OnPay is a neat option for any small businesses looking for a more streamlined approach to office administration tasks. The cloud-based software lets users amalgamate several chores into one workflow, with the focus primarily on payroll. However, OnPay can also be called upon to help you handle tax-related issues, HR duties and other miscellaneous office tasks too.

• Want to try OnPay? Check out the website here

More recently, the OnPay package has been carefully honed and adds in lots more functionality, which alongside its already generous suite of features leaves users with lots of options for managing their payroll more efficiently. While it’s not the cheapest cloud-based software package you can buy, it does represent great value. Combined with its fast and efficient feature set, OnPay certainly deserves closer inspection.

OnPay: Pricing

Following the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses are looking for more value than ever. While OnPay isn't exactly a bargain-basement cloud-based software package, what it does provide is value. 

Currently the pricing structure offers a first month free option, with no charges for getting set up either. From there, the base fee is $36 per month with an additional $4 per month charge for each person who needs to use the software. There’s actually a handy slider on the pricing page that gives you a dynamic price quote based on the amount of people you’d expect to add. 

Interestingly, it goes right up to 1000 people with a price of $4036 per month, although that is perhaps an extreme example. Either way, OnPay says that you’re only billed for workers who are paid in a given month.

OnPay: Features

Following a fairly recent update, OnPay has plenty of features to make the cloud-based solution of interest to small businesses. There are unlimited monthly pay runs with all tax filings and payments covered. The revised dashboard also allows you to pay W-2 employees and 1099 workers, while payments themselves can be carried out using direct deposit, debit card or good old-fashioned check. 

OnPay is versatile too, with the option to set multiple pay rates and schedules, take garnishments and handle unemployment insurance. OnPay is also adaptable if you have to pay employees that are located in more than one state, and works across all 50. 

The added bonus of using OnPay is that it can be tailored to suit different kinds of small business, including restaurants, farms and agriculture concerns, non-profits and even churches and clergy. What’s more, there’s the capacity for plenty of employee involvement too, thanks to the OnPay built-in self-service side of things.

OnPay: Performance

With OnPay being cloud-based software and able to work on Windows and Mac platforms you should be sure of decent performance. However, while the package works a treat on a desktop or laptop machine, the experience on mobile is less impressive. 

You’re essentially faced with using the same desktop offering, but in a smaller environment, rather than via a dedicated app, which if you’re handling lots of data could prove rather sluggish. In its preferred environment though, OnPay zips along nicely.

OnPay: Ease of use

Working with payroll is invariably complicated and time-consuming, which means that the wizard option in the latest version of OnPay will prove useful if you’re configuring for the first time. Not only that, OnPay has had plenty of tweaks that makes it even easier to use in other areas, with the employee records aspect proving invaluable if you have issues to log outside of regular hours, salary and so on. 

Considering that, even the smallest of businesses will find it has lots of data to process OnPay has been designed so nicely that this is generally presented in a crisp and clear fashion. That doesn't quite extend to the mobile variant as we’ve already mentioned, but generally OnPay is easier to grasp than others of its ilk. 

OnPay’s recent facelift also means that there are now plenty of options when it comes to custom reporting, which is easier than ever to use. Similarly, its creators have also done a great job with the latest integration features, with plenty of accounting and time-tracking options at your disposal. 

If you’re looking for an easier way to integrate your other applications with OnPay then the latest edition makes that pretty straightforward. It can be used in conjunction with the likes of QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, TSheets, Deputy, WhenIWork, Humanity, ThinkHR and PosterElite too.

OnPay: Support

The online support aspect of OnPay is particularly impressive with lots of practical information available. The tax information is of definite value if you're a small business owner who wants to be sure everything is being done to the letter. In terms of getting in touch with support staff then OnPay offers all of the usual options including phone, chat and email routes into the support team. 

While phone support is available during business hours Monday to Friday, the OnPay email support is on hand at weekends too should you need to chase up something urgently.

OnPay: Final verdict

OnPay is maturing all the time and its latest incarnation has plenty to offer the small business owner who has to contend with running payroll and other tasks. The new edition has been fine-tuned to take into account all of the issues surrounding COVID-19 too, with plenty of assistance on that front. 

