Best Payroll Software For Mac (2024)

Gusto is a full-service cloud-based payroll software. Its cloud-based platform makes it a great option for Mac and Window users alike. It stands out by offering a full-featured payroll service at affordable pricing. Even its first-tier plan offers tools many competitors’ advanced plans do not, such as unlimited and automated payroll runs, automated tax filings and payments, and benefits management tools.

Gusto’s plans start at $40 (INR 3,200) per month, plus $6 (INR 490) per month per person. Its Simple plan offers unlimited payroll runs, state tax registration, employee portals, onboarding tools, employee benefits management tools and in-depth automated reports. Higher-tiered plans start at $80 (INR 6,500) per month, plus $12 (INR 980) per month per person (reduced to $60 (INR 4,900) per month, plus $9 (INR 735) per month, per person, during its current promotion) and add features such as time tracking and team management tools, advanced onboarding tools and dedicated support.

Who should use it:

Many startups and growing small businesses rely on contract and part-time workers at varying pay rates and pay schedules to make their growth stages and limited budgets work. Gusto offers the ability to run multiple payroll runs throughout the month, accommodate unique pay schedules and arrangements and automate payments. For this reason, it can help small businesses pay on time even when gradually adding the labor needed to thrive.

QuickBooks Payroll offers a robust payroll offering starting at $45 (INR 3600) per month ($22.50, INR 1,800 per month for the first three months during Intuit’s current promotion), plus $5 (INR 400) per month, per employee. QuickBooks currently encourages desktop application users to transition to its online payroll plans via one-way-only transitions. Online plans are accessible on both Mac and PC devices.

QuickBooks Payroll plans stand out by offering not only robust payroll processing tools, but also bundled bookkeeping and accounting tools at prices that are competitive even against comparable providers’ strictly payroll plans. When bundled, bookkeeping and accounting features include income and expense tracking, the ability to send estimates, invoicing tools, cash flow management tools and project profitability tools.

QuickBooks’ bundled payroll plans start at $75 (INR 6,000) per month, includes unlimited payroll runs, e-filing, next-day direct deposit, health benefits management tools and bookkeeping tools, such as cash flow management and expense tracking tools. The highest-tiered plan, Premium + QuickBooks Plus costs $80 (INR 6,500) per month (for three months), then $160 (INR 13,000) per month plus $8 (INR 655) per month per employee and adds same-day direct deposit, bill pay, inventory tracking and project profitability tracking tools.

Who should use it:

Businesses wanting an all-in-one and affordable tool to handle their payroll, accounting and bookkeeping needs should consider QuickBooks.

OnPay is a cloud-based software usable on both Mac and PC devices. It offers robust payroll and human resources (HR) tools. Payroll features include unlimited pay runs, tax filing and payments, the ability to pay employees via multiple pay rates and schedules and employee self-service portals with lifetime access. You can manage workers’ compensation, retirement plans, and health and other such benefits from your account.

OnPay’s HR tools are too numerous to list here. However, among its HR tool offerings are onboarding flows, state new hire reporting, compliance audits, an HR resource library, a searchable directory of employee profiles and contact information and visual organization charts that are automatically updated. All HR and payroll tools are included in OnPay’s plan under one monthly fee, plus a per-person monthly rate.

OnPay only has one plan. It has a base fee of $40 (INR 3,200) per month, plus $6 (INR 490) per person per month. You get your first month free when you sign on with OnPay. All of its advertised services are included in this fee.

Who should use it:

Companies needing both payroll and HR tools in one software should consider OnPay to meet their needs.

Rippling is a cloud-based software available to Mac and PC users. It offers advanced automation features, coupled with over 500 integrations to make managing the employee life cycle seamless and synced across all business platforms. For example, you can onboard a new contract worker, then apply their employee status to all IT systems from one platform, including payroll, HR, finance and integrations such as Slack and Google Workspace.

Rippling’s plans start at $8 (INR 655) per month per user. For an understanding of what your company will pay, you must request a quote. To do so, you must choose the Rippling solutions you want to use. You can choose from Rippling’s automation workforce platform, HR cloud, time and attendance management toolset, benefits administration toolset, applicant tracking toolset, benefits administration add-ons, learning platform, employee feedback toolset and IT cloud.

