- Verified by BizGlocal
One Flat, Published Payroll Price With Multi-State Filing, Unlimited Runs And Specialized Industry Support Included
- 200+ Employees
- Founded In 2011
- Atlanta, GA
- Serves 20+ Industries
About OnPay
Industry leader in connected fleet operations
Market Position
A growth-stage small business payroll provider serving 25,000+ US employers, backed by a $63 million Series B led by Carrick Capital Partners and more than $165 million in total equity and debt.
Innovation Focus
Keeping enterprise-style payroll and HR features inside one low-cost plan, with a modular HR add-on launched in February 2026 and tax filings for niche forms such as 943 and 8846.
Core Strengths
Flat per-worker pricing, multi-state payroll at no extra cost, unlimited runs, free setup and migration, and industry-specific tax handling for farms, restaurants, nonprofits and churches.
Use Cases
Small businesses of 1 to 100 workers, agricultural employers with seasonal or H-2A labor, restaurants with tipped staff, nonprofits and houses of worship, and accounting firms running client payroll.
Core Products & Solutions
Full-Service Payroll
Unlimited pay runs and schedules, off-cycle runs and run cancellations at no extra charge, with pay by direct deposit, prepaid debit card or printed check. Employees and 1099 contractors are paid from the same account.
Automated Tax Filing And Year-End Forms
OnPay calculates, pays and files federal, state and local payroll taxes in all 50 states, and produces W-2s and 1099s, backed by a tax calculation accuracy guarantee. Multi-state payroll is included in the base price rather than reserved for a higher tier.
Industry-Specific Payroll Handling
Farms get Form 943 filing, agricultural minimum wage handling and H-2A worker support; restaurants get tip minimum wage makeup and Form 8846 preparation; nonprofits and churches get FUTA exemptions and clergy parsonage and FICA handling.
HR Add-On
Launched in February 2026, the optional HR module adds document management, customizable templates, PTO request workflows, an employee directory, org charts and software provisioning, with compliance updates and live HR support as further options.
Time Tracking And PTO
An optional time tracking module feeds hours into payroll, and PTO policies support up to three accrual tiers. Businesses already using Deputy, When I Work or QuickBooks Time can sync hours instead.
Benefits, Integrations And Employee Self-Service
Health, dental, vision, 401(k) and pay-as-you-go workers' comp are administered in-app, with only plan premiums charged. Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, Guideline, Vestwell and Mineral, and employees view pay stubs and tax forms through a self-service portal.
Pricing Overview
Payroll Essentials (Core Plan)
Small businesses that need full-service payroll and tax filing, 1 to 100 workers
$49/mo
$49 per month base plus $6 per worker per month ($55 per month minimum for one worker)
- Unlimited pay runs, off-cycle runs and cancellations
- Federal, state and local tax filings in all 50 states
- W-2s, 1099s and year-end filings included
- Direct deposit, debit card or check payments
- Free account setup and historical data migration
- Phone, chat and email support, weekdays 9am to 8pm ET
Payroll + HR + Time Tracking Bundle
Growing teams that want hours and people management in the same system
$70/mo
$70 per month base plus $10 per worker per month (published saving of $9 base and $2 per worker versus buying separately)
- Everything in Payroll Essentials
- HR add-on: documents, templates, PTO workflows, org charts
- Time tracking synced to payroll
- Employee directory and onboarding
- PTO policies with up to three accrual tiers
- Benefits administration with premiums only
All-Inclusive Bundle
Businesses that want HR compliance help without an in-house HR team
$130/mo
$130 per month base plus $10 per worker per month (published saving of $24 base and $2 per worker versus separate add-ons)
- Everything in the HR and time tracking bundle
- Compliance resources (normally $10 per month)
- Live HR support (normally $65 per month)
- HR template library and compliance updates
- Multi-state payroll and tax filing
- Free migration and no setup fees
Who Is OnPay Best For?
