Payroll4Free vs ChurchSoftware Payroll

Payroll4Free7.8Visit ChurchSoftware Payroll7.7Visit

Higher score Payroll4Free #5 in Nonprofit Payroll Software 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Payroll4Free

vs

ChurchSoftware Payroll #6 in Nonprofit Payroll Software 7.7/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 5 features Visit ChurchSoftware

• Payroll4Free fits best

  Very small nonprofits seeking free payroll

• ChurchSoftware Payroll fits best

  Churches needing straightforward payroll

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Side by side

Feature	Payroll4Free 7.8/10 Visit ↗	ChurchSoftware Payroll 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.8	7.7
Ranking	#5 in Nonprofit Payroll Software	#6 in Nonprofit Payroll Software
Best for	Very small nonprofits seeking free payroll	Churches needing straightforward payroll
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$15/mo (best)	$25/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Phone, Docs	Email
Built for	Small business, Solo	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Payroll4Free 4/5 · ChurchSoftware Payroll 2/5
Tax filing included	✓	✓
Nonprofit tax support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Multi-state payroll	✓	✓
Contractor payments	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Time tracking	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Employee limit	9 employees	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free payroll processing for up to nine individuals monthly Supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors Includes PTO tracking, employee portals, and reporting	Payroll processing in all 50 states Direct deposit with automated payroll withholdings Tax filings, reporting, and local and federal tax compliance handling
Cons	Tax deposits and filings require a paid service Direct-deposit services carry additional fees Free service is limited to nine or fewer payees	Web access only Narrow focus within the ChurchSoftware ecosystem No free payroll plan
Our verdict	Payroll4Free is online payroll and human-resources software for small organizations, including nonprofits that pay W-2 employees, 1099 contractors, or both. Its core feature set covers payroll processing, federal, state, and local tax… Read the review →	ChurchSoftware Payroll is a paid payroll add-on for churches, ministries, and other 501(c)(3) organizations. It handles payroll processing in all 50 U.S. states and includes direct deposit, automated withholdings, tax filings, reporting,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Payroll4Free — where it wins

  • Free payroll processing for up to nine individuals monthly
  • Supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors
  • Includes PTO tracking, employee portals, and reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • Tax deposits and filings require a paid service
  • Direct-deposit services carry additional fees
  • Free service is limited to nine or fewer payees

• ChurchSoftware Payroll — where it wins

  • Payroll processing in all 50 states
  • Direct deposit with automated payroll withholdings
  • Tax filings, reporting, and local and federal tax compliance handling

  Where it doesn't

  • Web access only
  • Narrow focus within the ChurchSoftware ecosystem
  • No free payroll plan

• Payroll4Free7.8/10 · Free plan

  A practical free payroll option for nonprofits with nine or fewer payees.

  Visit Payroll4FreeFull verdict →
• ChurchSoftware Payroll7.7/10 · Paid

  A focused church payroll add-on with nationwide processing and core tax features.

  Visit ChurchSoftwareFull verdict →