QuickBooks Online Payroll Review

by admin Bookkeeping

The QuickBooks Payroll Core package handles tax filing and payments, and also offers employee health benefits and 401(k) plans. The Premium and Elite plans include time-tracking tools and workers’ comp administration through AP Intego. Furthermore, we were impressed that QuickBooks Online Payroll offers eligible users next-day direct deposit on its base package and same-day direct deposit for Premium and Elite plans.

QuickBooks Payroll lets employees support their teams with its HR and health benefits. Workers can quickly set up retirement plans with experts that handle the 401(k) administration, compliance and recordkeeping at no extra cost to businesses. QuickBooks Payroll Core doesn’t support local tax filing, but the QuickBooks Premium and Elite plans both do. With QuickBooks’ Auto Payroll feature, businesses can set up payroll for salaried employees on direct deposit just once, then schedule automatic payroll runs from that point forward. Employers can still check for paycheck accuracy before approving the pre-scheduled payroll run, but the autopilot feature makes payroll runs as hands-off as possible. SurePayroll is an affordable and straightforward payroll software that offers automatic payroll runs, tax filing, and exceptional customer service.

Support

However, it lacks a few crucial features such as built-in time tracking and integration with accounting software other than QuickBooks Online. ADP specializes in payroll and HR services, offering payroll processing, tax filing, and benefits administration. It can be suitable for businesses that need a standalone payroll system with HR support. QuickBooks, on the other hand, is primarily quickbooks payroll review accounting software that includes payroll as an add-on.

ADP vs. QuickBooks: Payroll features comparison in 2025

If you sign up for the company’s Core plan — the least expensive option — you can access free next-day direct deposit. Two higher-tiered plans, Premium and Elite, come with free same-day direct deposit, allowing businesses to conserve cash longer. Most payroll services we reviewed, such as Gusto, only provide two-day direct deposit. As we noted in our in-depth Gusto review, even that option isn’t available on its basic plan. QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software solution for small businesses, while QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based small-business payroll solution.

One of my favorite things about QuickBooks Payroll is how customizable it is. You can choose the features and services that best suit your business, whether it’s HR support, health benefits, or time tracking. Furthermore, QuickBooks Payroll automatically generates W-2 forms and fills in necessary data for 1099s, which it then transmits electronically.

Set up your payroll account

Each time you run payroll, they’ll get an email informing them their pay stubs are available to view, print or download. Direct stores can be set up safely, and it permits organizations to pay their representatives on time and in a helpful manner. The feature can be customized to pay different employees different amounts or percentages, and it can be set up to pay employees on a recurring schedule, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Ramp offers a free corporate card and finance management system for small businesses. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise users get payroll baked into their plans, so they’ll always have access to payroll functionality from within the QuickBooks Desktop platform. QuickBooks Desktop Payroll rated a solid 4.1/5 star rating in the reviews category which reflects its users’ positive experiences with the software.

Intuit QuickBooks Payroll Features

Additional states cost $12 each if you’re on the Core or Premium plan. If these disadvantages are important to you, you may consider a competitor. When our team tested OnPay, we found its customer support representatives to be experienced even in niche industries and willing to go above and beyond to meet each customer’s unique needs.

To understand how real QuickBooks customers feel about the service, we examined customer reviews at the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot. Non-customers can only contact sales, so we did and asked the same question. The answer was yes, both are available, but we also got a bit of pressure to sign up.

  • QuickBooks Payroll calculates, files and pays all federal and state payroll.
  • This significantly reduces errors, facilitating payroll that’s accurate, on time, every time.
  • The online timesheet tracker even has geofencing and GPS capabilities for easier employee management.
  • We examined costs, tax services, ease of use, customer service, integration options, and incentives like free trials and tax guarantees.
  • However, while QuickBooks Payroll is one of the best payroll software for businesses, it isn’t the only option.
  • For example, Patriot is a great choice for companies on a budget, and OnPay offers expert support for a flat-fee service.
  • But Gusto includes more varied perks, such as health savings accounts and life insurance options.

QuickBooks Payroll benefits

  • QuickBooks earned a 4.1/5 star rating in the ease of use category with balanced performance in the areas of setup, reliability, daily use, and integrations.
  • And if you want reassurance that everything has been set up correctly, the middle-tier Premium plan comes with an expert review to catch any mistakes you might have made in the setup process.
  • Dealing with normally stressful matters such as payroll is nowhere near as complicated as it used to be, but Intuit makes the job even simpler.
  • Whether a company has two employees or 2,000, Rippling’s platform adapts to business needs without requiring multiple third-party tools.
  • While time tracking is not built into QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, it functions well as an add-on through QuickBooks Time.

While users on these plans do not have to pay the base subscription fee or a per-person fee, additional fees for each contractor are paid by direct deposit. If your small business is looking for cheaper, cloud-based payroll software with a more comprehensive feature set, consider QuickBooks Online Payroll. Our QuickBooks Online Payroll review takes a deep dive into the software’s features, pricing, and benefits. The top-tier option is best suited for businesses seeking the most comprehensive service. For USD 125/month and USD 10 per employee per month1, it includes all the features of the previous plans and goes further. However, for businesses that are looking for a payroll software solution that offers extensive features without an exorbitant price tag, Gusto is the way to go.

But Gusto includes more varied perks, such as health savings accounts and life insurance options. And competitors like ADP, Paychex, and UZIO have better payroll-plus-HR packages with more comprehensive HR solutions than QuickBooks. Other payroll providers, like Paychex, charge fees for general ledger integrations. Only Patriot Payroll offers similar integration with its accounting software. However, QuickBooks Online is a market leader, with ICSID reporting that 29 million U.S. small businesses use the software. QuickBooks Payroll’s ease of use for running payroll, calculating employee deductions and viewing reports also factored into our assessment.