What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (small businesses) on 2026-10-08

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-10-08

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.
2. OnPay recommended
   OnPay - The best value if you want clean full-service payroll without the upsell ladder.
3. Patriot recommended
   Patriot Software - The budget pick, and it's not a compromise pick.
4. QuickBooks recommended
   QuickBooks Payroll - Only if you're already on QuickBooks Online.
5. QuickBooks Online recommended
   QuickBooks Payroll - Only if you're already on QuickBooks Online.
6. Square recommended
   Square Payroll - The right answer if you run a restaurant, café, or retail shop on Square POS.
7. Square Payroll recommended
   Square Payroll - The right answer if you run a restaurant, café, or retail shop on Square POS.
8. Square POS recommended
   Square Payroll - The right answer if you run a restaurant, café, or retail shop on Square POS.
9. ADP RUN recommended
   ADP RUN - Worth a look if you expect to cross 50 employees, operate in many states, or want a real human service rep.
10. Homebase mentioned
    Also worth knowing: Homebase bundles scheduling + time tracking + payroll in one system (~$39/mo + $6/employee), which is compelling if you have a lot of hourly staff and are currently juggling a separate scheduling app.
11. Shortcut mentioned
    Shortcut: 1-15 employees, want it to just work → Gusto.
12. Patriot Payroll compared
    - Costbench - OnPay vs Patriot Payroll Pricing (2026) (https://costbench.com/compare/onpay-vs-patriot-payroll/)

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

Here's what I'd actually recommend, roughly in the order I'd suggest looking at them: **1. Gusto** - My default recommendation for most small businesses. Full-service payroll (files and pays federal, state, and local taxes automatically), unlimited pay runs, contractor payments, and it handles benefits/health insurance administration if you ever need that. The interface is genuinely pleasant, which matters when you're running payroll yourself at 11pm. Simple plan is ~$49/mo + $6/employee; Plus is $80 + $12. The main knock: the useful HR features live in the pricier tiers. **2. OnPay** - The best value if you want clean full-service payroll without the upsell ladder. One plan, one price (~$49/mo + $6/worker), and everything is included - multi-state filing, benefits brokerage, HR tools. No "upgrade to unlock" games. It's also unusually good at niche payrolls: farms (Form 943), churches/clergy, restaurants with tip credits. Less polished-feeling than Gusto, but more honest pricing. **3. Patriot Software** - The budget pick, and it's not a compromise pick. Basic Payroll is ~$17/mo + $4/employee (you handle tax filing), Full Service is ~$37/mo + $5/employee. If you have fewer than 10 employees in a single state and don't need benefits administration, this will cost you half of what Gusto does for the part you actually use. Time tracking and HR are paid add-ons. **4. QuickBooks Payroll** - Only if you're already on QuickBooks Online. The integration is the whole argument - payroll journal entries just appear in your books with no syncing or CSV wrangling. Starts around $50/mo + $6.50/employee. If you're not a QuickBooks shop, there's no reason to pick this. **5. Square Payroll** - The right answer if you run a restaurant, café, or retail shop on Square POS. Timecards flow from the POS straight into payroll, tips and tip pooling are handled natively. ~$35/mo + $6/employee, and there's a contractor-only option at about $6/person with no base fee. **6. ADP RUN** - Worth a look if you expect to cross 50 employees, operate in many states, or want a real human service rep. Deep compliance expertise and it scales indefinitely. Downsides: custom quote-based pricing, aggressive sales process, and fees for things competitors include free (like year-end W-2s). Overkill for a 5-person team. **Also worth knowing:** **Homebase** bundles scheduling + time tracking + payroll in one system (~$39/mo + $6/employee), which is compelling if you have a lot of hourly staff and are currently juggling a separate scheduling app. **Shortcut:** 1-15 employees, want it to just work → Gusto. Same size, cost-sensitive → Patriot. Want everything included at one price → OnPay. Already on QuickBooks or Square → use theirs. One caveat on the pricing above: base fees have drifted upward across this whole category, and most of these providers run introductory discounts (often a few months free), so confirm current numbers on the vendor's own page before committing. Sources: - [Homebase - Best Payroll Software for Small Business in 2026](https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/best-payroll-software) - [Patriot Software - Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2026](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/) - [Gusto - 8 Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses](https://gusto.com/product/compare/features/best-payroll-small-business) - [Costbench - OnPay vs Patriot Payroll Pricing (2026)](https://costbench.com/compare/onpay-vs-patriot-payroll/) - [Costbench - Best Payroll Software for Small Business 2026](https://costbench.com/best/payroll-for-small-business/) - [TechRadar - Best payroll software for small business of 2026](https://www.techradar.com/uk/in/best/best-payroll-software)

Near this answer

The same question, recorded on other dates: 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, 2026-09-14, 2026-09-12.

payroll software, asked for other audiences: freelancers (asked 2026-10-08), nonprofits (asked 2026-10-08).

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

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