Payroll pricing in Canada: Understanding your software needs and options for businesses of all sizes

May 16, 2025

Drew Maginn

Note: Features, functionalities and payroll pricing may vary by provider and are subject to change. Readers are encouraged to consult with vendors directly for the most up-to-date and accurate details before making decisions.
Choosing the right payroll software to fit the unique needs of your business can quickly become an overwhelming task. One simple search can produce a seemingly never-ending list of potential options, with each sounding more perfect than the last. However, by doing an audit of your specific payroll needs, you can quickly determine which aspects are most important to you and start to narrow down the list – which may include some of the options below.

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Payroll pricing and other criteria that can inform your decision

Before you jump directly into your payroll options, take a moment to consider what factors are most important to you and your business. While most payroll software offers extensive features, these add-ons should not influence your choice unless there is a reasonable expectation that they will actually be useful in your day-to-day tasks.

The following criteria can be used as a starting point to understand your needs in relation to payroll software:

Pricing: Research options within your budget range by paying special attention to the baseline software cost, as well as additional features that come with added functionality.
Business size: Understand your software needs based on factors like your total number of employees and payroll frequency, as well as the potential scalability of operations over time.
Business type: Consider not only the size of your business but also your industry. For example, non-profit organizations and charities may benefit from discounted pricing available from companies like TechSoup Canada, which may open up options that were initially considered out of your price range.
Priority features: You will need to form a shared understanding in your department of which features are most important for your business. Making a detailed list of your “must haves” for any software will narrow down your options. This could include a wide range of priorities, such as an intuitive platform, high-quality customer service, integration with human resource functions, employee self-service options or potential for scaling to grow with your business.
User experience and testing: Before getting lost in a sea of online reviews from individuals you’ve never met, once you’ve narrowed down your search, consider reaching out to trusted contacts in your network to get some first-hand feedback on their experience using different platforms. From there, explore free trials of different software with enough time built in to allow you and your colleagues to get a good sense of whether it will work for you.

” Before you jump directly into your payroll options, take a moment to consider what factors are most important to you and your business ”

What are some commonly used payroll options in Canada?

Among the long list of payroll options available, here are some commonly used platforms to consider based on your needs, starting with Canadian-owned options:

Payworks (Canadian-owned, with custom pricing based on number of employees, payroll frequency, province and features): Popular with a variety of businesses due its tailored solutions, Payworks allows for additional features to be added to your base support, including absence management, time management, human resources, workforce analytics, benefits and managed payroll services.
Rise People (Canadian-owned, starting at $8/month per employee plus a base fee): Popular with a variety of business types, Rise People offers flexible plans with opportunities to scale. Rise People’s plans include the basics with Start (offering people management and payroll), scaling with Grow (adding onboarding, time off and a mobile app) and Optimize (adding recruitment and performance management).
Wagepoint (Canadian-owned, starting at $20/month plus $4/month per employee): Popular with a variety of business types, especially those valuing simplicity. Wagepoint recommends their Solo plan for business running payroll once a month and their Unlimited plan for those running multiple payrolls. Features for both include direct deposit, tax remittances, year-end reporting, records of employment and employee self-onboarding.

ADP (custom pricing based on size and features): Popular with large businesses and those with more complex payroll needs, ADP integrates payroll and human resources through their Enhanced Bundle (includes automated payroll and basic HR tools), Enhanced+ Bundle (includes recruiting, employee handbook and additional HR features) and HR Pro Bundle (includes legal services and employee wellness).
Gusto (starting at $49/month plus $6/month per employee): Popular with small to medium-sized businesses, Gusto offers payroll, benefits and human resource solutions through their Simple (includes single-state payroll and basic support), Plus (includes advanced payroll, benefits, HR and time/attendance tracking) and Premium (ideal for scaling businesses needing full-service with dedicated support) plans.
QuickBooks Payroll (starting at $6.25/month plus $4/month per employee): Popular with accountants and bookkeepers, QuickBooks Payroll integrates with their accounting software (useful for current users) and includes extended features as you shift from their Core to Premium (includes prioritized support and hours tracking) to Elite (includes collaboration and detailed reporting) plans.

While searching for a payroll provider can be a time-consuming task, the process itself can be rewarding if it leads to finding the right solution for your business. If you take the time needed to understand your budget and needs while gathering feedback from trusted sources and pilot testing, you can put yourself in the best position for long-term success.

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