# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for payroll software (small businesses) on 2026-10-21

## In short

On 2026-10-21, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best payroll software for small businesses". It named 16 brands; the first six, in order, were Gusto, OnPay, Patriot, G2, QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best payroll software for small businesses |
| Asked on | 2026-10-21 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 16 |
| Sources cited | 8 |
| Audience | small businesses |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-21 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-10-21
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-21 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> # Best payroll software for small businesses
> 
> Here's what I'd actually recommend, in order:
> 
> **1. Gusto - best default pick for most small businesses.** Full-service payroll with automatic federal/state/local tax filing, built-in benefits brokerage, contractor payments, and onboarding. Transparent published pricing: Simple at $49/mo + $6/employee, Plus at $80/mo + $12, Premium at $180/mo + $22. The interface is genuinely friendly for an owner who isn't an HR person, and you can model your cost before signing up. If you have fewer than ~50 employees and no unusual requirements, start here.
> 
> **2. OnPay - best value if you want one flat, capable plan.** $49/mo + $6 per worker, and that single plan includes multi-state payroll, all tax filings, benefits administration, onboarding, and support - no tier-climbing to unlock basics. HR add-ons are optional ($15/mo + $2/worker). Especially strong for businesses with employees in several states, or sectors with quirks like restaurants, farms, and nonprofits.
> 
> **3. Patriot Software - cheapest credible option.** Full Service at $37/mo + $5 per worker, or Basic Payroll (you file your own taxes) at $17/mo + $4. Free US-based phone/chat/email sup

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | recommended |
| 2 | OnPay | recommended |
| 3 | Patriot | recommended |
| 4 | G2 | recommended |
| 5 | QuickBooks | recommended |
| 6 | QuickBooks Online | recommended |
| 7 | Square | recommended |
| 8 | Square Payroll | recommended |
| 9 | Square POS | recommended |
| 10 | Homebase | recommended |
| 11 | ADP | recommended |
| 12 | ADP RUN | recommended |
| 13 | Paychex | recommended |
| 14 | Paychex Flex | recommended |
| 15 | Skip Rippling | mentioned |
| 16 | Rippling | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://gusto.com/product/compare/features/best-payroll-small-business (vendor)
- https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/gusto-vs-adp-run/ (other)
- https://gusto.com/resources/guides/switch-payroll-providers/onpay-pricing (vendor)
- https://costbench.com/software/payroll/onpay/ (other)
- https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/ (other)
- https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/compare/patriot-software-vs-rippling/ (other)
- https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/best-payroll-software (other)
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/paychex-payroll-review (review)

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

Alerts and membership: Answer Watch Pro, 79 USD per month: https://bikoosh.com/answers. Bikoosh is monitoring assistance, not complete protection.

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.