Payroll Dad
How the quiz decides
- It compares list prices for your team size: Gusto1, Patriot2, Square3, Wave4, OnPay5 QuickBooks6, Paycor7, Justworks8 and SurePayroll9. ADP10, Paychex11, Rippling12, Paylocity13, Paycom14, Auris15 and Toast16 are quote-only.
- Four questions, so we assume no contractors unless you pick “Contractors only” (then we price 3). Add your real count in the calculator.
- More than one state means Gusto Plus, because Simple covers one state.17
- Contractor-only teams get pointed elsewhere: Gusto closed its contractor-only plan to new customers on Oct 1, 2026.18
- Owner-only businesses see Gusto Solo.19 People doing payroll by hand see the IRS late-deposit penalties.20
- First hires see the W-4, I-9 and new-hire deadlines.212223
- The January timing note comes from Gusto's previous-payroll rules.24
A rough guide from list prices, not advice. Your invoice, contract and add-ons can change the answer.
FAQ
Will the quiz ever tell me not to switch?
Yes. If your current provider is cheaper at list price and price is your pain, or nothing's broken, it says stay put.
Do you save my answers?
No. The quiz runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Do I have to give you my email?
No. There's an optional reminder box at the end. It isn't switched on yet, so anything you type there stays in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored.
How do you price quote-only providers?
We don't. ADP, Paychex and Rippling don't publish full prices, so we show Gusto's list price and suggest you hold it next to your last invoice.
Sources, checked Oct 31, 2026
Every number on this page comes from one of these pages. Prices change; if a vendor updates its page, theirs wins.
- Gusto: Pricing
- Patriot Software: Pricing
- Square: Payroll pricing
- Wave: Payroll
- OnPay: Costs and pricing
- QuickBooks: Payroll pricing
- Paycor: Plans & pricing for businesses under 50 employees
- Justworks: Pricing
- SurePayroll by Paychex: Pricing
- ADP: RUN Powered by ADP
- Paychex: Compare payroll packages
- Rippling: Pricing
- Paylocity: Pricing
- Paycom: Pricing
- Auris (formerly Heartland Payroll): Payroll
- Toast Support: Toast Payroll invoice and billing information
- Gusto Help Center: Understanding Gusto plans
- Gusto Help Center: Add and pay US contractors
- Gusto: Gusto Solo
- IRS: Failure to deposit penalty
- IRS: Hiring employees
- USCIS: Completing Section 2 of Form I-9
- HHS Office of Child Support Services: New hire reporting
- Gusto Help Center: Enter previous payrolls during account setup