The Best Nonprofit Payroll Software in 2026
We researched nonprofit payroll software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core payroll capabilities, value for money and verified features, with attention to nonprofit tax handling, filing support, employee limits and payment workflows.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
PayFWDs#1 of 299.2/10A nonprofit-focused payroll platform built for grant allocation and multi-state compliance.
Pricing on request
-
Runner-up
MIP Payroll#2 of 298.8/10A strong fit for fund-accounted nonprofit payroll inside MIP Accounting.
Pricing on request
-
Top-ranked free plan
Payroll4Free#5 of 297.8/10A practical free payroll option for nonprofits with nine or fewer payees.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 29 tools, best first
-
Best forNonprofits allocating payroll to grants and programs
A nonprofit-focused payroll platform built for grant allocation and multi-state compliance.
- Nonprofit tax support
- Contractor payments
- Multi-state payroll
Pricing on request Our PayFWDs verdict → Visit PayFWDsFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.2/10★★★★★Visit PayFWDs -
Best forNonprofits needing fund-accounted payroll
A strong fit for fund-accounted nonprofit payroll inside MIP Accounting.
- Nonprofit tax support
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit MIP Payroll -
Best forBudget-conscious nonprofits
Affordable nonprofit payroll with exemption settings, contractor payments, and optional tax filing.
- Nonprofit tax support
- Contractor payments
- Multi-state payroll
8.5/10★★★★☆Try Patriot Payroll -
Best forNonprofits prioritizing benefits administration
A benefits-focused payroll and HR platform for nonprofits managing employee coverage.
- Nonprofit tax support
- Contractor payments
- Multi-state payroll
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Justworks -
Best forVery small nonprofits seeking free payroll
A practical free payroll option for nonprofits with nine or fewer payees.
- Contractor payments
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Payroll4Free -
Best forChurches needing straightforward payroll
A focused church payroll add-on with nationwide processing and core tax features.
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ChurchSoftware -
Best forNonprofits needing accounting plus payroll
A broad nonprofit accounting suite with payroll integration, starting at $25 monthly.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit CDM+ -
Best forQuickBooks-centered nonprofits
A QuickBooks-focused payroll service with tax filing, direct deposit, and employee self-service.
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit QuickBooks -
Best forNonprofits needing dependable tax payroll
A payroll-focused option for nonprofits that need tax filing across multiple states.
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit OnPay -
Best forSmall nonprofits needing simple payroll
A practical payroll option for small nonprofits that want simple online administration.
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit SurePayroll -
Best forSmall nonprofits wanting broad HR and payroll
A broad payroll and HR platform for small nonprofits without a free plan.
- Time tracking
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Gusto -
Best forTech-oriented nonprofits needing connected HR
A connected HR and payroll platform for nonprofits with technical operations.
- Time tracking
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Rippling -
Best forMid-sized nonprofits needing integrated HCM
A broad HCM platform for nonprofits that need payroll alongside workforce operations.
- Time tracking
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Paylocity -
Best forGrowing nonprofits needing full HCM coverage
Paycor combines payroll, HR, time, performance and workforce tools in one platform.
- Time tracking
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Paycor -
Best forEstablished nonprofits needing mature HCM
A broad HCM platform for established nonprofits that need payroll and workforce management.
- Time tracking
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit ADP -
Best forNonprofits wanting comprehensive HR automation
A broad HR and payroll suite for nonprofits that want one employee-data system.
- Time tracking
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Paycom -
Best forNonprofits seeking payroll with HR and rostering
Payroll sits alongside HR, rostering, timesheets and employee tools in a cloud platform.
- Time tracking
5.5/10★★★☆☆Try Employment Hero -
Best forSmall nonprofits wanting broad HR features
A broad HR and payroll platform for small nonprofits that need more than payroll.
- Time tracking
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Rise -
Best forOrganizations with international payroll needs
A global payroll platform with localized options, multi-currency payments, and configurable processing.
