You're not a dummy—doing payroll can be complex and confusing! Luckily, these payroll systems make things easy.
What is a Sentiment Score?
The sentiment score is a rating based on how positive or negative users are when they review a product. On a scale from 1 to 10, rave reviews get a high score, unfavorable reviews get a low score, and lukewarm reviews get a score in between. Review scores are then averaged to determine the sentiment score for the product.
Payroll is a necessary evil for any business and one that comes with its fair share of complications. To make matters worse, there's little room for error: Both your employees and the IRS like to be paid, after all. It's no wonder those “Payroll for Dummies" books continue to be relevant.
That's why, when it comes to payroll software, you need something intuitive. Something that can make the process of running payroll, paying taxes, and generating reports easy to do and easy to understand.
We analyzed thousands of user reviews for products in our payroll software directory to calculate an ease-of-use sentiment score for each system. The goal? Find the easiest-to-use payroll systems on the market.
Here, we'll take a closer look at the five payroll products with the highest sentiment scores for ease-of-use.
5 most easy-to-use payroll systems for dummies
Product (click to jump to that section) | Ease-of-use sentiment score (out of 10) |
6.39 | |
6.27 | |
6.27 | |
6.26 | |
6.24 |
To learn more about our methodology, click here.
Netchex
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Netchex is a cloud-based HR solution designed to help companies of all sizes manage the entire employee lifecycle for needs like recruiting, onboarding, time tracking, and more.
Within Netchex's payroll solution (which is available as a standalone product), you'll find flexible payment options, including the ability to pay with checks and pay cards, and automated tax filing and reporting functionality. An integrated dashboard updates continuously with historic payroll data and insights into ongoing payroll trends in your organization.
In terms of ease of use, here's what Netchex users have to say:
Easy to learn and train personnel on
Intuitive interface
Easy to navigate
Entering employee information is very streamlined
The reports dashboard in Netchex (Source)
How do users feel about Netchex's ease of use?
Sentiment toward Netchex's usability is overwhelmingly positive. Of reviews that mention ease of use, 92% mention it positively, while only one percent mention it negatively. By comparison, positive sentiment for ease of use in the payroll category as a whole averages only 80%.
How does Netchex compare to the category average for ease of use?
While the entire payroll category averages an ease-of-use sentiment score of 6.06, Netchex averages a 6.39.
Read user reviews of Netchex
Zenefits
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Built with small and midsize businesses in mind, Zenefits is a core HR suite that helps users streamline onboarding, benefits, payroll, PTO, and more.
Launched in 2015, Zenefits Payroll comes with unlimited pay runs, completely customizable pay schedules and pay rates, and support for contractor payments. Automated tax calculation and filing is included, as are automated reminders so nothing falls through the cracks. Workers also receive dynamic pay stubs that include pay breakdowns and custom messages.
When it comes to ease of use, Zenefits users say the following:
Very organized
Clean interface
Intuitive from both an administrator and employee perspective
Payroll reports are easy to read and manipulate
The payroll overview screen in Zenefits (Source)
How do users feel about Zenefits' ease of use?
A majority of Zenefits users say the system is easy to use; 86% of reviews that mention ease of use are positive, while only two percent are negative. By comparison, positive sentiment for ease of use in the payroll category as a whole averages only 80%.
How does Zenefits compare to the category average for ease of use?
While the entire payroll category averages an ease-of-use sentiment score of 6.06, Zenefits averages a 6.27.
Read user reviews of Zenefits
Rippling
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
A relative newcomer to the scene, Rippling is a cloud-based platform designed to help users manage their company's payroll, benefits, and onboarding.
Rippling Payroll allows payments to employees or contractors located anywhere in the world. Access levels can be customized to delegate some payroll work to other departments, and the system comes with automated tax filing at the local, state, and federal levels. A mobile app allows workers to view paystubs or request time off, and the software integrates with leading time tracking and accounting systems.
Here's what Rippling users have to say about its ease of use:
Intuitive user experience (UX)
Easy to understand and interact with
Quick learning curve
Easy to add new hires
Running payroll in Rippling (Source)
How do users feel about Rippling's ease of use?
When it comes to ease of use, Rippling users agree the system is great. Of reviews that mention Rippling's ease of use, 84% do so positively and only two percent do so negatively. By comparison, positive sentiment for ease of use in the payroll category as a whole averages only 80%.
How does Rippling compare to the category average for ease of use?
While the entire payroll category averages an ease-of-use sentiment score of 6.06, Rippling averages a 6.27.
Read user reviews of Rippling
Patriot Payroll
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Serving small businesses with 100 employees or less, Patriot Payroll is a full-service accounting and payroll solution, with add-ons available to manage HR and time and attendance needs.
Patriot Payroll offers unlimited direct deposits with zero fees attached. Calculating and filing taxes is included as well, as is functionality to integrate workers' compensation payments into payroll runs. Pay frequency is fully customizable, and employees get access to their own portal to view pay stubs or change their bank account information.
Patriot Payroll is easy to use for many reasons, according to users:
Setup is simple
Very straightforward
Running payroll only takes a few minutes
Easy to learn and navigate
Generating a payroll report in Patriot Payroll (Source)
How do users feel about Patriot Payroll's ease of use?
Ease of use is a strength for Patriot Payroll; 89% of reviews that mention ease of use mention it positively, while only two percent mention it negatively. By comparison, positive sentiment for ease of use in the payroll category as a whole averages only 80%.
How does Patriot Payroll compare to the category average for ease of use?
While the entire payroll category averages an ease-of-use sentiment score of 6.06, Patriot Payroll averages a 6.26.
Read user reviews of Patriot Payroll
PrimePay
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
PrimePay is a long-standing HR and payroll solution for small businesses. Applications for employee time tracking and benefits administration are available as purchase options, as are solutions for business compliance and merchant services.
PrimePay's online payroll system offers flexible pay delivery options, two-factor authentication for security, and custom reporting. Local, state, and federal tax filing is taken care of for you, as is paycheck signing, stuffing, and sealing. Employees also receive automated emails anytime a new pay stub is available to view.
In terms of ease of use, PrimePay users say the following:
Reports are easy to find, access, and print
Easily navigable interface
Running payroll is easy and fast
Very user-friendly
Tablet view of the payroll dashboard in PrimePay (Source)
How do users feel about PrimePay's ease of use?
PrimePay users applaud its ease of use; 92% of reviews that mention ease of use do so positively, and only four percent do so negatively. By comparison, positive sentiment for ease of use in the payroll category as a whole averages only 80%.
How does PrimePay compare to the category average for ease of use?
While the entire payroll category averages an ease-of-use sentiment score of 6.06, PrimePay averages a 6.24.
Read user reviews of PrimePay
There's more where that came from
Of course, ease of use is just one factor in any new software purchase. You also have to consider things like functionality, customer support, and that ever-important caveat for any business: cost.
If you're looking to expand your search, head to our payroll software directory to check out different options, read reviews, and filter products based on your needs. Our Top 20 Payroll Software Report highlights some of the most well-known and beloved systems out there.
Thinking about hiring a payroll service provider for your business needs? Browse our list of top payroll service providers and learn more about their features in our hiring guide.