Pricing
subscription
Best For
Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games
Rating
8.3/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
OnPay is the anti-complexity payroll tool. One plan, one price, all features included. At $40/month + $6/person, you get full-service payroll, benefits administration, onboarding, and HR tools. No tiered pricing, no surprise upsells, no haggling with sales reps. It won't wow you with fancy automation or AI features, but it will process your payroll correctly every two weeks without drama. That's exactly what most small businesses actually need.
What is OnPay?
Payroll Without the Upsell
OnPay started in 2007 in Atlanta and has quietly built a loyal following among small businesses and accountants. They process payroll for over 14,000 businesses. The pitch is refreshing: one plan, transparent pricing, every feature included. In an industry where ADP, Paychex, and even Gusto try to push you up tiers, OnPay just gives you everything upfront.
What You Get for $40 + $6/Person
Full-service payroll with unlimited pay runs. Automatic tax filing in all 50 states. Direct deposit, including 2-day processing. W-2 and 1099 generation and filing. Employee self-service portal. Onboarding workflows. PTO tracking. Document storage. Benefits administration including health, dental, vision, and 401(k). Custom pay schedules — weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly. Multi-state payroll. All of it, one price. No "contact sales for premium features."
Accountant-Friendly by Design
OnPay has deliberately courted accountants and bookkeepers. The platform offers a free accountant dashboard where CPAs manage multiple client payrolls from one login. Integrations with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero sync payroll data automatically. For small accounting firms that handle payroll for dozens of clients, this centralized management is a significant time saver.
The Honest Limitations
OnPay isn't trying to be Rippling. There's no IT management, no advanced workflow automation, no international payroll. The reporting is functional but not deep — you get standard payroll reports, not custom analytics dashboards. The mobile app works for basic tasks but lacks some features available on desktop. Customer support is US-based and solid during business hours, but there's no 24/7 option. For businesses over 100 employees, you'll likely outgrow it.
Why Accountants Recommend It
Talk to any CPA who works with small businesses, and OnPay comes up constantly. The transparent pricing makes it easy to recommend to clients. The QuickBooks integration works reliably. The interface is clean enough that non-technical business owners don't need hand-holding after the first payroll.
Pros and Cons
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
OnPay Pricing
OnPay
- Full-service payroll
- Unlimited pay runs
- Tax filing in all 50 states
- Benefits administration
- Onboarding workflows
- PTO tracking
- Employee self-service
- Accountant dashboard
Pricing last verified: March 25, 2026
Who is OnPay Best For?
- Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games
- Accounting firms managing payroll for multiple small business clients
- Business owners who value transparent pricing over flashy features
- Companies already using QuickBooks or Xero that want tight payroll integration
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
OnPay scores 8.3/10. It stands out for one plan with everything included — no feature gating, no tiers, no surprise upsells. Best suited for small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games. Keep in mind that no international payroll — us only, no contractor payments abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis