OnPay vs QuickBooks Payroll: Pricing and Features Compared (2026)
At 10 employees, OnPay lists around $109 per month versus about $120 for QuickBooks Payroll at entry tier, a difference of $11 per month, as of November 2026. OnPay publishes its prices; QuickBooks Payroll publishes its prices. OnPay is the better fit when: small businesses, farms, nonprofits and restaurants that want the lowest all-in price with no surprise fees, and free white-glove setup. QuickBooks Payroll is the better fit when: businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Prices verified November 2026
Price at a glance
| OnPay | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Payroll Essentials | Workforce Payroll (Core) |
| Base fee / month | $49 | $50 |
| Per employee / month | $6 | $7 |
| 1 employee | $55 | $57 |
| 5 employees | $79 | $85 |
| 10 employees | $109 | $120 |
| 25 employees | $199 | $225 |
| 50 employees | $349 | $400 |
| Pricing published? | Yes, fully | Yes, fully |
| Billing | Flat monthly base plus per worker paid that month; unlimited runs | Monthly base plus per employee; QuickBooks Online accounting subscription sold separately |
| Contract | Month to month; first month free | Month to month; frequent 50%-off-for-3-months promotions |
| Support | Phone, chat and email with US-based staff; setup and data migration done for you | Chat and phone; expert setup review on Premium and Elite |
Quote-only providers shown as estimates from publicly reported quotes. See each provider page for the estimate basis.
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| Feature | OnPay | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Federal & state tax filing | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited payroll runs | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-state payroll | Yes | add-on |
| 1099 contractors | Yes | Yes |
| Health benefits | Yes | Yes |
| HR tools | add-on | Premium+ |
| Time tracking | add-on | Premium+ |
| Same-day deposit | No | Premium+ |
| PEO option | No | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Choose OnPay if
Small businesses, farms, nonprofits and restaurants that want the lowest all-in price with no surprise fees, and free white-glove setup.
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if
Businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
OnPay strengths and weaknesses
- Single $49 + $6 plan includes multi-state, year-end forms and unlimited runs
- Free setup and migration from your old provider
- Industry-specific payroll for restaurants, farms, nonprofits and churches
- HR, time tracking and live HR support are paid add-ons
- Fewer integrations than Gusto or Rippling
- No PEO option
QuickBooks Payroll strengths and weaknesses
- Seamless sync with QuickBooks Online; no journal entries to reconcile
- Tax penalty protection on Elite (Intuit pays penalties from its errors, up to a cap)
- Frequent introductory discounts
- Per-employee fees rose in 2025 and again in 2026
- Core tier does not file local taxes
- Requires a separate QuickBooks Online subscription for full value
Get quotes from both OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll
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- Prices verified November 2026
Other comparisons
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- Paychex vs Gusto
- Paychex vs OnPay
- Paychex vs QuickBooks Payroll
- Paychex vs Rippling
- Gusto vs OnPay
- Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll
- Gusto vs Rippling
- OnPay vs Rippling
- QuickBooks Payroll vs Rippling
Frequently asked questions
Is OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll cheaper?
At list price for 10 employees, OnPay is cheaper by about $11 per month (published price). Both publish prices, so the comparison holds unless you need higher tiers.
Which is easier to use, OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll?
OnPay is generally rated easier for owners who run payroll themselves. QuickBooks Payroll leans on human support and setup help instead.
Can I switch from OnPay to QuickBooks Payroll?
Yes. Most providers migrate your employee data and year-to-date totals for free. Switching at a quarter boundary is cleanest. See our guide to switching payroll providers.
Sources
- OnPay pricing page, read November 2026
- QuickBooks Payroll pricing page, read November 2026