Square Payroll Alternatives 2026: 5 Options Compared
Find the right payroll software solution for your team
Square Payroll costs $6 to $35 per mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid as of July 2026, with 2 plans available. Plans: Full-service payroll at $35/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid, and Contractor-only payroll at $6/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
Square Payroll offers 2 pricing tiers: Full-service payroll, Contractor-only payroll. Paid plans include Full-service payroll at $35/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid, Contractor-only payroll at $6/mo per person paid.
Top Square Payroll alternatives as of July 2026 include MHR, OnPay, Oyster HR. Square Payroll costs $6-$35/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid. Pricing verified from 1 sources by CostBench.
Top Square Payroll Alternatives
MHR
Medium EffortAlternative to Square Payroll in the same category
OnPay
Medium EffortAlternative to Square Payroll in the same category
Oyster HR
Medium EffortAlternative to Square Payroll in the same category
Patriot Payroll
Medium EffortAlternative to Square Payroll in the same category
Paycom
Medium EffortAlternative to Square Payroll in the same category
When to Stay with Square Payroll
Stay with Square Payroll if you're already deeply integrated into its ecosystem, rely on its unique features, or have significant customizations in place. The cost and disruption of switching may outweigh the benefits if Square Payroll is meeting your core needs.
- You've invested heavily in customizations and integrations
- Your team is highly trained and productive on Square Payroll
- You need features that alternatives don't offer
- Migration costs would exceed multi-year savings
Price Comparison
| Product | Price Range | Migration |
|---|---|---|
| Current Square Payroll | $6-$35/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid | - |
| MHR | Custom pricing | medium |
| OnPay | $10–$149/month | medium |
| Oyster HR | $29–$699/month | medium |
| Patriot Payroll | $17–$37/month | medium |
| Paycom | Custom pricing | medium |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 What are the best Square Payroll alternatives?
The top Square Payroll alternatives include MHR, OnPay, Oyster HR, Patriot Payroll, Paycom. Each offers different strengths: MHR is enterprise buyers — pricing via sales, while OnPay is small to mid-size businesses running payroll.
02 Is it hard to switch from Square Payroll to an alternative?
Migration difficulty varies by alternative. Among Square Payroll alternatives, some options offer easy migration paths with import tools. More complex migrations may require data cleanup and workflow reconfiguration.
03 How much can I save by switching from Square Payroll?
Depending on the alternative you choose, you could save anywhere from 20% to 70% on per-user costs. Square Payroll's pricing is competitive, so cost savings depend on your specific feature requirements. Factor in migration costs and productivity dip during transition.
04 Should I stay with Square Payroll or switch?
Stay with Square Payroll if you're heavily invested in its ecosystem, need its advanced features, or have extensive customizations. Consider switching if you're paying for features you don't use, need better pricing, or require capabilities Square Payroll lacks.