Compare Paychex and QuickBooks Desktop Payroll 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (75.5% of reviews)
Small-Business (84.0% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Contact Vendor for Pricing
$500.00 Per Year
Paychex
Star Rating
(1,640)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (75.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Contact Vendor for Pricing
Learn more about PaychexQuickBooks Desktop Payroll
Star Rating
(50)4.2 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (84.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Not enough data
Entry-Level Pricing
$500.00 Per Year
Browse all 2 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Paychex excels in providing a user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage payroll tasks. One user highlighted the ability to see their paycheck in real time and appreciated having a central location for pay and benefits.
- Users say QuickBooks Desktop Payroll offers a high level of control over payroll processes, allowing them to handle information independently without relying on external deadlines. This flexibility is particularly valued by users who prefer to manage their payroll setups without additional registration hurdles.
- According to verified reviews, Paychex stands out for its customizability, with users praising the ability to create tailored reports and dashboards. One reviewer mentioned the ease of reaching out to a dedicated account representative for assistance in generating specific reports, enhancing the overall experience.
- Reviewers mention that QuickBooks Desktop Payroll shines in its time entry and processing dashboard, which users find intuitive and efficient. This feature simplifies the payroll process, making it easier to make corrections and prepare reports according to individual preferences.
- Users highlight that Paychex provides a smooth experience when adding candidates for payroll, which is crucial for businesses that frequently onboard new employees. This ease of use contributes to a more efficient payroll management process.
- G2 reviewers note that while both products have their strengths, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll has a slight edge in ease of setup and administration, with users appreciating the straightforward payroll setup process and the ability to manage user roles and access effectively.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
Annual billing
$500.00
Per Year
- +$5/employee per month
Free Trial
Paychex
No trial information availableQuickBooks Desktop Payroll
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.7
1,311
9.3
33
Ease of Use
8.5
1,372
8.9
33
Ease of Setup
8.3
984
8.6
14
Ease of Admin
8.5
961
9.3
14
Quality of Support
8.3
1,266
8.2
33
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
959
8.0
14
Product Direction (% positive)
7.5
1,289
7.7
30
Features by Category
Core HR
8.1
114
Not enough data
7.9
107
Not enough data
7.8
53
Not enough data
8.1
77
Not enough data
8.4
114
Not enough data
7.8
115
Not enough data
Generative AI
4.3
5
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Expense Reports
8.4
40
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
32
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.1
26
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
37
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.4
19
|
Verified
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Expense Management
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Travel Management
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.5
16
|
Verified
Not enough data
Client Invoicing
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.2
75
|
Verified
Not enough data
Mobile
7.6
25
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
21
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Platform
7.7
13
Not enough data
7.8
24
|
Verified
Not enough data
Administration
8.5
26
|
Verified
Not enough data
Administration
8.0
134
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
136
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
140
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
130
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
198
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
216
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
98
|
Verified
Not enough data
6.9
34
Not enough data
8.2
207
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
148
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
75
|
Verified
Not enough data
Employee Self Service
8.6
851
|
Verified
8.6
17
|
Verified
8.0
543
|
Verified
7.3
11
|
Verified
8.3
526
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
Administration
8.7
857
|
Verified
9.5
28
|
Verified
7.9
560
|
Verified
8.3
21
|
Verified
9.3
929
|
Verified
9.8
19
|
Verified
8.5
405
|
Verified
9.2
19
|
Verified
8.9
776
|
Verified
8.7
20
|
Verified
8.7
560
|
Verified
8.9
18
|
Verified
8.6
454
|
Verified
9.2
12
|
Verified
9.1
779
|
Verified
9.3
23
|
Verified
9.1
828
|
Verified
8.9
17
|
Verified
Taxes
9.1
876
|
Verified
9.4
27
|
Verified
9.0
831
|
Verified
9.2
22
|
Verified
9.1
824
|
Verified
8.5
16
|
Verified
Integration
7.7
261
|
Verified
8.6
7
|
Verified
7.7
300
|
Verified
7.6
15
|
Verified
7.6
304
|
Verified
9.0
14
|
Verified
7.6
262
|
Verified
8.8
10
|
Verified
Platform
8.6
858
|
Verified
9.2
23
|
Verified
8.6
837
|
Verified
9.1
21
|
Verified
8.7
873
|
Verified
8.9
24
|
Verified
8.7
725
|
Verified
8.9
19
|
Verified
Benefits Administration Platform Features
8.2
231
Not enough data
7.9
194
Not enough data
7.0
111
Not enough data
8.3
171
Not enough data
8.5
188
Not enough data
8.2
224
Not enough data
8.4
210
Not enough data
7.9
151
Not enough data
Benefits Administration Platform Features
8.2
231
Not enough data
7.9
194
Not enough data
7.0
111
Not enough data
8.3
171
Not enough data
8.5
188
Not enough data
8.2
224
Not enough data
8.4
210
Not enough data
8.3
222
Not enough data
7.9
151
Not enough data
7.6
101
Not enough data
5.8
19
Not enough data
6.7
23
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Compliance
6.7
10
Not enough data
6.7
8
Not enough data
6.7
10
Not enough data
Platform
6.5
9
Not enough data
7.0
9
Not enough data
6.5
9
Not enough data
Support
6.2
10
Not enough data
7.0
9
Not enough data
6.9
8
Not enough data
6.5
11
Not enough data
6.9
12
Not enough data
6.0
13
Not enough data
6.0
12
Not enough data
Automation
7.3
25
Not enough data
Logistics
7.9
30
Not enough data
7.5
27
Not enough data
6.7
25
Not enough data
