--- title: "Compare Square Payroll vs QuickBooks Desktop Payroll 2026 | Capterra" description: "Unsure of what to choose? Check Capterra to compare Square Payroll and QuickBooks Desktop Payroll based on pricing, features, product details, and verified reviews." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/compare/170266-174981/Square-Payroll-vs-QuickBooks" page_type: "comparison" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-11-08" --- # Square Payroll vs QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Features and Cost Comparison Last updated November 8th, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.[Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) Your comparison: Square PayrollQuickBooks Desktop Payroll2/4 selected [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.7 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.5 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) [## Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.7 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) Starting Price $35.00/month Value-for-Money 4.6 Functionality 4.5 Ease of Use 4.6 Customer Service 4.4 Reviews Sentiment Based on [622 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 592 Neutral 18 Negative 12 [## QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.5 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) Starting Price $3.50/month Value-for-Money 4.3 Functionality 4.5 Ease of Use 4.4 Customer Service 4.2 Reviews Sentiment Based on [999 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 879 Neutral 58 Negative 62 ## Not a match? Find software alternatives tailored to your priorities. These software suggestions are similar to those you’re currently comparing. ### Paycom 4.4 (1,400) * * * Starting Price Contact vendor for pricing Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 87% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### Workday HCM 4.5 (1,779) * * * Starting Price Contact vendor for pricing Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * Highest Rated ### BambooHR 4.6 (3,653) * * * Starting Price $10.00 Per User,Per Month Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### Paycor 4.3 (3,081) * * * Starting Price Contact vendor for pricing Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 87% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ## Summary * * * Key features rated by users Features selected based on 15,633 reviews from payroll software users. about the Fit Score methodology. Fit Score methodology Our Fit Score reflects how reviewers rate a product’s performance against a set of features reviewers rate as most important. A higher score indicates the product is rated better in delivering what reviewers most care about. If the Fit Score is not shown for a specific product, that only means there are currently not enough relevant data points to develop a meaningful score. It does not indicate that the product should be excluded from further evaluation. Best for Methodology 72%Fit Missing features Feature ratings Direct Deposit 4.8 Employee Database 4.5 Data Import/Export 4.4 Mobile Access NA Compliance Management 4.8 \--%Fit Missing features Feature ratings Direct Deposit 4.7 Employee Database NA Data Import/Export NA Mobile Access NA Compliance Management NA User satisfaction User satisfaction 4.7 User reviews[622](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) Ease of use 4.6 Functionality 4.5 Value for money 4.6 Customer support 4.4 User satisfaction 4.5 User reviews[999](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) Ease of use 4.4 Functionality 4.5 Value for money 4.3 Customer support 4.2 Price starts from Price starts from $35Other, Per Month - Free version - Free trial Price starts from $3.50Flat Rate, Per Month - Free version - Free trial Best for Best for Small to medium size business employers with up to 100 employees. Salaried or hourly employees. Pay W-2 employees, 1099 contractors, or both. Best for QuickBooks Payroll is a payroll provider for small businesses, accountants, financial experts, hospitality, and more that offers access to health benefits, workers compensation, and more. ## User reviews Pros & cons ES Emily S. Owner > "I like that staff can clock in and clock out for their shifts with Square Payroll, their tips are automatically added to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6851283) CBCC Carolyn Black-Coffey C. Owner, President > "The transition was harder for me, as my former payroll company had a more manual system, and the formatting process was..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6830560) CBCC Carolyn Black-Coffey C. Owner, President > "Square has been immeasurably helpful with getting and keeping me organized in regard to payroll." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6830560) JD Jammi D. owner > "it is a little pricey for a app compared to other payroll apps" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6043153) MS Michelle S. Owner > "I also love that they automatically withhold and remit Payroll Taxes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6592663) MH Matthew H. general manager > "This does not matter to me, but it does not do the HR items that Paychex and ADP do. If you need a more comprehensive..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4527222) PO Paola O. HR Manager > "I like this payroll product as it offers amazing payroll features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6625742) BB Blake B. owner > "At first it was a little hard to get used too." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6294458) VR Verified Reviewer Admin > "The automation of tax filings and payments lifted a huge burden off our shoulders, ensuring compliance without the hassle." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6227823) VR Verified Reviewer President > "They have screwed up my tax filings every month since switching to Square Payroll. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#GetApp___5094877) MS Michelle S. Owner > "It was intuitive and easy to use to begin with, but they keep adding products and improving functionality." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6592663) DW David W. President > "My only concern is the ease at which I can pay the same employee different pay rates- for doing different jobs. While I..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2860844) JT Joseph T. CEO > "I also liked how accurate and without delays the payroll payments are executed, this way fantastic because it allowed our..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4544619) AG Alysia G. Self > "Limited reports “. And not great for larger business." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___3571174) PO Paola O. HR Manager > "It is effortless to deploy and customization is easy too." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6625742) RB Richard B. Owner > "It doesn't matter if I am in my high season, or my low season, it takes the same amount of time because of the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2860851) JT Joseph T. CEO > "I loved the way this platform allows me to use the trip monitoring function, this function was very important to me since..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4544619) Mike F. Owner > "The employer dashboard and features are pretty basic and may take some to get used to what functionality is available." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2827348) KG Kim G. Brand management > "User friendly and customer support is very helpful." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___7081614) PB Petula B. Owner/ CEO > "Not sure why it's not allowing me to add my cashapp a payment option, but I'm sure it's something I'm not doing correctly." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2962818) JT Joseph T. CEO > "I liked the automated service to send payment report to our employees mail, this helped a lot so that our employees could..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4544619) HM Heather M. shop owner > "I found it expensive for a very small business." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___3340865) PW Patrick W. Self > "The ability to pay manage and keep track of payroll and documents makes square payroll a great tool for any small or..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4543221) JN Jessica N. Owner > "Now it is more difficult to view timecards if you notice a mistake when importing" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2860611) CA Christian A. Manager > "I liked their idea of only paying when you take a payment, so I tried Square Payroll." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6331478) KM Karyn M. Co-Owner > "The only concern I had was that it was very difficult to get in touch with a live person the few times I had a question." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2862525) CBCC Carolyn Black-Coffey C. Owner, President > "Very easy to track and import wages." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6830560) Chandra D. Owner > "I was super disappointed that I had to create a NEW Square account just to get access to the plan again." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___3048452) MD Maggie D. Owner > "Overall, the software is a great value and it's money well spent." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___7033695) KD Kimbra D. Head server / manager at night > "The only thing I don't like is when I need to change something it won't let me. If I make a mistake it's hard to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2934613) MD Maggie D. Owner > "The system is incredibly easy to set up and run." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___7033695) BH Bryan H. Owner > "We were very nervous about taxes and getting folks paid correctly not being business owners before. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2907496) SS Shannon S. Operator > "I've used square payroll for over 7 years after using several other services like Quickbooks, paychex, ADP and nothing..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4583365) AW Allison W. GM > "It is crazy Square won't implement this option and is a huge annoyance." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2778860) CO Camila O. Managing Partner > "I really like Square Payroll for the ability it gives me to manage my payroll in an organized manner." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4402753) SZ Sheldon Z. Ceo > "If you have trouble it’s tough to get ahold of someone." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2861076) OA Oluwatobiloba A. Manager > "I sincerely like the comprehensive payroll system and it's solution that can help business grow both online and offline." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4305107) CG Cameron G. Owner > "I was struggling to do payroll by myself." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2958831) VR Verified Reviewer President > "Running payroll is simple and I could automate the entry of payroll data to avoid mistakes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#GetApp___5094877) CG Cameron G. Owner > "Haven't found any issues that are troublesome." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2958831) JD Jammi D. owner > "square payroll has one of the best apps with easy to use system" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6043153) LC Linda C. owner > "Very frustrating" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2816069) JC Jenni C. Owner > "I like all of Square Payroll. If I had to choose I would say how easy it is to use just amazes me." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6227674) SW Shannon W. Acupuncturist/maker > "We have had errors." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2693412) OA Oluwatobiloba A. Manager > "It enables fast payment." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4305107) KM Karyn M. Co-Owner > "The only concern I had was that it was very difficult to get in touch with a live person the few times I had a question." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2862525) LLP Laura Lee P. President > "I am glad that I do not have to hire an accountant to do what Square has included in its services." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4402192) AW Allison W. GM > "It is crazy Square won't implement this option and is a huge annoyance." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2778860) KO Kelli O. Office Manager > "The dashboard of Square Payroll was very easy to use & navigate, I had ran into alot of problems when it came to time off..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___3471915) RB Richard B. Owner > "It doesn't matter if I am in my high season, or my low season, it takes the same amount of time because of the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2860851) KD Kimbra D. Head server / manager at night > "I love that this program it calculates your state and federal taxes, lets me offer direct deposit, tracks hrs and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___2934613) BB Blake B. owner > "At first it was a little hard to get used too." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___6294458) Troy B. Marketing Manager > "Vacation/Leave Tracking has truly increased the productivity of payroll and bookkeeping." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___3705912) MH Matthew H. general manager > "This does not matter to me, but it does not do the HR items that Paychex and ADP do. If you need a more comprehensive..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#Capterra___4527222) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) SA Suman A. Owner,Bookkeeper,TaxPreparer > "I like it's streamlined Financial integration and this eliminates manual data entry and ensures our general ledger is always up to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7161946) Jennifer N. Asst Payroll Clerk > "Additionally, resolving complex payroll errors or tax filing discrepancies through standard customer support channels can sometimes..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7214452) Brendan R. Workshop Manager > "It’s intuitive once you have it set up, and it really simplifies the administrative burden of running a small business. While there’s..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7175976) FC Fannie C. Estimator > "I also cannot increase the font size when I need to read descriptions, which can be frustrating." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7171842) RL Robert L. Owner > "I like that it keeps employee pay, deductions, tax information, pay stubs, and business records organized." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7154948) RL Robert L. Owner > "There can be occasional bugs, delays, or confusion when trying to fix issues, and customer support is one area that could be improved." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7154948) Brendan R. Workshop Manager > "QuickBooks Payroll has been a reliable backbone for managing our employee payments, tax compliance, and pay stubs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7175976) SF Sarah F. Director of Human Resources and Payroll > "I noticed that the software doesn't calculate Simple IRA deductions as it should for pre-tax deductions and I have to manually..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6768927) MW Matt W. President > "QuickBooks Payroll is a great secure platform that helps me keep my banking and money management in one place." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7172944) AS Angie S. Partner > "The one thing I didn’t like was that finding forms or previous tax submissions can sometimes be surprisingly difficult." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7195399) NA Nameer A. Owner > "QuickBooks Payroll integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting, which saves a lot of time on reconciliation." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7148078) Alvin W. Owner > "My client has had to turn of automatic payroll features because he can't afford to give Intuit his money for 6 weeks at a time." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7084312) DM Daniel M. Ceo > "It works seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software, making it easier to manage both payroll and finances in one place. And tax..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6871101) Tanya D. President > "We are not a fan that the pricing keeps going up very regularily and it's generally quite a bit of an increase each time." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7183904) JD Jesse D. Co-Founder > "Accurate and efficient payroll generation and management, ease of automated pre-tax deductions, expense reimbursement, tax..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6650507) LW Landon W. Administrator > "Customer support felt impersonal and slow. When something went wrong, it often seemed like we were just another number in line, and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7050317) MW Matt W. President > "Being able to pay everyone and have my accounting software update automatically is truly a time saver." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7172944) CC Clara C. Finance Manager > "One thing I don't like is the lack of a free trial for the payroll software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7196597) Jennifer N. Asst Payroll Clerk > "What stands out most about QuickBooks Payroll is how effortlessly it automates routine payroll processes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7214452) CA Cyndy A. CEO > "For example: features like Payroll, Time Tracking, and Inventory Management are not included in base plans." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6813870) JI Jess I. Controller > "The larger our company became we had to transition to something more substantial to handle Out of state Payrolls and Certified..