Who should use it:

Companies looking for a full and customized workforce platform with synced integrations to handle everything from payroll and HR to applicant tracking and employee feedback should consider Rippling.

Justworks is a cloud-based software that is accessible via Apple apps. It is also a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). As such, it can bundle its clients together to get access to enterprise-quality benefits for even its small-business clients. It also helps with payroll administration and offers dedicated support to help you navigate complex compliance issues.

Justworks’ two plans range from $59 (INR 4,800) to $99 (INR 8,100) per month per employee. Its basic plan includes employer payroll tax filings, off-cycle payments, PTO management, HR consulting, an employee app and workers’ benefits at discounted prices. Its plus plan includes other additional services.

Who should use it:

Companies looking for hands-on assistance with HR, payroll and compliance tasks, as well as discounted high-quality employee benefits plans should consider Justworks.

Remote is a cloud-based solution accessible via Apple and PC devices. You can hire and manage international workers and contractors on relevant schedules and in local currencies. Via its live expertise, you can access guidance around local labor, tax and compliance law. Its country-specific benefits can also help you remain compliant and retain talent. Finally, its intellectual and invention rights protection helps you manage risk while hiring internationally.

Remote hires international employees on your behalf, then handles all local payroll, benefits, taxes and clients for you. This means less risk for you and added cost and time savings. However, this type of arrangement is costly. Remote’s EOR services start at $599 (INR 49,000) per employee per month when paid annually. Multi-country support requires you to request a quote. Customized solution quotes are also available.

However, if you only want to hire international contractors, that price drops to an affordable $29 (INR 2,300) per month per employee. This plan offers the ability to hire international contractors, remain compliant with localized contracts and expertise in labor law, pay contractors on their schedules and in their currencies and automatically approve recurring contractor invoices.

Who should use it:

Remote is best for international or global companies wishing to hire a global workforce.

Wave is an all-in-one web-based software accessible on Mac or PC devices for managing small business finances. Its Payroll plans offer direct deposit, contractor and employee payroll, one-click payroll processing, automated tax filings in some states, automatic payroll entries, self-service pay stubs and tax forms and workers’ compensation tools. It also offers plans for payroll coaching.

Wave stands out with free tools to help you maintain the financial health of your business. For example, you can use its free Invoicing plan to create customized and branded invoices, send automated invoice payment reminders and accept credit card, bank payments directly from your invoices. Its free accounting tools further allow you to track unlimited income and expenses, make unlimited bank and credit card payments and access reporting.

Wave Payroll plans start at $20 (INR 1,600) per month and go up to $40 (INR 3,200) per month, depending on your state. In addition to this flat fee, you must also pay $ (INR 490) per active employee or contractor paid.

Who should use it:

Wave Payroll is best for small businesses looking for affordable payroll processing and free tools to help them maintain the financial health of their businesses.

Deluxe is a cloud-based payroll and HR software that can be accessed from Mac or Apple computers. It offers the ability to process payroll for workers, tax filings for any state, digital hiring and onboarding, workflow automations, custom reporting, an employee self-service portal, direct deposit, 24/7 customer support, and cross-company collaboration tools for workflows and employee documentation.

Deluxe’s time and attendance add-on is an advanced feature. When you opt in to On-site time clocks, employees can clock in to or out of your system using card swipe, finger or facial recognition. The system alerts when employees approach overtime and when they need to take breaks to comply with labor laws. To set weekly schedules, you can drag and drop time slots and workers are automatically notified when schedule changes have taken place.

Deluxe has two plans covering payroll. Both plans bundle Payroll and HR tools. The Payroll + HR Essentials plan is $45 (INR 3,600) per month, plus $7 (INR 570) per employee per month and the Payroll + HR Enhanced plan is also $45 (INR 3,600) per month, but charges $14 (INR 1,140) per employee per month. Its Enhanced plan has custom reporting fields and document templates, cross-company collaboration tools and unlimited automations—features the Essential plan lacks.

Who should use it:

Companies that have a large, primarily hourly paid workforce should consider Deluxe for their payroll and HR software needs.