Starting price$35/mo + $6/personFull-service; contractor-only $6/person with no base fee
Free trial / planNo trial listed; no long-term contract
Vettlo score79/100
G2 user rating4.2/531 reviews
Square Payroll Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Square Payroll ranks #5 of 7 in our payroll tools ranking (79/100). Best for hourly, shift-based teams. Paid plans start at $35/mo + $6/person (Full-service; contractor-only $6/person with no base fee).
What is Square Payroll?
Square Payroll is full-service payroll for $35 a month plus $6 per person paid. It includes federal and state tax filings, multistate payroll, next-day direct deposit, scheduling, overtime calculations and direct-tip tracking. Contractor-only payroll costs $6 per person with no base fee.
Who it's best for
Restaurants, retailers and service businesses with hourly staff, especially those already using Square for payments.
Why we rank it
It has the lowest full-service base fee here and includes multistate payroll, next-day direct deposit and tip tracking without add-ons.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Lowest full-service base fee here at $35 a month
- Multistate payroll and next-day direct deposit included
- Contractor-only payroll at $6 per person, no base fee
Watch-outs
- Health insurance, 401(k) and workers' comp are add-ons
- Thin HR tools compared with Gusto or Rippling
- Few G2 reviews (31) to judge by
Skip it if: You need HR features such as an HR resource center or an HR advisor.
Square Payroll pricing
Paid plans start at $35/mo + $6/person (Full-service; contractor-only $6/person with no base fee). Free plan or trial: No trial listed; no long-term contract.
From Square 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 Square Payroll
Payroll score: 79/100
Payroll & tax filing (25%)4/5
Compliance & multi-state (15%)4/5
HR & benefits (15%)3/5
Time tracking & integrations (10%)4/5
Ease of use (15%)4/5
Price & value (20%)4.5/5
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Square 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
Square Payroll FAQ
How much does Square Payroll cost?
Paid plans start at $35/mo + $6/person (Full-service; contractor-only $6/person with no base fee). Free plan or trial: No trial listed; no long-term contract.
Is Square Payroll worth it?
Square Payroll scores 79/100 in our payroll tools ranking, where it is best for hourly, shift-based teams. It's a weaker fit if: you need HR features such as an HR resource center or an HR advisor.
Does Square Payroll have a free plan or trial?
No trial listed; no long-term contract.
What are the best Square Payroll alternatives?
In our payroll tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Gusto, OnPay and Rippling.