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OnPay’s Payroll Essentials plan costs $49 per month plus $6 for each worker paid during the billing month, so the advertised $55 starting price is the total for one worker. Unlimited pay runs are included. Optional HR and time-tracking modules raise the bill, making the right question not just whether OnPay’s base plan is affordable, but whether its included payroll features and paid extras match your team’s needs.
This review is based on OnPay’s public product and pricing materials and Business.com’s independent review; the service was not tested hands-on. Prices below are OnPay’s US public list prices accessed October 7, 2026, and may change.
How much does OnPay cost?
OnPay lists Payroll Essentials at $49 base per month plus $6 per worker per month. Its advertised starting price of $55 is the arithmetic for one worker. Since unlimited pay runs are included, the core subscription does not charge extra for running payroll more often. OnPay’s pricing page lists these prices and inclusions.
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- Unlimited number of companies and employees
- NACHA files for Direct Deposit
- Optional integratd E-File for Federal W2's and 1099-NEC's
- Create checks for Employees or 1099-NEC contractors.
- Generate and populate tax forms such as W-2, W-3, 1099-NEC, 940, 941 and 941-B. Optional federal E-File and some supported State E-File
$49 + ($6 × workers included in a pay run during the month)
| Workers paid in the month | Payroll Essentials monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $55 |
| 5 | $79 |
| 10 | $109 |
| 20 | $169 |
These are calculations from OnPay’s listed base and per-worker prices, before any optional modules or applicable sales tax; they are not separate vendor quotes. OnPay’s help article says a worker is billable if included in at least one pay run in the billing period, even if no earnings were entered. It also notes that SaaS sales tax may apply in some states depending on circumstances. OnPay’s billing explanation was updated May 1, 2025.
What is included in Payroll Essentials?
OnPay describes the base plan as full-service payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Its pricing page lists multi-state payroll, tax filing and payment, year-end W-2 and 1099 forms, multiple payment methods, unlimited pay runs, reports, hiring and onboarding basics, and support among the plan’s inclusions. These are OnPay’s descriptions of its offering, not capabilities independently verified in hands-on testing.
Rank #2
- You can now print to blank check stock. Customization of the check layout is "not" possible at this time. Check the Help file for additional details.
- Electronic form filing for W-2, 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC is available through a third party service (there is a nominal fee for this service).
- Tax forms for 2022
- Includes tax tables for 2023
- Support for new 1099-NEC form
The company also states that unlimited runs, multi-state payroll, year-end tax forms, and implementation or integration fees do not incur additional charges under its current pricing policy. Check the live pricing page and applicable terms before signing up, since prices and policies can change.
Which features cost extra?
OnPay lists HR and time tracking as separately priced modules. The following are the official US monthly list prices accessed October 7, 2026:
| Option | Monthly price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Essentials | $49 base + $6 per worker | Core payroll subscription; unlimited pay runs are included. |
| HR | $15 base + $2 per worker | Optional HR module; confirm which tools are included for your needs. |
| Time Tracking | $15 base + $4 per worker | Optional time-tracking module; confirm fit for your workforce and workflow. |
Prices and feature descriptions are from OnPay’s pricing page. Do not assume every HR or time-management capability is part of Payroll Essentials. OnPay describes time-tracking functions such as clock-ins and clock-outs or submitted timesheets, manager approval, geolocation or geofencing, configurable break and overtime rules, and syncing approved hours to payroll; these functions belong to its time-tracking offering.
Rank #3
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- Manage your payments and deposit transactions
- Check balances and generate reports to monitor your business finances
- Email and fax reports to your accountant
- Create and track quotes, invoices and more
- Connect to the app with secure web access
OnPay also describes benefits administration, workers’ compensation, and 401(k) options as integrated. That does not mean premiums, insurance, or plan costs are included in the payroll subscription. Benefits administration may include plan administration, payroll deductions, and broker help; confirm the relevant provider and costs for your intended setup.
What does the independent review say?
Business.com gave OnPay a 9.3/10 in a review last updated July 8, 2026. It praised the service’s pricing transparency, usability, and support, while identifying fewer third-party integrations than similarly priced competitors and added charges for most HR, compliance, and time-tracking tools as drawbacks. Those are Business.com’s assessments, not results of hands-on testing for this article. Read Business.com’s OnPay review.
