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Ascentis
Ascentis
Ascentis offers a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) suite designed for midsize companies of all industries. It includes HR and benefits, recruiting and onboarding, talent management, time and attendance and payroll. ...Read more about Ascentis
Omniprise
Omniprise
Omniprise is an on-premise as well as cloud-based customer relationship management solution designed to provide companies a view of all customer interactions on a real-time basis. The solution is suitable for businesses of all siz...Read more about Omniprise
Triton HR
Triton HR
Triton HR's cloud-based, HR solution for small to midsize companies, integrates payroll services, employee benefits, and essential HR applications into a cloud-based single single sign on system. Tailored to fit a broad spectrum o...Read more about Triton HR
isolved
isolved
isolved is the most-trusted HCM technology leader, providing the best combination of software and services to meet the needs of today’s People Heroes – HR, payroll, and benefits professionals. From talent acquisition to workforce ...Read more about isolved
TriNet Zenefits
TriNet Zenefits
Zenefits is an all-encompassing HR SaaS platform designed specifically for small to midsize businesses. The Zenefits People Platform includes a robust offering spanning HR, Benefits, Payroll, Well-being and Performance apps that c...Read more about TriNet Zenefits
APS Payroll
APS Payroll
Automatic Payroll Systems (APS) has a mission: to make payroll and HR easier. They have been providing payroll and tax compliance services to companies since 1996. In 2004, APS released its cloud-based solution for workforce manag...Read more about APS Payroll
Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll
Basic Payroll: $17/month + $4 per employee or contractor. You run payroll and handle your tax filings. Full Service Payroll: $37/month + $4 per employee or contractor. You run payroll, but let us handle the payroll tax filings. ...Read more about Patriot Payroll
Paycor
Paycor
Paycor empowers leaders to build winning teams. Paycor’s human capital management (HCM) platform modernizes every aspect of people management, from recruiting, onboarding and payroll to career development and retention, but what r...Read more about Paycor
Wagepoint
Wagepoint
Wagepoint is a small-but-mighty company on a mission to simplify payroll – and even dare to make it delightful! Our online payroll software was built just for small businesses, automating the most “ugh” parts of payroll so that ou...Read more about Wagepoint
Paylocity
Paylocity
Paylocity is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform that provides human resources and payroll management tools to help businesses manage core HR functions. Key features include payroll processing, benefits administr...Read more about Paylocity
Dayforce HCM
Dayforce HCM
Dayforce makes work life better. Everything we do as a global leader in HCM technology is focused on improving work for thousands of customers and millions of employees around the world. Our single, global people platform for HR, ...Read more about Dayforce HCM
OASIS
OASIS
OASIS is a customizable ERP system for small to midsize companies. This system is customized to the company’s precise specifications and is used primarily in the retail, manufacturing, and professional services verticals. OAS...Read more about OASIS
AME Payroll
AME Payroll
AME Professional Payroll is an on-premise payroll solution for small and midsized businesses. The solution enables users to create and print checks for gross-to-net, net-to-gross and after-the-fact entries for multiple companies, ...Read more about AME Payroll
eeCentral
eeCentral
EBSPaySuite is an on-premise and cloud-based HRMS suite that can be implemented on a modular basis or as a full suite. It features built-in workflows and offers offline processing capabilities. The Payroll option includes Tax Mana...Read more about eeCentral
Affinity Payroll
Affinity Payroll
At Affinity, we believe that great payroll happens when people, process and technology come together. We partner with Australian and New Zealand organisations with 200+ employees, helping them to transform their payroll from a c...Read more about Affinity Payroll
SentricHR
SentricHR
At Sentric, we know your people are most important, and that’s why we’ve created an all-in-one solution to save time and make your life a little easier. SentricHR is a complete software solution, providing you with tools to manage...Read more about SentricHR
sumHR
sumHR
sumHR is a cloud-based human resource management solution for small and midsize companies. Primary features include payroll automation, attendance and leave management, performance management, reimbursement management, enterprise ...Read more about sumHR
Employment Hero
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is a cloud-based human resource management (HRM) system for small and medium businesses on the up. The solution helps manage the entire employee lifecycle, with modules for recruitment, onboarding, payroll, time an...Read more about Employment Hero
Sirenum Staff Management Platform
Sirenum Staff Management Platform
Sirenum Staff Management is a cloud-based solution specializing in large-scale staff scheduling. It caters to staffing, transport, care and security industries. Primary features include employee scheduling, core human resources (H...Read more about Sirenum Staff Management Platform
XperienceHR
XperienceHR
Flapps Time Tracking is a cloud-based human resource management solution for small, midsize and large businesses. Primary features include employee time tracking, leave management, absence tracking and attendance. Flapps also...Read more about XperienceHR
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Buyers Guide
Last Updated: November 07, 2023What Is Online Payroll Software?
