Budget automated payroll software for US small businesses

For a US small business with fewer than 20 employees, Patriot Payroll Full Service is my pick for the best price-to-automated-tax-filing balance, while Gusto is the best all-around alternative if you value a more comprehensive payroll and HR experience.

The key is to compare plans that actually file and remit payroll taxes for you—not cheaper plans that leave you responsible for submitting taxes yourself. Current 2026 comparisons put Patriot among the lowest-cost full-service options, while Gusto ranks highly for overall ease of use.www.patriotsoftware.com+2

Best payroll software compared

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1. Patriot Payroll

(Best value)

$37/month + $5 per employee

Full Service includes automatic federal, state, and most local payroll tax filings and deposits, along with payroll processing and year-end tax forms. It also supports unlimited payroll runs.

Trade-off: HR features are less extensive than Gusto's, and additional-state fees may apply.www.patriotsoftware.com+2

Official website

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2. Gusto

(Best overall experience)

$49/month + $6 per employee

Its Simple plan combines automatic payroll tax filing, direct deposit, employee self-service, and onboarding in a user-friendly interface.

Trade-off: It costs more than Patriot Full Service, but offers a more rounded experience for businesses that also want basic HR tools.fitsmallbusiness.com+2

Official website

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3. OnPay

$49/month + $6 per employee

A straightforward full-service payroll option with automated tax filing, multi-state payroll support, and basic HR features in one plan.

Trade-off: At the same starting price as Gusto, its main appeal is simplicity rather than the lowest cost.fitsmallbusiness.com+2

Official website

What would you actually pay?

Estimated monthly costs using published base prices, assuming one state, standard monthly billing, and no optional add-ons:

Estimates calculated from published rates. Taxes, benefits, and optional services are excluded. Patriot charges extra for additional-state tax filing.www.patriotsoftware.com+3

For a five-person team, Patriot saves approximately $204 per year compared with Gusto or OnPay at these rates.

My recommendation

• Choose Patriot Full Service if keeping costs down is your top priority and your payroll needs are straightforward.
• Choose Gusto if you want a polished experience with payroll, onboarding, and employee-management tools.
• Choose OnPay if you need multi-state payroll without additional state fees and prefer a single straightforward plan.

Before signing up, confirm that your selected plan handles all the tax jurisdictions where your employees work. Automated filing reduces administrative work, but it is still worth reviewing payroll reports and tax notices.

One question that could change my recommendation: Are your employees all in one state, or do you have employees working in multiple states? Multi-state tax filing can make a meaningful difference in the total cost.

For a US company with fewer than 20 employees, I’d focus on full-service payroll software that automatically calculates payroll taxes, files federal and state returns, and makes tax payments on your behalf. You shouldn't need an expensive enterprise system just to run payroll reliably.

Based on current 2026 pricing, these are the options I'd compare first.gusto.com+2

Best affordable payroll systems for a small business

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1. Patriot Full Service Payroll

$37/mo + $5 per worker

Best for keeping costs low

Includes federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and deposits, year-end tax forms, direct deposit, and unlimited payroll runs. Additional state tax filing costs $12/month per state.gusto.com+2

Official pricing and plans

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2. Gusto Simple

$49/mo + $6 per person

Best for an easy, automated workflow

Includes automatic payroll tax filings and payments, unlimited payroll runs, employee self-service, and automatic payroll options. Its basic Simple plan is for single-state payroll; multi-state payroll requires Plus.gusto.com+2

Official pricing and plans

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3. OnPay

$49/mo + $6 per person

Best for straightforward pricing and multi-state payroll

Includes tax filings and payments across all 50 states, unlimited pay runs, direct deposit, employee access to pay records, and live customer support.gusto.com+2

Official pricing details

What would each system cost your company?

Estimated regular monthly list prices, before optional add-ons, discounts, and applicable taxes:

gusto.comhelp.onpay.comwww.patriotsoftware.com

My recommendation

• Choose Patriot if minimizing monthly costs is your top priority and you need automated tax filing.
• Choose Gusto if you want a user-friendly payroll experience with employee onboarding and room to add HR tools.
• Choose OnPay if you have employees in multiple states and want tax filing included in the base price.

Before signing up, confirm whether your state and local tax registrations, year-end forms, and any additional-state fees are covered by your chosen plan.

Let me narrow it down for your company

One detail will help me identify the best fit: how many employees do you currently pay through payroll?

Employees on payroll

1–4 employees

5–10 employees

11–19 employees

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Where do your employees work?

All in one state

Across multiple states

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Monthly software budget

Under $100

$100–$150

Flexible if the features are worth it

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Accounting software (optional)

QuickBooks Online

Other accounting software

No preference

[Compare the best fits]

For a small US team under 20 employees, several robust, affordable payroll options fully automate federal, state, and local tax calculations, deposits, and year-end form filings (like W-2s and 1099s).

Top-rated, budget-friendly choices include:

• Patriot Software — Often rated the most budget-conscious full-service choice . Its Full-Service tier handles federal, state, and local tax filings and deposits automatically.
  • Estimated Cost: Around$3 7 /month base fee plus$5 per worker paid (basic self-service is cheaper, but you must select the full-service tier for automated tax filing). Learn more on Patriot Software.checkmark.com
• Gusto — Highly popular for small businesses, featuring full-service payroll with automatic federal, state, and local tax filings, W-2/1099 generation, and an intuitive employee self-service portal. It also includes an "AutoPilot" feature to run consistent pay schedules hands-free.
  • Estimated Cost: Competitive base price plus a per-employee monthly fee. Check current packages on Gusto.
• OnPay — Known for straightforward, transparent pricing with no hidden fees. It handles unlimited monthly pay runs, full multi-state or local tax filings, and error-free guarantees.
  • Estimated Cost: Flat monthly base rate plus a modest per-person fee. Review details via OnPay.
• QuickBooks Payroll — Ideal if you already use QuickBooks Online for accounting. It features an automatic "Pay & File" tax option that syncs directly with your ledger and protects you with a tax penalty guarantee.
  • Estimated Cost: Tiered monthly pricing that scales based on features. Compare options on QuickBooks.lettuce.co
• SponsoredSurePayroll: “Join thousands of households that trust us for fast & accurate payroll processing.”Designed specifically for micro-businesses, featuring full-service payroll with automated federal, state, and local tax calculations, filings, and deposits, alongside unlimited monthly pay runs.
  • Estimated Cost: Base monthly fee plus a per-employee monthly charge for the full-service option. Explore plans on SurePayroll. AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses. Advertisers don't see your conversations or control AI responses.

To help narrow down the best fit, let me know:

• Do you operate in a single state or multiple states?
• Do you need integrated time-tracking or benefits administration (like health insurance or 401k)?