Finding something so unanimously loved it gets a candy bar named after it is rare. There are understandably even fewer in HR, with only one exception: Payday. A lot of work leads to that sweet payday (and we’re not talking about candy bars).

Payroll management is a daunting process, especially as your business grows. Luckily, full-service payroll software automates core HR tasks and eases the payroll process. In this article, we’ve narrowed down our top full-service payroll solutions, benefits and key features, helping you fast-track your search for the perfect payroll solution.

Best Full-Service Payroll Solutions

Earning the title of best full-service payroll solution means going beyond basic payroll functions. The crème de la crème of payroll solutions is out there. We’ve got the lowdown on the top full-service payroll products of the year. Check out our picks below!

Paylocity: Best for Expense Management

Paylocity is a cloud-based platform for payroll management and automating core HR tasks. With Paylocity’s tax services feature, users can access real-time data and seamlessly navigate state and federal tax documents.

Tailor general ledgers and reports, providing invaluable insights for decision-making. Integrated data with benefits and retirement plans make Paylocity a comprehensive and versatile solution for businesses of all sizes.

On Demand Payment Mobile & Desktop View.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Expense Management — 100
• Security and Compliance — 100
• Time and Attendance — 100
• Dashboard and Reporting — 100
• Payroll and Tax Management — 97

Top Benefits

• Payroll: Simplify financial tasks with automation, complete payroll processes, tax compliance, expense reimbursements, garnishment services and custom reports.
• Time and Attendance: Employees record their attendance through the mobile app and managers can eliminate time theft with geofencing regulations. Seamlessly integrate with the payroll system, saving time spent on the tedious task of modifying payroll data manually.
• Seamless Onboarding: The portal serves as a centralized information hub, simplifying the process for new hires. Customize dashboards for gathering key employee details like contact information, withholding forms and employee handbooks, with e-signature functionality.
• Empowered Staff: The platform gives all employees the tools to excel in their roles with user-friendly training for every experience level. The learning management system offers various formats that accommodate each individual’s preferred learning style.
• Compliance Notifications: Rest easy knowing your staff is up to date on regulations with compliance training and ongoing assessments. With industry trends at your fingertips, ensure you and your team adhere to all relevant laws.
• Simplified Communication: Stay in the loop with automatic push notifications. Be the first to know about new hires, schedule changes, vacation requests and terminations without ever having to leave the platform.

Primary Features

• Intuitive Interface: The user-friendly interface automates payroll and streamlines workflows for efficient team management and monitoring.
• Dashboards: Say goodbye to scattered HRIS, payroll, timekeeping and administrative tasks. The unified dashboard centralizes tasks and boosts not only accessibility but productivity with access from multiple locations.
• Performance Management: Eliminate clunky systems and tedious paperwork with performance management tools. Stay on top of time off balances and paychecks and simplify year-end reviews.
• PTO: With just a few clicks, streamline your day-to-day workflow and manage your team’s vacation requests. Easily approve time off and view availability so your workflow doesn’t miss a beat.
• Onboarding: Track new hires and dispatch necessary paperwork in advance, easing admin set-up and ensuring swift completion of all documentation per user preference.

Limitations

• Additional verification is required when logging in.
• Time entries are updated only after completed shifts.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Pay Groups — Not Supported.
• Workers’ Compensation — Supported With Integrations.
• Global Search bar — Not Supported.
• Rebranding — Not Supported.

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Paychex: Best for Dashboard and Reporting

Paychex is a cloud-based solution for payroll and HR needs. Payroll management is seamless, available on both desktop and mobile devices, providing easy access from anywhere, anytime. Get precise payroll processing through a diverse set of security measures. Managers also receive notifications when the system identifies any potential payroll concerns.

The online time and attendance feature integrates with payroll, simplifying error-free paycheck calculations. Streamline annual tax filing, enable smooth management of employee compensation and ease navigating regulatory requirements throughout the HR process.

Paychex Flex Dashboard View.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Dashboard and Reporting — 100
• Expense Management — 100
• Platform Capabilities— 100
• Security and Compliance — 100
• Benefits Management — 94

Top Benefits

• Minimized Mistakes: Increase the precision of payroll processing by incorporating an array of safety measures, like alerting managers immediately when potential problems are spotted. With these alerts in place, issues get avoided entirely.
• Support Services: Get 24/7 online assistance with user support. Personalized support is available, helping you navigate through every step of payment and tax-related concerns.
• Flexibility: Access the platform from any device and transition seamlessly from desktop to mobile device. Complete core tasks from anywhere, empowering individuals to work on the go.
• Accessibility: Easily view information regarding your time off, upcoming paychecks, benefits and retirement funds. Save time for HR and accounting teams while also cultivating transparency and productivity.