This cloud-based software delivers an enjoyable user experience, with a dashboard and supporting layout that makes even those tedious data-heavy tasks that little more bearable. The lack of an app makes using OnPay via a mobile browser less appealing, which is slightly disappointing but it’s a doddle when you’re working within a desktop environment thanks to the revised dashboard. 

Cost-wise, OnPay also seems pretty good value considering what you get as part of the package. All told, it’s an interesting proposition for small businesses and easily stands up for itself when put alongside the opposition.

Other business software options worth looking at include Sage Business Cloud Accounting, QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Freeagent, GoSimpleTax, TaxCalc, Nomisma, ABC Self-Assessment or Crunch.

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software

Confirmed VPN claims to be the world's first no-log, fully audited, and openly operated VPN that can safeguard your data against hackers, snoopers, and your ISP. Their mission is simple: "increase user trust in the apps and services they use every day". 

They also have the "openly operated" certification, which is given to apps that operate completely transparently. This review will provide you with all the information you need to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the best VPN for you.

This VPN is based in the United States, a country that falls under the Five Eyes  intelligence-sharing nations. The issue of jurisdiction is critical to your online privacy, as the US authorities have the right to obtain your information and share it with nations which are members of the 5 eyes.

Confirmed VPN has 12+ servers in the United States, Ireland, India, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea. This means their VPN server selection is quite small, especially when compared with Express VPN and other top-tier products.

Confirmed VPN platform has been audited frequently by third parties, who have inspected their source code and open infrastructure. This sits well with us as VPN audits are necessary for customers to verify the security of the service. 

Pricing & plans 

Confirmed VPN offers a 7-day free trial, but there's a catch: the trial period only begins after you enter your credit card details. So if you try out this option make sure you cancel immediately, otherwise you'll be charged for a full subscription.

If you are interested in using the service after the trial, there are three subscription plans. The first plan is for iOS and Android users only and costs $4.99 monthly. The Pro plan is for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android and costs $9.99 monthly. Alternatively, you can choose the Pro yearly plan which costs $8.33 per month and is billed at $99.96 yearly. 

The iOS and Android plans allow you to connect to three devices simultaneously, while the Pro plans give five simultaneous connections. Unfortunately, confirmed VPN does not have a money-back guarantee, so you are most likely stuck if you run into any issues while using the software and want a refund. Currently, credit card is the only payment method available.

If you are looking for the best free VPN, you would be better off exploring other options, as a seven day free trial is a very limited option.   

Privacy & encryption 

Confirmed VPN’s Privacy Policy states that it does not store or log your IP address, or use a cookie to track you. They claim to only keep the most basic client account information, such as your email address, and to record this in an encrypted format that cannot be cracked. The company will also track the account's creation date, active subscription plan, and overall bandwidth usage over the previous 30 days. 

It’s important to understand that ConfirmedVPN may be legally obligated to divulge information to law enforcement in response to a legitimate subpoena, court order, warrant, or similar government order. However, they claim they would notify their clients of any such disclosure unless they are forbidden from doing so by law or court order, or in extremely rare, urgent situations. Their privacy policy is one of the most transparent we have seen, and they have also undergone a security audit to back up their claims.

To secure your private information from prying eyes, Confirmed VPN deploys AES 256-bit encryption, as well as IPSec, HTTPS, SSH, and SSL/TLS VPN protocols. The service does not support torrenting, but even if it did, it would not be safe to torrent on it because of the VPN's jurisdiction. 

Streaming

The ability to give customers access to popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer in areas where these services are unavailable is a feature that’s highly valued in the VPN market. If finding a top streaming VPN is what you’re after, Confirmed VPN would not be of help. You would be better off looking at a service such as ExpressVPN, which can unblock geo-restricted content on streaming platforms with ease. 

Support 

Confirmed VPN has native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. If you require assistance, you can only contact their customer service representatives via email or Twitter. That said, we sent an email to this provider but we have not heard back from them yet. During the course of this review, our attention was drawn to the fact that Confirmed VPN is no longer in operation and is currently under a VPN called LockdownPrivacy. 