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7114882) AM Alicia M. Owner > "We had an employee to put the wrong bank info in for direct deposit and QBP is not quick to correct the debit from my account." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6848219) FE FREDDIE E. manager > "very easy manage at your finger tips good for taxes and basic bookkeeping and Tracks income, expenses, and profit automatically" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7119771) RD Raegan D. Owner, Accountant > "For my client's with a large headcount, it makes it too expensive to use QuickBooks Payroll." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7046697) RL Robert L. Owner > "QuickBooks Payroll makes payroll much easier to manage in one place." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7154948) KM Kay M. Office Coordinator > "Sometimes their age can be a curse - parts can be clunky and have long-term issues that sometimes have you lost in a sea of numbers..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6838210) VR Verified Reviewer Practice Administrator > "Changes they have made have increased the usability of the program and the interfaces with my timeclock has made it so much better." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7066523) KH Katelynn H. Payroll specialist > "From the employer perspective, payroll submission could get especially tricky during holidays." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087192) ZS Zachary S. Physical Therapist > "It is a good program to keep track of the company's expenses." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7194289) MS MItch S. Owner > "It can be hard for new business owners to understand what's happening in the background for them." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087422) JR Joelle R. Customer service Rep and HR > "QuickBooks Payroll has allowed our financial managment team to pass along tasks, increasing productivity." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6643771) AB Amber B. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR > "At time payroll is not set for the correct pay date and at times it is not a consecutive 14 days" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6759254) SF Shani F. Smart home system > "I am very satisfied with the software, the best way to prepare invoices and receive the money is through the software, it is also..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6866386) KL Khimson L. IT admin > "Payroll setup can be confusing initially" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7200584) CJ Cassandra J. Electrical engineer > "What I like most about QuickBooks payroll is how is so easy to schedule payments to employees directly to their account accordingly" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7044512) JH Jenna H. Founder > "It it not as user friendly as other tools with the automation of taxes, EDD filing, etc." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6795616) KL Khimson L. IT admin > "Good for small and mid-sized businesses" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7200584) KM Kaylee M. Director > "It also does not have the capability to submit source deductions to CRA with each payroll processing like many other payroll service..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6169540) VR Verified Reviewer Manager > "Great payroll option for beginners and small companies" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7133522) VR Verified Reviewer Practice Administrator > "It is on the higher end of the cost for this type of program. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7066523) KG Krista G. VP > "I also really like that they offer a call back option rather than having to sit on hold for a long time." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7142302) EP Emily P. Assistant Controller > "It was slow to process payroll, and it often had glitches." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6655246) Nicola T. Vocal Coach > "I liked that I could do all my payroll on the one application without having to use another application." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7125981) KP Kurtis P. Owner > "There’s not a simple way to get an employee time and a half for working on a given day" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6807041) OS Olugbemi S. coordinator > "The seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, comprehensive tax compliance features, and user-friendly interface have made managing..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6392101) JI Jess I. Controller > "Can't connect with anyone on a call." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7114882) TA Tanveer A. Software enginner > "QuickBooks Payroll is user-friendly and seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks accounting software, which makes managing payroll,..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6566097) OS Olugbemi S. coordinator > "However, the additional cost for full-service payroll and the need to manually handle local tax filing could be less convenient for..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6392101) BR Beck R. Owner > "I use QBO Payroll to run payroll for clients, and overall it makes the process smooth." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7005009) Samantha A. HR ADMIN PROJECT ENGINEER > "On occasion we do run into a problem where the taxes are not being taken out." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6862616) AS Angie S. Partner > "The biggest wins for me were how simple and convenient it feels day-to-day." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7195399) SB Stephen B. CEO > "Has limited functionality as compared to the higher cost offerings" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6582281) Alvin W. Owner > "QBO Payroll is easy to integrate for small business owners - sometimes too easy. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7084312) GR Garrett R. Owner > "The tax filings are incorrect and incomplete and it is like pulling teeth trying to get Quickbooks to even acknowledge issues, much..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#SoftwareAdvice___6124963) KH Katelynn H. Payroll specialist > "The range of customization as an employer is very beneficial." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087192) KM Kay M. Office Coordinator > "Their AI-sorting is also a little buggy." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6838210) BP Bianca P. Owner > "Good for payroll and expense management." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7074377) PM Paulo M. CEO > "it could be the costumer service sometimes its really difficult to get them" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6747479) FS Frances S. Owner > "We QuickBooks Payroll because it integrates so nicely with our bank, it’s so user friendly and very intuitive." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6686654) MH Monica H. Office Manager > "It was just very frustrating when you needed to do something that required calling customer service." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6705434) CC Clara C. Finance Manager > "I like how easy it is to set up new employees and manage benefits." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7196597) TR Tina R. Office Assistiant > "So, no real complaints other than repeating ones self on the repeat calls." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7006798) VR Verified Reviewer Accountant > "It was especially good when trying run a small retail business with only a few employees." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7114608) BR Beck R. Owner > "It does cost more than some other payroll options." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7005009) VR Verified Reviewer Accountant > "It was especially good when trying run a small retail business with only a few employees." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7114608) JB Jodi B. Controller > "The only thing I dislike about QuickBooks Payroll is the inability to reverse a direct deposit once it's been processed." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6452746) MS MItch S. Owner > "Overall, it's a good product that integrates well with their accounting software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087422) TR Tina R. Office Assistiant > "we get repeat calls over and OVER." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7006798) CA Cyndy A. CEO > "QuickBooks has been a reliable and comprehensive tool for managing business finances." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6813870) LM Louise M. Financial Controller > "We have uncovered a disaster issue noted in detail below." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6585375) PK Priya K. Controller > "It is a good software for value of money and the quality you get in using this software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7127020) MH Mary H. Executive Assistant > "The way it was integrated into our main Quickbooks software, I was unable to use this on my MAC - I am only a MAC user and had to get..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___4212361) LW Landon W. Administrator > "QuickBooks Payroll is easy to use and integrates smoothly with their other products." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7050317) KM Kaylee M. Director > "It does not have the capability to express process payroll for direct deposit." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6169540) AT Angie T. Director of Business Affairs > "It is easy to correct errors and make adjustments before final submission and even then I have found the customer service team to be..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6803332) CC Cody C. Office Administrator > "Any time I have an issue and contact the help desk, it takes over an hour of them "researching" before the answer is usually, "we..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6196224) SL Stephanie L. Office Manager > "Very affordable. When we have issues, customer support is great to work with." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7095628) MT Maryq T. CEO > "They made unauthorized changes to payroll, service teams contradict themselves (then ultimately lied sadly) Only 3 weeks in an my..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#SoftwareAdvice___4318263) MD Mashelia D. Manager > "I was able to get assistance quickly for each issue." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7120715) VR Verified Reviewer Company Bookkeeper > "The only con that I have personally can across is that the direct deposit option should be included price wise in either the payroll..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___4319436) Brendan R. Workshop Manager > "It’s intuitive once you have it set up, and it really simplifies the administrative burden of running a small business. While there’s..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7175976) KM Kay M. Office Coordinator > "Sometimes their age can be a curse - parts can be clunky and have long-term issues that sometimes have you lost in a sea of numbers..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6838210) VR Verified Reviewer Practice Administrator > "Changes they have made have increased the usability of the program and the interfaces with my timeclock has made it so much better." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7066523) VR Verified Reviewer VP of People & Talent > "Not the best user experience (you constantly go back to the main page when you have to change things, it's not very intuitive to use)...." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___4763750) OS Olugbemi S. coordinator > "The seamless integration with QuickBooks Online, comprehensive tax compliance features, and user-friendly interface have made managing..