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Software review · Pricing verified 2026-10-24
OnPay review
Verified Oct 24, 2026OnPay is the simplest pricing story in this comparison: one plan, $49/month plus $6 per worker, with unlimited pay runs and full-service tax filings in all 50 states and DC. W-2 employees and 1099 contractors run in the same pay run at no extra charge, and HR ($15 + $2) and time tracking ($15 + $4) are the only add-ons. The first month is free, including onboarding and migration.
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Unpack Money score: 87/100
OnPay is the anti-maze payroll option: one plan, one price, no tiers to decode. At $49/month plus $6 per worker you get unlimited pay runs, automated federal, state, and local tax filings (Forms 941 and 940), year-end W-2 and 1099 forms, and pay by direct deposit, paper checks, or prepaid debit card — even mixed within a single pay run. That flatness is the product: where Gusto asks you to choose between three tiers and QuickBooks asks you to choose a bundle, OnPay asks you to sign up.
The feature that punches above the price is contractor handling. W-2 employees and 1099 contractors run in the same pay run at no extra charge, with taxes filed across all 50 states plus DC — a combination several competitors charge extra for or split across plans. Self-onboarding with in-app I-9 and W-4 forms, PTO accrual, and an employee self-service portal are included, and the only add-ons are HR ($15/month plus $2 per worker) and time tracking ($15/month plus $4 per worker). The first month is free, including onboarding and account migration, with OnPay's own team entering your prior wages.
The trade-offs are real but narrow. HR depth is thinner than Gusto Premium or Paychex Flex: the HR add-on covers self-service, PTO, org charts, and document audits, but there is no dedicated HR advisor or performance-management suite. Support is business hours only (Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm ET) via in-app chat, tickets, and phone — no 24/7 line like ADP's. And OnPay publishes no next-day or same-day pay option, so if payday speed is critical, check Gusto Plus or QuickBooks before committing.
OnPay fits the business that wants payroll done right for a flat price and doesn't need a deep HR suite: restaurants, farms, dental practices, nonprofits, and churches are all named on OnPay's own pages, and the multi-state, multi-pay-schedule handling backs that up. If your needs are payroll plus light HR, OnPay is the cheapest honest price in this comparison — and the first month free removes the usual cost of finding out whether it fits.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | For |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll (single plan) | $49/mo + $6/worker | Unlimited pay runs, automated federal/state/local tax filings, W-2s and 1099s, direct deposit, checks, or prepaid debit cards |
| HR add-on | $15/mo + $2/worker | Employee self-service, PTO management, org charts, document audits |
| Time tracking add-on | $15/mo + $4/worker | Time tracking synced with payroll |
Prices verified 2026-10-24 on the provider's official pricing page. Prices change — confirm before you buy.
What we like
- One plan, one price — no tier maze, no quote wall
- Contractors and employees in the same run at no extra charge is genuinely rare at this price
- First month free with onboarding and migration included
- No implementation or integration fees, and no hidden add-on fees on the core plan
Watch out for
- HR depth is thinner than Gusto or Paychex — the HR add-on is real but basic
- Support is business hours only (Mon–Fri 9am–8pm ET) — no 24/7 support like ADP or Gusto's help center
- No next-day or same-day pay option published on official pages
- Smaller integration marketplace than Gusto or ADP
Ease of use
OnPay's single plan is its ease-of-use story: there is no tier to choose, and setup is handled by OnPay's own payroll experts, who enter your historical wages and get you running in days. Self-onboarding with in-app I-9 and W-4 forms, PTO accrual, and an employee portal round out a system designed so the owner touches payroll as little as possible.
Support
OnPay's US-based support team works Monday–Friday 9am–8pm ET via in-app chat and tickets, with phone support at 877-328-6505 for account recovery in the same hours, per OnPay's official payroll page. Support requires a logged-in account to verify your identity before the team can act with tax agencies — worth knowing before you need urgent help.
How we reviewed OnPay
We record every plan, price, cap, and add-on from OnPay's official pricing page — never from review aggregators — and date-stamp the check; this page was last verified on 2026-10-24. Our editorial score weighs what a small business actually gets for the money: the capability of the cheapest useful tier, the true cost once add-ons and renewals are counted, pricing transparency, and contract traps such as auto-renewing trials. Compensation never changes a score or a verdict. Read our full review methodology.
FAQs
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Sources
Every price and feature on this page was verified against the provider's official website on 2026-10-24. We never use aggregator sites as sources.