Alternatives to Confirmed VPN 

While ConfirmedVPN is inactive, there are a lot of reputable VPNs out there that can provide you with high-quality service. For example, ExpressVPN would grant you access to thousands of servers and cutting-edge security features that would astound you and protect your privacy. If you do not want to pay much but still want an advanced service, you could also consider Surfshark, which will provide you with a reliable service at an affordable cost. 

Other options we suggest checking out include NordVPN or CyberGhost. These will provide you with thousands of servers, a native client for all major apps, and lightning-fast speeds. All the VPNs listed here would give you access to geo-restricted content on VOD platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. They would also give you a generous money-back guarantee, cutting-edge security features, 24/7 customer support, and lots more. 

Verdict 

Confirmed VPN might have been a good anonymity provider when it was still in operation, but since it’s no longer offering active services, we cannot compare it to the likes of ExpressVPN. There are many alternative services out there that would provide better value for money and offer all of the best privacy tools you might need.  

ClearVPN is another service vying to become the best VPN service on the market. The provider claims to be for anyone who wants to expand and protect their online experience, and was made for both VPN enthusiasts and casual users. It also claims to provide fast speeds and make your digital life safe, private, and comfortable. We tested this VPN provider's security capabilities, cost, jurisdiction, and other factors in this review to determine whether it is worthy of your attention.

The VPN is run by MacPaw, a software company specializing in developing popular software for Mac and iOS devices. MacPaw’s other creations include a PC optimizer, drive manager, duplicate file finder, photo organizer, RAR opener, file encryption, and more. 

For its privacy tool, you can access more than 70 servers in 40 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, and Canada. Although the VPN server pool is quite small, the company says it’s concentrated on those areas where it can provide the best speed/security balance rather than having a large network of medium-speed servers. 

ClearVPN has user-friendly desktop programs for Mac and Windows, with mobile VPN apps for iOS and Android. All the apps were easy to download, use and were user-friendly, intuitive, and beautifully designed.

Pricing & plans 

ClearVPN offers a free VPN service, as well as monthly and annual subscriptions. 

The free version offers unlimited bandwidth but only a few servers and does not include the quick connect features for gaming or streaming; those and the rest of the shortcuts are only available with a paid subscription. Although whether it’s the best free VPN choice for you will depend on a number of factors.

The paid version costs $5 a month and $21 every six months. Subscribing to the paid plan gives you unlimited secure browsing, built-in shortcuts, IP masking, DDoS protection, and six devices per subscription. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Payments can be made via Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, Google Pay via the Google Play Store, and Apple Pay via the App Store. However, there’s no support for cryptocurrency. 

Privacy & encryption 

ClearVPN claims to have a strict no-log policy, claiming that they do not collect, store, or share any information about your online activities, nor do they collect and save your IP address. 

Looking into the privacy policy document, we saw that ClearVPN collects some information with your permission. This includes device information (operating system, device name, and language), your country (using IP), how much data you send or receive, connection type, and cellular network information. There’s also anonymous VPN connection diagnostics and crash reports, which include diagnostic information about if and how a VPN connection attempt failed; speed test data; and crash reports, all without any personally identifiable information. They assert that all of these details are utilized to select the best servers for VPN connections and to uphold the caliber of their service. 

For security, ClearVPN employs PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) to route your internet traffic simultaneously through several servers while encrypting it with AES-256 and hashing the exchange of data with SHA2-384 to ensure data integrity. The VPN also supports a range of VPN protocols, such as IPSec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

Behind the scenes, there’s an innovative VPN technology called DynamicFlow. This feature finds the fastest idle server that suits your needs based on your current location and connects you to it so you can take advantage of a seamless, low-ping, and secure VPN connection. You’ll also find an auto-connect feature, a VPN kill switch, ad blockers, malware blockers, and multihop servers, letting you route your internet traffic through multiple VPN servers at the same time. And yes, this is a VPN for torrenting and P2P.  

Streaming 

Some VPN providers can provide their users with access to popular streaming content that may not be available in all parts of the world. Fortunately, ClearVPN unblocks Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. However, this might not be one of the best Netflix VPNs since, unlike ExpressVPN and other top-rated services, we struggled to access geo-restricted content on the platform. If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, this is a fine VPN for streaming. 

