The 5 Best Payroll Apps for Small Business 2023

Constantly on the go? Get one of our top payroll mobile apps so you'll always stay connected, no matter where you are.

Best mobile-friendly site Starting monthly price: $40.00 + $6.00/payee Thorough employee benefit integrations Contractor-only plans with no monthly base fee Best for simplicity SurePayroll Starting monthly price: Contact for quote Mobile payroll alerts User-friendly interface Best HR + payroll plans RUN Powered by ADP Contact for a quote Easy remote employee management HR document access and sharing Best accounting integration QuickBooks Payroll Starting monthly price: $22.50 + $5.00/payee* Simple integration with QuickBooks Online accounting software Mobile tax e-filing Best for growth Paychex Flex Starting monthly price: $39.00 + $5.00/payee Comprehensive employer- and employee-facing apps HR administration

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Sales price: 70% off for the first 3 months

Nov 28, 2023 7 min read

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Only a handful of payroll software companies have employer-focused apps for small-business owners who need to pay employees anywhere, anytime. Luckily, the few brands that do offer employer-facing payroll apps have put in the time, energy, and labor to make absolutely stellar products.

Our favorite payroll app for employers is SurePayroll's app, which is fully featured and highly functional for on-the-go employers. SurePayroll is also one of the simplest sites for running payroll, which makes it perfect for small-business owners doing payroll for the first time.

But if SurePayroll isn't right for you, there are definitely other app and mobile-friendly payroll options you can choose from instead. Here are our picks for the best small-business payroll apps of 2023.

Most mobile-friendly payroll website: Gusto

Several of our favorite payroll providers, including Gusto and Patriot Payroll, have mobile-friendly payroll sites instead of dedicated apps. Mobile sites are slightly less convenient than a full-fledged payroll app, but they're still a completely worthwhile option for on-the-go payroll.

The best payroll apps for small business in 2023 Our most affordable payroll solution: SurePayroll

SurePayroll is an affordable and straightforward payroll software that offers automatic payroll runs, tax filing, and exceptional customer service.

Best payroll apps plans and pricing

Payroll provider Starting monthly price App or mobile-friendly site Payroll type Get started

Gusto Payroll

SurePayroll

Contact for quote

App (iOS and Android)

Self service or full service

ADP

Contact for a quote

App (iOS and Android)

QuickBooks Payroll

Paychex Flex

App (iOS and Android)

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Current sale price: 50% off for first three mos.

Gusto: Best mobile-friendly site

Gusto Payroll

Starting at $40.00/mo. + $6.00/payee/mo.

Gusto's comprehensive payroll plans include easy integration with healthcare benefits, workers compensation insurance, and other employee benefits like commuter perks.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Gusto is hands-down one of the best payroll solutions for small businesses. Gusto offers three plans: Core, Complete, and Concierge. Each full-service payroll plan includes health benefit add-ons, workers compensation administration, and PTO policy creation. At $40 a month with a $6 additional fee per employee, it’s reasonably priced (though the heftier plans are substantially more expensive than the basic plan).

For better or worse, Gusto Payroll doesn't have a payroll app. However, it does have a mobile-friendly website that ensures you can still run payroll for your employees wherever you are. and like we said above, you can. Gusto also has an autopay feature. If you know you're going to be out of the office (or if you want to save some time each pay period), schedule automatic payroll runs to make sure everyone gets paid on time with little to no effort on your part.

Expansive, built-in employee benefits options Integration with most accounting software Multiple plans for growing businesses Higher price points

SurePayroll: Simplest payroll app

SurePayroll SurePayroll

Contact for a quote

SurePayroll’s mobile alerts, customer service access, and detailed reporting keep you on top of on-the-go payroll.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

App Store rating: 4.7 stars
Google Play rating: 3.1 stars

SurePayroll is owned by Paychex, one of our other top picks—which goes to show that Paychex’s team is absolutely committed to making simple, user-friendly, accessible apps.

With the SurePayroll app, you can record your employees’ hours worked as well as their vacation days, sick leave, and other PTO accruals. Access customer service right from your phone or tablet, pull up payroll reports on individual employee earnings and tax deductions, and pay both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.

SurePayroll also proactively addresses some of the key concerns users have with payroll apps—namely accuracy and security. Most importantly, it protects your data with industry-leading encryption and never sends account information via the app.

Want a little extra help staying on top of payroll? SurePayroll sends mobile alerts that let you know when your payroll has been submitted and approved. You can also see compliance changes and payroll deadlines with the app.