Online payroll software is a web-based payroll application that provides features such as compensation management, tax filing, and time and attendance tracking. Users can access these features via web-enabled devices (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone). The software is hosted and managed by the vendor.
Online, or “cloud-based,” payroll software refers to systems hosted in the cloud, on the software vendor’s servers. Unlike with on-premise deployments, which require users to install software on their own computers and servers, online software lets users log in from anywhere.
There are many online payroll solutions out there. Some are sold as stand-alone payroll applications, while others are included as part of broader human resources (HR) software suites. Big vendors, such as ADP, offer multiple cloud payroll systems with different levels of functionality. No matter which vendor you choose, there are some capabilities common to most online payroll systems, which we’ll explore next.
(If you're not sold on the cloud-based deployment model and would prefer to evaluate all payroll systems, both cloud-based and on-premise, check out our general payroll software guide.)
As high-speed Internet and mobile access become more common, online payroll software’s popularity is on the rise.
If you're in the market for a new system, this guide will help you choose the right one for your business. We’ll cover:
What Is Online Payroll Software?
Common Applications of Online Payroll Software
Common Applications of Online Payroll Software
These systems often come with some or all of the following core capabilities:
Compensation management | Found in all payroll software; automates payroll processing. Users assign pay rates to employees, then enter employee hours manually or import them from a Web-based time and attendance application. The system automatically calculates wages and generates paychecks. May include direct deposit options, bonuses, commissions, overtime and tips. |
Time and attendance | Allows employees to clock in and out within the system, and administrators to track employee attendance. |
Tax filing | Available in more robust systems. Automatically prepares, files and pays state and federal taxes. Alternatively, provides tax calculations and/or documents for users to prepare and file manually. |
Accounting integration | Some systems package payroll processing and general accounting together. Alternatively, some systems simply offer integration with users’ existing online accounting software. |
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Online payroll software buyers can choose from options with a range of functionality: from basic compensation management systems all the way up to complete HR suites. The system that’s right for you will depend on your payroll, accounting and HR requirements:
Basic payroll needs. Some vendors offer entry-level online payroll packages that include capabilities only for compensation management and time and attendance. Businesses looking to fulfill basic payroll needs might choose one of these, such as Wagepoint or Payroll by Wave.
Payroll and accounting software. These solutions combine payroll processing and accounting. Systems such as XERO include payroll processing and general ledger accounting in one product. Others, such as QuickBooks Full Service Payroll, integrate with full accounting platforms. Relatedly, some vendors offer payroll solutions designed specifically for accountants.
Complete HR suites. As mentioned, many online payroll systems come as part of an HR suite. These suites include functionality for personnel tracking, applicant tracking, benefits administration, talent management, scheduling and more in addition to payroll. Businesses looking for a complete solution can check out software such as Paychex Flex and Kronos Workforce Central’s Web-based option.
Benefits and Potential Issues
There are many benefits of choosing online payroll software over software deployed on-premise. Some of these perks include:
Security. With cloud-based deployments, businesses don’t have to worry about on-premise crashes, thefts or other crises. Online software vendors have their own secure servers and security policies to help prevent hacking and data loss (which are often more robust than those of individual businesses).
Automatic updates. Cloud payroll software vendors often update their products to reflect things like changing tax laws. Because online payroll software can update automatically, users no longer have to buy new software each year.
Lower upfront costs. Since cloud payroll solutions are typically priced on a subscription basis, users don’t have to pay a large installation fee up front, like they do with perpetual licenses (which are common for on-premise systems). Instead, they pay a more manageable fee either per month or per year.
Though online payroll software solutions have lower initial costs, the recurring costs eventually add up. However, since on-premise software often requires users to purchase updates, over time, costs for the two types of system tend to even out.
Market Trends to Understand
Here are a few trends to be aware of as you search for new software in this market:
Mobile accessibility. More and more businesses want their payroll software to be accessible from any device. Cloud-based software has made it possible for vendors to offer mobile apps, so users can log in from their smartphones and tablets.
Many vendors also offer mobile employee portals. With these portals, employees can access their timesheets, salary information and more while on the go.
Cloud-based solutions for larger enterprises. In the past, cloud solutions were marketed only to small and midsize businesses. Now, more and more vendors are offering robust online payroll systems for larger enterprises.
Systems targeting larger businesses often include a wider range of capabilities, such as HR applications or accounting integration.