Support 

If you require assistance, it is available via the support page, where you can access an FAQ, about the service, apps, and connectivity. You can also manage your ClearVPN account and subscription and contact customer support directly via email or through a live chat. 

We tested the live chat feature and our message was responded to in less than a minute, first by a bot telling us that "ClearVPN typically replies in under 2 minutes," then by a customer care representative, whose response was courteous and clear.

Speed & experience 

After privacy and security, VPN speeds are one of the most important criteria for a top-notch VPN provider because it’s essential for using the VPN for its basic functions. 

That said, before testing the speed of the servers, we first tested our baseline speed, which gave us a speed of 100 Mbps. We tested a server in the United States, which gave us a speed of 30.22 Mbps. A server in Canada outperformed the others, with a speed of 50.23 Mbps. A server in the United Kingdom gave us a speed of 20.21. 

Finally, we also wanted to see how a server in a faraway location would fare, so we picked the Hong Kong server, which gave us a speed of 12.1 Mbps. All told, it might not be the fastest VPN in the world, but it’s no slouch either. 

Alternatives to ClearVPN 

While it has fast speeds and useful security and privacy features, Clear VPN does not provide anything that the market leaders do not. For instance, ExpressVPN would give you access to tens of thousands of servers and provide you with astonishingly advanced security features that would safeguard your privacy. 

If you want something well-known that would offer you advanced functionality, a wide range of protocol options, and support for different devices, especially major platforms as well as support for a few minor ones, we advise checking out NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost. Unlike ClearVPN, all four VPN services have been examined and verified by a third-party auditor in VPN audits. 

Verdict

It’s fair to say, in some areas, ClearVPN didn’t impress. The service didn’t unblock regional Netflix content during our tests, doesn’t have thousands of servers, and doesn’t have independent verification of its no-log claims. 

But it’s not all bad - in fact, there’s a lot worth recommending here, with many outstanding features, including lightning-fast speeds, reasonable costs, and user-friendly apps. However, if you value your privacy and want a VPN that is secure on all ends and has proven its no-log claims, other options, like ExpressVPN, are worth exploring.

More than ever, it is important to protect your data while online, which is why many people use the best VPN for additional online security. 

Services such as RocketVPN claim to help you encrypt all traffic from you to anywhere in the world and protect the data you transmit and receive from your ISP and hackers. This sounds good, but do they keep their word about protecting your data? 

With so many VPNs available, it is possible that you will run into a VPN provider with the same name as another. It is important not to confuse RocketVPN with another VPN of the same name because the latter is based in Moscow, Russia, and is run by a company called RocketVPN Network, and the former is based in Dublin and is owned by Liquidum. 

The Russian-based VPN offers an undisclosed number of servers but claims they are located in different countries including, Russia, USA, UK, Australia, and India. Additionally, the VPN provider asserts that each time you connect to their VPN, your connection receives a dynamic IP address from a pool of more than 4000 anonymous IP addresses. Another disadvantage of this VPN is that, as of the time of this review, it had not undergone any security audit.

Unlike most Russian-based VPNs that only have their websites in Russian, RocketVPN's website is available in English, Russian, Chinese, and Deutsch languages.

• You can try RocketVPN by clicking here

Pricing & plans

The VPN vendor offers a 24-hour free trial, so you can try the service for a day and decide whether or not you want to purchase a subscription, and offers four very straightforward pricing plans. 

The Bronze plan costs $19.99 a month. The Silver plan is priced at $29.99 for three months. The Gold plan costs $39.99 every six months. Finally, the Platinum package is charged at $49.99 a year. 

Unfortunately, there’s no free VPN option here, which we found disappointing, but the clarity in subscriptions is always welcome. If you encounter any problems while using the VPN, and you want a refund this VPN gets none, which is quite unfortunate as many providers offer a generous money-back guarantee.

When you purchase RocketVPN subscription plan, you can use it on up to five devices at the same time. Also, you can purchase any of the VPN vendors' plans using PayPal, credit or debit cards, Alipay, UnionPay, MIR, Qiwi, Apple Pay, and others.

