OnPay vs. Paychex

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
OnPay
Score 9.8 out of 10
N/A
OnPay's payroll and HR is designed for people who want to spend more time running their business, and less on back-office tasks. The application aims to enable users to: • Run payroll • Automate taxes • Let employees do more themselves • Simplify HR processes • Offer benefits in any state OnPay starts at $49 plus $6 per person each month. The monthly fee includes integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and time-tracking software, as well as all quarterly and…
$49
per month +$6 per month, per person
Paychex
Score 6.7 out of 10
N/A
Paychex Flex, of Paychex' Online Payroll Services, is a cloud-based human resource management and payroll platform. Paychex offers core and specialized services, and scales to meet the needs of small businesses, SMBs, and large enterprises.
$59
per month/+$4 per employee
Pricing
OnPayPaychex
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Paychex Go
$59
per month/+$4 per employee
Paychex Flex Service
Contact sales team
Paychex Flex Enterprise
Contact sales team
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
OnPayPaychex
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeRequired
Additional DetailsFirst month free, then $49 + $6 per employee each month.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
OnPayPaychex
Considered Both Products
OnPay
Chose OnPay
Overall OnPay was the best bang for my buck. Had a lot to offer and was cheaper than the rest of the people we looked into
Chose OnPay
I've also used 3py Payroll/staffing companies. I found those competitors clunky, slower in support, overly complicated, and overpriced. OnPay has been my favorite experience in Payroll over the past 20 years.
Chose OnPay
While different payroll software options cater to various business needs, OnPay's standout features in terms of usability, affordability, accuracy, scalability, and support often place it favorably among businesses seeking a reliable and user-friendly payroll solution.
Chose OnPay
I personally did not like Paychex. I found their reporting antiquated, cumbersome, and not easily readable. Reporting is very important to me as it serves as a marketing tool. I can highlight the quality of our services by providing informative and easy-to-read reports. The …
Chose OnPay
Great value and easy to use without a masters degree in payroll. Great customer service, not having to wait on hold or chat for hours in the hope someone can help you.
Chose OnPay
From employee controls, overall pricing, multiple pay runs per month, tax filings, WC services, ease of platform, and customer support, OnPay beats them in spades. I have worked with PayChex and QuickBooks for years. They are expensive and bundle items which increases prices. …
Chose OnPay
ADP run was very slow and clunky. It probably has the ability to do a lot but the actual process of entering payroll was not user-friendly and literally took all Day sometimes. Onboarding with Paychex felt really repetitive and sometimes HR would have to enter information after …
Chose OnPay
The support with OnPay is on a different level. So far, OnPay has delivered all payrolls without any problems. They are easy to use, and the user interface is the best I have seen. There is a lot of customization allowed in OnPay that is not permitted in other applications.
Chose OnPay
OnPay is much easier to use and much more cost effective.
Paychex

No answer on this topic

Features
OnPayPaychex
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
9.6
65 Ratings
15% above category average
Paychex
7.6
312 Ratings
7% below category average
Pay calculation9.061 Ratings8.1294 Ratings
Benefit plan administration9.824 Ratings6.9173 Ratings
Direct deposit files9.460 Ratings8.3293 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management10.045 Ratings7.9208 Ratings
Reimbursement management10.030 Ratings7.6117 Ratings
Off-cycle/On-Demand payment00 Ratings6.9152 Ratings
Human Resource Management
Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
6.6
270 Ratings
21% below category average
Employee demographic data00 Ratings7.8217 Ratings
Employment history00 Ratings8.1241 Ratings
Job profiles and administration00 Ratings7.7175 Ratings
Workflow for transfers, promotions, pay raises, etc.00 Ratings7.6170 Ratings
Organizational charting00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Organization and location management00 Ratings7.5156 Ratings
Compliance data (COBRA, OSHA, etc.)00 Ratings6.7145 Ratings
Leave and Attendance Management
Comparison of Leave and Attendance Management features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
7.3
159 Ratings
11% below category average
Approval workflow00 Ratings7.3113 Ratings
Balance details00 Ratings7.5151 Ratings
Annual carry-forward and encashment00 Ratings7.0119 Ratings
Employee Self Service
Comparison of Employee Self Service features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
7.8
268 Ratings
5% below category average
View and generate pay and benefit information00 Ratings7.8246 Ratings
Update personal information00 Ratings7.9258 Ratings
View company policy documentation00 Ratings7.6120 Ratings
View job history00 Ratings7.8182 Ratings
Asset Management
Comparison of Asset Management features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
5.1
43 Ratings
45% below category average
Tracking of all physical assets00 Ratings5.143 Ratings
HR Reporting
Comparison of HR Reporting features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
6.0
177 Ratings
23% below category average
Report builder00 Ratings6.4147 Ratings
Pre-built reports00 Ratings6.4165 Ratings
Ability to combine HR data with external data00 Ratings5.191 Ratings
Onboarding
Comparison of Onboarding features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
6.2
172 Ratings
25% below category average
New hire portal00 Ratings6.7164 Ratings
Manager tracking tools00 Ratings5.8107 Ratings
Recruiting / ATS
Comparison of Recruiting / ATS features of Product A and Product B
OnPay
-
Ratings
Paychex
5.2
69 Ratings
38% below category average
Job Requisition Management00 Ratings5.636 Ratings
Company Website Posting00 Ratings5.434 Ratings
Publish to Social Media00 Ratings4.828 Ratings
Job Search Site Posting00 Ratings5.235 Ratings
Duplicate Candidate Prevention00 Ratings4.934 Ratings
Applicant Tracking00 Ratings4.939 Ratings
Notifications and Alerts00 Ratings5.663 Ratings
Best Alternatives
OnPayPaychex
Small Businesses
Dayforce Powerpay
Dayforce Powerpay
Score 9.3 out of 10
Dayforce Powerpay
Dayforce Powerpay
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Paypro Workforce Management
Paypro Workforce Management
Score 9.2 out of 10
Paypro Workforce Management
Paypro Workforce Management
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Infor Human Resources
Infor Human Resources
Score 7.1 out of 10
PeopleStrong
PeopleStrong
Score 10.0 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
OnPayPaychex
Likelihood to Recommend
9.8
(60 ratings)
6.5
(323 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.2
(7 ratings)
1.3
(44 ratings)
Usability
9.7
(31 ratings)
6.8
(264 ratings)
Availability
9.1
(1 ratings)
5.7
(12 ratings)
Performance
9.1
(1 ratings)
7.1
(12 ratings)
Support Rating
9.9
(31 ratings)
6.4
(265 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
4.5
(1 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
8.3
(4 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.6
(4 ratings)
5.5
(13 ratings)
Configurability
9.1
(1 ratings)
5.1
(9 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
9.1
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
9.1
(1 ratings)
9.1
(3 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.1
(1 ratings)
6.3
(12 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.1
(1 ratings)
2.4
(33 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.1
(1 ratings)
3.3
(34 ratings)
User Testimonials
OnPayPaychex
Likelihood to Recommend
OnPay
OnPay is well-suited for small nonprofits or organizations new to payroll that want clear guidance and responsive customer support. OnPay may be less ideal for large or highly complex organizations that need extensive customization, very advanced reporting, or deep integrations with a wide range of enterprise systems.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
It is a fantastic tool for having an all-in-one package. Employees can monitor their pay stubs, monitor their 401 (k) balance, sign up and manage employee benefit programs, and more. The software is easy to access on a computer or smartphone, making it very accessible. From what we've observed, even with a staff ranging from young to old, everyone has been catching on pretty easily.
Read full review
Pros
OnPay
  • Communication - From my first call I was so impressed at the level of care and compassion OnPay expressed. I was assigned specific employees who were available in the sign up process to walk me through each step and to answer all my questions. I know some of my questions were probably "stupid" but OnPay never minded answering them and I was always treated with respect.
  • On Boarding - The nightmare I had experienced with a competitor became a dream with OnPay. They said if I would authorize them to sign onto my account they would take care of the sign up process. And they did!!! They also did it correctly. All of the numbers and information was error free. The only information I was required was input was direct deposit bank information.
  • Resolving an Issue - I have only had one issue that needed to be resolved. The person I talked to had to check with another person for an answer but she stayed on the line with me to make sure the problem was resolved. Then I received a follow up email outlining exactly what action they had taken.
  • Ease of using the website - I can find what I am looking for! I like the verification code. And every time I sign on to my account the red heart by our company name makes me smile.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
  • It provides a well account of Retirement Plan Account Information.
  • Alerts are sent to email when there is new information to access.
  • Employee access both online and thru app.
  • Paperless options.
  • Easy and quick access to paystubs and tax forms.
  • Easy employee retirement management.
Read full review
Cons
OnPay
  • You can add additional additions or benefit items such as a car allowance. The process required me to contact a representative as that wasn't as easy to navigate.
  • The process for handling additional withholdings for pre-payed taxes required support to ensure the calculations were accurate.
