Justworks Alternatives for Payroll and PEO

Gusto delivers full-service domestic payroll in all 50 states alongside automatic tax filings and transparent month-to-month pricing tiers starting at 49 dollars plus 6 dollars per person. Rather than charging PEO co-employment rates to unlock medical options, Gusto permits companies to secure health insurance through licensed brokers with zero administration fees beyond standard premiums, while supporting international contractor payments across more than 120 countries with no monthly per-contractor platform fee.

Best for: Small to medium domestic businesses seeking full-service payroll, broker-assisted benefits, and international contractor payouts without paying PEO co-employment fees.

Consider: The entry-level Simple plan is restricted to payroll in a single state, forcing multi-state operations to step up to the 80-dollar Plus plan, and the platform lacks an employer of record product for full-time overseas hires.

Remote specializes in global workforce infrastructure, operating an employer of record model across more than 90 countries through wholly owned entities rather than third-party local partnerships. It includes automated IP protection, uncapped indemnity, and core HRIS tooling, alongside standalone international contractor management at 29 dollars per person monthly and US PEO services starting at 99 dollars per employee.

Best for: Companies building globally distributed workforces that require owned-entity employer of record infrastructure or low-cost international contractor administration.

Consider: Remote prices its employer of record service at 699 dollars per employee per month, and its US PEO offering is billed strictly in US dollars and mandates a US bank account.

Deel consolidates global contractor payouts across 150-plus countries, multi-country payroll for owned entities across 130-plus countries, international employer of record at 599 dollars per employee, and US PEO at 125 dollars per employee on a unified reporting platform. Contractor billing sits at a flat 49 dollars monthly, with built-in benefits administration included on quoted employment tiers.

Best for: Fast-growing organizations managing mixed domestic and global staff who want contractors, global payroll, EOR, and US PEO consolidated under one interface.

Consider: Deel provides no free plan or evaluation trial on its pricing page, and shifting classification compliance to its contractor of record service spikes individual contractor costs from 49 to 325 dollars monthly.

FreshBooks anchors operations around invoicing and accounting, offering client-tiered plans from 23 dollars monthly that can be paired with an integrated payroll add-on powered by Gusto for 40 dollars base plus 6 dollars per user. This setup allows business owners to manage client billables and pay US W-2 workers and 1099 contractors within the exact interface hosting their financial records.

Best for: Client-facing service businesses, agencies, and small consultancies wanting billing, accounting, and US payroll execution under a single financial ledger.

Consider: Payroll is restricted entirely to US operations, direct deposit speeds are limited to standard two-day or four-day ACH settlement, and the payroll capability requires paying an add-on charge on top of the accounting plan.

QuickBooks Payroll bundles automated full-service tax filings directly into QuickBooks Online accounting subscriptions, starting at 88 dollars monthly plus 6.50 dollars per employee. Because the payroll engine is tethered to the general ledger, wage liabilities, tax calculations, and 1099 e-filings map automatically, backed by tax penalty accuracy guarantees and same-day direct deposit options starting on the Essentials bundle.

Best for: Businesses committed to QuickBooks Online as their core accounting system that prioritize guaranteed tax calculations and rapid direct deposit turnarounds.

Consider: Payroll is sold strictly bundled with an accounting subscription without a standalone option, and built-in time tracking and HR onboarding tools require purchasing the highest bundle at 203 dollars plus 10 dollars per employee.

RUN Powered by ADP provides four structured payroll and HR packages tailored specifically for small operations with 1 to 49 employees. The service includes automated multi-state tax handling, IRS W-2 and 1099 e-filing, 24/7 expert support via mobile app, and flexible add-ons covering time entry, retirement plans, and employee handbook assistance.

Best for: Traditional small businesses desiring scalable HR infrastructure from an enterprise-grade payroll provider with around-the-clock phone and mobile assistance.

Consider: ADP publishes no standard pricing online, requiring custom quotes for all packages, and hands-on human resources consulting is excluded from the first two tiers, starting only on Complete Payroll and HR Plus.