PenSoft Payroll review
A desktop-first payroll option for firms that need multi-company processing and tax calculations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PenSoft Payroll is payroll software for small and mid-sized U.S. businesses and payroll processors, particularly firms that want desktop payroll with multi-company support. Its downloadable Windows program manages employee and payroll records, calculates taxes, prints payroll checks and tax forms, and generates direct-deposit files. W-2 generation, employee and timecard imports, payroll data exports, and hosted cloud payroll are also part of its feature set. That combination suits operators handling several company payrolls or departmental and job-costing needs, rather than buyers seeking a simple, filing-inclusive online service.
According to the vendor's pricing page, new Professional Edition subscriptions are annual: $689 for 1–50 employees, $789 for 51–100, and $899 for 101–250. Each listed tier includes direct-deposit services, tax tables for all 50 states, and federal and state payroll support. A separate 30-day evaluation trial is available. The key budgeting distinction is that payroll tax filing is offered separately as an e-filing service, not included in the software subscription. Buyers should account for that separation when comparing total operating costs, rather than treating tax computation and tax filing as the same capability.
The strongest fit is a small or mid-sized business that values check and form printing, tax calculations, W-2s, and multiple-company processing in a Windows desktop product, with a hosted cloud option available. InsureLinx is the named integration, while direct-deposit file generation and employee/timecard data import help connect payroll workflows. Phone and email support, documentation, and a community are listed support channels. Firms that want tax filing bundled into the base subscription, or a payroll service centered on a web workflow, should compare alternatives; PenSoft's desktop focus and separately priced filing service are meaningful tradeoffs.
PenSoft Payroll pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Computes payroll taxes and supports federal and state payroll.
- Prints checks and forms, generates direct-deposit files, and creates W-2s.
- Supports multiple companies, departmental payroll, timesheets, and job costing.
- Where it doesn't
- Tax filing is a separate service, not included with the subscription.
- Annual subscriptions start at $689 and rise with the employee tier.
- The desktop program is Windows-based; the web option is hosted payroll.
PenSoft Payroll fact sheet, pricing and score →
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