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6392101) EC Erin C. Owner > "It can be difficult to navigate changing hours/pay for an employee" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___4834622) KH Katelynn H. Payroll specialist > "The range of customization as an employer is very beneficial." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087192) DD David D. CEO > "The UI is not always super clear, and sometimes you have to go to weird places (from a navigation perspective) to find a particular..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___3236067) SA Suman A. Owner,Bookkeeper,TaxPreparer > "I like it's streamlined Financial integration and this eliminates manual data entry and ensures our general ledger is always up to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7161946) MA Marco A. CEO > "It does not integrate with many softwares." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#SoftwareAdvice___4434657) NA Nameer A. Owner > "QuickBooks Payroll integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting, which saves a lot of time on reconciliation." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7148078) PC Peggy C. White Glove Wizard > "Integration with other Apps - You cannot integrate a time card app because only hours are uploaded from app to QuickBooks and we..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___2664133) MS MItch S. Owner > "Overall, it's a good product that integrates well with their accounting software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7087422) CA Cyndy A. CEO > "For example: features like Payroll, Time Tracking, and Inventory Management are not included in base plans." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6813870) LW Landon W. Administrator > "QuickBooks Payroll is easy to use and integrates smoothly with their other products." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7050317) VR Verified Reviewer VP of People & Talent > "Not the best user experience (you constantly go back to the main page when you have to change things, it's not very intuitive to use)...." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___4763750) VR Verified Reviewer Practice Administrator > "Changes they have made have increased the usability of the program and the interfaces with my timeclock has made it so much better." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7066523) DD David D. CEO > "The UI is not always super clear, and sometimes you have to go to weird places (from a navigation perspective) to find a particular..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___3236067) AS Angie S. Partner > "The biggest wins for me were how simple and convenient it feels day-to-day." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7195399) HV Hallie V. Office Manager > "Found it outdated and less user friendly than others." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___3407480) SA Suman A. Owner,Bookkeeper,TaxPreparer > "Overall, QuickBooks Payroll has been reliable and easy to use." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7161946) RL Robert L. Owner > "There can be occasional bugs, delays, or confusion when trying to fix issues, and customer support is one area that could be improved." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7154948) AB Amber B. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR > "Quickbooks payroll has been very easy to navigate through and the help desk is always there if any questons arise" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6759254) LW Landon W. Administrator > "Customer support felt impersonal and slow. When something went wrong, it often seemed like we were just another number in line, and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7050317) SL Stephanie L. Office Manager > "Very affordable. When we have issues, customer support is great to work with." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7095628) KM Kay M. Office Coordinator > "Sometimes their age can be a curse - parts can be clunky and have long-term issues that sometimes have you lost in a sea of numbers..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6838210) MD Mashelia D. Manager > "I was able to get assistance quickly for each issue." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___7120715) PM Paulo M. CEO > "it could be the costumer service sometimes its really difficult to get them" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#Capterra___6747479) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) ## User interface [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/) 4.66 (622) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/) 4.45 (999) ## Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ### Features Do these products fit your needs? Prioritize real-user-identified key features according to your needs to find your best fit. \--% Fit vs \--% Fit 1099 Preparation 207 Important 401(k) Tracking 150 Important Access Controls/Permissions 120 Important Square Payroll Top features 17/50 - 1099 Preparation - 401(k) Tracking - Access Controls/Permissions - Accounting - Accounting Integration - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - AI/Machine Learning - Alerts/Notifications - API - Approval Process Control - Approvals - Attendance Management - Audit Management - Automatic Tax Payment - Auto Update - Batch Processing - Benefits Management - Benefits Manager - Calendar Management - Cash Flow Management - Chatbot - Check Printing - Check/W-2 Delivery - Compensation Management - Compliance Management - Core HR Integration - Corporate/Business - Customizable Reports - Data Import/Export - Deduction Management - Direct Deposit - Document Management - Employee Database - Employee Management - Employee Onboarding - Employee Profiles - Employee Self Service - Expense Claims - Expense Management - Expense Reimbursement - Expense Tracking - For Accountants - For CPA Firms - For Small Businesses - Generative AI - Mobile - Mobile Access - Multi-Country - Multi-Currency [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/#features) QuickBooks Desktop Payroll 10/50 - 1099 