What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (small businesses) on 2026-09-24

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-09-24

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 - My default recommendation for most small businesses under ~100 employees.
2. OnPay recommended
   OnPay - The best value play, and my pick if you want to skip the tier maze.
3. QuickBooks mentioned
   QuickBooks Payroll - The obvious answer if your books are already in QuickBooks.
4. Patriot mentioned
   Patriot Software - The budget option.
5. ADP mentioned
   ADP RUN - Worth it when you expect to grow past ~50 employees, have complex multi-state or union compliance needs, or want a real human rep.
6. ADP RUN mentioned
   ADP RUN - Worth it when you expect to grow past ~50 employees, have complex multi-state or union compliance needs, or want a real human rep.
7. Paychex Flex mentioned
   Paychex Flex - Similar positioning to ADP;
8. Paycom mentioned
   One caveat on sourcing: a lot of the "best payroll software" listicles that rank highly are published by the vendors themselves (Gusto, OnPay, Paycom, Patriot, Paylocity all run one), so they're not neutral.
9. Paylocity mentioned
   One caveat on sourcing: a lot of the "best payroll software" listicles that rank highly are published by the vendors themselves (Gusto, OnPay, Paycom, Patriot, Paylocity all run one), so they're not neutral.
10. Airwallex mentioned
    - 10 Best Payroll Software Providers for Small Businesses in 2026 - Airwallex (https://www.airwallex.com/en-us/blog/best-payroll-software)

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

Here's how I'd rank them for a typical small business: **1. Gusto** - My default recommendation for most small businesses under ~100 employees. Best-in-class ease of use, automatic tax filing in all 50 states, and genuinely good benefits administration (health, 401k, workers' comp) bundled in rather than bolted on. Runs about $49/month base plus ~$6-12 per employee depending on tier. The main catch: the entry "Simple" plan is single-state only, so if you have remote workers in other states you're pushed to a higher tier. **2. OnPay** - The best value play, and my pick if you want to skip the tier maze. One flat plan (~$40-49/month + ~$6/employee) that includes multi-state payroll, all tax filings, and benefits at no upcharge - things Gusto gates behind upgrades. Also unusually strong on niche payroll types (farms/H-2A, nonprofits, restaurants with tip credits). Downside is a much smaller integration library (~10 apps vs. Gusto's 100+). **3. QuickBooks Payroll** - The obvious answer if your books are already in QuickBooks. Same-ledger integration means no syncing headaches, and job costing flows through cleanly, which matters for contractors and trades. Starts around $45/month + $5-8 per employee. If you're not already a QuickBooks shop, there's little reason to pick it. **4. Patriot Software** - The budget option. If the thing keeping you on spreadsheets is price, this is the cheapest credible full-service payroll with real tax filing. Interface is plainer and HR features are thin, but it does the core job correctly. **5. ADP RUN** - Worth it when you expect to grow past ~50 employees, have complex multi-state or union compliance needs, or want a real human rep. Deepest compliance and HR bench of the group. Pricing is quote-based and typically higher, and setup is more involved. **6. Paychex Flex** - Similar positioning to ADP; pick it over ADP mostly on the strength of the local rep you get. Also the usual step-up if you want to grow into PEO services later. Quick heuristic: **QuickBooks user → QuickBooks Payroll. Want cheapest solid option → Patriot or OnPay. Want the nicest experience and best benefits → Gusto. Complex/growing/compliance-heavy → ADP.** One caveat on sourcing: a lot of the "best payroll software" listicles that rank highly are published by the vendors themselves (Gusto, OnPay, Paycom, Patriot, Paylocity all run one), so they're not neutral. The pricing figures below are worth confirming directly on each vendor's page, since promotional discounts of 50% for the first few months are common and shift the real comparison. Sources: - [Best payroll software: 9 top picks for small businesses (2026) - OnPay](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) - [Gusto Payroll vs. OnPay 2026 - Business.org](https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/onpay-vs-gusto-payroll/) - [Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2026 - Patriot Software](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/) - [Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2026 - Paycom](https://www.paycom.com/resources/blog/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses-in-2026/) - [10 Best Payroll Software Providers for Small Businesses in 2026 - Airwallex](https://www.airwallex.com/en-us/blog/best-payroll-software)

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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.