  • Process for on-boarding is a little tricky if you don't start the process from the point of hire. You can add various things easily but it reflects differently in terms of completion of an Employee file.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
  • When it comes to audit reports, Paychex Flex could improve on helping clients locate the correct reports for audit purposes more easily
  • When a client receives a discount, it would be helpful if the discount were automatically provided each year, or if the Paychex rep proactively reached out to the client first, versus the client having to call and request that the discount continue.
  • It would be helpful if the invoice was emailed to the client versus the client logging in to access invoices.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
OnPay
We have used OnPay for a few years now and we do continue to renew our annual use of OnPay. We are only a small organization and although OnPay provides a lot of additional services that larger organizations might ind useful, OnPay still meets our limited requirements of running bi-weekly payroll and submitting our quarterly state and federal tax documents, and at a price that we still find affordable.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
Overall I like the features that Paychex Flex offers. I am sure that there are other features that I am unaware of, so I am excited to see if there is more that Flex is capable of to make my job easier. The basic features are really user friendly and easy to access. If there ever is an issue customer service is great
Read full review
Usability
OnPay
OnPay is very easy to use. The computer interface is setup very well. You can quickly add people, enter your Payroll, print reports, etc. If your Payroll doesn't change from pay period to pay period (example, salaried employees) it takes mere seconds to enter in your Payroll.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
Employee usability is very good and user-friendly. For the most part, the employer usability is good, but for complicated rules and policies, it requires technical assistance, which in our case, was clunky and slow in implementation. Once is place, everything works as it should
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
OnPay
OnPay immediately responds to any of my inquiries.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
We have not experienced any difficulties with unplanned outages. Notifications are always made for outages, and they do not effect normal business operations.
Read full review
Performance
OnPay
No complaints on OnPay's integration with Xero.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
Unless there is lag time within the internet, the Paychex Flex website loads exceptional fast, pages load quickly and reports that I need to print or download load quickly. If I need to create a specialized report, once I complete it I receive an e-mail telling me my report is ready to be downloaded. Changing between web pages is fast as well.
Read full review
Support Rating
OnPay
As mentioned previously, I appreciate the Chat feature and have used it several times. I've also used the help database and found it wonderful. And I've had many email support interactions. Every time I've interacted with many individuals from the support team including...(who has helped me a number of times). The interactions have been professional and courteous and extremely helpful. Often they're able to resolve my problems and questions very quickly. OnPay has provided great support to our team here at Strike Visuals.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
Chat has been helpful but the person I chat with isn't always able to help me with my questions. Phone support is ok, depending on your payroll specialist. We have a great one currently, but the few before that were never available and did not return calls.
Read full review
In-Person Training
OnPay
No answers on this topic
Paychex Inc.
We did online training only
Read full review
Online Training
OnPay
No answers on this topic
Paychex Inc.
It was easy to understand and follow along. I do like the informational videos that we can utilize before we opt to call in for customer service support. It has made a difference since sometimes that resolves the issue I may have had and saved myself a phone call to Paychex support.
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Implementation Rating
OnPay
Easy to implement and easy to convert any other payroll reports to the OnPay system when making the switch
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
Implementation was very smooth. The most cumbersome task was entering the current employees into the system during initial set up, but Paychex staff handled most of that and verified against prior system reports as well as internal reports provided to ensure 100% accuracy.
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Alternatives Considered
OnPay
OnPay is tremendously less expensive and technically superior to Quickbooks in my opinion. OnPay is less expensive and offered the ease of managing a restaurant payroll that was better in my opinion than When I Work. My experience when evaluating all of the payroll products that I felt the company could afford was that OnPay had a superior staff of professionals who knew their product and could explain how to use it most clearly.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
We still use QB Desktop Pro to maintain a Check Register / Overall Balance for the company, but once having tried QB Payroll Online for about 3 months prior to finding Paychex Flex I can tell you that there's just no comparison. QB online is VERY EXPENSIVE and not so user-friendly. I hated every minute of those 6 payrolls we ran through QB online.
Read full review
Scalability
OnPay
OnPay works.
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
I generally do payroll at the office, however I have had to go remote due to internet issues and also had to take payroll on vacation with me. Very easy to log in wherever you are and manage your TAA and payroll
Read full review
Return on Investment
OnPay
  • Cut our payroll fees by more than half of what was being paid to CPA firm
  • Save time in dealing with CPA firm for payroll returns and filing
  • Could easily generate various payroll related reports..even from the past....this was not possible with the CPA firm previously used
Read full review
Paychex Inc.
  • With Paychex Flex we have been able to improve our compliance with required documentation for new/rehires
  • Moving everyone to direct deposit and mobile clock in/out eliminated lines at punching stations and paycheck pickup stations
  • Lost checks is a thing of the past
Read full review
ScreenShots

OnPay Screenshots

Screenshot of full-service payrollScreenshot of multiple pay rates and schedulesScreenshot of employee self-onboarding and org charts, which are built-inScreenshot of an e-signable offer lettersScreenshot of calendars, where PTO is managed and approvedScreenshot of centralized finances, viewed with over 20 reports for analyzing employment-related expenses

Paychex Screenshots

Screenshot of Screenshot of Screenshot of