Privacy & encryption

RocketVPN's privacy policy is a brief document, and all we were told was that it gathers your personal information to better understand your needs and interests, conduct business and improve business, personalize communications, improve service, and give you a quality experience. It also claims not to transfer, sell, or rent your personal information to third-party companies. 

And that’s all there is to it. No mention of logging was made in the VPN privacy policy. This statement in the privacy policy makes it impossible to know if any of your information or activities while using this VPN are being monitored. Even worse, no independent auditor has conducted a VPN audit to verify any of these claims.

RocketVPN supports the PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols but the website is silent on the type of encryption employed. All we know from the Privacy Statement is that all personal data, including public and private keys and passwords, is stored in an encrypted format with reputable cryptographic algorithms. 

We would appreciate it if the company would let us know what kind of encryption it employs, and offer a security audit in order to increase our confidence. Despite the fact that this is touted as VPN for torrenting and P2P sharing, we do not advise you to torrent with RocketVPN. This is because the VPN lacks a kill switch, and you could run the risk of exposing your original IP to your ISP while you are torrenting. 

Streaming

Unblocking geo-restricted content on websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer has grown in importance - leading to a rise in the best streaming VPNs and best VPNs for Netflix. 

Thankfully, that’s the case here. In our testing, we discovered that RocketVPN provides access to geo-restricted streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer  

Speed & experience

RocketVPN claims to be a reliable VPN that will deliver fast network speeds. Well, we decided to test this claim on a 60 Mbps connection. Our first target location was the one closest to us, the United Kingdom, and this gave us an exceptionally fast 32.12 Mbps. The next stop was in the US, where the VPN server gave us a speed of 20.43 Mbps. We then wanted to see how a server far from us would fare, so we decided to pay a visit to one in Hong Kong, which delivered a speed of 4.22 Mbps.

To be honest, we didn’t experience a straightforward process while using RocketVPN. We had to follow the website's instructions in order to test the download speeds because there are no native apps for it.

Support

RocketVPN is compatible with Windows, masOS, Android, and iOS. However, it lacks native apps; instead, it only provides access to its services through a device's built-in VPN settings, as well as third-party software and configuration files that can be downloaded from the website. 

The website also has comprehensive instructions for setting up the VPN on your device if you need assistance. But these instructions can only be accessed when you sign up and log in on the website. If you still need assistance, the VPN offers 24/7/365 support via live chat and a contact form. Strangely, we have yet to receive a response to a question submitted via the contact form, and the live chat messages we sent were never delivered.

Alternatives

Although it is not entirely bad and has some advantages, RocketVPN is unquestionably no match for services such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or CyberGhost. All of which provide stunning native clients, tens of thousands of servers, unrestricted traffic, round-the-clock customer service, an incredibly generous free trial, and more. 

Verdict

Despite the lack of native apps, detailed information, thousands of servers, or flashy extras, Rocket VPN does a great job considering how little it costs on a monthly basis.

It also provides assistance every step of the way, delivers above-average download speeds, allows torrenting, and unblocks geo-blocked streaming content.

With a few improvements, Rocket VPN could compete a little more effectively with industry giants.

Perhaps the most notable thing about PizzaVPN is its name, which was inspired by the fast-food favorite. The VPN called London its base, and was developed by the ABC Gamers company. 

For the privacy and security-conscious, London is among the worst places for a VPN to have its headquarters since the UK is a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, a collection of nations that share a lot of surveillance information among themselves. Any VPN located in one of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance nations, including this one, should be used with extreme caution. This is due to the likelihood that foreign intelligence agencies could request specific data from any VPN operating in these countries.

PizzaVPN offers access to over 200 VPN servers in more than 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Nepal, Spain, Panama, Switzerland, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Mozambique, France, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Bolivia, Italy, Angola, the United States, and others. 

These servers are separated into four categories based on their functions: regular VPN servers, SmartVPN servers, Torrent VPN servers, and Virtual VPN servers. Although 200 servers may seem like a lot, they are nothing compared to the top-tier VPN services on the market, such as ExpressVPN, which provides its users with more than 3000 servers across 94 countries. Pizza VPN has been providing services for over a decade. However, they never had their software subjected to a VPN audit - a crucial step to assure users that the network is secure and trustworthy and can protect user data from being stolen or misused.  

