{
  "canary": "e88e35c50804392b",
  "category": {
    "blocked": false,
    "commerce": true,
    "criteria": [
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "tax_filing_support",
        "label": "Tax Filing Support",
        "poids": 5,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "booleen"
      },
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "employee_self_service",
        "label": "Employee Self-Service",
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "booleen"
      },
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "direct_deposit",
        "label": "Direct Deposit",
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "booleen"
      },
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "reporting_capabilities",
        "label": "Reporting Capabilities",
        "options": [
          "Basic",
          "Standard",
          "Advanced"
        ],
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "enum"
      },
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "hr_features",
        "label": "HR Features",
        "options": [
          "None",
          "Basic",
          "Advanced"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "enum"
      },
      {
        "group": "Features",
        "key": "time_tracking_integration",
        "label": "Time Tracking Integration",
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "booleen"
      },
      {
        "group": "Pricing",
        "key": "monthly_price",
        "label": "Monthly Price",
        "poids": 5,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "prix",
        "unit": "USD"
      },
      {
        "group": "Pricing",
        "key": "setup_fee",
        "label": "Setup Fee",
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "prix",
        "unit": "USD"
      },
      {
        "group": "Support",
        "key": "compliance_assistance",
        "label": "Compliance Assistance",
        "poids": 5,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "booleen"
      },
      {
        "group": "Support",
        "key": "customer_support",
        "label": "Customer Support",
        "options": [
          "Limited",
          "Standard",
          "Premium"
        ],
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "enum"
      },
      {
        "group": "Usability",
        "key": "ease_of_use",
        "label": "Ease of Use",
        "options": [
          "Difficult",
          "Moderate",
          "Easy"
        ],
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "enum"
      },
      {
        "group": "Usability",
        "key": "scalability",
        "label": "Scalability",
        "options": [
          "Limited",
          "Moderate",
          "High"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "enum"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "Rippling is currently ranked highest with a score of 92/100, followed closely by Gusto, making them top choices for US startups.",
        "q": "What is the best payroll software for US startups in 2026?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Our comparison evaluates each software's capabilities in tax filing support, alongside other key features like employee self-service and direct deposit.",
        "q": "How do payroll software options compare for tax filing support?"
      },
      {
        "a": "We assess the HR features of various payroll software, including employee self-service and reporting capabilities, to help you find the best fit for your business needs.",
        "q": "Which payroll software offers the best HR features for small businesses?"
      },
      {
        "a": "No, our ranking is completely neutral and not influenced by any payments. Each data point is sourced and verified to provide an unbiased comparison.",
        "q": "Is your payroll software ranking influenced by payments?"
      }
    ],
    "kind": "category",
    "model": "",
    "ms": 2147,
    "neutral": false,
    "path": [
      "business",
      "software",
      "payroll-software"
    ],
    "price_key": "monthly_price",
    "profile_questions": [
      {
        "options": [
          "1-10",
          "11-50",
          "51-100"
        ],
        "q": "Number of employees?"
      },
      {
        "options": [
          "Payroll only",
          "Payroll & HR",
          "Payroll & Time Tracking"
        ],
        "q": "Primary need?"
      }
    ],
    "subject": "service",
    "suggestions": [
      "HR software comparison",
      "time tracking software comparison",
      "accounting software comparison",
      "employee benefits platforms"
    ],
    "synthese": [
      "This comparison of 11 payroll software across 12 criteria, including tax filing support, employee self-service, direct deposit, reporting capabilities, HR features, and time tracking integration, shows Rippling as the top performer with 92/100, largely due to its perfect scores in customer support and HR features, and it is also the cheapest option, while Gusto ranks second at 85/100, excelling in ease of use.",
      "The facts in this summary are computed from the table below; only the wording is generated."
