You already juggle taxes, compliance, and client needs, payroll shouldn’t add to the stress. This year, the best payroll tools help accountants stay accurate, save time, and grow with ease. Below are five standout platforms that make managing payroll a breeze, so you can focus on advising clients, not chasing timesheets.
Top 5 payroll Solutions for Accountants
- 1Homebase: Best payroll solution overall
- 2Gusto: Best all-in-one payroll with benefits integration
- 3OnPay: Best for accountant-friendly compliance
- 4Rippling: Best for automated payroll at scale
- 5Paycom: Best for end-to-end HR and payroll management
- 6Paycheck Flex: Best for Personalized Service & Scalability
1. Homebase: Best Payroll Solution Overall
If you’re an accountant juggling multiple clients, Homebase is one of those tools that instantly makes life easier. It’s built with small business operations in mind but designed smartly enough to handle the demands of professionals who manage payroll for others. Setup is quick, navigation is intuitive, and the core features, like scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging, are completely free before you even touch the payroll add-on.
Once you turn on payroll, everything starts to click into place. Homebase automatically handles tax filings, direct deposits, and compliance without any manual intervention. It also syncs employee hours directly into payroll, saving you the time and headache of cross-checking spreadsheets. For accountants, that means less data entry and more time for advisory work or growing your client list.
What really makes Homebase stand out is how practical it feels. Everything is where you’d expect it to be, reports are clear, and integrations with QuickBooks and Square keep your books clean and accurate. Whether you’re managing a local café or a handful of retail clients, it delivers the right mix of automation and simplicity to keep things running smoothly.
Key Features:
Reviews From Real Users
Integrates perfectly with QuickBooks
We use QuickBooks for accounting, and Homebase syncs beautifully with it. No more manual data entry! Payroll runs smoothly, and my clients love how easy it is to understand.
Finally Everything In One Place
Homebase replaced three different apps for us: Scheduling, time tracking, and Payroll. And made life so much easier. Payroll now takes minutes, and the QuickBooks sync saves me hours every week. Take advantage of the 6-month free payroll if you can as well.
Simple And Affortable
Homebase does exactly what I need. Nothing fancy, but it’s reliable and affordable. The AI suggestions are surprisingly helpful for managing hours.
Nice For Keeping My Team Organized
I mainly use the scheduling and time tracking. It’s been smooth overall. Some small bugs here and there, but support is responsive and helpful.
Solid For A Growing Team
We started with just 3 employees and now have 15, and Homebase has grown with us. It’s not perfect, but it’s dependable, and I really appreciate the integrations.
Way Better Than I Expected
I wasn’t expecting much from a free tool, but Homebase has completely changed the way I manage my restaurant. Scheduling, time tracking, payroll, etc. It’s all in one place and it actually works.
Ideal For Growing Teams
We run a small fitness studio, and Homebase keeps us organized without the big-business price tag. Shift changes, time cards, and messages all happen in one place. The AI tips even helped cut down on overtime. It’s simple, smart, and ideal for growing teams.
All My Team In One Place
It’s amazing having time clocks, chat, and payroll all in the same app. My team loves being able to swap shifts or message each other without me having to chase anyone down.
Makes running payroll so much easier
Homebase has been a lifesaver for our coffee shop. We went from messy spreadsheets to automated payroll in minutes. The scheduling tools alone save me hours every week.
Good Tool, A Few Quirks
Overall it’s been great. I wish the reporting was a bit more customizable, but for scheduling and payroll, it’s solid and easy to use.
Perfect for small businesses like mine
I love that Homebase actually feels designed for small business owners. The time tracking and scheduling are super intuitive, and payroll is straightforward. The 6-month free promo was a huge bonus.
The Free Features Are Unbeatable
I’ve tried a few scheduling apps, but none come close to Homebase’s free plan. The fact that it includes time tracking and communication tools is incredible.
Leave Your Review
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
Free plan includes scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging.
Payroll plans start at $39/month + $6 per active employee.
Bonus: They’re offering 6 months of free payroll on Payroll and Plus Plans until January 31, 2026, making it a great time to try it.
Best For
Small to mid-sized accounting firms or business owners who want to manage payroll, scheduling, and time tracking all in one place without spending a fortune or dealing with clunky software.
Why We Picked It:
Homebase earned the #1 spot because it nails the balance between power and simplicity. It’s everything you actually need: reliable payroll, clean integrations, and tools that make team management easier, without the bloat or the big-business price tag. If you’ve ever wished payroll could just work without the hassle, Homebase is that rare platform that actually delivers.
