4. Patriot Software - if price is the binding constraint.** Full Service Payroll starts around $37/month plus $5/worker, the cheapest credible full-service option. Fewer HR features and a plainer interface, but it runs payroll and files taxes correctly. ([OnPay roundup](https://onpay.com/insights/best-small-business-payroll-software-picks/)) **5. ADP RUN or Paychex Flex - if you're scaling past ~25 employees or want a human to call.** Both bundle HR support, benefits administration, and compliance help, and Paychex assigns a dedicated payroll specialist. Pricing is quote-based and generally higher, with contracts and setup fees. I'd only go here if you've outgrown the self-serve tier or your industry has compliance complexity you don't want to own. ([Forbes Advisor](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-payroll-services/), [ADP](https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/t/the-best-payroll-software-providers-for-small-businesses.aspx)) **6. Square Payroll - if you're a retail or restaurant business already on Square POS.** Timecards and tips flow straight from the POS into payroll, which removes the most error-prone step for hourly teams. It also has a contractor-only plan with no monthly base fee, which is the cheapest way to handle 1099-only payments. **Short version:** start with Gusto. Switch to QuickBooks Payroll if you're already in QuickBooks, OnPay if you're multi-state or in a specialized industry, Patriot if budget is tight, and ADP/Paychex only when you need real HR support behind the software. Sources: - [Forbes Advisor - Best Payroll Software And Services for Small Business (2026)](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-payroll-services/) - [OnPay - Best payroll software: 9 top picks for small businesses (2026)](https://onpay.com/insights/best-small-business-payroll-software-picks/) - [Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll: Features, Pricing & Verdict (2026)](https://gusto.com/product/compare/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll) - [QuickBooks - Gusto vs QuickBooks: 2026 Comparison](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/compare/gusto-vs-quickbooks/) - [Business.org - Gusto Payroll vs. OnPay 2026](https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/onpay-vs-gusto-payroll/) - [ADP - The best payroll software providers for small businesses](https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/t/the-best-payroll-software-providers-for-small-businesses.aspx)

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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.