Management
6.5
19
Not enough data
7.4
20
Not enough data
7.7
25
Not enough data
8.0
30
Not enough data
8.1
30
Not enough data
8.4
31
Not enough data
7.6
28
Not enough data
Monitoring
7.6
25
Not enough data
7.6
26
Not enough data
7.1
26
Not enough data
Basics
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Additional Functionality
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Content
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Recruiting and Onboarding
6.7
20
Not enough data
6.6
49
Not enough data
7.5
21
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Background Check Administration
8.0
20
Not enough data
8.2
10
Not enough data
8.0
10
Not enough data
Background Check Data
7.8
9
Not enough data
6.9
7
Not enough data
7.8
9
Not enough data
Background Check Additional Functionality
6.7
8
Not enough data
6.5
8
Not enough data
5.2
7
Not enough data
AI Insight Check - Background Check
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
AI Investigation and Verification - Background Check
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Content
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Additional Functionality
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Performance reviews
5.0
8
Not enough data
6.9
9
Not enough data
5.6
8
Not enough data
Goals
6.0
8
Not enough data
6.2
7
Not enough data
Feedback
6.5
9
Not enough data
6.5
8
Not enough data
6.5
8
Not enough data
6.0
7
Not enough data
Data
6.7
8
Not enough data
6.7
9
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Performance Management
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Reports
6.5
10
Not enough data
6.5
10
Not enough data
6.3
10
Not enough data
7.8
10
Not enough data
Cleaning
5.9
11
Not enough data
7.2
9
Not enough data
7.8
9
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
6.5
8
Not enough data
5.2
8
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Sourcing
8.0
15
Not enough data
8.2
13
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Candidate Management - Applicant Tracking System
8.1
15
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
AI - Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Onboarding
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Platform Content
8.0
106
Not enough data
8.2
114
Not enough data
8.2
95
Not enough data
7.6
47
Not enough data
7.0
46
Not enough data
7.1
45
Not enough data
Platform Additional Functionality
8.4
129
Not enough data
7.5
51
Not enough data
7.9
60
Not enough data
7.8
82
Not enough data
7.9
100
Not enough data
Platform Data
7.6
56
Not enough data
7.9
77
Not enough data
7.6
64
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Recruiting and Onboarding
6.6
49
Not enough data
8.3
116
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance
Not enough data
Not enough data
Course Authoring
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Course Delivery
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Course Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
LMS Marketplace
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Interface
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Training & eLearning
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Corporate Learning Management Systems
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Time Tracking
8.3
217
Not enough data
8.3
131
Not enough data
8.4
94
Not enough data
Client Invoicing
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.2
75
|
Verified
Not enough data
Mobile Time Tracking
8.3
150
Not enough data
Administration
8.0
134
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
136
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
140
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
130
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
198
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
216
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
98
|
Verified
Not enough data
6.9
34
Not enough data
8.2
207
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
148
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
75
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Workforce Management Platform Features
8.8
31
Not enough data
8.0
27
Not enough data
8.6
68
Not enough data
8.4
67
Not enough data
8.4
29
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.8
41
Not enough data
9.0
59
Not enough data
7.7
27
Not enough data
8.2
38
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
311
Not enough data
7.4
164
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
399
Not enough data
8.5
409
Not enough data
8.0
291
Not enough data
8.2
400
Not enough data
8.4
423
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Paychex and QuickBooks Desktop Payroll are categorized as Payroll
Unique Categories
Paychex is categorized as Candidate Relationship Management, Time Tracking, PEO Providers, Time & Attendance, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Benefits Administration, Performance Management, Workforce Management, Background Check, HR Analytics, Corporate Learning Management Systems, Employee Perks, Onboarding, Core HR, Expense Management, HCM Software, and Employee Recognition
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll has no unique categories
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Paychex
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Non-Profit Organization Management
7.0%
Construction
6.2%
Hospital & Health Care
4.7%
Real Estate
3.9%
Retail
3.9%
Other
74.3%
Non-Profit Organization Management
14.0%
Accounting
8.0%
Construction
6.0%
Capital Markets
4.0%
Financial Services
4.0%
Other
64.0%
Discussions
We have reduced employees, yet still pay the same bi-monthly fee. Shouldn't it be lower?
7 Comments
EG
There is probably a base rate, determined by a minimum number of employees. As long as you have more than the minimum number of employees, the fee would be...Read more
Paycheck Stubs
3 Comments
EG
15 minutes does not seem like an inordinate amount of time for a payroll to be processed, especially if you are submitting it on a day when a multitude of...Read more
Could you gear the instructions to the CLIENT instead of the PayChex representative?
2 Comments
EG
Paychex provided a printout that we give to employees that tells them how to set up their accounts. When I set up the company's online account a few years...Read more
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll has no discussions with answers
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