Compare Paychex and Square Payroll 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (75.5% of reviews)
Small-Business (80.6% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Contact Vendor for Pricing
No pricing available
Paychex
Star Rating
(1,645)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 PaychexSquare Payroll
Star Rating
(31)4.2 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (80.6% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Square PayrollSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Paychex excels in providing a comprehensive payroll experience, with users appreciating its clean, user-friendly interface and the ability to see paychecks in real time. This centralization of pay and benefits is a significant advantage for those managing payroll.
- Users say that Square Payroll stands out for its ease of setup, with many finding the initial onboarding process straightforward. Reviewers highlight how simple it is to input necessary tax information and onboard new employees, making it a solid choice for small businesses.
- According to verified reviews, Paychex offers a high level of customization, allowing users to tailor dashboards and reports to their specific needs. This flexibility is particularly appreciated by those who require detailed insights into their payroll data.
- Reviewers mention that while Square Payroll is praised for its integration capabilities and ease of use, it has fewer features compared to Paychex. Users note that Square simplifies the conversion of timecards into payroll, but some may find it lacking in advanced functionalities.
- G2 reviewers highlight that Paychex's support is a strong point, with many users noting the availability of dedicated account representatives who assist with custom reporting and other inquiries. This level of support can be crucial for businesses needing personalized assistance.
- Users report that while both platforms are user-friendly, Square Payroll has a slight edge in ease of use and time off accrual features, with reviewers appreciating its intuitive design and effective management of employee time off, which can enhance overall payroll efficiency.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Square Payroll
No pricing availableFree Trial
Paychex
No trial information availableSquare Payroll
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.7
1,315
9.1
25
Ease of Use
8.5
1,376
9.0
25
Ease of Setup
8.3
986
Not enough data
Ease of Admin
8.5
963
Not enough data
Quality of Support
8.3
1,269
8.4
21
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
961
Not enough data
Product Direction (% positive)
7.5
1,293
9.0
23
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
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
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
135
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
137
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
141
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
131
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
199
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
217
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
99
|
Verified
Not enough data
6.9
35
Not enough data
8.2
208
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
149
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
76
|
Verified
Not enough data
Employee Self Service
8.6
855
|
Verified
9.0
16
|
Verified
8.0
547
|
Verified
8.6
14
|
Verified
8.3
530
|
Verified
8.3
16
|
Verified
Administration
8.7
861
|
Verified
8.3
18
|
Verified
7.9
563
|
Verified
9.4
13
|
Verified
9.3
933
|
Verified
9.2
19
|
Verified
8.5
407
|
Verified
7.9
14
|
Verified
8.9
780
|
Verified
8.4
15
|
Verified
8.7
564
|
Verified
7.9
14
|
Verified
8.6
458
|
Verified
8.3
15
|
Verified
9.2
783
|
Verified
9.0
16
|
Verified
9.1
832
|
Verified
9.0
15
|
Verified
Taxes
9.1
880
|
Verified
9.0
16
|
Verified
9.0
835
|
Verified
8.6
17
|
Verified
9.1
828
|
Verified
8.8
16
|
Verified
Integration
7.8
264
|
Verified
8.2
16
|
Verified
7.7
303
|
Verified
8.0
17
|
Verified
7.7
307
|
Verified
7.9
15
|
Verified
7.6
266
|
Verified
8.8
11
|
Verified
Platform
8.6
862
|
Verified
8.9
19
|
Verified
8.6
841
|
Verified
8.6
18
|
Verified
8.7
877
|
Verified
8.8
20
|
Verified
8.7
729
|
Verified
8.0
19
|
Verified
Benefits Administration Platform Features
8.2
233
Not enough data
8.0
196
Not enough data
7.0
112
Not enough data
8.3
172
Not enough data
8.5
190
Not enough data
8.2
226
Not enough data
8.4
211
Not enough data
7.9
152
Not enough data
Benefits Administration Platform Features
8.2
233
Not enough data
8.0
196
Not enough data
7.0
112
Not enough data
8.3
172
Not enough data
8.5
190
Not enough data
8.2
226
Not enough data
8.4
211
Not enough data
8.3
223
Not enough data
7.9
152
Not enough data
7.6
102
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
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
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
6.8
21
Not enough data
6.6
50
Not enough data
7.6
22
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
Not enough data
Background Check Administration
8.0
21
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
Platform Basics
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Administration
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Payment Content
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Reports
6.8
11
Not enough data
6.9
12
Not enough data
6.8
12
Not enough data
8.2
12
Not enough data
Cleaning
6.4
13
Not enough data
7.6
11
Not enough data
8.0
11
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
6.9
9
Not enough data
5.7
9
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
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
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
130
Not enough data
7.5
52
Not enough data
7.9
61
Not enough data
7.8
83
Not enough data
7.9
101
Not enough data
Platform Data
7.7
57
Not enough data
7.9
78
Not enough data
7.6
64
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
Not enough data
Recruiting and Onboarding
6.6
50
Not enough data
8.3
117
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
218
Not enough data
8.4
132
Not enough data
8.4
95
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
151
Not enough data
Administration
8.0
135
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
137
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
141
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
131
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
199
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
217
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
99
|
Verified
Not enough data
6.9
35
Not enough data
8.2
208
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
149
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
76
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
Not enough data
Platform
7.5
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
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
312
Not enough data
7.4
165
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.3
400
Not enough data
8.5
410
Not enough data
8.0
292
Not enough data
8.2
401
Not enough data
8.5
424
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Paychex and Square Payroll are categorized as Benefits Administration, Payroll, and Core HR
Unique Categories
Paychex is categorized as Candidate Relationship Management, Time Tracking, PEO Providers, Time & Attendance, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Performance Management, Workforce Management, Background Check, HR Analytics, Corporate Learning Management Systems, Employee Perks, Onboarding, Expense Management, HCM Software, and Employee Recognition
Square Payroll is categorized as Contractor Payments
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Paychex
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Square 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
74.4%
Food & Beverages
29.0%
Retail
16.1%
Accounting
6.5%
Marketing and Advertising
6.5%
Luxury Goods & Jewelry
3.2%
Other
38.7%
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
Square Payroll has no discussions with answers
Hunting for software insights?
With over 3 million reviews, we can provide the specific details that help you make an informed software buying decision for your business. Finding the right product is important, let us help.
