Best Xero Payroll Alternatives in 2026
The top Xero Payroll alternatives are RUN Powered by ADP, QuickBooks Payroll and Sage Payroll: 15 small business payroll software our editors would look at instead of Xero Payroll, in our ranking order.
Xero Payroll: A UK-focused payroll option with pension reporting, multiple pay schedules and Xero accounting plans. Where it falls short: ignite payroll costs £1.50 per person per month on top of accounting.
Switching from Xero Payroll? For most small business payroll software buyers the best Xero Payroll alternative is RUN Powered by ADP, built for small businesses wanting established, full-service payroll. On a budget, Patriot Payroll starts at $17/mo.
Why People Look for a Xero Payroll Alternative
- Ignite payroll costs £1.50 per person per month on top of accounting
- Grow, Comprehensive and Ultimate plans cost £39, £55 and £70 monthly
- Support channels listed are documentation and community
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallRUN Powered by ADP9.2
Small businesses wanting established, full-service payroll
Visit RUN Powered by ADP - Lowest pricePatriot Payroll8.1
Paid plans from $17/mo
Visit Patriot Payroll
All 15 Xero 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. How we rank.
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Best forSmall businesses wanting established, full-service payroll
- Better than Xero Payroll:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 9.0
Full-service payroll with tax filing, direct deposit and optional HR support.
- Direct deposit
- Tax filing included
- Employee self-service
9.2/10★★★★★Visit ADP -
Best forU.S. small businesses already using QuickBooks
- Better than Xero Payroll:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 9.0
Automates payroll taxes and direct deposit for small businesses in the QuickBooks ecosystem.
- Employee self-service
9.1/10★★★★★Visit QuickBooks -
Best forUK small businesses needing payroll and workforce tools
UK payroll with HMRC submissions, employee self-service and workforce tools.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Sage -
Best forSmall businesses pairing payroll with HR and benefits
Payroll with HR, benefits, onboarding, and time tracking in one cloud platform.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Gusto -
Best forMid-sized firms needing payroll within a broad HR suite
A broad payroll and HR platform for mid-sized and enterprise organizations.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit ADP -
Best forSmall firms prioritizing mobile workforce management
A broad workforce platform for small firms that value mobile access and employee self-service.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Paylocity -
Best forSmall firms seeking payroll within a connected HR platform
Payroll sits within a broad HR platform that also connects time, benefits, and workflows.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Rippling -
Best forU.S. small businesses with varied pay schedules
Flexible payroll for varied schedules, tipped wages, and teams across all 50 states.
- Employee self-service
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit OnPay -
Best forRestaurants with tipped and multi-rate payroll
Payroll built for tipped teams, with optional attendance and HR tools.
- Employee self-service
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit APS Payroll -
Best forCanadian small businesses handling year-end tax forms
A Canada-focused payroll platform with automated tax slips, remittances, and employee self-service.
8.2/10★★★★☆Try PaymentEvolution -
Best forBudget-conscious U.S. small businesses
Unlimited payroll runs and contractor payments start at $17 per month.
8.1/10★★★★☆Try Patriot Payroll -
Best forU.S. teams paying employees and contractors across states
Automates U.S. employee and contractor payroll, with multi-state coverage and accounting integrations.
- Employee self-service
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Justworks -
Best forSolo employers and small restaurants with tipped staff
A small-business payroll service with tip support, tax filing, and mobile access.
- Employee self-service
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit SurePayroll -
Best forCanadian small businesses wanting straightforward payroll
Canadian payroll with CRA filings, year-end forms, and employee self-service.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Wagepoint -
Best forUK firms with CIS or umbrella payroll needs
Automates UK payroll with specialist CIS and umbrella processing; pricing starts at £43 per month.
- Direct deposit
- Tax filing included
- Employee self-service
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit site
Xero Payroll Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Xero Payroll?
RUN Powered by ADP: #1 in our Small Business Payroll Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. Full-service payroll with tax filing, direct deposit and optional HR support.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Xero Payroll?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Patriot Payroll starts lowest, at $17/mo.
Why do people look for Xero Payroll alternatives?
Ignite payroll costs £1.50 per person per month on top of accounting; Grow, Comprehensive and Ultimate plans cost £39, £55 and £70 monthly; Support channels listed are documentation and community.
How do I switch from Xero Payroll?
Export your data from Xero 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 Xero Payroll.
How to Switch from Xero Payroll
- Export your data from Xero 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 Xero Payroll.
Xero Payroll vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Tax filing included | Direct deposit | Pay frequencies | Employee self-service | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Xero Payroll | No | £39/mo | Yes | Yes | weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually | Yes | 9.0 |
| 1 | RUN Powered by ADP | No | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | 9.2 |
| 2 | QuickBooks Payroll | No | $50/mo | — | — | — | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | Sage Payroll | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 5 | Gusto | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8 |
| 6 | ADP Workforce Now | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 7 | Paylocity | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| 8 | Rippling | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| 9 | OnPay | No | — | — | — | — | Yes | 8.4 |
| 10 | APS Payroll | No | — | — | — | — | Yes | 8.3 |
| 11 | PaymentEvolution | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.2 |
| 12 | Patriot Payroll | No | $17/mo | — | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 13 | Justworks Payroll | No | — | — | — | weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | SurePayroll | No | $20/mo | — | — | — | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Wagepoint | No | CA$20/mo | — | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 16 | IRIS Staffology Payroll | No | £43/mo | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Xero Payroll vs RUN Powered by ADP
- Xero Payroll vs QuickBooks Payroll
- Xero Payroll vs Sage Payroll
- Xero Payroll vs Gusto
- Xero Payroll vs ADP Workforce Now
- Xero Payroll vs Paylocity
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update