Primary Features

• Time and Attendance: Monitor team progress, approve timesheets and check schedules all from a single dashboard available in real-time.
• Payroll Management: The platform provides convenient and hassle-free payment methods, complete with online payroll services like setting up direct deposits, calculating hours and establishing pay periods.
• Financial Services: Paychex provides other financial services and payment processing solutions like business loans, expense management and tax administration.
• HR Support: Streamline HR tasks like employee development, records administration, compliance, benefits administration and learning management.
• Startup Support: Access a range of online tools throughout the startup process. Paychex startup assistance encompasses areas like marketing and business management while giving advice as your business grows.

Limitations

• Some users reported fees after canceling their program.
• Some users reported late tax filing leading to penalties.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Pay Groups — Not Supported.
• Global Payroll — Supported With Integration.
• Mobile Push Notifications — Not Supported.

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Workday HCM: Best for Security, Compliance & Integrations

Workday HCM is an all-in-one HR solution that aids payroll management and processing. It caters to organizations across the globe, providing an extensive range of modules like benefits enrollment and talent management. Equipped with a calculation engine for payroll, Workday HCM caters to several countries, keeping records of all transactions and making compliance updates more accessible via a dashboard.

The platform’s user-friendly time tracking and approval features send alerts to any device to minimize manual errors, saving time and resources. Tailor-made dashboards show metrics, highlighting potential areas of improvement.

Benefits Dashboard.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Security and Compliance —100
• Dashboard and Reporting —100
• Payroll and Tax Management — 95
• Time and Attendance — 91
• Benefits Management — 88

Top Benefits

• Data Insights: Gain an all-encompassing understanding of your workforce and key performance indicators to drive better decision-making. Take advantage of Workday’s Prism Analytics and Data-as-a-Service apps for visualizing important data through graphs, benchmarking reports and charts.
• Productivity: Task reminders, calendar syncing and referral tracking ensure smooth workflows.
• Expense Tracking: Fast track expense reporting without compromising accuracy with mobile receipt scanning and approvals. Set up spending controls and allow employees to initiate their reports. Using data analytics tools, easily identify expense trends and better understand company spending.
• Absence Management: The smart calendar simplifies tracking different types of absences and reporting your time off, leave requests and accruals in one place.
• Make Smart Hiring Decisions: Optimize your recruitment process and get an all-encompassing overview of your talent acquisition data through easily viewable dashboards. The machine learning system will highlight areas of improvement and the compensation comparison feature ensures worthwhile job offers. The referral leaderboard eases the process of employees recommending ideal candidates.

Primary Features

• User-Friendly: The intuitive platform ensures that users of all levels can easily navigate and find information. Efficiently track hours, collect tax forms, and log pay stubs under the payroll and benefits feature.
• Compensation Management: The platform offers a range of customizable compensation packages available globally. With over a dozen plan types, it supports international currencies and allowance plans based on local limits. Its tools include a grid worksheet, events coordination, pay-range segments, pay equity tracking, configurable statements, and unified data from other Workday HCM modules such as payroll and benefits.
• Adaptive Insights: Compare what-if scenarios and build hiring strategies. Use collaboration features to evaluate metrics like costs and workforce breakdown. Review workflows while integrating data from other organizational systems for a unified experience.
• Benefits Management: Stay on top of employee benefits with benefits administration. The software offers multiple plans, like health, flex, wellness and retirement options. With helpful tools like the ACA dashboard, you can ensure proper coverage and simplify form management, making regulatory changes a breeze. Seamlessly integrate with hundreds of providers to maximize your benefits management potential.

Limitations

• Users reported a learning curve, and training is required.
• The app doesn’t have scheduling.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Benefits Broker Assistance — Not Supported.
• Automated Reminders — Supported With Additional Modules.
• Mobile Collaboration — Supported With Integration.
• Expense Tracking — Supported With Additional Modules.

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TriNet: Best for Time and Attendance Management

TriNet (formerly Zenefits) is a payroll solution with a cloud-based platform for managing essential HR tasks. The mobile app allows employees to work remotely while also streamlining performance reviews and keeping up with compliance regulations. Additionally, it offers real-time updates for PTO requests, simplifying leave management.

Get easy access to reports, pay stubs and time clocks for efficient workflow and communication. The platform features org charts to promote accountability and maintain accurate titles and contact information. The employee directory also simplifies collaboration.

