Best payroll software
Pay runs, taxes and benefits
Top pick: Gusto 88/100 of 7 scored
Best HR Software in 2026
The software HR teams use to hire, pay and manage people: payroll to run pay and file taxes, an HRIS for employee records and time off, and an applicant tracking system for hiring. Each shortlist compares what you really pay per employee, including base fees and add-ons, and which plan first includes multi-state payroll, time tracking and HR support.
Short answer
Our top picks across 1 HR & people category, from shortlists scored on published criteria:
- Gusto (88/100): our top pick for payroll software.
HR & people software categories
Coming next
We're researching these categories and will publish them as soon as pricing and data are verified: HRIS software, applicant tracking systems.
Hr software FAQ
What is the best payroll software?
Gusto ranks first of the 7 payroll software we scored, at 88/100. See the full shortlist for who each tool is for and what it costs.
How does Vettlo rank hr software?
Each category has its own weighted criteria, published on the review. Tools get a 0 to 5 rating per criterion, converted to a score out of 100; vendors cannot pay for a position. See our methodology page for details.