    ],
    "tier": "gold",
    "title": "Payroll Software Comparison for US Startups",
    "unranked": false,
    "visual": "logo"
  },
  "country": "US",
  "freshness": {
    "age_days": 10.5,
    "stale": true,
    "ttl_days": 2
  },
  "items": [
    {
      "badges": [
        "best_overall",
        "cheapest",
        "best_value"
      ],
      "description": "Unified platform for payroll, HR, IT, and finance, designed for modern businesses.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.rippling.com/",
      "logo_dom": "rippling.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/rippling.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Rippling",
      "provider": "Rippling",
      "score": 92.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.rippling.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "hr_features": 100.0,
        "monthly_price": 100.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 100.0,
        "scalability": 100.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Premium",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Advanced",
        "monthly_price": 8.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Advanced",
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Comprehensive payroll and HR platform designed for small businesses and startups.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://gusto.com/",
      "logo_dom": "gusto.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/gusto.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Gusto",
      "provider": "Gusto",
      "score": 85.0,
      "source_url": "https://gusto.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "hr_features": 100.0,
        "monthly_price": 20.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 100.0,
        "scalability": 100.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Premium",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Easy",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Advanced",
        "monthly_price": 40.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Advanced",
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "All-in-one payroll and HR solution with robust features for growing businesses.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://onpay.com/",
      "logo_dom": "onpay.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/onpay.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "OnPay",
      "provider": "OnPay",
      "score": 79.0,
      "source_url": "https://onpay.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "hr_features": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 20.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 100.0,
        "scalability": 100.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Premium",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Easy",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Basic",
        "monthly_price": 40.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Advanced",
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Payroll and HR solutions tailored for small businesses with scalable features.",
      "estimated": true,
      "logo_dom": "adp.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/adp.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "ADP RUN",
      "provider": "ADP",
      "score": 56.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.adp.com/small-business/run-payroll",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "hr_features": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 20.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 50.0,
        "scalability": 100.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Standard",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Basic",
        "monthly_price": 40.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Standard",
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Flexible payroll and HR services designed to adapt to the needs of small to medium-sized businesses.",
      "estimated": true,
      "logo_dom": "paychex.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/paychex.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Paychex Flex",
      "provider": "Paychex",
      "score": 56.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.paychex.com/flex",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "hr_features": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 21.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 50.0,
        "scalability": 100.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Standard",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Basic",
        "monthly_price": 39.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Standard",
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Integrated payroll services that work seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software.",
      "estimated": true,
      "logo_dom": "intuit.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/intuit.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "QuickBooks Payroll",
      "provider": "Intuit",
      "score": 50.0,
      "source_url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "hr_features": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 18.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 50.0,
        "scalability": 50.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Standard",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "Basic",
        "monthly_price": 45.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Standard",
        "scalability": "Moderate",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Simple payroll solution integrated with Square's payment processing ecosystem.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://squareup.com/",
      "logo_dom": "square.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/square.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Square Payroll",
      "provider": "Square",
      "score": 46.0,
      "source_url": "https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "hr_features": 0.0,
        "monthly_price": 28.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 0.0,
        "scalability": 50.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Standard",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Easy",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "None",
        "monthly_price": 29.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Basic",
        "scalability": "Moderate",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": true
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://remotepeople.com/",
      "name": "Remote People",
      "score": 25.0,
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 28.0,
        "scalability": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Standard",
        "direct_deposit": null,
        "ease_of_use": null,
        "employee_self_service": null,
        "hr_features": null,
        "monthly_price": 29.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": null,
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": null,
        "tax_filing_support": null,
        "time_tracking_integration": null
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Free accounting software with an optional, affordable payroll add-on for small businesses.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://wave.com/",
      "logo_dom": "wave.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/wave.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Wave Payroll",
      "provider": "Wave",
      "score": 23.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.waveapps.com/payroll",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 0.0,
        "ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "hr_features": 0.0,
        "monthly_price": 40.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": 0.0,
        "scalability": 0.0,
        "time_tracking_integration": 0.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": "Limited",
        "direct_deposit": true,
        "ease_of_use": "Easy",
        "employee_self_service": true,
        "hr_features": "None",
        "monthly_price": 20.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": "Basic",
        "scalability": "Limited",
        "setup_fee": 0.0,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": false
      },
      "verified": false
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "estimated": true,
      "name": "Warp",
      "score": 19.0,
      "subscores": {
        "hr_features": 50.0,
        "monthly_price": 9.0,
        "scalability": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": true,
        "customer_support": null,
        "direct_deposit": null,
        "ease_of_use": null,
        "employee_self_service": null,
        "hr_features": "Basic",
        "monthly_price": 89.0,
        "reporting_capabilities": null,
        "scalability": "High",
        "setup_fee": null,
        "tax_filing_support": true,
        "time_tracking_integration": null
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://netchex.com/",
      "name": "Netchex",
      "score": 0.0,
      "subscores": {},
      "values": {
        "compliance_assistance": null,
        "customer_support": null,
        "direct_deposit": null,
        "ease_of_use": null,
        "employee_self_service": null,
        "hr_features": null,
        "monthly_price": null,
        "reporting_capabilities": null,
        "scalability": null,
        "setup_fee": null,
        "tax_filing_support": null,
        "time_tracking_integration": null
      }
    }
  ],
  "lang": "en",
  "license": "Citation with a link to the URL is allowed. Bulk extraction and redistribution of the catalog is prohibited. Volume access: contact us.",
  "markdown_url": "https://comparefairly.com/en/US/payroll-software-comparison-for-us-startups.md",
  "neutral": false,
  "notice": "Neutral ranking, never paid; sorted on measured criteria. Each value is sourced or marked as an estimate (see per-item fields).",
  "query": "payroll software comparison for american startups",
  "source": "CompareFairly",
  "title": "Payroll Software Comparison for US Startups",
  "unranked": false,
  "url": "https://comparefairly.com/en/US/payroll-software-comparison-for-us-startups"
}