2. Gusto – Best All‑in‑One Payroll with Benefits Integration
Gusto truly shines as the #2 payroll platform for accountants, thanks to its powerful blend of simplicity, flexibility, and depth. With a sleek Gusto Pro dashboard, accountants can effortlessly manage multiple clients from one central hub, complete with task lists, custom reports, and proactive compliance reminders. More than just payroll, Gusto handles everything: tax filings, direct deposit, contractor payments, benefits administration, onboarding workflows, time tracking, and even performance reviews—all built to work together seamlessly. Whether you're advising a solo entrepreneur or overseeing a growing team, Gusto reduces admin hassle, keeps everything compliant, and helps you stay organized with ease.
Key Features:
Reviews From Real Users
Handles Multi-State Like a Champ
I like that Gusto doesn’t nickel and dime you. Everything is upfront and transparent, even as our business has grown to multiple states, it’s handled all the complexity for us, no headaches. Plus, our employees love how easy the onboarding is.
Feel Like a Pro
Gusto makes me feel like I actually know what I’m doing with payroll. It’s super intuitive, and the reminders are a game changer (I used to forget stuff all the time). Also, the support team is so friendly whenever I need help. Total peace of mind.
Should Have Switched Sooner
We switched to Gusto about 6 months ago and I can't believe how much simpler everything is now. The interface is clean, and it literally walks you through each step. Tax filings, direct deposits, benefits, it just takes care of it all. I wish we'd done it sooner.
Game Changer
I've been using Gusto for our payroll needs and it has been a game changer for our small business. The interface is user-friendly, and it integrates well with our existing systems. Plus, the compliance features give me peace of mind. Highly recommend!
Good, But Some Features Cost Extra
Overall its been pretty easy to use and definitely makes payroll simpler. My only gripe is that some of the HR features I wanted were only available on higher plans, which felt a bit limiting for our low budget.
Simplifies Payroll and Lets Me Sleep Better
I was skeptical at first, but Gusto really does make payroll easy. It’s saved me so much time and the fact that it handles all the tax filings makes me sleep better at night. It’s also nice that the interface isn’t overwhelming, just clean and straightforward.
Decent, But Benefits Could Improve
Gusto works well for payroll and taxes, no complaints there. I just wish the benefits options were available in more states, some of our remote employees couldn’t take full advantage. Other than that, it's been reliable and easy to manage.
A Must-Have for Paying Contractors
What sold me on Gusto was how easy it made contractor payments and tax forms. I work with freelancers across the country, and Gusto just makes it simple to stay compliant without me having to dig into IRS forms. It's a must-have for any small biz.
All-in-One HR in Your Pocket
The thing I appreciate most about Gusto is that it’s not just payroll, it’s like having a mini HR department in your pocket. Time tracking, PTO, employee onboarding, it's all in one place and it just works. Plus, the mobile access is super handy when I'm on the go.
Gusto Is a Great Option
I found the article on payroll software for small businesses very helpful! Gusto seems like a great option for our needs, especially with its all-in-one features. Would love to hear more about the pros and cons of the other platforms mentioned.
Leave Your Review
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
Flat-rate pricing at $49/month + $6 per employee, with no extra charges for multi-state payroll, unlimited pay runs, W-2s, and 1099s
Best For
Accounting firms and bookkeeping professionals who want reliable, affordable payroll with full compliance support and streamlined client onboarding.
Why We Picked It:
Gusto is the clear choice for accountants due to its powerful combination of ease, depth, and partner-focused features. The Gusto Pro experience simplifies client management with task prioritization, custom reporting, and proactive compliance alerts—allowing accountants to transition from service providers into trusted advisors. Its strong ecosystem links and partner perks further enhance firm efficiency, making it hard to beat for professionals who value both functionality and fluid workflows.
3. OnPay: Best for accountant-friendly compliance
OnPay is crafted with accountants in mind. Its intuitive interface, accurate calculations, and streamlined tax filings make it ideal for financial professionals managing multiple clients.
Key Features
Key Features:
Reviews From Real Users
OK for Payroll, But I Miss Features
Honestly, OnPay is fine if you just need payroll and taxes, but I found it lacking when I tried to do more HR tasks. I ended up moving to something more robust because we needed a better all-in-one solution. It’s good for the basics, but might feel limiting for growing teams.
Great for Our Nonprofit
OnPay has been a solid pick for our small nonprofit. It takes care of all the tax filings without me having to worry about the details. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done well, and the support team has been really helpful whenever we’ve had questions.
Solid
OnPay covers the basics really well, and I’ve had no issues with tax filings or payments.
Gets the Job Done
I’m happy overall, especially for tax compliance, but I miss having a mobile app. It would make approvals and quick updates way easier!
