Payroll · Published price, no warning
OnPay Review
One-plan online payroll at $49/mo plus $6 per person, with QuickBooks and Xero sync and optional pay-as-you-go workers' comp
Quick verdict
Who OnPay suits: Small trade shops that want one published payroll price, QuickBooks or Xero sync and an optional pay-as-you-go workers' comp policy, and that can live without a direct field-service app integration. Pricing: $49/mo base + $6/person; one core payroll plan with unlimited pay runs and tax filing; optional HR add-on $15/mo + $2/worker; first month free. HR tools are a paid add-on, no direct field-service app integration was confirmed, and per-person fees add up as the crew grows.
About OnPay
OnPay is an online payroll, HR and benefits provider headquartered in Atlanta. OnPay says it grew out of founder Jesse Burgess's work at his family's payroll business, which he joined in 2007, where he automated tasks for the payroll clerks until he saw the whole process could move online. The company is privately held and venture-backed: in January 2025 it announced more than $100 million in funding, including a $63 million Series B led by Carrick Capital Partners, according to TechCrunch.
OnPay sells one core payroll plan at $49/mo plus $6/mo per person. OnPay says that price includes unlimited pay runs, automated federal, state and local tax filings, garnishment deductions and printable year-end W-2 and 1099 forms. An HR add-on costs $15/mo plus $2/mo per worker and adds tools such as PTO management, customizable workflows and document audits. OnPay advertises the first month free, with free onboarding support and account migration.
On the accounting side, OnPay says it has direct integrations with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop and Xero, and it syncs with time-tracking apps including QuickBooks Time, Deputy and When I Work. Its Xero sync can map payroll lines by department, pay type or tracking category. OnPay also offers pay-as-you-go workers' comp that adjusts premiums based on actual payroll data, and in 2026 it announced a 401(k) integration with Betterment at Work and a partnership with Ramp.
The trade-off: we could not confirm a direct integration with a field-service app such as Jobber or Housecall Pro (Housecall Pro's integrations page lists Gusto as its payroll integration), so crew hours may need to come through a supported time-tracking app or be keyed in. HR tools beyond the core plan cost extra, and the per-person fee grows with the crew.
How it works
Sign up on OnPay's website; OnPay says it provides free onboarding support and account migration from your old provider. Add company, bank and employee or contractor details, then run payroll as often as you need; OnPay calculates and pays wages and files federal, state and local payroll taxes. Hours can come in from QuickBooks Time, Deputy or When I Work, and each payroll syncs to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop or Xero. Year-end W-2 and 1099 forms are included. The HR add-on and pay-as-you-go workers' comp are optional extras.
Pros & cons
What works
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One core plan with a published price
OnPay's pricing page lists $49/mo + $6/mo per person for payroll with unlimited pay runs, automated federal, state and local tax filings, garnishment deductions and year-end W-2 and 1099 forms.
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First month free with migration help
OnPay advertises the first month free, with full access to payroll and HR tools during that month, plus free onboarding support and account migration.
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Accounting and time-tracking integrations
OnPay says it integrates directly with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop and Xero, and syncs hours from QuickBooks Time, Deputy and When I Work.
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Pay-as-you-go workers' comp option
OnPay offers workers' comp that adjusts premiums based on actual payroll data, which suits trades whose payroll swings with the season.
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401(k) through Betterment at Work
In May 2026 OnPay and Betterment at Work announced a 401(k) integration for small businesses.
What doesn't
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HR tools cost extra
PTO management, customizable workflows and document audits sit in the HR add-on at $15/mo + $2/mo per worker.
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No field-service app integration confirmed
We could not confirm a direct OnPay integration with Jobber or Housecall Pro; Housecall Pro's integrations page lists Gusto as its payroll integration. Hours may need to come through a supported time-tracking app or be keyed in.
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Per-person fees grow with the crew
At list price, 10 people cost $109/mo and 25 people cost $199/mo before any add-ons.
Pricing
$49/mo base + $6/person; one core payroll plan with unlimited pay runs and tax filing; optional HR add-on $15/mo + $2/worker; first month free.
Starting base: $49/mo + $6/employee
Affiliate disclosure: The link to OnPay on this page goes to its own site and is not an affiliate link.
Integrations
Reviews and complaints at the source
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read OnPay's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
How does OnPay compare to Gusto on price?
Both list $49/mo + $6/person for their entry payroll plan (OnPay's core plan and Gusto Simple). Gusto positions Simple for payroll in one state and sells higher tiers; OnPay sells one core payroll plan and charges separately for its HR add-on ($15/mo + $2/worker).
Does OnPay have a free trial?
OnPay advertises the first month free, with free onboarding support and account migration. Its Xero app store listing describes this as a 30-day free trial.
Can OnPay handle workers' comp?
OnPay offers pay-as-you-go workers' comp that adjusts premiums based on actual payroll data. Premiums are not published; they depend on your business.
Other payroll services
Gusto
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Patriot Payroll
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Hourly.io
Tier SPayroll plus pay-as-you-go workers' comp in one app, with GPS time tracking and job costing on every plan
QuickBooks Payroll (plans branded QuickBooks Workforce)
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Square Payroll
Tier ASquare's payroll for businesses already on Square: $35/mo plus $6 per person paid, or $6 per contractor with no base fee
Rippling
Tier AHR, IT and finance platform with payroll, sold by custom quote