Rankings & buying decisions
Payroll software or a PEO?
Buy payroll software when you can run the employment operation yourself. Compare PEOs when you also want to contract for benefits administration and HR support.
What do you need to buy?
Not sure which fits? Compare payroll software and PEO responsibilities →
Start with the rankings
Best US payroll software
Start with Patriot for payroll in two states; OnPay at four states; Gusto Plus when you also need time tracking and scheduling.
Compare seven options →30-person professional-services teamBest PEOs for a small US business
Start with Justworks and ADP TotalSource. Compare ExtensisHR Premier for recruiting support and one account manager coordinating its HR service teams.
Compare seven options →Find the right starting point
Start with the purchase your team needs to make.
Lean HR teams
HR leaders
Founders
What are you switching?
Replace payroll software
Compare the payroll shortlist, then test your time, accounting and tax-filing requirements with each finalist.
Leave a PEO
Plan payroll cutover, replacement benefits and contract notice together.
Compare your finalists
Gusto vs OnPay
Payroll alone or payroll plus time and scheduling: compare the actual scope.
PEO or payroll software?
Decide which responsibilities you want to buy.
Leaving a PEO
Plan contract end, payroll cutover and replacement benefits.
Explore the products and services
These are separate product assessments. A supplier’s payroll or PEO service does not inherit its EOR score.
Payroll software
Payroll and tax filing for 20 employees in two states
Full Service: $37/month + $5/worker/month; extra states $12 each/month
Payroll across four or more states at 20 workers
Essentials: $49/month + $6/worker/month
Multi-state payroll with time tracking and scheduling
Plus: $80/month + $12/person/month- QuickBooks Workforce
Payroll connected to the QuickBooks accounts your bookkeeper already uses
Complete current configuration not priced here 
RUNPayroll with garnishment payment or state unemployment insurance support
Business-specific quote
Ongoing help from an assigned payroll specialist
Business-specific quote
Employee changes updating payroll alongside HR, finance or IT
Core platform plus selected products; scoped quote
PEO services
Payroll and benefits administration with published service fees
Plus administration: $124 per employee per month; premiums and other charges additional.- TotalSource
An HR business partner backed by payroll and benefits specialists
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here. 
PremierHR support and recruiting coordinated by one account manager
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here.
An administrative fee charged per employee, separate from benefits
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here.
HR360HR specialists helping with handbooks and performance management
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here.- HR PEO
Paychex payroll customers adding HR support and benefits
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here. - PEO
Keep the HR platform when you leave the PEO service
Request a scoped service and benefits proposal. No comparable public total is established here.
How we choose
Payroll and PEO shortlists are conditional editorial recommendations for the stated US buying scenarios, based on attributed supplier documentation and explicit cost calculations. They are not measured service-quality scores or EOR Atlas ratings. Read each ranking for source dates, limitations and what changes the recommendation.
Sponsored placements must be labelled separately. Payment does not purchase a higher editorial rank. Read the sponsorship and editorial policy.