Best QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives in 2026
The top QuickBooks Payroll alternatives are APS Payroll, Fourth Payroll and isolved People Cloud: 15 restaurant payroll software our editors would look at instead of QuickBooks Payroll, in our ranking order.
QuickBooks Payroll: A strong QuickBooks-centered payroll option for restaurants needing automated tax handling. Where it falls short: restaurant-specific tip workflows are not a stated focus.
Switching from QuickBooks Payroll? For most restaurant payroll software buyers the best QuickBooks Payroll alternative is APS Payroll, built for restaurants wanting broad, transparent payroll coverage. On a budget, SurePayroll starts at $20/mo, against $50/mo for QuickBooks Payroll.
Why People Look for a QuickBooks Payroll Alternative
- Restaurant-specific tip workflows are not a stated focus
- Time tracking and scheduling require higher-tier plans
- Paid service with no free plan
- Paid from $50/mo — SurePayroll is $20/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAPS Payroll9.4
Restaurants wanting broad, transparent payroll coverage
Visit APS Payroll - Lowest priceSurePayroll8.1
Paid plans from $20/mo
Visit SurePayroll
All 15 QuickBooks 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.
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Best forRestaurants wanting broad, transparent payroll coverage
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.2
Restaurant-focused payroll with tip calculations, tax filing, POS integrations, and optional HR tools.
- POS integrations
- Tip management
- Payroll tax filing
9.4/10★★★★★Visit APS Payroll -
Best forLarger restaurants needing deep POS connectivity
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Paid from: $20/mo vs $50/mo
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Paid from: $29/mo vs $50/mo
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 7.2
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
- Better than QuickBooks Payroll:
- Editor score 7.4 vs 7.2
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 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
QuickBooks Payroll Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to QuickBooks Payroll?
APS Payroll: #1 in our Restaurant Payroll Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Restaurant-focused payroll with tip calculations, tax filing, POS integrations, and optional HR tools.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to QuickBooks Payroll?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, SurePayroll starts lowest, at $20/mo.
Why do people look for QuickBooks Payroll alternatives?
Restaurant-specific tip workflows are not a stated focus; Time tracking and scheduling require higher-tier plans; Paid service with no free plan.
How do I switch from QuickBooks Payroll?
Export your data from QuickBooks 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 QuickBooks Payroll.
How to Switch from QuickBooks Payroll
- Export your data from QuickBooks 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 QuickBooks Payroll.
QuickBooks Payroll vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Tip management | Payroll tax filing | Multi-state payroll | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | QuickBooks Payroll | No | $50/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 1 | APS Payroll | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Fourth Payroll | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 3 | isolved People Cloud | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | Restaurant365 Payroll & HR | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Kit by KitchenSync | No | $1,500/site/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | OnPay | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | RUN Powered by ADP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 8 | SurePayroll | No | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 9 | CheckMark Payroll | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 10 | TipPay | No | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 11 | PayMaster Hospitality | No | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 12 | TeamPay | No | £2/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 13 | Paycor | No | 7.0 | ||||
| 14 | Gusto | No | 6.9 | ||||
| 15 | Paycom | No | 6.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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