Best APS Payroll Alternatives in 2026
The top APS Payroll alternatives are Fourth Payroll, isolved People Cloud and Restaurant365 Payroll & HR: 15 restaurant payroll software our editors would look at instead of APS Payroll, in our ranking order.
APS Payroll: Restaurant-focused payroll with tip calculations, tax filing, POS integrations, and optional HR tools. Where it falls short: no free plan is available.
Switching from APS Payroll? For most restaurant payroll software buyers the best APS Payroll alternative is Fourth Payroll, built for larger restaurants needing deep POS connectivity. On a budget, SurePayroll starts at $20/mo.
Why People Look for an APS Payroll Alternative
- No free plan is available
- Scheduling and time tracking require the $10 plan
- Recruiting and HR features require the $14 plan
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallFourth Payroll9.2
Larger restaurants needing deep POS connectivity
Visit Fourth Payroll - Lowest priceSurePayroll8.1
Paid plans from $20/mo
Visit SurePayroll
All 15 APS Payroll Alternatives, Ranked
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.
-
Best forLarger restaurants needing deep POS connectivity
A strong fit for larger restaurants that need payroll, tips, compliance, and POS data connected.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Fourth Payroll -
Best forComplex restaurant payroll and benefits teams
A strong fit for restaurant groups managing tips, shifts, taxes, benefits and POS data.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit isolved -
Best forRestaurant groups using Restaurant365 operations
A restaurant-focused payroll platform with tip, tax, POS, and employee self-service tools.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Restaurant365 -
Best forMulti-location operators needing deep payroll controls
A deep restaurant payroll suite with POS connectivity, but a high per-location starting price.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit KitchenSync -
Best forSmall restaurants wanting affordable full-service payroll
Full-service restaurant payroll with tipped-wage calculations and a $49 monthly base price.
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
- Multi-state payroll
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit OnPay -
Best forEstablished businesses wanting mature payroll operations
A mature payroll option for established restaurants, with limited POS connectivity.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit ADP -
Best forBudget-conscious restaurants needing simple payroll
A low-cost payroll option for restaurants with tipped and hourly employees.
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
- Multi-state payroll
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit SurePayroll -
Best forDesktop users seeking low annual payroll cost
A low-cost annual desktop option for tip tracking, tax work and unlimited payroll runs.
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
- Multi-state payroll
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit CheckMark -
Best forRestaurants focused on tip distribution
A focused web payroll system for restaurants that distribute tips.
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
- Multi-state payroll
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit TipPay -
Best forLegacy Windows-based hospitality payroll teams
A hospitality-focused Windows payroll system for tips, multi-state taxes, and POS-connected workflows.
- Tip management
- Multi-state payroll
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forUK restaurants needing low-cost payroll software
Low-cost UK payroll with native tronc, variable-hours support and managed options.
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
- Employee self-service
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit TeamPay -
Best forQuickBooks users needing integrated payroll
A strong QuickBooks-centered payroll option for restaurants needing automated tax handling.
- POS integrations
- Payroll tax filing
- Multi-state payroll
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit QuickBooks -
Best forRestaurants wanting payroll plus broad HR tools
A broad payroll and HR platform for restaurants that need more than payroll.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Paycor -
Best forSmall teams needing payroll and general HR
A broad payroll and HR platform for small teams, but not a restaurant-focused system.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Gusto -
Best forOrganizations wanting comprehensive HR and payroll
A broad payroll and HR system for organizations that need one employee-data platform.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Paycom
APS Payroll Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to APS Payroll?
Fourth Payroll: #2 in our Restaurant Payroll Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A strong fit for larger restaurants that need payroll, tips, compliance, and POS data connected.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to APS Payroll?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, SurePayroll starts lowest, at $20/mo.
Why do people look for APS Payroll alternatives?
No free plan is available; Scheduling and time tracking require the $10 plan; Recruiting and HR features require the $14 plan.
How do I switch from APS Payroll?
Export your data from APS Payroll (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel APS Payroll.
How to Switch from APS Payroll
- Export your data from APS Payroll (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel APS Payroll.
APS Payroll vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Tip management | Payroll tax filing | Multi-state payroll | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APS Payroll | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 1 | Fourth Payroll | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | isolved People Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | Restaurant365 Payroll & HR | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 4 | Kit by KitchenSync | No | $1,500/site/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 5 | OnPay | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 6 | RUN Powered by ADP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 7 | SurePayroll | No | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 8 | CheckMark Payroll | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 9 | TipPay | No | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 10 | PayMaster Hospitality | No | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 11 | TeamPay | No | £2/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 12 | QuickBooks Payroll | No | $50/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 13 | Paycor | No | 7.0 | ||||
| 14 | Gusto | No | 6.9 | ||||
| 15 | Paycom | No | 6.8 |
Head-to-Head
- APS Payroll vs Fourth Payroll
- APS Payroll vs isolved People Cloud
- APS Payroll vs Restaurant365 Payroll & HR
- APS Payroll vs Kit by KitchenSync
- APS Payroll vs OnPay
- APS Payroll vs RUN Powered by ADP
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update