We compared widely used payroll platforms on tax-filing automation, ease of use, HR and benefits depth, and value, for solo and small firms paying W-2 staff, associates, and 1099 contractors. Listed alphabetically.
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Running a law firm means running a payroll. Whether you're a solo with one paralegal or a small firm with associates and support staff, payroll software handles the recurring work: calculating and paying W-2 employees and associates, paying 1099 contractors and of-counsel attorneys, and withholding, depositing, and filing federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf. The full-service platforms also issue year-end W-2s and 1099s, run multi-state payroll if your staff work in different states, and tie in benefits like health insurance, retirement, and workers'-compensation.
One important boundary: these are general business-payroll tools, not legal trust-accounting software. None of the platforms on this page manage your client trust or IOLTA account, track funds you hold on behalf of clients, or keep you compliant with your state bar's trust-accounting rules. Trust accounting is a separate job that belongs in dedicated legal software — typically a practice-management platform with built-in trust accounting — and remains governed by your jurisdiction's IOLTA rules. Use payroll software to pay your people; use a legal trust-accounting tool to handle client funds.
This comparison lists five widely used platforms alphabetically and compares them on tax-filing automation, ease of use and onboarding, HR and benefits depth, and support and value, so you can match a tool to your firm's headcount and growth plans. It is informational only — not legal or financial advice, and listing here is not an attorney endorsement of any product. For questions about your firm's tax obligations or trust-accounting compliance, consult a qualified accountant or licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
Custom quote (RUN plans)
ADP RUN scales from a small firm to a large one with deep HR, compliance, and dedicated support — the safe choice for firms that expect to add headcount or want hand-holding on compliance.
Monthly base + per-person
Full-service payroll with automatic tax filing, benefits, and contractor payments in a famously simple interface, built for a solo or small firm paying a handful of W-2 staff and 1099 contractors.
Flat monthly + per-person
Flat, transparent pricing with full-service payroll, unlimited pay runs, and solid HR tools — strong value for a small firm that wants Gusto-like simplicity at a predictable cost.
Low monthly + per-person
Budget-friendly US payroll for solos and very small firms, with a self-service tier and an affordable full-service tier that files taxes — the lowest-cost way to run compliant payroll.
Custom quote
Payroll plus a strong HR and benefits-administration offering with a dedicated specialist, good for firms that want one provider for payroll, benefits, and HR compliance.
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The same five platforms side by side, in the same alphabetical order as the list above. Pricing models and standout features come from that list; nothing new, just easier to scan.
| Platform | Pricing model | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|
| ADP | Custom quote (RUN plans) | Scales from small firm to enterprise |
| Gusto | Monthly base + per-person | Automatic federal, state & local tax filing |
| OnPay | Flat monthly + per-person | Flat, transparent pricing |
| Patriot | Low monthly + per-person | Lowest-cost payroll tiers |
| Paychex | Custom quote | Dedicated payroll specialist |
If cost is the deciding factor, Patriot uses a low monthly base plus a per-person fee, with a self-service tier and an affordable full-service tier that files your payroll taxes. It is the lowest-priced option here; the other platforms add more features for their higher prices.
The five platforms above are payroll tools. If you'd rather bundle everything, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) like Justworks runs payroll and taxes and — through co-employment — gives your firm access to large-group health, dental, and 401(k) plans plus HR and compliance support in one platform. It's a different model: typically pricier and aimed at firms that want it all handled together, which is why we list it here rather than in the main list.
Every platform above runs US payroll. If your firm wants to hire a paralegal, developer, or of-counsel attorney who lives in another country, you generally can't just add them to a US pay run — you either open a legal entity there or use an Employer of Record. Remote.com is an EOR: it employs the person locally on your firm's behalf and handles that country's payroll, taxes, statutory benefits, and employment compliance. It solves a different problem than domestic payroll, which is why it sits here rather than in the list above.
Start with who you actually pay. A solo with one or two W-2 staff has very different needs than a firm with associates, paralegals, and a roster of 1099 contractors and of-counsel attorneys. Confirm the platform runs W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in the same pay run, and check whether pricing is a flat monthly fee or scales per person as you add headcount.
