OnPay
US small-business payroll and HR platform.
From $49/mo API
Bottom line
US full-service payroll with optional HR, time tracking and benefits. Payroll Essentials is $49/mo base plus $6 per worker.
Stands out for: Published pricing with unlimited pay runs, multi-state filing and year-end forms in the $49 base plan.
Watch out for: The $49 is a base fee: each paid worker adds $6/mo. HR ($15 base plus $2/worker) and time tracking ($15 base plus $4/worker) cost extra.
Overview
OnPay is US full-service payroll for small businesses. The Payroll Essentials base plan covers W-2 and 1099 pay, unlimited pay runs, federal, state and local tax filings, multi-state payroll, year-end W-2s and 1099s, onboarding, benefits administration and support by phone, chat and email. Optional add-ons cover HR tools, time tracking, compliance resources and live HR support.
Teams pick OnPay when they want a clear number without a sales call. Payroll Essentials costs $49 a month base plus $6 per worker. HR adds $15 base plus $2 per worker, time tracking adds $15 base plus $4 per worker, and bundles lower the combined rate. Setup and data migration are included, and accounting software integrations come at no extra charge.
Who it's for
Best for
- US small businesses that want payroll without a quote
- Employers paying W-2 staff and 1099 contractors
- Teams with workers in several states
- Owners who want benefits admin with payroll
Not ideal for
- Companies hiring employees abroad
- Enterprises that need a full HCM suite
Key features
Payroll. Payroll in the same stack as HR and talent.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Essentials | $49/mo + $6/worker | Billed monthly |
| HR add-on | $15/mo + $2/worker | |
| Time Tracking add-on | $15/mo + $4/worker | |
| Compliance Resources | $10/mo | |
| Live HR Support | $65/mo | |
| Bundles | From $70/mo + $10/worker |
Payroll Essentials is $49 a month base plus $6 per worker, billed monthly. Add-ons: HR $15 base plus $2 per worker, time tracking $15 base plus $4 per worker, compliance resources $10, live HR support $65. Bundles start at $70 base plus $10 per worker. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 19 Sep 2026. Vendors change prices without notice.
Is OnPay expensive?
OnPay starts at $49/mo. We list 46 payroll tools in total. 2 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $40 a month.
- 28 quote-based
- 2 free tier
- 13 public price
Worked out automatically from every payroll listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Published $49 base plus $6 per worker
- Unlimited pay runs and multi-state filing
- Free setup and data migration
Cons
- Per-worker fee adds up on larger teams
- HR and time tracking cost extra
- US payroll only
What's new at OnPay
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How OnPay compares
See all OnPay alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | – | $49/mo | – | ✓ | |
| | – | $49/mo | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Sales-quoted | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Sales-quoted | – | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Sales-quoted | – | ✓ | Compare |
$49/mo MCP API
Another published SMB payroll option with HR and benefits.
Sales-quoted MCP API
Payroll plus IT and HR if you need more than a payroll specialist.
Sales-quoted API
Quoted payroll specialist with PEO options for growing firms.
Sales-quoted API
HR-first platform if payroll is only one module you need.
Your next step
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