Free Payroll App for Small Business – Top 5!

Find a Free Payroll App for Small Business with this list, ensuring you have the tools needed to manage your payroll efficiently without breaking the bank.

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How to Download a Free Payroll App for Small Business

Before we dive into the top free payroll apps, here’s how you can download these apps for your small business:

1. Open the app store
   • For Android users: Open the Google Play Store.
   • For iPhone/iPad users: Open the Apple App Store.
2. Search for the payroll app
   • Type the app’s name or search using keywords such as “free payroll app for small business.”
3. Select the app
   • Review the app’s description, ratings, and user reviews to ensure it meets your business needs.
4. Install the app
   • Tap the Install (on Android) or Get (on iPhone/iPad) button to download the app to your device.
5. Set up an account
   • After downloading, open the app and follow the setup instructions to create an account, add employees, and start managing payroll.

Now that you know how to download payroll apps, let’s explore the top 5 free payroll apps for small businesses.

Top 5 Free Payroll Apps for Small Business

These five payroll apps offer powerful tools for managing payroll, ensuring tax compliance, and making payments easy for small business owners, all for free or at minimal cost.

1. Gusto (Free Tier)

Gusto is widely recognized as a comprehensive payroll service that simplifies payroll processing and offers many features for small businesses.

Gusto’s free tier provides essential payroll tools, allowing small businesses to manage payroll and employee taxes efficiently.

The free plan is particularly useful for businesses with basic payroll needs, offering a user-friendly interface that guides users through the entire payroll process.

Is it free?

Gusto offers a free tier with limited features, providing a starting point for small businesses that don’t require full-service payroll.

Businesses can upgrade to a paid plan for additional features, such as full tax filings and benefits management.

Where to download?

• Gusto is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Main Features

• Basic Payroll Processing: The free tier allows businesses to calculate employee wages, deduct the necessary taxes, and pay employees through direct deposit or checks.
• Employee Self-Service: Employees can log into their own accounts to view pay stubs, W-2s, and other documents without having to request them from HR or payroll managers.
• Tax Compliance Assistance: Gusto calculates federal, state, and local taxes, helping small businesses avoid costly errors in tax filing.
• Direct Deposit: Businesses can set up direct deposit, allowing employees to receive their wages directly into their bank accounts.

Why Use Gusto?

• Gusto provides an easy-to-use platform that simplifies payroll processing for small businesses.
• The app offers clear guidance through the payroll process, ensuring accuracy and compliance with tax laws.
• Employee self-service features reduce administrative workload.

Drawbacks

• The free plan is somewhat limited in features compared to the paid tiers.
• Businesses with more complex payroll needs may need to upgrade to the full-service plan.

2. Payroll4Free

As its name suggests, Payroll4Free is a completely free payroll solution for small businesses with up to 25 employees.

This app provides a range of essential payroll services, including wage calculations, tax calculations, and even employee management.

It’s a great option for small businesses looking to manage payroll without incurring any additional costs.

While Payroll4Free offers basic payroll services for free, businesses can choose to add optional paid services, such as direct deposit and full tax filings, for a small fee.

Is it free?

Yes, Payroll4Free is free for businesses with up to 25 employees. Additional services, such as direct deposit and tax filings, can be added at a minimal cost.

Where to download?

• Available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Main Features

• Unlimited Payroll Processing: Run payroll as many times as needed for up to 25 employees, without any cost.
• Tax Calculations: Automatically calculate federal, state, and local taxes for each employee.
• Employee Records: Keep track of employee information, including wages, hours worked, and tax data.
• Direct Deposit (Optional): While direct deposit is available for an additional fee, businesses can choose to print checks or make payments manually.

Why Use Payroll4Free?

• It’s completely free for businesses with up to 25 employees, making it ideal for small businesses.
• The app offers tax calculation features that help ensure businesses remain compliant with tax regulations.
• Payroll4Free is easy to set up and use, even for those with little payroll experience.

Drawbacks

• Direct deposit and tax filing services are only available as paid add-ons.
• The app is limited to businesses with fewer than 25 employees.

3. Wave Payroll

Wave is a well-known provider of free financial tools for small businesses, and Wave Payroll is one of its key offerings.

While Wave Payroll itself is not entirely free, it provides a free option for businesses that want to manage payroll manually.

The app allows small businesses to track employee wages and hours, manage benefits, and handle payroll reporting, all while syncing seamlessly with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing tools.

Is it free?

Wave Payroll offers free tools for manual payroll processing, but businesses that want full automation and tax filings will need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Where to download?

