15 Best Payroll Software for Canadian Businesses

Payroll is a core HR function. It involves complex workflows and legal obligations, which always bear the risk of calculation errors and compliance mistakes.

While you can certainly process payments manually with a bit of review and approval system, payroll software offers you a better alternative. With its organizing and tracking features, you can maintain accurate records without putting extra effort and easily pay your employees on time.

Below, I have reviewed some of the top payroll platforms that are ideal for Canadian businesses. The review covers core features and prices to help you select the best app for your company.

What is Payroll Software and What Are Best for Canadian Businesses

Payroll software is a cloud-based or desktop platform that automates, processes, and disburses salaries.

It has built-in compliance and integrated systems that enable HR managers to handle salaries, taxes, and government obligations from one place.

Top Features to Look for In Canadian Payroll Software;

• Auto-payroll.
• Payments and tax filing.
• Time and attendance.
• Compliance management.
• Third-party integrations.

Let’s explore the 15 best payroll software for Canadian businesses. I have included a mix of local and global platforms in the list to cover domestic and global payroll.

1. Deel

Deel is an employer of record and global payroll provider.

If you work with international teams or want to hire Canadian employees, you can use Deel to onboard and pay overseas staff legally.

Here, you can hire independent contractors and permanent employees both, and pay your staff in local currencies. You can use its SaaS software for free and purchase the global payroll product separately.

Onboarding paperwork and compliance are handled by Deel. You can manage expenses and time off, and disburse salaries in bulk.

Core Features

• Employer of Record.
• Global payroll.
• Flexible payment options for contractors.
• Background checks.
• Expenses and time off.
• Benefits administration.
• Compliance and taxes.
• SaaS platform.
• Automation.
• Immigration assistance.
• Slack integrations.

Price

Deel’s employment services range between $49 and $599. For payroll prices, contact sales.

2. Wave

Wave is another good accounting software for small companies.

It’s designed specifically for US and Canadian businesses, providing all the essential elements to run domestic payroll smoothly.

You can use Wave to pay employees and manage taxes. The payroll module comes with free core software for accounting and invoicing.

Another notable feature of Wave is Mobile Receipt. It allows you to take a picture of expense receipts from the Wave mobile app and add them to the software. The platform automatically logs entries in the book, keeping a track record of monthly expenses.

Core Features

• Payroll and benefits.
• Contractor payments.
• Expense recording.
• Automation.
• Leave tracking.
• Tax remittance.
• Direct deposit.
• Employee portal.
• Reporting.
• Integration with Wave core accounting software.
• Mobile app.

Price

Wave payroll monthly subscriptions cost a $25 fixed fee plus $6 per user.

3. Oyster

If you work with international employees, Oyster is ideal for you. It’s a global payroll platform that helps you onboard overseas employees without creating new branches in other countries and run multi-country payroll compliantly.

Core capabilities of Oyster are global employment, payroll automation, benefits administration, and expenses management. You can create approval workflows for time-off and allowances and integrate Oyster with QuickBooks.

Oyster also supports Slack and Zapier integrations.

Core Features

• Global employment and payroll.
• Legal contracts.
• Benefits administration.
• Expenses, allowances, bonuses.
• Tax management.
• Compliance.
• Self-service platform.
• Talent network.
• Automation.
• Third-party integrations.

Price

Oyster payroll is part of its employment package. It charges $29 for contractors and $499 for permanent employees.

You can ask for the custom package.

4. WagePoint

WagePoint delivers people, time, and payroll management tools. With this app, you can create onboarding workflows, maintain employee records, run monthly payroll, and handle taxes.

Using WagePoint’s scheduling software, you can record billable hours and PTO to calculate your staff’s paid time accurately. The software comes with a built-in calendar to add holidays and adjust deductions.

You’ll get all the other related features in the software, such as tax remittance, employee benefits, and reporting. Via its HRIS, you can manage paperwork and oversee your staff’s activities.

Core Features

• Payroll.
• Shift scheduling.
• Insurance, pension, federal and provisional taxes.
• Employee records.
• Direct deposit.
• Pay calculator.
• Built-in calendar.
• Email integration.
• Reporting.
• Security.
• Mobile app.

Price

WagePoint charges $40 per month. You can take a 14-day free trial.

5. PayWorks

PayWorks covers several HR functions.

You can use it to oversee recruitment, log work hours, manage PTO, and process payroll. Each module can be purchased separately, giving you the flexibility to pay for only necessary features.