TriNet Payroll Dashboard.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Time and Attendance —100
• Platform Capabilities —100
• Security and Compliance —100
• Dashboard and Reporting — 100
• Payroll and Tax Management — 92

Top Benefits

• User-Friendly Platform: The interface has an intuitive layout allowing easy access and organization of all its features.
• Customer Support: Users report high responsiveness with any questions or concerns you might have, and they do so promptly and professionally, that’s sure to put your mind at ease.
• Visibility: Easily upload documents, check data, and monitor progress through the self-service platform.
• Open Dialogue Tool: This feature allows supervisors and employees to dialogue more effectively during performance reviews. Create a forum where employees discuss their concerns, receive feedback and develop strategies for overcoming obstacles. This tool has demonstrated better results for supervisors and employees, resulting in more productive work environments.
• Flexibility: The app empowers working from anywhere and everywhere, ensuring you never compromise on productivity or performance. Seamlessly transition from your desktop to your mobile device without losing features or functionalities.
• Personalization: Customize features for your specific needs and unique requirements. Whether a product feature or a service element, customization improves performance, helps you stand out from competitors and better supports your customers’ requirements.

Primary Features

• Task Management: Boost efficiency by implementing approval workflows for employee changes, from promotions to terminations and onboarding.
• Reports: View real-time data on employee updates like turnover and compensation with pre-built and custom reports.
• Communication: The mobile app is available on iOS and Android devices with admin capabilities that support performance reviews, payroll and time off remotely, for seamless collaboration on the go.
• Accessibility: Allow employees to manage their information through the employee self-service (ESS) portal, from viewing pay stubs to updating benefit elections, giving them greater control over their personal data.
• Thrive Global: Provide employees with regular assessments, helping detect any issues and promptly pair workers with needed training, setting up your staff for success. Well-being tools promote a healthy and positive workplace environment.

Limitations

• Users experienced long wait times for customer support.
• Some users experienced technical glitches and slow performance.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Grid Entry Mode for Payroll — Not Supported.
• Digital Receipt Management — Supported With Integrations.
• Mobile Expense Management — Not Supported.

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Namely: Best for Platform Capabilities

Namely is a cloud-based payroll solution for conducting key HR functions. Effectively manage payroll with pre-built reports and deduction calculations. Seamlessly transfer data to the payroll module, ensuring accurate payroll processing. The platform provides a streamlined approach to viewing pay information and approving promotions. Time and attendance features simplify scheduling, overtime management and performing mass editing actions. Regulatory compliance is easy with support for employee access and automatic generation and filing of 1094s and 1095s.

Namely Payroll Dashboard.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Platform Capabilities —100
• Security and Compliance — 100
• Dashboard and Reporting — 100
• Payroll and Tax Management —95
• Benefits Management —94

Top Benefits

• Access: Set role-based access ensures data gets into the right hands, enabling employees to view, add and update information.
• Customization: Tailor almost every aspect of the system’s functions and operations to fit your business needs.
• Uncomplicated Platform: The user-friendly interface simplifies navigation from beginners to experts.
• Updates: Namely regularly updates functions and capabilities, helping improve the user experience and increase the overall value of its platform.
• End-to-End HCM Capabilities: Get comprehensive solutions for streamlining daily operations.

Primary Features

• Workflows: Organize workflows custom to your business’s various departments, teams and supplementary groups.
• Automation: Streamline repetitive tasks, such as promoting or increasing pay, with the power of workflows. Forget manually adding new employees when a colleague leaves or changes positions – leverage role-based approvals tied to titles instead of individuals.
• Org Charts: Establish org charts showcasing your team’s reporting structure, regardless of size. Manage multiple leaders and accommodate new hires as the system refreshes with relationships logged in the employee database.
• Data Security: Make sure everyone has access to what they need without compromising sensitive information by assigning user roles and permissions for secure data access.
• Integration: Seamlessly link to over 50 apps, from electronic signature and global payroll to office administration and outsourced HR services.

Limitations

• Manually adding data in the timesheets and attendance manager is tedious.
• Some integration and communication issues between the payroll and HRIS modules.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Expense Tracking — Supported With Integrations.
• Mobile Expense Management — Not Supported.
• Blackout Dates — Not Supported.
• Mobile Expense Management — Not Supported.
• Digital Receipt Management — Supported With Integrations.

