Starting price$50/mo + $7/employeeWorkforce Payroll; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17
Free trial / plan30-day trial of the base price, or 50% off for 3 months
Vettlo score77/100
G2 user rating4.4/5514 reviews
QuickBooks Payroll Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
QuickBooks Payroll ranks #7 of 7 in our payroll tools ranking (77/100). Best for faster direct deposit on entry plans. Paid plans start at $50/mo + $7/employee (Workforce Payroll; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17).
What is QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Payroll, now sold as QuickBooks Workforce, works with or without QuickBooks Online. Workforce Payroll ($50 a month plus $7 per employee) includes next-day direct deposit; Premium ($88 plus $13) adds same-day direct deposit, time tracking and an HR resource center; Elite ($134 plus $17) adds expert setup, a certified HR advisor and tax penalty protection up to $25,000 a year.
Who it's best for
Small businesses whose bookkeeping already runs in QuickBooks Online and want payroll to post there automatically.
Why we rank it
It includes next-day direct deposit on the entry plan, same-day deposit from Premium and tax penalty protection up to $25,000 a year on Elite.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Next-day direct deposit on the entry plan, same-day from Premium
- Time tracking included from Premium
- Elite covers tax penalties up to $25,000 a year
Watch-outs
- Highest published entry price here ($50 + $7 per employee)
- HR advisor access needs Elite ($134 + $17)
- Time tracking isn't on the entry plan
Skip it if: You don't use QuickBooks for accounting and want the lowest price.
QuickBooks Payroll pricing
Paid plans start at $50/mo + $7/employee (Workforce Payroll; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17). Free plan or trial: 30-day trial of the base price, or 50% off for 3 months.
From QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our payroll tools pricing overview.
How we scored QuickBooks Payroll
Payroll score: 77/100
Payroll & tax filing (25%)4.5/5
Compliance & multi-state (15%)4/5
HR & benefits (15%)3.5/5
Time tracking & integrations (10%)4/5
Ease of use (15%)4/5
Price & value (20%)3/5
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How QuickBooks Payroll compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | Small businesses that want payroll, benefits and core people tools in one place | $49/mo + $6/person | 88/100 |
| 2 | OnPay | Best value for multi-state payroll | $49/mo + $6/person | 87/100 |
| 3 | Rippling | Growing companies that want payroll, benefits and employee records in one system | From $8/employee/mo | 82/100 |
| 4 | RUN Powered by ADP | Small businesses that want a large provider's compliance and help desk services | Pricing on request | 80/100 |
| 5 | Square Payroll | Hourly, shift-based teams | $35/mo + $6/person | 79/100 |
| 6 | Patriot Payroll | Very small businesses on a tight budget | $37/mo + $5/worker | 78/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
QuickBooks Payroll FAQ
How much does QuickBooks Payroll cost?
Paid plans start at $50/mo + $7/employee (Workforce Payroll; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17). Free plan or trial: 30-day trial of the base price, or 50% off for 3 months.
Is QuickBooks Payroll worth it?
QuickBooks Payroll scores 77/100 in our payroll tools ranking, where it is best for faster direct deposit on entry plans. It's a weaker fit if: you don't use QuickBooks for accounting and want the lowest price.
Does QuickBooks Payroll have a free plan or trial?
30-day trial of the base price, or 50% off for 3 months.
What are the best QuickBooks Payroll alternatives?
In our payroll tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Gusto, OnPay and Rippling.