Your staff will get access to a mobile-friendly self-service portal to clock in and out, view information, and submit documents. You can set up an approval system for time-off requests and timesheets.

PayWorks also sells managed services. You can outsource your payroll to save resources and get HR consultancy services for legal matters.

Core Features

• Human resources.
• Payroll and taxes.
• Benefits administration.
• Applicant tracking.
• Time and attendance.
• Analytics and reporting.
• HR advisory.
• Self-service.
• Managed services.
• Mobile friendly.

Price

PayWorks’ payroll prices start from $25. You may have to pay extra for other functions.

6. KnitPeople

KnitPeople targets both small and mid-size businesses. It offers affordable packages and multi-location support to help you centralize payroll.

You can use KnitPeople to onboard new employees, monitor attendance, automate payroll, and maintain records. Via automated compliance and tax remittance, you can calculate salaries in accordance with local laws and fulfill the company’s obligations.

Expert guidance is also part of the package. If you ever get stuck on compliance or salary issues, you can get assistance from KnitPeople.

One other notable product KnitPeople sells is the Employer of Record. You can purchase it to hire and pay overseas employees.

Core Features

• Hiring and onboarding.
• Time, attendance, and PTO.
• Record keeping.
• Payroll.
• Direct deposit.
• Compliance.
• Talent management.
• Self-service portal.
• Integrations.

Price

KnitPeople charges $6 to $8 per employee and a $50 base fee.

You can take a free trial.

7. PushOperations

PushOperations is a restaurant staff management software. It centralizes employees’ shifts in a user-friendly dashboard, providing a flexible payment system to manage daily shifts, payroll, and tips.

Here, you can create shift schedules for multiple locations, set up approvals for time off and shift trades, and monitor attendance. With payroll add-on service, you can automatically calculate billable hours, holidays, overtime, and tips.

You can purchase PushOperations payroll with any of the plans.

You can also integrate your POS system with the software and connect your operation management workflows.

Core Features

• Hiring and onboarding.
• Paperwork.
• Payroll and compliance.
• Applicant tracking system.
• Shift scheduling.
• Attendance, breaks, and time tracking.
• Daily wage calculation.
• Automation.
• Reporting.
• Multi-location support.
• Integrations.
• Mobile app.

Price

PushOperations prices start from $5. You can add and remove features to tailor your package.

8. RisePeople

RisePeople sells core HR functions and payroll to Canadian companies.

Top features provided by RisePeople include recruiting and onboarding, people management, time and attendance, and payroll and compliance.

With its flexible payroll module, you can run monthly and off-cycle payments and include ad hoc payments without adjusting the tax calculations. The software automatically calculates your payroll and handles government obligations.

If your work model is shift-based, you can create schedules and track billable hours. It’s an add-on feature you can purchase with the core product. You’ll get a mobile app to oversee shifts from anywhere.

Core Features

• Recruiting and onboarding.
• Payroll and taxes.
• Benefits administration.
• PTO and attendance.
• Scheduling and time tracking.
• Performance reviews.
• Documentation, e-signatures, approvals.
• Workflow automation.
• Mobile app.

Price

RisePeople basic plan costs $6 per user. For other packages, contact sales.

9. WorkZoom

WorkZoom is best for mid-size companies. It covers a diverse range of functions and allows you to manage everything from one place.

You can run recruitment and onboarding from WorkZoom, maintain your employees’ records, plan work schedules, and process payroll. With the combination of time tracking and PTO, you can automate your entire payroll and disburse salaries on time.

The payroll module also includes benefits administration and tax filing to help you stay compliant.

Core Features

• Scheduling and time tracking.
• Attendance and PTO.
• Payroll, expenses, and tax filing.
• Employee benefits.
• Data Centralization.
• Hiring and onboarding.
• Learning and development.
• Automation.
• Analytics and reporting.

Price

WorkZoom per employee prices start from $4. The minimum monthly subscription fee is $400.

10. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a go-to software for small business accounting and payroll. As one of the globally recognized platforms, it supports several countries, including Canada.

Its payroll product contains workflow automation, direct deposits, annual form filing, and tax remittance. The software works on both a browser and a smartphone, which gives your team easy access to their pay information.

Shift scheduling, geofencing, and project tracking are also available in the premium packages. You can collaborate with your team and assign them jobs with deadlines.