Favor full-service platforms that automatically calculate, deposit, and file federal, state, and local payroll taxes and issue year-end W-2s and 1099s — that's where payroll software earns its keep. If you have staff in more than one state, confirm multi-state payroll is supported and understand any per-state fees.
Decide how much HR you want bundled in. If you only need to pay people, a focused payroll tool is enough; if you want health insurance, retirement, workers'-comp, and HR compliance from one provider, a platform with deep benefits administration and a dedicated specialist is worth the premium.
Payroll should flow into the books. Check that the platform syncs cleanly with the accounting software your firm already uses so wages, taxes, and contractor payments post automatically — and note that trust accounting is handled separately in dedicated legal software, never in payroll.
Compare the real monthly cost at your headcount, not the headline price — watch for per-person fees, add-on charges, and custom-quote plans that require a sales call. Confirm whether you're locked into a contract and what support looks like (self-serve, a dedicated specialist, or 24/7) before you commit.
The factors we looked at for each service, listed so you can weigh them yourself.
Whether the platform automatically calculates, deposits, and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes, handles multi-state, and issues year-end W-2s and 1099s without manual work.
How quickly a non-specialist can set up the firm, add staff and contractors, and run a clean pay cycle — plus self-onboarding that lets new hires enter their own details.
Breadth of bundled HR tooling and benefits administration — health insurance, retirement, workers'-comp — and whether a dedicated specialist is available when you need help.
Transparent pricing at real firm headcount, contract terms, integration with your accounting, and a consistent reputation for reliable support over time.
Start with headcount and growth plans. ADP RUN scales further with deeper HR and dedicated support if you expect to grow or want hand-holding on compliance; Gusto offers full-service payroll with automatic federal, state, and local tax filing, easy self-onboarding, and W-2 employees plus 1099 contractors in the same pay run; OnPay uses flat-rate pricing; Patriot is the lowest-cost option; and Paychex pairs payroll with HR and benefits administration.
No. The platforms on this page handle firm payroll and payroll taxes only — they do not manage client trust funds, track an IOLTA account, or keep you compliant with trust-accounting rules. Client trust accounting requires dedicated legal software (typically practice-management software with built-in trust accounting) and must follow your state bar's IOLTA requirements; payroll software is not a substitute and should never be used to hold or reconcile client funds.
Yes. Every platform here can pay 1099 contractors and of-counsel attorneys alongside your W-2 staff, and full-service plans track those payments and issue year-end 1099 forms automatically. Gusto and OnPay include contractor payments in the same pay run as employees, so you can pay everyone at once and keep your tax forms in one place.
Most platforms charge a monthly base fee plus a per-person charge, so a small firm typically lands in the range of a few tens of dollars a month plus roughly $6–$12 per person, depending on the plan and features. Flat-rate options like OnPay keep the per-person cost predictable, Patriot is the lowest-cost tier for very small firms, and ADP and Paychex use custom quotes that usually run higher in exchange for deeper HR and support — always confirm the real cost at your headcount, including add-ons.
Match the platform to your firm: ADP or Paychex when you're scaling headcount or want HR and benefits depth with a dedicated specialist; Gusto for full-service payroll, automatic tax filing, and contractor payments without the complexity; OnPay when flat, predictable pricing matters most; and Patriot when you need the tightest budget. One caveat worth repeating: none of these tools manage client trust or IOLTA accounting. Use dedicated legal trust-accounting software and follow your state bar's rules for client funds.
Setting up the firm itself? See our resources for attorneys, or compare law firm phone systems and LLC formation services.
This guide is produced by the AttorneyReview editorial team for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Despite the “AttorneyReview” name, this platform does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or legal validation of any company, product, or service listed. Inclusion on this page does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement, or certification of any provider, and attorneys do not review, endorse, or validate the payroll platforms listed.
Not trust-accounting software. The platforms compared here are general business-payroll tools. They do NOT provide client-trust or IOLTA accounting, do not track or reconcile funds held on behalf of clients, and do not ensure compliance with any state bar's trust-accounting rules. Law firms remain solely responsible for client-trust accounting and bar compliance and should use dedicated legal trust-accounting software and consult their state bar's IOLTA guidance.
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