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OnPay is a legitimate payroll provider based in Atlanta, rated A+ and accredited by the BBB, and it is one of the few that publishes a full price list. For most small U.S. businesses it is a strong value: $49 a month plus $6 per worker covers unlimited pay runs, multi-state payroll and federal, state and local tax filings, with HR, time tracking and live HR support sold as add-ons. The weak spots are support response times in some reviews and lighter HR tools than enterprise systems. Either side can end service with 30 days' written notice, and disputes go to individual arbitration.
Your options
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OnPay This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review U.S. small businesses that want payroll, tax filings and basic HR at a published price, including teams with workers in more than one state.
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Deel This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative Companies hiring a mix of contractors and employees across several countries that want one platform and one invoice.
- Price
- Payroll Essentials: $49 a month plus $6 per worker, first month free, as listed October 20261
- Included
- Unlimited pay runs, W-2 and 1099 workers, multi-state payroll, federal, state and local tax filings and payments, year-end W-2s and 1099s, accounting and time tracking integrations1
- Add-ons
- HR $15 plus $2 per worker; time tracking $15 plus $4 per worker; compliance resources $10; live HR support $65 a month; benefits at plan premiums only1
- Support
- Phone, email and live chat, 9am to 8pm on weekdays1
- Tax error coverage
- If OnPay's own negligent error causes a payroll tax penalty, its terms say it will reimburse you or pay the penalty to the tax agency2
- Cancellation
- Service continues until you or OnPay give 30 days' prior written notice2
- Company
- OnPay, Atlanta, Georgia; President and COO Mark McKee; BBB accredited since June 25, 20243
Pros
- Published price with tax filings, W-2s and 1099s included
- Multi-state payroll and unlimited pay runs at no extra cost
- A+ BBB rating with few complaints for its size
- First month free and no implementation fees
Cons
- HR, time tracking and live HR support cost extra
- Some reviewers report slow support responses
- 30 days' written notice needed to cancel
- No PEO option
Best for: U.S. small businesses that want payroll, tax filings and basic HR at a published price, including teams with workers in more than one state.
Skip it if: You need a PEO, enterprise HR software, or payroll for workers outside the United States.
OnPay vs. competitors
| Company | Published price | Multi-state payroll | New customer offer | BBB | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnPay | $49 a month plus $6 per worker | Included | First month free | A+, accredited, 26 complaints in 3 years | Visit site |
| Gusto | Simple $49 plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12 | Plus plan and up | A+, accredited, 349 complaints in 3 years | Visit site | |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Now QuickBooks Workforce; Bundles from $88 a month plus $6.50 per employee | 50% off for 3 months | Read review | ||
| ADP RUN | Not published, quote only | Depends on package | 3 months free payroll, sign by Oct 22, 2026 | A+, accredited, 879 complaints in 3 years | Read review |
| Paychex | Not published, quote only | Depends on package | None listed | A+, accredited, 565 complaints in 3 years | Visit site |
Payroll software we reviewed
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OnPay This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. small businesses that want payroll, tax filings and basic HR at a published price, including teams with workers in more than one state. -
Deel This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Companies hiring a mix of contractors and employees across several countries that want one platform and one invoice. -
Paychex This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. businesses with roughly 10 to several hundred employees that want one provider for payroll, HR support, benefits and possibly a PEO. -
Gusto This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Small businesses that want to run their own payroll online with taxes filed for them and clear monthly pricing. -
Patriot Software This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Small US businesses with simple payroll that want low published prices and human support. -
Multiplier This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Startups and mid-size companies hiring a handful of full-time employees abroad without setting up local entities. -
Remote This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Startups and mid-size companies hiring a handful to a few hundred people abroad that want published prices and an EOR that owns its local entities. -
Paycor, Inc. This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. businesses of roughly 10 to a few hundred employees that want payroll, HR and reporting in one platform and are willing to manage a structured setup.
OnPay pricing at a glance
OnPay prices as listed on onpay.com, October 20261
| Plan or add-on | Base per month | Per worker per month |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Essentials | $49 | $6 |
| HR add-on | $15 | $2 |
| Time tracking add-on | $15 | $4 |
| Compliance resources | $10 | None |
| Live HR support | $65 | None |
| Payroll + time tracking + HR bundle | $70 | $10 |
| Payroll + HR + compliance + live HR support bundle | $120 | $7 |
| All five together | $130 | $10 |
Example: payroll only for 10 workers is $49 plus $60, or $109 a month. Benefits cost only the plan premiums. OnPay offers the first month free and says there are no implementation fees. Its terms let it change fees, and it aims to give 30 days' notice of material changes.
OnPay, step by step
Get a quote online
Use the price calculator on OnPay's pricing page; the total is the base fee plus a per worker fee and any add-ons.
Setup and data import
OnPay says its team sets up your account and moves your employee data at no charge. Its terms ask for signed enrollment documents at least 10 business days before your first payroll.
Run payroll
Pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors by direct deposit, check or prepaid card, as often as you need, in any state.
Taxes and year-end forms
OnPay calculates, pays and files federal, state and local payroll taxes and produces W-2s and 1099s at year end.
Cancel with notice
Give OnPay 30 days' written notice to end service, and confirm who will file the next quarterly and year-end returns.
OnPay legitimacy and licensing
Yes. OnPay is a payroll and HR software company in Atlanta, Georgia. The BBB rates it A+, it has been accredited since June 25, 2024, and it had 26 complaints in the last three years. OnPay says it has served clients for more than 30 years, tracing its roots to a family payroll business, and its services run under OnPay, LLC.