Core Features

• Payroll.
• Tax forms.
• Automation.
• Direct deposit.
• Time tracking.
• Scheduling and project assigning.
• Team collaboration.
• Geofencing.
• Mobile app.
• Reporting.

Price

QuickBooks payroll is an add-on that you may have to purchase with QuickBooks online.

The product costs $7 to $20 per month plus per-user price.

11. PayEvo

PayEvo offers flexible solutions. It supports up to 300 employees and allows other business transactions, such as vendor payments.

Via its payroll software, you can make direct deposits, pay your employees electronically, and create a spending account for other expenses.

Government obligations, mandatory benefits, and compliance are all included in the subscription package. Cross-border payment services are also available for US branches with Canadian employees.

For employees, you’ll get a self-service portal. Your staff can access their accounts from their smartphones to check salary and tax information.

Core Features

• Domestic and international payroll.
• Direct deposits and e-payments.
• B2B transactions.
• Tax remittance.
• Benefits administration.
• Spending account.
• Compliance.
• Time tracker.
• Integrations.
• Mobile app.

Price

PayEvo charges $20 for small teams and $2 for mid-size businesses.

12. Papaya Global

Papaya delivers global and domestic payroll services. You can get self-manage and full-service payroll products from Papaya and also purchase its PEO service to outsource other administrative tasks like onboarding and offboarding.

The platform has all the essential functions, including automation and integrations, to help you centralize your workflows. In addition, it works on multiple devices to oversee operations from anywhere.

Overall, It’s a good payroll solution for Canadian businesses.

Core Features

• Partial and full-service payroll.
• Global employment.
• Compliance management.
• Benefits administration.
• Expenses.
• Approval chains and automation.
• Reporting.
• Integrations.
• Mobile friendly.

Price

Papaya’s Payroll prices start from $3.

13. ADP

ADP supports all business sizes. It’s one of the oldest HR platforms that provides tailored solutions and international coverage, allowing you to work with domestic and overseas employees.

For Canadian businesses, ADP has flexible pay options, auto-tax calculation tools, self-manage platforms, and outsourcing services.

You can integrate your business apps with ADP and incorporate it into your company’s system.

If you have a small setup, ADP offers three months of free access to explore the software. The small business solution also comes with several add-ons, like Time Kiosk, to simplify payroll.

Core Features

• Domestic and global payroll.
• Multiple payment options.
• Taxes and compliance.
• Reporting.
• Core HR functions,
• Document storage.
• Legal services.
• Integrations.
• Add-on.
• Outsourcing.

Price

ADP shares prices on request.

14. Humi

Humi is an all-in-one HR software. It offers core HR features with add-on options to perform advanced functions.

Some of the things you can do with Humi include recruitment, onboarding, time off management, and performance measurement. Humi has also recently introduced a time-tracking feature that lets you track billable hours.

You will get both self-manage and outsourcing services for payroll and receive benefits administration options in the add-on section. Humi is built specifically for Canadian businesses, which means it covers local labor costs and compliance as well.

You can access Humi from desktop and mobile, both.

Core Features

• Recruitment.
• Onboarding.
• Self and managed payroll.
• Taxes and benefits administration.
• Time tracking and PTO.
• Performance measurement.
• Employee profiles.
• Approvals and automation.
• Reporting and analysis.
• Mobile app.

Price

Humi shares prices on request. Book a demo to know more.

15. Workday

Workday is a comprehensive workforce management platform. It provides enterprise solutions to mid-size organizations to help them digitalize HR and finance operations.

You can use Workday for both domestic and international workforce.

For Canadian businesses, it delivers flexible payment cycles and built-in automation, so you can prepare salaries accurately and disburse them with ease. The package also contains automatic tax updates and off-cycle audits to monitor activities and stay compliant.

With the Workday self-service portal, your staff can view their pay information and request time off. The software supports browsers and mobile phones.

Core Features

• Local and global payroll.
• Tax filing and compliance.
• Automation.
• Flexible payment options, including on-demand pay.
• Audits.
• Year-end processing.
• Self-service portal.
• Reporting and analytics.
• Mobile friendly.

Price

Workday delivers prices on request. Contact sales for the quotes.

Final Word

A payroll software’s primary purpose is to help you prepare payroll and disburse salaries.

To achieve that, it connects and automates essential data, so you don’t have to manually do everything.

Keep that in mind while shopping for the best payroll software. Good luck!