Pricing & plans 

Unlike other VPNs in the industry that give you a 30-day free trial, PizzaVPN does not offer a free VPN version to test their product. However, there is a 1-week non-recurring option for a one-time payment of $1.99, which is beneficial if you want to try out the service before committing to a lengthier plan. 

PizzaVPN offers a range of different-length subscription plans to pick from, each with the same features included. One month of the service costs you $3.99/month, six months of the VPN cost $3.17/month and is billed at $18.99 on a 6-month basis, and the 12-month subscription plan costs $2.50 per month and is billed at $29.99/year. The VPN provider offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on all its subscription plans and accepts payments using bitcoin, major credit cards, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. 

Privacy & encryption 

PizzaVPN is based in the UK, within the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. The provider states clearly that they do not log browsing history, traffic destination, data content, IP addresses, or DNS queries. According to the firm, the only logs collected are user emails, payment information, and user session length data for troubleshooting purposes and deleted after one day. Additionally, it boldly claims that even if required to divulge user information, the firm would be unable to do so because the necessary data isn't available.

PizzaVPN uses the industry-standard OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, and IPSec protocols and also goes far to keep you anonymous by assigning randomly generated usernames and passwords to each VPN subscription. The service has plenty of valuable features to choose from, including an auto-reconnect feature that saves you from having to start the tool every time and a VPN kill switch that halts your internet traffic if you ever lose connection. This is a crucial feature because it stops traffic from going through your ISP by default, thereby hiding your location and online activity.  

Speed & experience 

While it’s advertised as one of the fastest VPNs, as of this review, the VPN is no longer in operation, so we could not test this claim. It is somewhat unfortunate that it ended this way because this VPN seemed to have had a lot to offer. Is this a temporary closure, and will they soon be open for business? 

Ultimately, this is unimportant, since there are much better options available, with features like the ability to access any geo-restricted content on any video streaming platform around the world at lightning fast speeds. 

Customer support 

According to customer reviews from the period PizzaVPN was still in operation, it had user-friendly native mobile VPN apps for Android and iOS, and desktop apps for Windows and Mac. It was also possible to contact the provider through a contact form, an email address, and by visiting the provider's Facebook and Twitter pages. But all of these channels were unavailable at the time of this review, as well as inactive social media pages.  

Alternatives to PizzaVPN 

PizzaVPN may have been a great VPN when it was operational, but since it is currently inactive, you can check out practically any of the services that are still available. 

The best of these include the top VPN providers in the market, such as ExpressVPN with its extensive server network, NordVPN with its quick connection and ability to unblock geo-restricted content on popular VOD platforms, and Surfshark with its affordable pricing and unlimited bandwidth. We also like the 45-day money-back guarantee offered by CyberGhost. These VPNs may cost more than PizzaVPN’s previous rates, but they offer everything you require in a stand-alone VPN service without any compromises in quality or service.  

Verdict 

After reading some excellent reviews about PizzaVPN, we had high expectations for the service, particularly after checking out a few of the customer's written reviews about the product. However, our expectations were dashed since the company is currently out of business. 

If you want to use one of the best VPNs available right now, pay attention to the major players in the market, like ExpressVPN. Even though it may cost a little more than PizzaVPN, what you get is worth the extra money. You get access to thousands of servers, robust security, the ability to use the VPN for Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services, as well as the ability to operate in regions where other providers can’t.  

Paychex is one of the best payroll software platforms available for small and medium-sized businesses. With this platform, you can easily manage payroll for dozens of employees and integrate benefits like healthcare and retirement into your payroll process. Plus, all Paychex plans include tax documentation and accounting software integration. The biggest downside is that the software is surprisingly expensive.

In our Paychex review, we’ll help you decide whether this payroll software is right for your business.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Paychex: Plans and pricing

Paychex offers three plan tiers: Go, Flex Select, and Flex Enterprise.

Paychex Go costs $59 plus $4 per employee per month and is designed to get your payroll system up and running within 24 hours. It includes time tracking, accounting integration, and automatic tax form generation. However, you cannot integrate benefits into your payroll and Go doesn’t include access to the Paychex mobile app.

