Payroll4Free review
A practical free payroll option for nonprofits with nine or fewer payees.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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 calculations, vacation and PTO tracking, employee self-service, reporting, direct deposits through an organization’s own bank or paper checks, and payroll-related integrations. The free plan is aimed at very small nonprofits with nine or fewer individuals paid monthly.
The published plans show a free tier with payroll processing, tax calculations, vacation tracking, employee portals, reporting, and direct deposits using an organization’s own bank or paper checks. Paid Payroll Tax Services cost $35 per month or $350 per year and add payroll tax deposits and filings for the first two tax authorities. Additional tax authorities cost $15 per authority per month. Direct Deposit Services cost $35 per month or $350 per year, while the listed discount when paying for Payroll Tax Services is $15 per month. A starting price of $15 per month is also published, alongside these service-specific charges.
For a small nonprofit, the breadth is useful: the product combines contractor payments, tax calculations, deductions and garnishments, benefits and contributions, accrued-time tracking, pay information, paystubs, W-2s, personal details, and multiple report types. Support is available through email, phone, and documentation, and the product supports web access and outside software integrations. The main tradeoff is that tax filing and direct-deposit fund transfers are not part of the free service, so organizations wanting a more fully managed payroll workflow should consider the paid services. Payroll4Free fits nonprofits prioritizing low base cost and handling some payroll responsibilities internally; it is less suitable for organizations with more than nine payees or those seeking an all-inclusive free plan.
Payroll4Free pros and cons
- 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
Payroll4Free fact sheet, pricing and score →
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