- Tax filing included
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Oracle -
Best forUK nonprofits needing payroll compliance
A UK-focused payroll and HR platform covering compliance, payments, pensions and employee services.
- Tax filing included
- Time tracking
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit Sage Payroll -
Best forChurches needing member and volunteer tools
A broad church operations platform, but not a documented payroll solution.
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit Realm -
Best forCanadian nonprofits needing payroll basics
A Canada-focused payroll platform with core compliance, HR, and accounting integrations.
- Tax filing included
- Time tracking
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Knit Payroll -
Best forCanadian nonprofits with simple payroll needs
A practical Canadian payroll option for nonprofits with straightforward pay runs.
- Tax filing included
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Wagepoint -
Best forNonprofits needing affordable full payroll operations
Affordable payroll coverage with optional attendance and HR capabilities.
- Multi-state payroll
- Tax filing included
4.3/10★★☆☆☆Visit APS Payroll -
Best forLocation-based nonprofits needing free scheduling
A strong scheduling and workforce tool for location-based nonprofits, with payroll as an add-on.
4.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Homebase -
Best forNonprofits focused on labor scheduling
A scheduling-focused workforce platform with payroll integration rather than core payroll.
3.2/10★★☆☆☆Visit Dayforce -
Best forNonprofits needing free bookkeeping support
A capable free bookkeeping tool, but not a dedicated nonprofit payroll system.
2.0/10★☆☆☆☆Visit Wave -
Best forNonprofits selling online
A capable online commerce tool, but not a nonprofit payroll system.
1.8/10★☆☆☆☆Visit Square Online -
Best forNonprofits prioritizing benefits administration
A benefits-focused Workday module for nonprofits prioritizing employee benefits.
1.6/10★☆☆☆☆Visit Workday
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PayFWDs | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | MIP Payroll | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | Patriot Payroll | No | $17/mo | 8.5 |
| 4 | Justworks Benefits | No | 8.0 | |
| 5 | Payroll4Free | Yes | $15/mo | 7.8 |
| 6 | ChurchSoftware Payroll | No | $25/mo | 7.7 |
| 7 | CDM+ | No | $25/mo | 7.1 |
| 8 | QuickBooks Payroll | No | $50/mo | 6.9 |
| 9 | OnPay | No | 6.8 | |
| 10 | SurePayroll | No | $20/mo | 6.6 |
| 11 | Gusto | No | 6.4 | |
| 12 | Rippling | 6.2 | ||
| 13 | Paylocity | No | 6.0 | |
| 14 | Paycor | No | 5.9 | |
| 15 | ADP Workforce Now | 5.8 | ||
| 16 | Paycom | No | 5.7 | |
| 17 | Employment Hero | No | 5.5 | |
| 18 | Rise | No | 5.3 | |
| 19 | Oracle Cloud Global Payroll | 5.0 | ||
| 20 | Sage Payroll | No | 4.8 | |
| 21 | Realm | No | 4.8 | |
| 22 | Knit Payroll | No | $6/user/mo | 4.6 |
| 23 | Wagepoint | No | CA$20/mo | 4.5 |
| 24 | APS Payroll | No | 4.3 | |
| 25 | Homebase | Yes | $30/mo | 4.0 |
| 26 | Dayforce Workforce Management | 3.2 | ||
| 27 | Wave | Yes | $190/yr | 2.0 |
| 28 | Square Online | Yes | 1.8 | |
| 29 | Workday Benefits | 1.6 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- PayFWDs vs MIP Payroll
- PayFWDs vs Patriot Payroll
- PayFWDs vs Justworks Benefits
- PayFWDs vs Payroll4Free
- PayFWDs vs ChurchSoftware Payroll
- PayFWDs vs CDM+
- PayFWDs vs QuickBooks Payroll
- MIP Payroll vs Patriot Payroll
- MIP Payroll vs Justworks Benefits
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How we rank nonprofit payroll software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update