Small Businesses
1-25 EmployeesOnPay's strongest fit: at 10 workers the core plan costs about $109 per month with multi-state filing, unlimited runs and free migration included, and reviewers on Software Advice cluster in the 2 to 10 employee range.
Mid-Market Companies
26-100 EmployeesA good fit for straightforward payroll with W-2 and 1099 workers across several states, but the per-worker fee scales linearly with no volume discount and there are no higher tiers with dedicated advisors.
Enterprise Companies
100+ EmployeesGenerally not the right fit, since OnPay has no enterprise plan, no customizable plans for larger employers, US-only coverage and fewer integrations than platforms such as ADP or Rippling.
Agriculture, Restaurants And Nonprofits
Any SizeOnPay's standout specialty: Form 943 and H-2A support for farms, tip makeup and Form 8846 for restaurants, and FUTA and clergy tax handling for nonprofits and churches, all on the same flat price.
Measurable Impact & Benefits
$49
+ $6 Per Worker
One published monthly price for full-service payroll, with multi-state filing included.
1 Month
Free
New customers pay nothing for their first month of service.
4.9/5
Value For Money
Capterra reviewers' score for value, OnPay's highest-rated attribute on the site.
0.55 Months
To Go Live
G2 users report going live in about two weeks, against a 2.09 month payroll category average.
5.65 Months
Estimated ROI
G2 users' estimated payback period, versus 11.04 months for the payroll category.
96%
Likely To Recommend
G2 likelihood-to-recommend score, compared with an 89% category average.
98%
Meets Requirements
G2 score for meeting requirements, versus a 91% payroll category average.
2.5 Hours
Per Payroll
Elements Massage franchise owner cut payroll processing from days to 2.5 hours after switching.
OnPay Real reviews
Our Rating:
4.8/5
- Verified Users
- Verified Users
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OnPay’s Pros & Cons
Balanced evaluation to help you make an informed decision
Strengths
- Fully published pricing of $49 per month plus $6 per worker, with the first month free
- Multi-state payroll, off-cycle runs and run cancellations included at no extra cost
- Free account setup and historical data migration
- Specialized tax handling for farms, restaurants, nonprofits and churches on the base plan
- Seasonal and inactive workers are not billed in months they are not paid
- 4.8 out of 5 on G2 and Capterra, with value for money rated 4.9 on Capterra
- Fast go-live, averaging about two weeks according to G2 users
Limitations
- Not the lowest sticker price: Square Payroll ($35 plus $6) and Patriot Full Service ($37 plus $5) are cheaper at small headcounts
- Direct deposit takes 2 or 4 business days based on risk review, with no next-day or on-demand pay option
- Support runs weekdays 9am to 8pm ET only, with no weekend coverage
- No native mobile app; the platform is a mobile-friendly website
- US-only, with a narrower integration catalog than Gusto or Rippling
- Trustpilot (3.9) and BBB reviews cite slow responses on complex issues and cancellation or billing friction
Our Verdict
OnPay earns its Best in Pricing placement on value and predictability rather than on having the cheapest rate in the market. Its single $49 plus $6 per worker plan matches Gusto's entry-level Simple price but includes multi-state payroll, which Gusto charges $80 plus $12 per worker for, and it adds free migration, unlimited off-cycle runs, industry-specific tax forms and a first month free. Every add-on and bundle is priced publicly, seasonal workers are not billed when idle, and Capterra users rate its value at 4.9 out of 5. Buyers should be clear that Square Payroll and Patriot Software undercut OnPay's headline price for single-state employers with simple needs, and that OnPay's HR and time tracking modules now cost extra. Direct deposit on a 2 or 4 day cycle, weekday-only support and complaints about cancellation and complex issue handling on Trustpilot and BBB are real drawbacks. For US small businesses of roughly 1 to 50 workers, particularly farms, restaurants, nonprofits and multi-state employers, OnPay offers one of the clearest cost-to-feature ratios in small business payroll.