Preparation - 401(k) Tracking - Access Controls/Permissions - Accounting - Accounting Integration - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - AI/Machine Learning - Alerts/Notifications - API - Approval Process Control - Approvals - Attendance Management - Audit Management - Automatic Tax Payment - Auto Update - Batch Processing - Benefits Management - Benefits Manager - Calendar Management - Cash Flow Management - Chatbot - Check Printing - Check/W-2 Delivery - Compensation Management - Compliance Management - Core HR Integration - Corporate/Business - Customizable Reports - Data Import/Export - Deduction Management - Direct Deposit - Document Management - Employee Database - Employee Management - Employee Onboarding - Employee Profiles - Employee Self Service - Expense Claims - Expense Management - Expense Reimbursement - Expense Tracking - For Accountants - For CPA Firms - For Small Businesses - Generative AI - Mobile - Mobile Access - Multi-Country - Multi-Currency [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/#features) ### Recognition Square Payroll is recognized as a top-rated tool in 3 Capterra Shortlist reports QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is recognized as a top-rated tool in 5 Capterra Shortlist reports ### Deployment & support Square Payroll Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos ### Company Details Square Payroll - By Square - Located in United States - Founded in 2009 QuickBooks Desktop Payroll - By Intuit - Located in United States - Founded in 1983 ## Popular Comparisons [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [Deel](https://www.capterra.com/p/205015/Deel/)[4.85 (4,322)](https://www.capterra.com/p/205015/Deel/reviews/) $35/month Price $5/month 4.5 Features 4.8 4.6 Ease of Use 4.8 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170266-205015/Square-Payroll-vs-Deel) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [Deel](https://www.capterra.com/p/205015/Deel/)[4.85 (4,322)](https://www.capterra.com/p/205015/Deel/reviews/) $3.5/month Price $5/month 4.5 Features 4.8 4.4 Ease of Use 4.8 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/174981-205015/QuickBooks-vs-Deel) [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [Rippling](https://www.capterra.com/p/172127/Rippling/)[4.86 (4,886)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172127/Rippling/reviews/) $35/month Price $8/month 4.5 Features 4.8 4.6 Ease of Use 4.9 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170266-172127/Square-Payroll-vs-Rippling) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [RUN Powered by ADP](https://www.capterra.com/p/185859/RUN/)[4.60 (1,587)](https://www.capterra.com/p/185859/RUN/reviews/) $3.5/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.5 4.4 Ease of Use 4.6 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/174981-185859/QuickBooks-vs-RUN) [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [RUN Powered by ADP](https://www.capterra.com/p/185859/RUN/)[4.60 (1,587)](https://www.capterra.com/p/185859/RUN/reviews/) $35/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.5 4.6 Ease of Use 4.6 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/170266-185859/Square-Payroll-vs-RUN) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [Rippling](https://www.capterra.com/p/172127/Rippling/)[4.86 (4,886)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172127/Rippling/reviews/) $3.5/month Price $8/month 4.5 Features 4.8 4.4 Ease of Use 4.9 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/172127-174981/Rippling-vs-QuickBooks) [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [Paylocity](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/)[4.34 (1,983)](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/reviews/) $35/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.3 4.6 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/86714-170266/WebPay-vs-Square-Payroll) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [Paylocity](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/)[4.34 (1,983)](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/reviews/) $3.5/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.3 4.4 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/86714-174981/WebPay-vs-QuickBooks) [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [ADP Workforce Now](https://www.capterra.com/p/155895/WorkforceNow/)[4.43 (7,295)](https://www.capterra.com/p/155895/WorkforceNow/reviews/) $35/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.3 4.6 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/155895-170266/WorkforceNow-vs-Square-Payroll) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [ADP Workforce Now](https://www.capterra.com/p/155895/WorkforceNow/)[4.43 (7,295)](https://www.capterra.com/p/155895/WorkforceNow/reviews/) $3.5/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.5 Features 4.3 4.4 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/155895-174981/WorkforceNow-vs-QuickBooks) [Square Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/)[4.66 (622)](https://www.capterra.com/p/170266/Square-Payroll/reviews/) vs [Patriot Software](https://www.capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Software/)[4.80 (3,969)](https://www.capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Software/reviews/) $35/month Price $17/month 4.5 Features 4.7 4.6 Ease of Use 4.7 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/116050-170266/Patriot-Software-vs-Square-Payroll) [QuickBooks Desktop Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/)[4.45 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174981/QuickBooks/reviews/) vs [Patriot Software](https://www.capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Software/)[4.80 (3,969)](https://www.capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Software/reviews/) $3.5/month Price $17/month 4.5 Features 4.7 4.4 Ease of Use 4.7 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/116050-174981/Patriot-Software-vs-QuickBooks)