Good, But the Interface Feels Dated
OnPay has been reliable for payroll and taxes, and I can't fault its accuracy. That said, the dashboard looks a bit old-school compared to others I’ve used. It works fine, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a more modern feel.
Perfect for Our Farm Business
I run a family farm with a mix of seasonal workers and regular staff, and OnPay makes handling payroll way less stressful. The system keeps us compliant, and the W-2/1099 setup is easy. It’s great for businesses like ours.
Simple, Affordable, and Reliable
We moved to OnPay from a more expensive provider, and I honestly haven’t looked back. It covers everything we need (payroll, taxes, benefits) and the price is super fair. If you want something that just works without a learning curve, this is it.
Dependable and Straightforward
We’ve been using OnPay for about a year now, and it’s been a smooth ride. Nothing flashy, but I actually like that. It’s clean, easy to use, and takes care of payroll and taxes exactly as promised.
Leave Your Review
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
$40/month base fee + $6 per employee (includes unlimited pay runs, multi-state filing, HR tools, and integrations).
Offers a 30-day free trial and no-charge onboarding for accounting firms.
Best For
Small- to mid-sized accounting firms and independent accountants seeking a compliant, easy-to-use payroll platform for multiple clients.
Why We Picked It:
OnPay stands out as a top-tier platform for accountants thanks to its efficient multi-client dashboard, built-in compliance tools, transparent pricing, and consistently strong user reviews praising its speed, accuracy, and support. It's a payroll tool designed not just for businesses, but for those who manage payroll on behalf of others.
4. Rippling – Best for Automated Payroll at Scale
Rippling offers an all-in-one platform that combines payroll, HR, IT, and finance operations. It’s designed to streamline administrative work by consolidating employee data and processes into one unified system—ideal for accounting professionals working with larger or tech-forward clients.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
Starts around $35 per user/month, with modular add-ons—detailed pricing available through a custom quote.
Best For
Accounting firms handling medium to large client bases, especially those with global teams or complex automation needs.
Why We Picked It:
Rippling stood out for its streamlined, unified system that integrates payroll, HR, IT, and finance—enabling fast, accurate payroll runs, automated workflows, and minimal manual data entry. Its standout features include 90‑second payroll execution, global payments in multiple currencies, and comprehensive reporting tools, all built on a single employee database. While it can be more complex and pricier than simpler systems, its ability to centralize disparate administrative tasks makes it an excellent choice for accountants handling larger or more technologically sophisticated client portfolios.
5. Paycom – Best for End‑to‑End HR and Payroll Integration
Paycom takes payroll beyond basic processing by offering a complete HR ecosystem. From recruiting and onboarding to time tracking, performance management, and payroll, its unified system streamlines the entire employee lifecycle. This makes it a powerful choice for accounting firms managing larger or more complex client operations.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
Paycom uses a per‑employee‑per‑month (PEPM) pricing model, typically $25–36 PEPM, depending on company size and selected modules, plus a one-time implementation fee of 10–30% of the annual software cost
Best For
Mid-sized to larger clients (50+ employees) that require a fully integrated HR/payroll solution with strong compliance and employee self-service—ideal for firms managing complex, scaled operations.
Why We Picked It:
We selected Paycom because of its powerful single-database architecture that ties HR and payroll into a cohesive system. Its Beti® solution empowers employees to self-validate pay, reducing errors by 90%, and its GL Concierge tool ensures data syncs perfectly with accounting systems. For accountants overseeing larger clients, the platform's dedicated support and streamlined data make it a standout, even with higher pricing.
6. Paychex Flex – Best for Personalized Service & Scalability
Paychex Flex combines payroll, HR, benefits, and time-tracking into a flexible platform backed by U.S.-based, live support. Its accountant-friendly portal and comprehensive service tiers make it a solid choice for advisory firms and businesses of varying sizes.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing
Starts at $39/month plus $5 per employee/month, including basic payroll, tax filing, W-2/1099 processing, garnishments, direct deposit, general ledger integration, and 24/7 support
Best For
Firms and small to mid-sized businesses wanting expert-level support, flexible payroll/HR bundles, and a scalable platform capable of growing with their client base—especially those seeking seamless advisory integration and enriched reporting.
Why We Picked It:
We chose Paychex Flex for its blend of robust functionality and expert support. Its accountant-centric portal (“Partner Pro”) centralizes client payroll and HR data, proactively flags issues, and offers CPE-backed resources, making it a true partner in advisory services. With modular plans, strong compliance tools, and options like real-time direct deposit and GL integration, it matches service depth with scalability—ideal for firms that value hands-on support and flexibility.
How to Choose
Next article: Pay Gap Statistics
0 comments