As a payroll manager, it’s crucial to keep a thorough track of clock-ins and out, time off requests, and employee benefits enrollments. You might need a tool to stay up-to-date with employee data and ensure accurate pay dispersal. A mobile payroll app can help you track employee activity at all times.
Most mobile payroll applications come free with a desktop version, and you can do everything from tracking timesheets to generating payroll reports even when you’re away from your desk. You still need to cautiously understand the functionalities of every app to see if it aligns with your needs.
Searching for a payroll service provider to hire for your business? We've got you covered. Check out our list of companies in the following areas:
To help you pick the right tool, we highlight the top seven mobile payroll apps based on sentiment analysis of reviews, arranged in order of percentage of positive reviews. Read more.
In order to present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report’s analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
1. Paycom
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Paycom payroll mobile app gives easy access to payroll and HR data. This app eases the onboarding process by creating a checklist, which can be used by the hiring managers as well as the candidates to check and prepare for the next steps. Additional app features help to see employee paycheck information, time, and benefits instantly.
Mobile features of interestTimesheets: Record your employees' work hours by allowing them to check in and out of work on time.
Employee information management: Collect, store, and maintain employee data, such as personal information, performance records, health records, etc., to comply with various employment regulations.
Expense reimbursement: Let employees submit business expenses, such as travel and meals, that they incur to perform a business operation. Review and approve them to permit reimbursement.
Customer support: Knowledge base, FAQs, and phone calls.
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider Paycom mobile app?
If, along with simplifying access to payroll, you want to smoothen onboarding operations, you can consider Paycom. Its onboarding checklist feature differentiates it from other payroll apps as it helps employees and provides a great experience to candidates still in the interview phase. The candidate can refer to the checklist to track and manage the onboarding process and complete the tasks as necessary.
79% of the users reported positive sentiments about Paycom’s mobile app
2. ADP Workforce Now
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
ADP Workforce Now is a human capital management mobile app for Android and iOS devices with ADP Time and Attendance desktop solution. It allows you to do all human resources tasks, including tracking benefits, payroll, time, and attendance of employees. It is a central location for employees to view work events, including work schedules, paid time off dates, and pay schedules. A key differentiator of this payroll app is that it lets the managers clock in and out for up to 100 assigned employees in one go.
Mobile features of interestPay and tax information: Allows employees to access details related to their payments and taxes, including pay statements, tax withholdings allowance, tax forms, tax filing status, and year-to-date earnings.
Time tracking: Lets employees clock in and out of their work shifts, review time-off balances, and update the timesheets as per working hours.
Team management: Enables team managers to view team schedules, edit their calendars, approve their time off requests, and access their information via employee profiles.
Customer support: Knowledge base
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider ADP Workforce Now mobile app?
If, as a small team manager, you’re often clocking in and out your employees, then you can consider this mobile app to clock in up to 100 employees in one go. It will help you effectively manage your team’s working hours and conveniently transfer jobs from one employee to another, even when your team grows.
73% of the users reported positive sentiments about ADP Workforce Now’s mobile app
/ Pro tip
Rules around taxes are subject to frequent changes. Hence, look for a payroll app that automatically updates its compliance policies as per the new laws. This will ensure you stay compliant at all times.
3. Rippling
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Like the timesheet feature of Paycom, employees can clock in and out of their shifts using Rippling’s mobile app. Employees' time and attendance sync directly with the payroll, giving employers direct insight into their employees' working hours. Its break enforcement system stands out when compared to other payroll mobile apps. The tool comes preloaded with break requirements as per labor laws and automatically enforces benefits, such as overtime and meal breaks, based on employee location.
Mobile features of interestTime reports: Generates time and job reports, including employees’ work hours, attendance, and paid time off, helping you understand their time on the job.
Geolocation: Track employees’ location when they check in to ensure they are where they should be. You can set a GPS radius and accept check-ins only from that area.
Mobile notifications: Notify employees about their meal breaks, overtime, end of shift, timesheet completion, and more so they don’t miss out on any task or break.
Customer support: Knowledge base, chat, email.