Business.com also reported a 4.6-out-of-five-star user-review average across more than 1,100 reviews on Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot in 2026. That is an aggregate attributed to Business.com’s article, not a fresh calculation or a representation of any platform’s current live rating.
Rank #4
- ezPaycheck is the easy-to-use DIY payroll software trusted by thousands of small businesses since 2005.
- Calculate federal and state payroll taxes, deductions, print paychecks, print tax forms, free support. Supports salary, hourly-rate, commission, tips and customized wages (such as pay-by-piece, pay-by-stop and pay-by-mileage)
- Flexible tax options for W2/1099 employees, churches & non-profits employees who have special tax needs
- Print employee paychecks and vendor checks on blank stock and pre-printed blank check.
- Note: 1) This is the order of ezPaycheck 2026. You need to purchase the new license key to use ezPaycheck 2027 version in Year 2027. 2) We will ship a USB disk with the installation and license information. If you prefer to receive a copy by email, please contact us from halfpricesoft site support page with your Amazon order ID.
Who might find OnPay a good fit?
Small employers wanting predictable payroll pricing
The base-plus-per-worker formula is straightforward to estimate, and unlimited pay runs avoid a separate per-run charge. For a small employer, the deciding cost is likely to be whether the included payroll service covers the required tax filings and worker types, and whether paid HR or time tools are necessary.
Businesses paying both employees and contractors
OnPay says its payroll supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Since the billing explanation counts a person or contractor included in a pay run, estimate fees using the people who will actually appear in payroll during the month, not just full-time employees.
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Multi-state employers
OnPay lists multi-state payroll as included in Payroll Essentials. If you operate across states, verify that the filing coverage, registrations, and local requirements for your specific jurisdictions are addressed before choosing a provider; the broad feature label alone does not establish every employer’s compliance needs.
Best Value
- TRUSTED ACCOUNTING: For 44 years, Sage has supported small business with accounting software to help their business thrive. Grow your business with Sage 50 Premium Enhanced: powerful, reliable, and cloud-connected. One year support with subscription.
- CLOUD CONNECTED: Sage 50 Premium Enhanced Accounting gives you powerful, cloud-connected desktop software with all the features you need. Pick your business model and start with the right chart of accounts—set up is easy!
- PROCESS PAYROLL: Simplify your payroll processes for 1-10 of your employees with updated tax calculation for efiling, employee witholdings and automated W2s.
- NEW FEATURES: AR Automation allows you to share invoices, send payment reminders, and automatically collect payments. Our Customer Account Portal gives you 24/7 access to a secure portal to view, manage, and pay invoices.
- PREMIUM: With Sage 50 Premium Enhanced, you get advanced budgeting tools, the security of audit trails, and enhanced job costing by phase and cost type.
Hourly teams needing scheduling or time records
OnPay describes time-tracking tools that can route approved hours into payroll, but its pricing page lists Time Tracking as an add-on. Include its base and per-worker charges when comparing the full monthly cost with a system that already supplies the timekeeping features you need.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you compare OnPay with another payroll service?
Compare like with like rather than relying on a starting price. For each provider, estimate the recurring total for your actual workforce and check the same operational requirements:
- Team size and billing rules: Count employees and contractors who would be included in payroll, and check how the provider treats zero-earnings runs or inactive workers.
- Pay frequency: Confirm whether the quoted plan includes unlimited runs or charges by payroll run.
- Tax scope: Verify federal, state, and local filing and payment coverage for the jurisdictions where you operate.
- HR and timekeeping: Separate included functions from add-ons, and add any module fees to the recurring estimate.
- Integrations: Confirm that the specific accounting, time, and other systems you use are supported. Business.com flags integrations as a comparative weakness, but availability should be checked for each required system.
- Setup and support: Check the assistance available during implementation and for ongoing payroll questions, especially if your team lacks in-house payroll expertise.
OnPay’s public pricing page and Business.com’s assessment provide useful starting points, but neither replaces checking current terms, jurisdiction coverage, and required integrations for your business.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
