Pricing checked against Intuit's published pages and comparison data on September 3, 2026. Intuit runs promos that change effective prices often.
QuickBooks Payroll review
If your bookkeeping already lives in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Workforce is the payroll that makes sense: payroll posts straight into your ledger, no exports, no reconciliation. Core pricing runs about $50 a month plus $6.50 per person. If you don't use QuickBooks, the bundle pricing and per-tier feature splits give standalone vendors the edge.
What QuickBooks Payroll costs
Intuit publishes tiered pricing for Workforce with the Core tier around $50/month plus $6.50 per person; higher tiers (roughly $85 to $125 base) add same-day direct deposit, time tracking, and HR advisory. Promotions — 90% off for three months at the time we checked — change the effective price dramatically for new customers. The number that matters is the renewal price plus any QuickBooks subscription you need alongside it. Intuit's product naming changes periodically (Online Payroll, then Workforce), so verify on Intuit's pricing page before buying.
Where it wins
The accounting integration is genuinely the best in the category — payroll mapped to the right accounts automatically, with job costing on higher tiers. Automated federal and state tax filing is included, and the Elite tier's tax penalty protection (up to $25,000 coverage) is the strongest guarantee among the vendors we track. Auto Payroll runs itself for salaried teams after the first cycle.
Where it doesn't
Stacking QuickBooks Online plus Workforce often costs more than Gusto or OnPay at the same headcount — a 20-person team on Core plus a QBO plan lands near $200 a month versus $169 on Gusto Simple. HR tools (onboarding, offer letters, HR advisor) sit behind Premium and Elite tiers. Auto Payroll for hourly staff requires time tracking, which is a higher-tier feature. And Intuit's pricing page obfuscates the final number behind bundles and trials more than any vendor we track.
Bottom line
Already in QuickBooks: buy it, the integration pays for itself in bookkeeping time. Not in QuickBooks: read the Gusto or OnPay reviews first. Compare verified numbers in the payroll cost table and the best payroll software ranking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does QuickBooks Payroll cost?
The Core tier runs about $50 a month plus $6.50 per person, per Intuit's published comparison data, and frequent promotions cut that sharply for the first months. Higher tiers add same-day deposit, time tracking, and HR support. A QuickBooks subscription may be required depending on the bundle you choose, which is where the real price climbs.
Do I need a QuickBooks subscription to use QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Workforce is designed to run inside the QuickBooks ecosystem. Payroll posts directly into QuickBooks accounting, which is the main reason to buy it. If you don't use QuickBooks for your books, a standalone vendor like Gusto or OnPay is usually the better fit.
Does QuickBooks Payroll file taxes for you?
Yes — automated federal and state payroll tax filings are included, with automated local tax filing on higher tiers. Year-end W-2s and 1099s are included. An Elite-tier tax penalty protection program covers up to $25,000 in penalties if Intuit files something wrong.