Justworks vs Square Payroll Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

Justworks

0.0 (0 reviews)

Justworks is an all-in-one PEO platform that simplifies payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance for small and medium-sized businesses to help you manage your team and grow your company with confidence.

Starting at $59/mo
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL
VS

Square Payroll

0.0 (0 reviews)

Square Payroll is a full-service payroll software that automates tax filings, employee payments, and benefits management for small businesses using integrated time tracking and point-of-sale data.

Starting at Free
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature Justworks Square Payroll
Website justworks.com squareup.com
Pricing Model Subscription Subscription
Starting Price $59/month Free
FREE Trial ✘ No free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment cloud mobile saas mobile
Integrations QuickBooks Xero Slack Greenhouse Lever Expensify Google Workspace Square POS QuickBooks Online Xero Homebase Deputy TSheets 7shifts Guideline SimplyInsured AP Intego
Target Users small-business mid-market solopreneur small-business
Target Industries retail restaurant professional-services
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2012 2009
Headquarters New York, USA San Francisco, USA

Overview

J

Justworks

Justworks is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) platform designed to take the administrative burden off your shoulders. You can manage payroll, provide high-quality employee benefits, and handle complex compliance requirements all from a single, intuitive interface. By joining their PEO, you gain access to large-group insurance rates that are typically reserved for much larger corporations, helping you attract top talent while keeping costs manageable.

The platform is built specifically for small to mid-sized businesses across various industries that want to automate manual HR tasks. You can easily onboard new hires, track PTO, and sync your accounting software to keep your books accurate. It eliminates the stress of navigating state-specific tax filings and employment laws, allowing you to focus on scaling your business rather than managing paperwork.

strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Square Payroll

Square Payroll simplifies how you pay your team by automating the most complex parts of business ownership. You can pay employees and contractors in just a few clicks, whether they are hourly or salaried. The platform automatically calculates, files, and pays your federal and state payroll taxes, ensuring you stay compliant without manual paperwork. Because it integrates directly with Square POS, your team's hours sync automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry or messy spreadsheets.

You can manage everything from a single dashboard, including workers' compensation, health insurance, and 401(k) plans. The system supports flexible payment options like Instant Payments, allowing you to send funds to employees the same day they work. Whether you are running a single coffee shop or managing multiple retail locations, you get a straightforward tool that handles the back-office heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business.

Overview

J

Justworks Features

  • Automated Payroll Run payroll for salaried and hourly employees with automated tax filings and direct deposits in just a few clicks.
  • Benefits Access Provide your team with medical, dental, and vision plans from top carriers at competitive large-group rates.
  • Compliance Support Stay protected with automatic filings for W-2s, 1099s, and state-specific employment regulations without manual tracking.
  • Employee Onboarding Streamline the hiring process with digital document signing and automated account setup for every new team member.
  • Time Tracking Sync employee hours directly to payroll to ensure accurate payments and simplify overtime calculations for your staff.
  • HR Consulting Access certified HR experts who can guide you through complex workplace issues and policy creation whenever you need.
strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Square Payroll Features

  • Automated Tax Filings. Let the software calculate, file, and pay your state and federal payroll taxes automatically to ensure total compliance.
  • Time Card Sync. Import employee hours directly from Square POS or the Team App to eliminate manual data entry errors.
  • Instant Payments. Access your funds immediately and pay your team the same day they work using your Square Balance.
  • Benefits Integration. Offer and manage health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers' comp directly through your payroll dashboard.
  • Contractor Payments. Pay your independent contractors via direct deposit and let the system generate and file 1099-NEC forms.
  • Employee Mobile App. Give your team a dedicated app to track their hours, view pay stubs, and manage their tax forms.

Pricing Comparison

J

Justworks Pricing

Basic
$59
  • Automated payroll and tax filings
  • HR information system (HRIS)
  • Compliance support and workers' comp
  • Employee onboarding and PTO tracking
  • Reporting and accounting integrations
S

Square Payroll Pricing

Contractors Only
$0
  • $5 per person paid monthly
  • No monthly base fee
  • Direct deposit included
  • 1099-NEC generation and filing
  • Self-service contractor account

Pros & Cons

M

Justworks

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive interface requires almost no user training
  • Access to high-quality health insurance at affordable rates
  • Responsive customer support with dedicated account managers
  • Seamless automation of complex state tax filings

Cons

  • Higher per-employee cost compared to non-PEO software
  • Limited customization for complex organizational structures
  • Requires switching your entire insurance carrier to theirs
A

Square Payroll

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Square Point of Sale
  • Automatic tax filing saves hours of manual work
  • Simple and transparent per-employee pricing model
  • Easy setup process for new business owners

Cons

  • Customer support can be difficult to reach
  • Limited advanced HR features for large corporations
  • Account freezes can occasionally delay payroll processing
×

Please claim profile in order to edit product details and view analytics. Provide your work email @productdomain to receive a verification link.