• Wave Payroll is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Main Features

• Manual Payroll Management: Businesses can manually calculate and process payroll, making it ideal for companies that prefer more control over their payroll operations.
• Employee Information Management: Track employee wages, hours, benefits, and tax records.
• Seamless Integration with Wave Accounting: Sync payroll data with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing tools for a complete financial management solution.
• Payroll Reports: Generate detailed payroll reports to track expenses, wages, and taxes.

Why Use Wave Payroll?

• It’s a great option for small businesses that already use Wave’s accounting and invoicing tools.
• The app offers free manual payroll management, which is useful for very small businesses with simple payroll needs.
• Wave Payroll integrates smoothly with other Wave financial tools, creating a seamless workflow.

Drawbacks

• Automated payroll features and tax filings require a paid subscription.
• The free version is best suited for businesses with basic payroll needs.

4. SurePayroll (Free Trial)

SurePayroll is a full-service payroll provider that offers a free 30-day trial, allowing small businesses to test its comprehensive payroll services before committing to a paid plan.

SurePayroll is designed for small businesses that need an all-in-one solution for payroll processing, tax filings, and benefits management.

It’s ideal for businesses that want to experience the benefits of full-service payroll without an immediate financial commitment.

Is it free?

SurePayroll offers a 30-day free trial, giving businesses a chance to explore all of its features. After the trial, a paid plan is required to continue using the service.

Where to download?

• Available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Main Features

• Full-Service Payroll: Automatically process payroll, calculate taxes, and manage employee benefits.
• Mobile Payroll: Run payroll from anywhere using your mobile device, making it convenient for on-the-go business owners.
• Tax Filing: SurePayroll handles tax filings and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal tax laws.
• Employee Benefits Management: Manage health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits for your employees.

Why Use SurePayroll?

• Offers a full-service payroll solution with a user-friendly mobile app.
• The 30-day free trial allows you to explore all features without any upfront cost.
• SurePayroll manages compliance and tax filings, reducing the administrative burden on small business owners.

Drawbacks

• A paid plan is required after the free trial ends.
• It may be more expensive than other payroll apps once the trial period is over.

5. Zoho Payroll (Free for Small Teams)

Zoho Payroll is part of Zoho’s comprehensive suite of business management tools and offers a free plan for small businesses with up to 10 employees.

Zoho Payroll provides an automated payroll solution that simplifies wage calculations, tax filings, and employee payments.

It’s ideal for startups or very small businesses that want an easy-to-use payroll system without additional costs.

Is it free?

Yes, Zoho Payroll is free for businesses with up to 10 employees. Larger teams can upgrade to a paid plan for additional features.

Where to download?

• Zoho Payroll is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Main Features

• Automated Payroll Processing: Automatically calculate wages, taxes, and deductions, ensuring timely and accurate payroll.
• Employee Self-Service Portal: Employees can view their pay stubs, tax forms, and other payroll documents through a secure portal.
• Tax Filing and Compliance: Zoho Payroll handles payroll tax filings, ensuring compliance with local laws.
• Direct Deposit: Employees can receive their salaries via direct deposit.

Why Use Zoho Payroll?

• Zoho Payroll is free for small teams of up to 10 employees, making it perfect for startups.
• The app simplifies payroll management with automated features, reducing the need for manual intervention.
• As part of the Zoho suite, it integrates with other Zoho business tools.

Drawbacks

• Free plan is limited to businesses with 10 or fewer employees.
• Larger teams will need to upgrade to a paid plan for additional features.

How to Use Payroll Apps for Small Business

After downloading your preferred payroll app, here’s how to use it effectively:

1. Set Up Your Business Profile
   • Enter your business details, including tax information and pay schedules.
2. Add Employee Information
   • Input employee data, such as wages, hours, benefits, and tax deductions.
3. Run Payroll
   • Schedule payroll runs according to your pay period (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and process payments via direct deposit or checks.
4. Track Tax Compliance
   • Ensure taxes are accurately calculated and filed with the relevant authorities.
5. Generate Reports
   • Use the app’s reporting tools to generate payroll reports, track expenses, and manage tax filings.

In conclusion, these free payroll apps for small business offer valuable features to streamline payroll processes, ensure tax compliance, and save time.

Whether you choose Gusto, Payroll4Free, or Zoho Payroll, each app provides an affordable (or free) way to manage employee payments efficiently.

By integrating one of these apps into your business, you’ll simplify payroll and gain more time to focus on growing your company.