Paychex vs QuickBooks Payroll: Pricing and Features Compared (2026)
At 10 employees, Paychex lists around $89 per month versus about $120 for QuickBooks Payroll at entry tier, a difference of $31 per month, as of November 2026. Paychex quotes; QuickBooks Payroll publishes its prices. Paychex is the better fit when: owners who want a named human to call, businesses considering a PEO later, and anyone bundling payroll with workers' comp or retirement. 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
| Paychex | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Flex Essentials | Workforce Payroll (Core) |
| Base fee / month | $39 | $50 |
| Per employee / month | $5 | $7 |
| 1 employee | $44 | $57 |
| 5 employees | $64 | $85 |
| 10 employees | $89 | $120 |
| 25 employees | $164 | $225 |
| 50 employees | $289 | $400 |
| Pricing published? | Partly | Yes, fully |
| Billing | Monthly base plus per employee; quarterly and year-end filing fees may apply | Monthly base plus per employee; QuickBooks Online accounting subscription sold separately |
| Contract | Quote-based above Essentials; setup fee is negotiable | Month to month; frequent 50%-off-for-3-months promotions |
| Support | Dedicated payroll specialist on Select and above; 24/7 phone support | 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 | Paychex | 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 | Yes | Premium+ |
| Time tracking | add-on | Premium+ |
| Same-day deposit | add-on | Premium+ |
| PEO option | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Choose Paychex if
Owners who want a named human to call, businesses considering a PEO later, and anyone bundling payroll with workers' comp or retirement.
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if
Businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Paychex strengths and weaknesses
- Dedicated payroll specialist on most tiers; consistently praised in reviews
- Real PEO option (Paychex PEO) when you outgrow basic payroll
- Published entry price ($39 + $5/employee) gives you a floor to negotiate from
- Quarterly filing and year-end form fees are often extra
- Setup fee (commonly ~$200) unless waived
- Only the cheapest tier is publicly priced
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
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- Prices verified November 2026
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paychex or QuickBooks Payroll cheaper?
At list price for 10 employees, Paychex is cheaper by about $31 per month (estimate). Promotions and negotiation can change the result; get written 12-month quotes.
Which is easier to use, Paychex or QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Payroll is generally rated easier for owners who run payroll themselves. Paychex leans on human support and setup help instead.
Can I switch from Paychex 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
- Paychex pricing page, read November 2026
- QuickBooks Payroll pricing page, read November 2026