United States · 25-49 employees
Best payroll software for 25-49 employees in the United States, by published cost
For a team of about 35, the lowest published monthly cost we hold is Patriot Software at $157 a month, which is $4.49 per employee per month.
The ordering is monthly cost at 35 employees and nothing else. No vendor pays to appear here or to be placed higher.
| Vendor | Plan and its published condition | Monthly at 35 | Who it fits | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Software | Basic Payroll Standard price; billed in arrears; promo "30 days free + 50% off for 6 months. Offer ends 8/31." (promo: $8.50 | $157 $4.49/employee | the lowest published bill at exactly this size | Figures checked 2026-09-06 |
| Roll by ADP | Roll by ADP "Unlimited payroll for $39 / Month"; no long-term contracts; "No Hidden Fees, No Surprises, No Training&q | $214 $6.11/employee | $57/month above the cheapest here | Figures checked 2026-09-06 |
| Square Payroll | Full-Service Payroll No commitment, no long-term contracts required; optional paper W-2/1099 mailing $3/form/year | $245 $7.00/employee | $88/month above the cheapest here | Figures checked 2026-09-06 |
| Zoho Payroll | Standard Monthly billing shown; annual billing is $29/mo base + $5/employee/mo. "Everything startups and small businesses ne | $249 $7.11/employee | $92/month above the cheapest here | Figures checked 2026-09-06 |
| Wave Payroll | Wave Payroll (US) $6/month per active employee and per independent contractor paid; "No set-up fees or hidden charges"; "30 | $250 $7.14/employee | $93/month above the cheapest here | Figures checked 2026-09-06 |
| None of these yet | — | — | your headcount is about to change, or you have not counted contractors and part-time staff | Run your own number first |
Where the ordering changes
- If you drop below 17 people, Patriot Software moves up — it carries the smallest fixed fee ($17).
- If you pass 105 people, Patriot Software moves up — its per-employee fee is the lowest here at $4.00.
- If none of that applies cleanly, do not pick from this page. Put your real headcount into the calculator and read the two closest vendors' own pages before deciding.
No other adjustment is applied. We do not add estimated tax-filing fees, discounts, or promotional pricing. The full method is at Method.
What is not on this page
Anything that is not a published price. We have not used these products. Vendors that do not publish prices are excluded entirely, which is not the same as saying they are expensive — several of the largest names in this market quote only on request, and they may well come in below anything listed above. The full list shows which ones those are.
Related
- Patriot Software in full
- Patriot Software against Roll by ADP
- The calculator, with your own headcount
- Where the money actually goes
Written by Kaz, independent publisher. No commercial relationship with the companies named unless it is listed on the disclosure page.
Page last updated: 2026-09-06. Sources: vendor pricing pages only. Figures checked between 2026-08-20 and 2026-09-06. I have not used these products. Nothing here is a personal test result.
Ranking method and formulas: Method. Listing position on this site is not for sale.
Corrections: contact form.