SurePayroll vs OnPay: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
SurePayroll
Simple online payroll from Paychex for small businesses under 10 employees. AutoPilot runs payroll automatically every cycle.
OnPay
8.3(1,400 reviews)
Straightforward payroll and HR for small businesses. One plan at $40/month + $6/person with no feature gating or upsells.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | SurePayroll | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll | Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $19.99/mo | $40/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
Pros & Cons
SurePayroll
Pros
- AutoPilot runs payroll automatically every cycle — truly set-it-and-forget-it
- Very competitive pricing for businesses under 10 employees
- Backed by Paychex tax compliance infrastructure — bulletproof tax filing
- Nanny/household payroll option fills a niche most competitors ignore
- Two-day free trial lets you test with real data before committing
Cons
- No benefits brokerage — health insurance must be arranged separately
- No built-in time tracking — need a separate tool or manual entry
- Interface is functional but outdated compared to Gusto and Rippling
- Customer support limited to business hours Eastern time only
- Not built to scale — starts feeling cramped past 10-15 employees
OnPay
Pros
- One plan with everything included — no feature gating, no tiers, no surprise upsells
- Transparent pricing at $40/month + $6/person makes budgeting dead simple
- Free accountant dashboard lets CPAs manage multiple client payrolls from one login
- Rock-solid QuickBooks and Xero integrations that sync without manual intervention
- US-based customer support with dedicated specialists who actually know payroll
Cons
- No international payroll — US only, no contractor payments abroad
- Mobile app is functional but limited compared to desktop experience
- Reporting is basic — standard reports only, no custom report builder
- No 24/7 support — business hours only, which is tough for after-hours emergencies
- Limited scalability past 100 employees — features plateau for larger companies
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| SurePayroll | subscription | $19.99/mo |
| OnPay | subscription | $40/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose SurePayroll if...
Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll
Choose OnPay if...
Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.