As with any payroll company, the IRS holds you, the employer, responsible for payroll taxes even when a provider handles them. Check your federal deposits in EFTPS from time to time, and keep copies of every quarterly return OnPay files for you.
OnPay pricing explained
OnPay’s base plan, Payroll Essentials, costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker, and new customers get the first month free. A business with 10 workers pays $109 a month for payroll. That price includes unlimited pay runs, multi-state payroll, federal, state and local tax filings and payments, and year-end W-2s and 1099s.
Add-ons are priced separately: HR tools at $15 plus $2 per worker, time tracking at $15 plus $4 per worker, compliance resources at $10, and live HR support at $65 a month. Bundles cut the total, for example payroll, time tracking and HR together for $70 plus $10 per worker. Earlier versions of this page said the base fee varied between $49 and $55; the $55 figure is simply $49 plus one worker.
What you get with OnPay
OnPay runs payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors and pays them by direct deposit, check or prepaid debit card. It handles garnishments, unemployment insurance withholding, custom pay items and both Form 941. The IRS quarterly return for withheld income tax and Social Security and Medicare taxes. Compare payroll software and 943 filers, which matters for farms. It syncs with accounting tools such as QuickBooks and Xero.
Benefits, including health insurance, workers’ comp and 401(k) plans, are offered through OnPay’s insurance agency at plan premiums. Employees can see pay stubs and tax forms in the OnPay Mobile app, which is rated 4.8 in the App Store.
What customers say about OnPay
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Simple, easy to learn payroll screens
- Automatic tax calculations and filings
- Helpful staff during setup and onboarding
- One published price with tax filings included
Common complaints
- Slow replies to support tickets in some cases
- Long fixes for problems such as W-2 corrections
- Billing that continued after a cancellation request
- Some account setup issues
OnPay complaints and what customers report
Most reviews are positive: 84% of OnPay’s 316 Trustpilot reviews are five stars. The negative ones focus on slow support ticket replies, long waits to fix W-2 or account problems, and billing that kept going after someone asked to cancel. OnPay replied to 69% of its negative Trustpilot reviews.
To avoid trouble, send your cancellation notice in writing and keep a copy, review each payroll preview before you approve it, and ask support for a written ticket number on any tax problem.
Cancelling OnPay and switching providers
OnPay’s terms say the service continues until either side gives 30 days’ prior written notice. There is no long contract term listed on the pricing page. If you switch mid-year, ask both providers who will file the current quarter’s Form 941 and state returns and the year-end W-2s, so nothing is filed twice or missed.
Disputes under OnPay’s terms go to individual binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association, not a class action.
Who should look elsewhere
OnPay is built for U.S. small and midsize businesses. If you need a PEO. A professional employer organization that co-employs your staff to handle HR and benefits. Compare payroll software that becomes co-employer of your staff, deep enterprise HR and talent tools, or payroll for employees in other countries, look at larger providers such as Paychex or ADP.
Alternatives to OnPay
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A close match on price if you pay workers in one state and want a large app ecosystem.
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Better if you expect to need a PEO, retirement plans and HR outsourcing from one large provider.
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ADP PayrollWorth a quote if you want a very large provider and can use its current free months offer.
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Run payroll yourself
With one or two employees you can calculate pay with IRS Publication 15 and pay federal taxes free through EFTPS, if you can keep up with every deadline.
Next steps
OnPay reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used OnPay, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does OnPay cost?
OnPay costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker for payroll, as listed in October 2026. For 10 workers that is $109 a month. HR, time tracking, compliance resources and live HR support are optional add-ons.
Is OnPay trustworthy?
Yes. OnPay is an Atlanta payroll company rated A+ and accredited by the BBB, with 26 complaints in the last three years. It publishes its prices and files payroll taxes for its clients.
Does OnPay have a free trial?
OnPay offers the first month free for new customers. It also says setup and data migration are done at no charge.
Does OnPay charge extra for multiple states?
No. The base price includes multi-state payroll and automatic state tax registrations, so you can pay workers in as many states as you need.
Does OnPay file payroll taxes and W-2s?
Yes. Federal, state and local payroll tax filings and payments, plus year-end W-2s and 1099s, are included in the base price.
Does OnPay have a mobile app?
Yes. The OnPay Mobile app is on the App Store, where it is rated 4.8 from about 654 ratings, and employees can use it to see pay stubs and tax documents.
How do I cancel OnPay?
Give OnPay 30 days' written notice, as its terms require. Confirm who will file the current quarter's returns and year-end forms before you leave.
What happens if OnPay makes a tax mistake?
OnPay's terms say that if its own negligent error causes a payroll tax penalty, it will reimburse you or pay the penalty to the tax agency. Penalties caused by wrong information you provide are your responsibility.
Is OnPay better than Gusto?
They start at the same $49 plus $6, but OnPay includes multi-state payroll in that price while Gusto's Simple plan covers one state. Gusto's Plus plan, at $80 plus $12 per person, adds multi-state payroll.
Does OnPay offer a PEO?
No. OnPay sells payroll, HR software and benefits, but it does not act as a co-employer. Paychex and ADP offer PEO services.
Sources (8)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- OnPay: Payroll costs and pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
- OnPay: Terms of Service (updated February 12, 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: OnPay business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: OnPay reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: OnPay Mobile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- OnPay: About us (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Outsourcing payroll and third-party payers (accessed October 12, 2026)
- OnPay: Xero integration (app directory) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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