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

## In short

On 2026-09-24, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best payroll software for small businesses". It named 10 brands; the first six, in order, were Gusto, OnPay, QuickBooks, Patriot, ADP and ADP RUN.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best payroll software for small businesses |
| Asked on | 2026-09-24 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 10 |
| Sources cited | 6 |
| Audience | small businesses |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-24 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-09-24
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-24 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> 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 + 

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | recommended |
| 2 | OnPay | recommended |
| 3 | QuickBooks | mentioned |
| 4 | Patriot | mentioned |
| 5 | ADP | mentioned |
| 6 | ADP RUN | mentioned |
| 7 | Paychex Flex | mentioned |
| 8 | Paycom | mentioned |
| 9 | Paylocity | mentioned |
| 10 | Airwallex | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://onpay.com/insights/best-small-business-payroll-software-picks/ (vendor)
- https://gusto.com/product/compare/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll (vendor)
- https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/onpay-vs-gusto-payroll/ (other)
- https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/ (other)
- https://www.paycom.com/resources/blog/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses-in-2026/ (other)
- https://www.airwallex.com/en-us/blog/best-payroll-software (vendor)

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

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.