Paychex vs OnPay
A detailed comparison of Paychex and OnPay. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
Paychex
Payroll and HR outsourcing provider for small to mid-sized businesses, offering payroll processing, retirement plans, insurance, and HR advisory services with dedicated support.
Rating
4.2/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
OnPay
Straightforward cloud payroll solution for small businesses with full-service payroll, automatic tax filing, HR tools, and benefits administration at a simple flat-rate monthly price.
Rating
4.8/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
No
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Paychex | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Paychex
Essentials
$39/mo
Select
Custom
Pro
Custom
OnPay
Standard
$40/mo
Pros & Cons
Paychex
Pros
- +Reliable payroll processing for SMBs
- +Strong tax filing and compliance
- +Local payroll specialist support
- +Benefits administration included
Cons
- -Pricing not fully transparent
- -Add-on costs can increase quickly
- -Interface less modern than Gusto or Rippling
- -Contract lock-in with some plans
OnPay
Pros
- +Simple, transparent pricing ($40 base + $6/person)
- +Full-service payroll with tax filing
- +HR tools and benefits admin included
- +Excellent for small businesses under 50 employees
Cons
- -No time tracking built in
- -US-only payroll
- -Limited to smaller companies
- -Fewer integrations than Gusto or Rippling
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Paychex if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Reliable payroll processing for SMBs
Choose OnPay if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You want to try before committing
- • Simple, transparent pricing ($40 base + $6/person)
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.2)