Apps

Best free payroll app​! Top 5 for free

Discover the best free payroll app to manage your employee payroll. Streamline payroll processing without the cost! Top 5 apps for free download.

Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading the Best Free Payroll App

Managing payroll is an essential task for any business.

Thankfully, you don’t need to pay for expensive software to handle your payroll. With free payroll apps, you can manage your payroll effectively, saving time and resources.

These apps are available for Android and iOS, making it easy to access your payroll system on the go.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to download a free payroll app and start managing payroll in minutes:

  1. Open your app store: Whether you’re on Android or iOS, start by opening the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

  2. Search for “free payroll app”: In the search bar, type “free payroll app” or the name of the specific app you’re looking for.

  3. Select the app: Review the search results and choose the app that best suits your business needs.

  4. Tap Install: Hit Install or Get to begin the download process.

  5. Sign up or log in: After the download is complete, open the app and either create an account or log in if you already have one.

  6. Start using the app: Once set up, you can start entering employee details, salary structures, and other necessary payroll information to begin processing payroll for your business.

With these easy steps, you can start processing payroll directly from your mobile phone, free of charge.

5 Best Free Payroll Apps

There are several free payroll apps available that help businesses manage payroll without incurring hefty costs.

Free Payroll App

Below are the top 5 free apps that can simplify payroll processing for small businesses:

1. Gusto – Best for Small to Mid-sized Businesses

Gusto is one of the most well-known payroll apps for small to mid-sized businesses.

Gusto makes it simple to manage employee payroll, tax calculations, and employee benefits with an intuitive interface.

The app is designed to handle everything from tax filing to generating pay stubs and offering direct deposit.

Features:

  • Payroll management: Automatically calculates employee salaries and taxes.

  • Tax filing: Handles tax filings and year-end reports.

  • Direct deposit: Enables employees to receive payments through direct deposit.

  • Pay stubs: Provides access to downloadable pay stubs for employees.

  • Employee benefits: Offers options for employee benefits such as health insurance.

Price: Free for small businesses, with some advanced features available for a fee.

Differentiators: Gusto is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses that need a simple and reliable payroll system with automatic tax filing and direct deposit capabilities.

2. Wave Payroll – Best for Sole Proprietors and Freelancers

Wave Payroll is another great free payroll app for small businesses, especially for freelancers and sole proprietors.

This app provides free access to basic payroll features and ensures compliance with local tax regulations.

You can easily process payments and generate payroll reports.

Features:

  • Automatic tax calculation: Ensures accurate payroll taxes are calculated.

  • Payroll management: Allows easy payment processing for employees.

  • Integration with accounting software: Syncs directly with Wave’s free accounting software.

  • Pay stubs: Easily generate pay stubs for employees.

Price: Free for basic features, with paid plans available for additional services.

Differentiators: Wave Payroll is ideal for freelancers and small businesses due to its integration with Wave accounting software, which simplifies both payroll and financial reporting.

3. ZenPayroll – Best for Remote Teams

ZenPayroll (now Gusto) is a fantastic solution for businesses that operate remotely or have employees in different states.

The app offers seamless payroll management, tax filing, and even employee benefit administration, making it ideal for remote teams and businesses that need to manage employees from various locations.

Features:

  • Remote payroll: Suitable for businesses with remote teams.

  • Direct deposit: Provides employees with direct deposit payments.

  • Automated tax calculations: Handles tax calculations and deductions.

  • Employee benefit management: Offers features to manage employee benefits.

  • Pay stubs and reports: Provides downloadable reports for both employees and business owners.

Price: Free for basic payroll features, with premium options for tax filing and employee benefits.

Differentiators: ZenPayroll is a great choice for businesses with remote teams or those operating in multiple states.

4. QuickBooks Payroll – Best for Businesses Using QuickBooks

QuickBooks Payroll is a well-known payroll service used by many small businesses.

QuickBooks offers easy integration with QuickBooks accounting software, making it simple for business owners to sync payroll with their accounting system.

The app also allows for automated tax filings, payroll processing, and employee management.

Features:

  • Integrated with QuickBooks accounting software.

  • Automated tax filings and year-end reporting.

  • Direct deposit and payroll scheduling.

  • Employee management: Easily track employee benefits, hours, and deductions.

  • Free trial: Offers a free trial for new users.

Price: Free trial available; paid version starts at $25/month for more advanced features.

Differentiators: QuickBooks Payroll is best suited for businesses already using QuickBooks accounting software, offering seamless integration with payroll.

5. Paycor HCM – Best for Employee Self-Service

Paycor HCM is another comprehensive payroll app that offers more than just payroll processing.

It focuses on employee self-service, allowing workers to view their paystubs, manage benefits, and track hours.

Paycor also provides robust reporting features, making it a good choice for businesses that need detailed payroll insights.

Features:

  • Employee self-service portal: Employees can manage their paystubs, benefits, and more.

  • Payroll processing: Process employee payments, including taxes and benefits.

  • Advanced reporting: Generate detailed reports on payroll and workforce analytics.

  • Time and attendance: Track employee hours and attendance.

  • Direct deposit: Provides automatic deposits to employee accounts.

Price: Free basic version, with paid features for more advanced functionalities.

Differentiators: Paycor HCM is best for businesses that want self-service options for employees and robust payroll reporting capabilities.

But Which App is the Best Free Payroll App?

Choosing the best free payroll app depends on the specific needs of your business.

However, Gusto stands out as the top choice due to its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and automatic tax filing capabilities.

Here’s a quick comparison of the top 5 free payroll apps:

App Best For Price Key Features
Gusto Small to Mid-Sized Businesses Free (with paid options) Automatic tax filing, direct deposit, pay stubs
Wave Payroll Freelancers & Sole Proprietors Free Tax calculation, invoicing, integration with accounting
ZenPayroll Remote Teams Free (with premium options) Remote payroll, tax calculation, employee benefits
QuickBooks Payroll QuickBooks Users Free trial, Paid plan Integration with QuickBooks, automated tax filing
Paycor HCM Companies with Self-Service Needs Free (with premium options) Employee self-service, attendance tracking, reports