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QuickBooks Payroll vs Square Payroll: $85 against $65, with states the real gap
Updated Oct 1, 2026
QuickBooks Workforce Payroll costs $50 a month plus $7 per employee, $85 for five, and charges $12 a month for each state after the first. Square's full-service payroll costs $35 plus $6 per person paid, $65 for five, with multistate payroll included. QuickBooks says Workforce Payroll doesn't file local taxes, and Square's pages don't say it does. Both offer next-day direct deposit; Square's needs payroll funded from your Square balance.
At a glance, by our score
- Lowest price
#3 Square Payroll
Square sellers who want tips and timecards imported, at $65 a month for five employees
8.4/10Very goodOur scoreVisit Square PayrollOn squareup.com #6 QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Online users who want federal and state payroll taxes filed from $85 a month for five
6.7/10FairOur scoreVisit QuickBooks PayrollOn quickbooks.intuit.com
Square Payroll's lowest monthly price is lower than QuickBooks Payroll's, checked Sep 27, 2026 and Sep 27, 2026.
Side by side
| Criterion | QuickBooks Payroll | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 6.7/10FairOur score #6 of 7 | 8.4/10Very goodOur score #3 of 7 |
| Cost for five employees (35%) | 8.2 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Included on the entry plan (20%) | 8.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Tax filing (20%) | 6.0 / 10 | 6.0 / 10 |
| Tax accuracy guarantee (10%) | 0.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Support (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Free trial (5%) | 0.0 / 10 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $7 / month | $0 / month |
| Best for | QuickBooks Online users who want federal and state payroll taxes filed from $85 a month for five | Square sellers who want tips and timecards imported, at $65 a month for five employees |
| Visit | Visit QuickBooks PayrollOn quickbooks.intuit.com | Visit Square PayrollOn squareup.com |
Who should pick which
- QuickBooks Payroll: QuickBooks Online users who want federal and state payroll taxes filed from $85 a month for five
- Square Payroll: Square sellers who want tips and timecards imported, at $65 a month for five employees
At a glance
| QuickBooks Payroll | Square Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan and billing | Workforce Payroll: $50 a month + $7 per employee, monthly only | Full-service payroll: $35 a month + $6 per person paid, no long-term contract |
| Cost for five employees | $85 a month | $65 a month |
| Tax filing | Federal and state, one state included (each extra $12 a month); no local taxes (disclosures) | Federal and state, plus W-2s and 1099-NECs; its pages don't say it files local taxes |
| Included on the entry plan | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, employee portal, 1099 e-file; new-hire filing read as Premium and Elite only | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, Square Team App, contractor payments, new-hire reporting |
| Tax penalty guarantee | Elite only, up to $25,000 a year | Yes, for its erroneous or late reporting (help article) |
| Support | Phone and chat in business hours | Phone Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, and chat |
| Free trial | None on the pricing page; 50% off the base fee for 3 months | Its pages don't say |
Prices and features from QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page and Square Payroll's pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Price
One employee costs $57 a month on QuickBooks Workforce Payroll and $41 on Square. Five cost $85 and $65, a $20 gap. In two states, QuickBooks is $97 a month for five; Square names no extra fee for more states.
QuickBooks shows 50% off the monthly base price for 3 months ($25 instead of $50) for new monthly customers; per-employee and state fees stay full, so five cost $60 a month for those months, no end date given. Square shows no introductory price.
Contractors cost differently. Square charges its $6 per person paid. QuickBooks charges $7 a month on Workforce Payroll for contractor direct deposit, "per contractor payment" (disclosures).
Where they differ
- States. Square's pricing page lists "Multistate payroll" as included; its help centre says one employee working in several jurisdictions isn't supported. QuickBooks includes one state and charges $12 a month for each extra state.
- Penalty guarantee. Square's help centre says it will "pay any associated penalties" from its own erroneous or late reporting. QuickBooks' penalty protection, up to $25,000 a year, is on Elite only ($134 + $17 per employee).
- New-hire reporting. Square's full-service plan includes it. Intuit's pages conflict on Workforce Payroll; we use the worse reading, Premium and Elite only.
- Pay speed. QuickBooks pays next business day if you run payroll by 5:00 PM (pricing page). Square pays next business day when payroll is funded from your Square balance (help article); otherwise two-day or four-day.
- Construction features. QuickBooks has a help article on the federal WH-347 certified payroll report, listing Premium and Elite. Square's pages don't mention certified payroll.
On local taxes, QuickBooks says Workforce Payroll "does not offer local tax payments and filings"; Square's pages don't say it files them.
Who should pick which
Pick QuickBooks Payroll if you want payroll from the company that sells QuickBooks Online, next-day deposits without holding a Square balance, or a path to certified payroll reports on Premium or Elite.
Pick Square Payroll if you sell through Square, pay staff in more than one state, or want new-hire reporting and a penalty commitment on the entry plan for less.
Both appear in our payroll services ranking and our list for construction and trades. Scoring is on the methodology page.