Square Payroll

Compare Square Payroll to Gusto, TriNet Zenefits, and QuickBooks Payroll. Includes a detailed review, pricing, key information, and FAQs.

Updated on May 16th, 2024

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Square's online payroll solution, Square Payroll, makes it easy for businesses of all sizes to manage their payroll processes online. Users of the software can pay their employees and keep up with state and federal employment taxes.

Also Consider

Gusto Payroll Software

Set up an account free.

Try Gusto

No extra fees.

Made for mobile.

Auto tax filing and digital paystubs.

At-a-Glance:

Feature

Pay Contractors Only

Pay Employees & Contractors

Price

$6.00 /contractor /mo.

$35.00 /mo. +$6.00 /employee /mo.

Unlimited payroll

Pay 1099 contractors

Pay W-2 employees

x

Automated federal tax

x

Automated state tax

x

Mobile app

Individual online accounts

Direct deposit

Automated payroll

x

Benefit deductions

x

Review:

Square Payroll is a user-friendly, competitively priced solution suitable for small businesses looking for a simple and convenient way to pay their employees and contractors. It has all of the expected standard payroll features, such as automated taxes, compliance management, payroll reports, vacation tracking, and phone and email support.

Pros:

  • Both of Square's plans include unlimited pay runs per month and can be canceled at any time.
  • The full-service payroll plan includes automatic payroll tax calculations, all tax filings, and multistate payroll.
  • Built-in timesheets make it easy for users to log and track work hours.
  • The software integrates with the Square POS system as well as multiple accounting and time-tracking platforms.
  • Customers can get live support from payroll services specialists to assist with account setup.

Cons:

  • Square Payroll does not have an employee database where employee information can be recorded and managed.
  • The platform does not feature onboarding tools to make it easier to add new employees to a payroll system.

Reputation:

Square, Inc. is widely respected in the world of financial services for its leading software solutions, particularly Square POS, which is a favorite among small business owners. Square has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau but there are several complaints from customers regarding the poor quality of Square's customer service.

On TrustRadius, Square Payroll has a 6.1-star rating based on almost a dozen reviews. While users generally found the software easy to use and lauded some of the automated features, some found that the reporting feature needs improving. On G2, more than 25 users gave the platform a 4.2-star rating.

Pricing:

Plan

Monthly Pricing

Pay Contractors Only

$6.00 /contractor.

Pay Employees & Contractors

$35.00 +$6.00 /employee.

Square Payroll vs. Gusto
Square Payroll vs. Gusto:

Square Payroll is slightly more affordable than Gusto, starting at $35.00 per month +$6.00 per employee per month, but of the two sites, only Gusto has a 1-month free trial. While Square Payroll only has one full-service payroll plan, Gusto offers three full-service packages for different business needs.

Comparison Between Square Payroll and Gusto:

Feature

Square Payroll

Gusto

Full payroll price

$35.00 /mo +$6.00 /mo. /employee.

From $40.00 /mo +$6.00 /mo. /employee.

Unlimited pay runs

Tax filings

Multistate payroll

Direct deposit

Employee database

x

Lifetime accounts

x

Payroll reports

Square Payroll vs. TriNet Zenefits
Square Payroll vs. TriNet Zenefits:

Square Payroll, TriNet Zenefits charges separately for payroll per employee whereas the former includes payroll in the base monthly price. Of the two, Square Payroll is the more cost-effective option for small to mid-sized businesses, but only TriNet Zenefits features an employee database and lifetime accounts.

Comparison Between Square Payroll and TriNet Zenefits:

Feature

Square Payroll

TriNet Zenefits +Essentials

Full payroll price

$35.00 /mo +$5.00 /mo. /employee.

From $10.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

Unlimited pay runs

Tax filings

Multistate payroll

Direct deposit

Employee database

x

Lifetime accounts

x

Payroll reports

Square Payroll vs. QuickBooks Payroll
Square Payroll vs. QuickBooks Payroll:

Like Square Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll is available as a standalone solution. QuickBooks Payroll is the costlier option of the two services, starting at $45.00 per month +$6.00 per employee per month. However, it offers features that Square Payroll lacks, such as year-round record-keeping and an employee database.

Comparison Between Square Payroll and QuickBooks Payroll:

Feature

Square Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

Full payroll price

From $35.00 /mo +$5.00 /mo. /employee.

From $45.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee.

Unlimited pay runs

Tax filings

Multistate payroll

Direct deposit

Employee database

x

Lifetime accounts

x

x

Payroll reports

Key Information:

Legal Name

Square, Inc.

Founder

Jack Dorsey

Founding Date

Feb 01, 2009

Address

1455 Market St., Ste. 600, San Francisco, CA 94103

Number of Employees

5477

Number of Customers

30000000

Telephone

1 (415) 375-3176

Website

https://squareup.com/us/en

FAQs:

What is Square Payroll?

Square Payroll is an online solution offered by Square, Inc. that businesses can use to pay their employees and contractors.

How much does it cost to use Square Payroll?

Square Payroll's pricing starts at $35.00 per month +$6.00 per employee for the full-service payroll solution.

Does Square Payroll pay taxes?

Yes, Square Payroll withholds and remits all taxes on behalf of your business.

How do I set up Square Payroll?

Visit the Square Payroll home page and click on "Get started" to create your account.

How do I get my paystubs from Square?

Square Payroll provides employee accounts that your workers can use to access their paystubs and other important payroll information.

Does Square offer payroll?

Yes, Square Payroll is a popular online payroll tool for businesses of all sizes.

Does Square Payroll integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes, you can sync Square Payroll with QuickBooks from within your Square online account. This can be done by going to "Settings" and clicking on "Connect".

How long does Square direct deposit take?

It can take up to five business days for direct deposits to employees to be processed.

Can employees clock in on Square?

Yes, employees can log in to track time and log hours for you from any location.