Flex Select pricing is by quote only. This plan offers a wide array of add-ons compared to the Go tier, including the ability to integrate your healthcare and retirement benefits into payroll. It also offers access to the Paychex mobile app and gets you a dedicated account manager at Paychex. The Flex Enterprise plan is also priced by quote only. This plan offers features for larger businesses, such as custom analytics, a workers’ compensation dashboard and employee screening during onboarding.

Paychex: Features

Paychex is loaded with handy features for managing your payroll. To start, the software makes it easy to keep track of employees’ hours. Employees get access to individualized dashboards with a built-in time tracker. The tracker enables commenting, making it easy to see what your employees were spending time on throughout the pay period.

To pay your employees, Paychex enables you to make direct deposits or print your own paper checks. You have some flexibility, as you can set up multiple payment accounts for each employee. You can also request prepaid debit cards for each employee and set up Paychex so that payments are automatically transferred onto these cards.

The software also does a nice job of handling taxes, which is critical for any payroll software. Paychex automatically issues W-2 and 1099 forms ahead of tax season. Importantly, Paychex can also integrate with most popular accounting software, including Quickbooks and Xero, to make calculating quarterly and annual tax payments much simpler.

One of our favorite things about Paychex is that the software also enables you to keep track of healthcare, retirement, along with other key benefits right alongside payroll. You can set up a 401(k) for your business through Paychex Retirement Services or enroll employees in an HSA or FSA. When you enter payroll, Paychex will automatically calculate your employer contributions to these accounts and transfer the funds at the same time that checks go out to employees.

Paychex: Interface and in-use

Paychex offers a simple online dashboard that’s fairly easy to navigate. You can see at a glance how much cash you need to have on hand to cover your last payroll period, as well as on what date the current period’s payroll needs to be approved. To enter employee hours, Paychex uses a simple grid layout that saves a significant amount of time compared to the series of drop-down menus that some other payroll platforms use.

Another nice thing about Paychex is that it includes detailed analytics about your payroll. You can generate reports sorted by employee, office location, position, or any number of custom filters. In all, Paychex has more than 160 built-in standard reports for Go and Flex Select customers - and Flex Enterprise customers can set up even more.

We were happy to see that Paychex offers a mobile app, although we wish it were available to subscribers on the Go plan. The mobile app is particularly nice for employees, since they can use it to check their pay stubs, change their payment account details, or manage their 401(k) plan and health benefits.

Paychex: Support

Paychex offers 24/7 phone support for employers and 24/7 chat support for employees. Employees can also get in touch with Paychex by phone from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern, Monday to Friday. The company has over 100 offices throughout the US where clients are welcome to visit and ask questions in person. 

Paychex: The competition

Paychex has a lot of features, but this platform can be prohibitively expensive for some small businesses. For a cheaper option, consider SurePayroll. 

SurePayroll offers a Self Service plan, which doesn’t include tax filing, for just $19.99 plus $4 per employee per month. The company’s Full Service plan, which includes payroll tax forms, costs $29.99 plus $5 per employee per month. However, SurePayroll doesn’t offer nearly the same breadth of integrations as Paychex and its reporting features are limited.

However, another competitor, Gusto, matches Paychex when it comes to reporting and accounting integration. The company’s Core plan costs $39 plus $6 per employee per month, so it may be a more affordable option if you don’t need retirement and health benefits alongside payroll.

Paychex: Final verdict

Paychex is a feature-rich payroll software with a lot to like. If you want to integrate healthcare, retirement, or other benefits into your payroll, there are few better options for your business. However, if you don’t need these integrations, it can be hard to justify Paychex’s price tag. The platform is very capable, but its main features are matched by Gusto at a fraction of the price.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto is payroll software that covers everything a business needs to maintain a happy workforce. This includes organizing payments, insurance, support and initial onboarding.

It’s a comprehensive approach that sees Gusto rank among the best payroll software providers on the market. And, in this Gusto review, we help you decide whether it would be right for your business as we examine its pricing, features, support and overall ease of use.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto: Plans and pricing

Gusto comes in four separate plans, which range in price from $19/month base price plus $6/month per person to $149/month plus $12/month per person.

