Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Top payroll software compared
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| # | Software product | Score | Features | Key facts | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 |  Winbiz | 8.9/10 |
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| 82 | Xendoo Online Accounting | 8.9/10 |
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| 83 |  Alegra 25% OFF annual billing | 8.8/10 |
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| 84 |  bexio | 8.8/10 |
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| 85 |  Companio Save EUR 125 on Setup: EUR 125 off setup | 8.8/10 |
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| 86 |  cybooks | 8.8/10 |
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| 87 |  Deskera | 8.8/10 |
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| 88 |  MalondaPlus 7-day free trial with temporary Enterprise AI access: 7 days free | 8.8/10 |
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| 89 |  Holded 50% discount for 3 months: 50% for 3 months | 8.8/10 |
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| 90 |  Nortex 30 dias Prueba completa sin tarjeta: 30 days | 8.8/10 |
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About Top payroll software compared
Payroll buying turns on what a plan costs at entry and what it costs at renewal, and this ranking is built around that. It covers 157 brands, from accounting suites with payroll folded into the subscription to products that sell payroll as an add-on. A free plan says less than it looks, because running payslips is often the part that carries a charge. The sharper question is whether payroll is included in the price on the page or added later, and that split runs through every entry below. Free plans are common here, at 30.8% of the brands, and free trials reach a median of 30 days, so the meaningful test happens after a trial ends. Geography matters just as much: each brand is built around the country it serves and the filings it handles, from UK tax submissions to e-invoicing. Entry prices across the wider data set run €0 to €330.74, with the middle of this ranking sitting at €21.40. The trade-off to watch is a low entry price with payroll held back against a higher fee that includes the run from the start.
How we picked
Every brand here is scored on weighted signals that sit in a fixed balance. Cost accounts for 40% and reads the entry price alongside the way a plan is sold. The offer weight of 40% covers what the plan actually contains, above all whether payroll is included or sold as an add-on, plus the filings it handles and the platforms you can reach it on. Trust adds 20%, drawing on support channels, bank feeds, the legal entity behind the product and the headquarters country. The underlying figures come from each brand's own pricing, product and support pages, and the cross-market ranges come from figures held across the site. Nothing is filled in where a brand publishes nothing, so an entry can look light on numbers without being treated as cheap. Partners appear first, which is a placement rather than a score, and every remaining brand is ordered on score alone. Prices are shown in the currency each brand quotes, so entry figures are not converted before they are compared.
How we rankOur top picks
4. absence.io: best for absence.ioabsence.io is an online HR software provider at absence.io.
- Founded: 2014
- Support channels: Email, Chat, Phone
Pros
- Combines time tracking, absences and personnel files in one system
- Supports stopwatch, terminal clocking and manual time entries
- Team calendar gives live overview with current remaining leave
- Receipt scanning with automatic capture and one click approval
Cons
- Built for small and medium businesses rather than large enterprises
- Expense and travel reporting works as an optional add on module
- Focus stays on core HR tasks instead of broad suite functions
What to look for
- Payroll in the base price
- The clearest split in this ranking is between products with payroll included and products that sell it as an add-on. 80.9% of the brands here include it, against 19.1% that hold it back, so the entry price alone misleads.
- Entry price
- Prices are quoted in local currency, which makes any entry figure a poor comparison across countries. The median entry price in this ranking is €21.40, with a lower quartile of €12.04 and an upper quartile of €47.64.
- Free plan or free trial
- A free tier is common but shallow. 30.8% of the brands here offer one, and free trials typically run 30 days, so check what stays available once a trial ends.
- Filings the product handles
- Local compliance decides how far a plan stretches. E-invoicing covers 91.9% of the brands in this ranking, while VAT and income tax filings appear far less often, so a business with filings to handle should confirm its own country is served.
- Support routes
- Payroll questions are urgent, so the support mix matters. A help centre appears in 68% of the brands, with email and phone close behind, and live chat the least common. Check hours and language for your own country before committing.
- Price per user
- Per-user pricing decides whether a plan stays affordable as a team grows. The median starting price per user in this ranking is €18.60, with an upper quartile of €47.64, so a plan that looks cheap for a sole trader can move quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Which payroll software should a small business start with?+
Billy is the pick at the top of this ranking: a free plan, bank feeds, and support by email, chat and phone, which matters most when a payroll deadline is close. The catch is that payroll is an add-on there, so the free tier does not run payslips. Dinero, ranked next, includes payroll in the plan with a free plan as well, and is a reasonable second choice for a business that wants the run included.
How much does payroll software usually cost?+
The median entry price in this ranking is €21.40, with a lower quartile of €12.04 and an upper quartile of €47.64. Prices are quoted in the currency each brand bills in, from Danish kroner to New Zealand dollars, so treat the figures as a shape rather than a like-for-like number.
Is free payroll software realistic for a small business?+
A free plan is common, with 30.8% of the brands here offering one, and free trials typically last 30 days. The part that costs money is usually the payroll run itself, which sits in the base plan for 80.9% of these brands. Check whether payroll is included before treating a free tier as a working solution.
Do you also rank project management or graphic design software?+
Not for this list. This ranking covers payroll software only, and the picture changes sharply by category: features that matter for a run of payslips, such as bank feeds and local filings, carry little weight elsewhere, and design tools are judged on asset handling rather than compliance. Search the matching category for those lists, and use this one for payroll decisions.
Can these payroll tools handle filings outside their home country?+
Support varies. E-invoicing is handled by 91.9% of the brands in this ranking, while VAT and income tax filings show up far less often. Each product is built around the country it serves, so a business outside that market may need a local provider or extra tools for its filings.
What should I check before signing up to a payroll plan?+
Start with what this ranking answers: is payroll included in the price, what does the entry figure become at renewal, and which filings does the product handle for your country. Support routes matter next, since a payroll query rarely waits. TaxAssist Accountants Ireland leans on phone support, while other brands here rely on a help centre.
Top payroll software compared by country
Related by the facts
The data behind this ranking
| Metric | Value | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Median price from | 21.4 EUR | 65 |
| Lower quartile price from | 12.04 EUR | 65 |
| Upper quartile price from | 47.64 EUR | 65 |
| Lowest price from | 0 EUR | 65 |
| Highest price from | 330.74 EUR | 65 |
| Free plan: true | 30.8 % | 107 |
| Free plan: false | 69.2 % | 107 |
| Median free trial days | 30 | 59 |
