OnPay was founded in 2012 and has built its market position around transparent, all-inclusive flat-rate pricing in a category where competitors routinely charge extra for basic features. The service has one plan: $40 per month base plus $6 per employee per month. Every feature OnPay offers is included in this price — unlimited payroll runs, full-service tax filing in all 50 states, W-2 and 1099 year-end forms, direct deposit, employee self-service portal, onboarding workflows, basic HR document management, benefits administration for health insurance and 401(k), and 50-state compliance tools. There are no add-ons, no per-run charges, and no year-end filing fees. This all-inclusive model is a direct contrast to ADP (per-run charges plus W-2 fees) and QuickBooks Payroll (tiered plans with features gated at higher tiers). For a 10-person business, OnPay costs $100 per month. ADP with comparable features typically costs $130-180 per month for the same headcount. For businesses that want full-service payroll without the complexity of evaluating and pricing add-ons, OnPay provides the most straightforward value calculation in the category. The platform is particularly well-regarded for ease of use and customer support. User reviews consistently rate OnPay’s support as among the best in the payroll category — accessible via phone and email with knowledgeable specialists. Where OnPay is limited is scale. The platform is designed for businesses with under 500 employees and does not have the enterprise HR depth, global payroll capability, or advanced analytics of ADP Workforce Now. OnPay is the right payroll service for small businesses that want transparent pricing, all features included, and well-rated support without the sales complexity of ADP.
OnPay
Gusto has a larger HR feature set including offer letters, onboarding checklists, and a better employee experience app — worth the modest price premium for teams that want more than payroll
Finance Specs
- One flat-rate plan — all features included at $40 base plus $6/employee; no tiers, no add-ons, no surprise fees
- W-2 and 1099 year-end filing included at no extra charge — ADP charges ~$55 plus $6.50/form
- Consistently highest-rated customer support in the payroll category — accessible via phone and email
- Less HR depth than Gusto — fewer onboarding tools, no offer letter templates, more limited employee experience features
- Not designed for companies over 500 employees — no enterprise HR or global payroll capability
- Benefits administration requires working with OnPay's licensed broker for health insurance — less flexible than direct broker integrations
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Frequently Asked Questions
OnPay's single plan at $40/month base plus $6/employee/month includes: unlimited payroll runs, full-service tax filing in all 50 states, W-2 and 1099 year-end forms, direct deposit, employee self-service portal, onboarding workflows, HR document storage, benefits administration (health insurance and 401k), and 50-state compliance tools. There are no add-ons or feature tiers.
Both offer transparent pricing at similar per-employee rates. OnPay charges $40 base plus $6/employee. Gusto Simple charges $40 plus $6/employee. At the same base price, Gusto has stronger HR features — better onboarding workflows, offer letter templates, employee app experience, and performance tracking. OnPay has stronger customer support ratings. The choice often comes down to whether HR depth or support quality is the higher priority.
Yes. OnPay handles payroll and tax filing for employees in all 50 states at no additional per-state charge. Multi-state compliance tools including state registrations, unemployment insurance management, and state tax remittance are included in the standard plan price.
Yes. OnPay handles both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors within the same platform at no additional structure fee. Contractor payments, 1099 year-end form preparation, and filing are included in the base plan. The $6/employee rate applies to active paid workers whether employee or contractor.
No. OnPay offers month-to-month billing with no annual contract requirement and no cancellation penalty. This is a meaningful differentiator from ADP, which typically requires annual contracts with 30-60 day cancellation notice periods.
Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing verified April 2026 from OnPay's official pricing page.. We may receive compensation for clicks or purchases on this site.