Resources
Resources & Documentation
Detailed materials for deeper evaluation
OnPay Pricing Page
Published base, per-worker, add-on and bundle pricing for payroll, HR and time tracking.
OnPay Pricing Help Center Article
Billing rules for zero-dollar employees, mailed year-end forms, sales tax and run cancellations.
Federal, State And Local Forms OnPay Files
Help center list of every tax form OnPay files on a customer's behalf.
Farm And Agriculture Payroll Overview
How OnPay handles Form 943, H-2A workers and seasonal worker billing.
Form 943 Instructions Guide
OnPay's walkthrough of the annual agricultural employer tax return.
FICA Tip Credit Guide For Employers
OnPay's explanation of the restaurant tip credit and Form 8846.
G2 Summer 2026 Payroll Results Index Summary
OnPay's summary of its G2 go-live, ROI and satisfaction benchmarks.
OnPay Client Stories
Case studies from franchises, construction firms, fitness studios and schools.
What to Know
What to Know Before Buying
-
Gather prior-quarter payroll registers, tax IDs and state account numbers before onboarding -
Expect a risk review that sets your direct deposit cycle at 2 or 4 business days
-
Time the switch to a quarter start to simplify year-to-date tax reconciliation
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OnPay connects to QuickBooks Online, Xero, Deputy, When I Work, QuickBooks Time, Guideline and Vestwell, but its catalog is smaller than Gusto's, and some G2 reviewers report QuickBooks sync friction.
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There is one plan with linear per-worker pricing and no enterprise tier or dedicated advisor, so companies approaching 100+ employees or needing international payroll should look at larger platforms.
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Tax filings, multi-state payroll and off-cycle runs are included, but mailed year-end forms cost $10 per form, sales tax applies in many states, and HR ($15 plus $2 per worker) and time tracking ($15 plus $4 per worker) are paid add-ons.
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Free historical data migration lowers switching cost, but you must still close out tax accounts or update agent authorizations with your previous provider and confirm year-to-date totals.
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OnPay bills monthly and does not advertise any setup, implementation or cancellation fees, though some Trustpilot reviewers report billing continuing after cancellation, so request written confirmation when you cancel.
Alternatives
Compare Alternatives
See how OnPay stacks up against competitors
Both start at $49 plus $6 per worker, but Gusto's Simple plan is single-state and needs the $80 plus $12 Plus plan for multi-state and next-day pay, while Gusto offers a larger integration catalog.
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FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OnPay
OnPay charges $49 per month plus $6 per worker per month, so one worker costs $55 and ten workers cost about $109. Multi-state tax filings, W-2s, 1099s and unlimited pay runs are included, and HR, time tracking and compliance add-ons are priced separately.
Yes. OnPay gives new customers their first month of service free, and third-party reviewers report no credit card is needed to start setup.
OnPay does not charge for tax filings, multi-state payroll, off-cycle runs or pay run cancellations. Costs to plan for are $10 per form for mailed year-end forms, sales tax in many states, and optional add-ons.
OnPay only charges the $6 fee for workers included in a pay run that month, so seasonal staff who are not paid are not billed. A worker included in a run with zero earnings is still billed.
Yes. OnPay files Form 943 and supports H-2A workers for farms, handles tip minimum wage makeup and Form 8846 for restaurants, and manages FUTA and clergy tax rules for nonprofits and churches.
OnPay assigns a 2 or 4 business day direct deposit cycle based on a risk review, and it does not offer next-day or on-demand pay.
OnPay does not have a dedicated native app; employers and employees use a mobile-friendly web platform to run payroll and view pay stubs and tax forms.
Gusto offers a larger integration catalog but charges more for multi-state payroll, Square Payroll and Patriot Software have lower base prices, and ADP RUN and QuickBooks Payroll suit businesses wanting larger-vendor ecosystems.