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How We Choose Products

Our team of writers and analysts at SelectHub is committed to giving you the best recommendations based on our data. To make our list, products had to meet two criteria:

1. Closely match the topic
2. Earn a top-5 analyst score in our selection platform

Our analyst scores are based on an in-depth research process using primary and secondary sources. This includes SelectHub Analyst Briefings, direct communication with vendors, and reviewing materials such as user reviews, product brochures, specification sheets, case studies, user manuals, and technical documentation.

Our platform’s Scoring Engine processes the research and computes the analyst score. The score also factors in platform settings such as industry and company size.

Learn more about our research methodology and editorial standards

Primary Benefits

A full-service payroll system does much more than crunch numbers when managing employee pay. Let’s look at the benefits of using a full-service payroll solution!

Improve Retention Rates

Late or incorrect payroll puts you at risk for penalties and fees negatively impacting workplace morale, with 24% of employees looking for a new job after a single payroll issue.

By implementing a full-service payroll service, avoid the typical hiccups of manual payroll processing, such as tardy or erroneous payments. Automatically calculate hours worked and process payroll, accounting for factors like sick time or overtime pay, keeping your workflow running smoothly. Ensuring your payroll arrives on schedule every time reduces employee turnover.

Boost Efficiency & Productivity

The tedious and time-consuming task of payroll easily wears down small businesses, taking at least 2 to 3 days to complete. Say goodbye to payroll-induced burnout and let a full-service payroll software take the brunt of the work, freeing up valuable time for HR managers to concentrate on other crucial matters.

Many full-service payroll solutions offer time tracking features, like electronic clock-in and clock-out functions, eliminating the need for messy spreadsheets and letting you automate many payroll processes.

Save Money

The American Payroll Association estimates that automation can reduce payroll costs by as much as 80%. Automation empowers HR professionals to spend fewer labor hours on payroll processing, saving money on potential overtime. Full-service payroll also eliminates the possibility of human error, reducing the risk of overpaying your employees.

Simplify Tax Filing

Unless you’re a tax expert, it’s too easy to get bogged down in a never-ending stream of rules and regulations, leaving you frustrated and confused. The good news is you don’t have to go it alone. Full-service payroll solutions take the guesswork out of taxes.

Many products automatically check applicable tax laws, ensuring you always use the most accurate tax information. These systems also generate tax forms, and some even file your taxes automatically, enhancing compliance with the current laws and regulations at state, federal and industry levels.

Key Features

Determining your business needs is crucial before you jump into the world of full-service payroll. There are key elements to remember, like your business size and bandwidth. Let’s dive into the features you should look out for:

• Payroll Management & Processing: The backbone of all payroll operations, this essential function simplifies compensating your employees with hassle-free payroll management. Quickly process payments and pay your team in their preferred way.
• Tax Filing Services: Correctly filing your taxes, while difficult, is important, which is why the best products will offer a helping hand. This feature can help ensure you’re up to date on the most current tax laws, generate tax documents like W-2s and file those documents with little effort.
• Compensation Administration: This facet of payroll operations goes beyond the bare essentials of remunerating employees. Facilitate bonuses, allowances and necessary adjustments to meet minimum wage standards.
• Reporting: As technology advances, business intelligence becomes increasingly important for assessing business practices. A reporting feature will provide insights into your payroll processes by giving a high-level overview of various aspects of payroll, like budgeting.

Conducting a Payroll Service Comparison

Looking for the ideal software solution for your business is like finding the perfect shoe. There are different styles and sizes to match your specific needs. Like circling choices in, start by considering the features you need most.

Develop a list of requirements based on which features and functionalities are most important for your business. This list of requirements helps determine which products will meet your needs and narrow your search.

Last but not least, identify the limitations of your current payroll system and how a full-service payroll solution would bridge those gaps and evaluate the vendor. Reading online reviews and asking your colleagues for recommendations are also great resources.

Once you’ve narrowed down your top choices, it’s time to evaluate them thoroughly. One of the best ways to determine if the software is right for your business is to ask the vendor for a demo. Some vendors even offer free trials to test the tools before fully committing.

Next, compare key features and prices, ensuring you get the most out of your full-service payroll solution without breaking your budget. If you’re feeling lost among all the choices, remember using your list of requirements is like a compass guiding your search.

Next Steps

Choosing the perfect full-service payroll solution is like finding the needle in a haystack. While it takes time, it isn’t impossible with countless available options.

Whatever your must-have features are, making a clear list of requirements simplifies your search and ensures you’re selecting the best vendor for your business needs (without forcing paying for extra features you won’t use).

Are you looking for more guidance? Check out our free comparison report and pricing guides!

Which full-service software is your top choice and why? Let us know by leaving a comment below!