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider Rippling mobile app?
Rippling’s strong break enforcement feature can help you avoid legal penalties. So, if you’re focusing on being compliant with all the federal, state, and local labor laws, then you can consider this payroll mobile app. Since the app already comes preloaded with all the requirements, you’ll not have to worry about updating the break rules within the app for your employees from different locations.
69% of the users reported positive sentiments about Rippling’s mobile app
4. Gusto
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Similar to other mobile payroll apps, Gusto allows you to view payday insights, tax elections, and paid time offs. But, what makes this tool different is its “Gusto spending account and debit” card and “Gusto savings goals”. These are interest-bearing bank accounts that connect payday, banking, and savings. The solution also offers budgeting tools and spending insights to help employees check their spending habits.
Mobile features of interestBenefits card: Give employees read-only access to information about their medical, dental, vision plans, and more (currently only available on iOS devices).
Paycheck splitter: Let employees divide their paycheck and automatically route the amount into multiple accounts, such as the savings account or the spending account.
Tax insights: Employees can view and download their pay stubs and charts showing income patterns, taxes, deductions, etc.
Customer support: Release notes, emails, and phone calls.
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider Gusto mobile app?
Small business owners looking for a way to offer financial benefits to their employees can consider Gusto. The spending account and savings goal feature help employees make company purchases and cover job-related expenses with a virtual card that supports all transactions. Moreover, these features also help them create saving goals. As an incentive, the tool gives employees interest on deposits in their Gusto savings account.
66% of the users reported positive sentiments about Gusto’s mobile app
/ Pro tip
Check for payroll apps that can integrate with an accounting app to eliminate manual data entry and improvise financial reporting. Having the integration feature will help ensure that all stored data is accounted for while generating financial reports via the accounting app.
5. Paychex Flex
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Besides offering functionalities that are common to most payroll apps, Paychex Flex offers three more mobile apps that allow you to focus on specific areas at a time. These apps are available for Android and iOS mobile devices and are dedicated to kiosk operations, employee benefits, and employee details management. They support integration with Apple smartwatch, allowing users to view app notifications instantly.
Mobile features of interestEmployee profiles: Access employee profiles to view their information such as name, contact details, education history, etc., and allow them to edit their details.
Retirement plans: Allow employees to enroll and manage retirement plans, view their contributions, employer matching contributions, and generate investment performance reports.
Pay status: Let employees view their wage status and history.
Customer support: Knowledge base, FAQs, chat, and phone calls.
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider Paychex Flex mobile app?
Paychex Flex has a total of four applications, namely Paychex Flex App, Paychex Oasis Employee Connect App, Paychex Flex Time Kiosk, and Flock Benefits Administration. Except for Paycheck Flex App, which offers multiple payroll functionalities, all the other apps specialize in one operations area. So, you can either pick an app that suits your needs or choose Paychex Flex App with one specialized app to manage specific areas in-depth and perform all the payroll tasks.
66% of the users reported positive sentiments about Paychex Flex’s mobile app
6. BambooHR
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Whether you’re an employee requesting time off or a manager reviewing the same, the app lets you request and approve a time off in a few clicks. It has a centralized calendar that you can access to see who’s currently out or who has applied for time off, allowing the managers to coordinate coverage. The app’s electronic signature feature makes it stand out among the payroll apps. This feature allows you and your employees conveniently sign new HR policies, employee handbooks, and invoices via the mobile app.
Mobile features of interestPerformance management: Create and track goals for your employees to plan and document their career progression. Employees can also use the tracker to monitor their performance.
Company directory: Use the built-in company directory to find employees’ essential information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, job roles, and locations.
Employee satisfaction surveys: Collect employees’ feedback via surveys to know how they feel about their job. The tool allows them to fill out the survey from anywhere.
Customer support: Knowledge base, emails, and phone calls.
Mobile starting price: Free with the desktop version
Who should consider BambooHR mobile app?
BambooHR allows you to e-sign documents, so you can consider it if your business is working toward being environment-friendly. It will withdraw the need for paperwork and speed up business operations by allowing you to get approvals and digitally sign documents and invoices.