The cheapest plan, Basic, is aimed at teams of one or two people and is still in development. It has fewer features than the other plans and can only be used in a single state, whereas the others offer full-service payroll across all 50 states. Direct deposits take four days on Basic, compared to two days for the Core plan and next day for Complete and Concierge.

Other than the timing of direct deposits, the three upper-level plans are differentiated by the addition of features at each level. 

Gusto: Features

More than just payroll software, Gusto gives you a full set of tools for effectively managing your workforce. These include full-service payroll, employee benefits, time tracking as well as HR tools for hiring and onboarding.

With Gusto, you can set up your payroll to run with just a few clicks; it can even be set to run automatically on the schedule you choose. The software can handle employees and contractors, multiple rates of pay along with payments in multiple states. And, it will automatically take care of the paying and filing of local, state and federal taxes too.

Gusto has a number of benefits features, including the Gusto Wallet app, which employees can use to manage their paychecks and access emergency cash. Employees can split paychecks between multiple accounts. There are also cash accounts with the Gusto debit card.

Then there is workers’ compensation, health reimbursement (QSEHRA) - an alternative to traditional health insurance - and commuter benefits.

There are also low-cost 401(k) plans, and access to small group health insurance, with a choice of more than 3500 plans from 100 carriers that also cover dental and vision.

With Gusto, employees track their time for you to review and approve. You can also customize paid time off (PTO) policies with all liabilities automatically calculated. And accounting integrations exist for Quickbooks Online and Xero. 

These tools from Gusto are designed to help you save time when introducing new team members. You’ll be able to send offer letters, work through an onboarding checklist, have all your documents signed and stored online, and set up your new hires with online tools like G Suite and Microsoft 365 with a single click.

Gusto: Interface and in-use

When you first log in to Gusto, you’ll begin the process of setting up all your company information, including your accountant, benefits, state and federal taxes, employees, pay schedule and workers’ compensation. When you add an employee, they’ll be sent a welcome email, which will enable them to create their own account.

Once setup is complete, you’ll be able to view all of your company’s employees, including ones who have been dismissed, and invite new hires to join the system. You’ll be able to run payroll and reports and pay contractors. And you’ll be able to set up time tracking, time off, and benefits.

Gusto’s design is nice and clean and everything is laid out so that it’s easy to move through the process of setup and executing tasks. True to their promises, important tasks like running payroll and reports really can be accomplished with just a few clicks.

Gusto: Support

If you want to speak to Gusto sales, their website lists a number. But to get access to Gusto support, you need to be signed in to your account. Once logged in, you’ll see a different phone number to call for support; or you can visit your account dashboard’s support page, where there is a multi-stage form that eventually provides a recommended resource. If that doesn’t help, you can fill in another form to send Gusto an email.

Gusto: Security

Gusto has several measures in place to protect its customers’ data. It has its own on-site security team, actively tests its software, and all data is AES-256 encrypted between your browser and AWS servers.

Gusto enables varying levels of account permissions so that admins and managers can only access features and functions specific to their level. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) options are also available.

The Gusto application is kept secure with internal and third-party penetration testing, vulnerability scanning and a bug bounty program. Better still, all Gusto employees have specific security training.

Gusto: The competition

While Gusto is great for small businesses, it may not be as cost-effective for larger ones. 

An alternative for larger businesses is OnPay, which has a very similar feature set, combining payroll and HR, but a simpler pricing structure. OnPay has a $36/month base fee plus $4/month/user, and you only pay for employees who are paid in any given month. It also has a 30-day free trial.

Gusto is primarily a payroll platform with HR add-ons. Another alternative is Zenefits, which is the opposite: a complete HR solution with features like org charts and performance reviews and a payroll add-on. Pricing goes from $8 to $21/month/employee, with payroll features adding an extra $6/month/employee. It also comes with a 14-day demo.

Gusto: Final verdict

If you’re a small business owner who’s new to payroll, you’ll love Gusto because it’s so easy to use; you can finish important tasks with just a few clicks. Its pricing is attractive for smaller workforces, but for larger businesses, some alternatives will be more cost-effective.

If your workforce is small enough that the pricing is not an issue, Gusto provides first-class solutions for most of the important administrative areas of running a business.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software