The 5 Best Cloud-Based Payroll Solutions

We love Gusto for its simple and easy-to-use platform. Gusto is a full-service payroll platform without a steep learning curve, so you can get set up pretty quickly. The fact that it doesn’t require you to sign up for a fixed-term contract makes it a great option for startups or those new to payroll services. Because of this, our experts deemed Gusto to be one of the best payroll software for small businesses.

Your payroll can be automated, assuming it stays the same each cycle. Even if you don’t choose automation, you’ll be sent timely reminders to run payroll. You’ll also be sent reminders on any tax updates, ensuring you’re kept up to date with legislation and are staying compliant. You can also run unlimited payroll cycles, meaning you aren’t locked into weekly or bi-weekly payroll runs but can run payroll whenever you like. 

Gusto calculates, files and pays your federal, state and local taxes for you. If you’re moving, Gusto helps you calculate taxes for your new state or country to help you stay compliant. Employees can set themselves up to have easy access to their payslips and W2’s, and can also request an advance on their paycheck without needing to speak to anyone in the business. Even after employees have left, they can still access old payroll information.

ADP Payroll is a cloud-based, all-in-one HR platform. A longstanding member of the payroll services industry, ADP has a lot to offer. Alongside payroll services, it also provides hiring solutions which allow you to run background checks, access thousands of job boards, schedule interviews and send out offers of employment. If your business is looking to streamline these tasks and make the hiring process easier, these features could come in handy. 

Plus, ADP offers tons of app integrations to streamline your business’s operations by allowing you to work from one platform. ADP Payroll provides basic payroll services as well as processing your tax deductions, while its integrated HR solutions can automatically add new hires to payroll. 

ADP offers plans that are designed to scale, which means you can adjust the platform and features available to you as your business grows. ADP offers a small business solution, but it can also cater to medium and large businesses. With this platform, you only need to pay for what you need, which means you won’t be wasting money and resources on unnecessary features. The pricing is flexible as you pay per employee, per month which means your costs depend on your business size and you’re not stuck in a contract. 

If you’re after a payroll service that includes HR solutions or you run a small business and need a flexible platform, ADP Payroll could be the right service for your business. 

QuickBooks Payroll integrates easily with QuickBooks Online, so it’s a great option if you’re already using that platform – but the payroll service can still be used as a standalone. If you use these two services together, your bookkeeping records and reporting are updated in real time each pay cycle, making it easy for you to share payroll info with your accountant. 

All of QuickBooks Payroll’s pricing plans include full-service payroll, which is rare to find as other payroll providers tend to limit the number of services available depending on how much you’re paying. All of the plans include unlimited payroll runs, automated tax calculations and filing, direct deposit and an employee portal. 

QuickBooks offers a tax penalty protection, which means tax season will be a breeze for you – it offers up to $25,000 if there’s an error in your payroll that leads to a tax penalty. 

Once you’ve set up payroll, you can then set it to run automatically, giving you one less job to do. Your payroll taxes are calculated, filed and paid for you. QuickBooks is designed with small businesses in mind, making it easier for you to concentrate on more important tasks and leaving the mundane ones for your payroll service. 

Providing tax filing in all 50 states, Deluxe is a simple full-service payroll solution that can cover your payroll and HR needs. As well as payroll functions, you have access to a unique feature called Text to Apply, an easy way for potential employees to apply for your job openings. You can track these applications as well as those from other sources on the Deluxe dashboard. By enabling you to post to the most relevant job boards and social media platforms, Deluxe helps make job postings simpler and more streamlined. 

Once you’ve found the perfect new hire, onboarding is made easy thanks to the onboarding tools available such as customizable forms and federal and state documentation. The platform is intuitive and well-designed, making for a good user experience – although some users have complained that not all of the functionalities work as advertised. 

Customizability is limited with Deluxe, but this is not a huge drawback as it still carries out all the necessary functions for a payroll service. You can process payroll from anywhere in the world from your cell and easily change payroll dates, making it a flexible platform. 

Wave is a simple payroll platform that’s easy to use and set up. Although it can be used as a standalone payroll service, it’s best when used alongside other Wave products as they work seamlessly together. Wave has free accounting and invoicing software that integrates well with the payroll platform, providing you with a one-stop shop to carry out important processes for your business. 

Wave offers a complete payroll tax service, but it’s currently only available in 14 states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, MN, NY, NC, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WI). In these states, Wave calculates, files and pays your payroll taxes ensuring you stay compliant. If you’re in a state that doesn’t currently receive this full service, Wave attempts to make it easier for you by providing you with the right information such as how much you’ll need each payroll. 

Users have had some issues with Wave’s customer service, as most queries are answered by an automated bot which means it can be hard to resolve an issue quickly. However, Wave does offer a 30-day free trial, which is a great way to test out whether this payroll service is for you.