64% of the users reported positive sentiments about BambooHR’s mobile app
/ Pro tip
As mobile devices are prone to loss and theft, ensure the payroll app you opt has strong data security measures, such as touch or face ID authentication, encryption, and access control features.
7. Homebase
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Mobile starting price
Device compatibility
Homebase is another mobile payroll app that eases working hours management. It automatically converts timesheets into hours and calculates wages. It also considers the employees’ department and role for calculation. Apart from the commonly available features in other payroll apps, Homebase lets employees get paid in advance by cashing out before payday, all without interest charges.
Mobile features of interestEmployee schedules: Build a shift schedule for your employees so they can check their upcoming shifts and confirm availability.
Shift swapping: Allow employees to trade and cover each other’s shifts, offering them the flexibility to accommodate personal obligations and commitments, such as childcare and medical appointments.
Team communication: Enable employees to trade and cover each other’s shifts, offering them the flexibility to accommodate personal obligations and commitments, such as childcare and medical appointments.
Customer support: Knowledge base, emails, and chat.
Who should consider Homebase mobile app?
Small businesses looking to offer perks and pay advances to their employees can consider the Homebase payroll solution. This payroll mobile app provides employees with early access to their wages. It covers all the costs and liabilities—meaning that yourletsll will not be impacted when employees choose advance cash out. This ensures that your employeecanto handle emergency expenses, keeping them satisfied in the long run.
56% of the users reported positive sentiments about Homebase’s mobile app
Why should you consider a mobile app for your payroll needs?
There are several reasons why you should consider using a mobile app for your payroll needs. Let’s discuss a few of them here:
Employee self-service: As discussed above, all the mobile payroll applications allow employees to view their working hours, check their wage status, request time off, access tax-related documents, and more. All these functionalities are available to them on their mobile devices. These self-service options improve employee engagement and overall satisfaction.
Easier employee monitoring: The tool gives employers round-the-clock access to employees’ attendance, time-off requests, pay statements, and shift details, so they can conveniently monitor their employees. The app also provides real-time alerts for all the new requests, approvals, and changes and allows you to respond to them quickly, which increases engagement and keeps you updated about your employees’ availability.
Faster communication: Payroll mobile apps come with real-time individual chat, group chat, and document-sharing features. This allows faster communication among employees and employers regarding payroll, benefits, time off, and other matters. This ensures prompt responses while reducing the need for face-to-face communication.
How are mobile payroll apps priced?
The pricing of mobile apps varies depending on the developer’s business model and the type of app. Here are some common pricing models you’ll find when looking for payroll mobile apps:
Freemium apps: These mobile apps are free to download from the App Store and Google Play Store. However, certain features are withheld by the developer for paying customers. You can purchase additional features as per your need within the app, ensuring that you pay for what you need.
Free apps: Similar to freemium apps, free apps are free to download and use. While these apps may have in-app advertisements or other forms of monetization, you don’t need to pay anything to access the app’s features or functionalities.
Paid apps: Paid apps require you to pay an upfront fee for downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play. These offer a more technical and immersive experience compared to the free apps.
For every user-specific task, you will need the employer's login credentials to access the mobile payroll app, whether it is free or paid.
Frequently asked questions when selecting mobile payroll apps
What are the notification options of the app?
Pay date alerts, tax deadline reminders, benefits enrollment reminders, time tracking alerts, and tax form availability notifications are some examples of notifications that employees would appreciate. An ideal payroll mobile app should have such notification options so that users are altered about important information instantly.
What are the multi-country features in the app?
If your business operates in multiple countries, then multi-country features such as multi-currency support, localization of payslips and reports, and tax compliance are a must for you. Pick a payroll mobile app that can serve employees spread across different countries.
Does the app facilitate analytics and reporting?
Analytics and reports are important for both managers and employees. While managers get to view overall payroll data at a glance, employees can view charts and graphs about their performance, time, and payments. Since this feature makes reading and understanding data much simpler, make sure the app you choose supports analytics and reporting as well as offers multiple visualization options.