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Best payroll software for small business in Canada (2025 comparison)
Choosing payroll software in Canada usually comes down to one uncomfortable question: how much are you willing to pay every single month, per employee, just to calculate CPP, EI, and income tax — math that the CRA already publishes in the T4127 formulas? Here is an honest side-by-side of the providers Canadian small businesses actually shortlist in 2025.
At-a-glance comparison
| Provider | Pricing model | Approx. annual cost for 5 employees | T4s & ROEs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Payroll | $50 / employee / year (flat) | $250 | Included | Small Canadian businesses that want predictable, flat-fee pricing |
| Wagepoint | ~$25 base + $5/employee per pay run | ~$1,500+ (bi-weekly) | Included | Businesses that want a polished UI and can absorb per-run fees |
| ADP Canada (Workforce Now / Run) | Custom quotes, typically $40–$80 base + per-employee fees per pay | ~$2,000–$4,000+ | Included | Mid-market and enterprise with complex HR needs |
| QuickBooks Payroll (Canada) | ~$25/month base + $5/employee/month | ~$600–$900 | Included | Businesses already running QuickBooks Online accounting |
Competitor pricing is approximate and based on publicly listed rates as of 2025. Always confirm directly with the provider.
1. Canadian Payroll — flat $50/employee/year
Canadian Payroll uses the CRA's official T4127 formulas to calculate CPP, CPP2, EI, federal tax, and every provincial tax bracket — the same math every other Canadian payroll product is required to use. The difference is the price tag: one flat $50 per employee per year, with no monthly base fee and no per-pay-run surcharge.
- Unlimited pay runs (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly).
- CRA-compliant T4 slips, T4 Summary XML, and ROEs.
- Direct deposit pay stubs emailed to employees.
- All 13 provinces and territories supported.
- No upsells, no per-feature tiers.
2. Wagepoint
Wagepoint is a well-designed Canadian-built product with a strong brand and a clean UI. The catch is the pricing model: a base fee plus a per-employee charge every pay run. For a business that runs bi-weekly payroll, that turns into 26 charges per employee per year, which is why a 5-person team easily spends $1,500+ annually.
3. ADP Canada
ADP is the heavyweight — Workforce Now and Run are built for companies that need full HR, benefits administration, time tracking, and dedicated support. Pricing is quote-based and is rarely competitive for a 1–10 employee shop. If you don't need the HR suite, you're paying for capability you won't use.
4. QuickBooks Payroll (Canada)
QuickBooks Payroll makes sense if you already run QuickBooks Online accounting — the integration is the main selling point. Standalone, it's a typical SaaS price ladder: monthly base plus per-employee fees, with auto-remit and tax filing gated to higher tiers.
How to choose
- Under 25 employees, no HR suite needed: a flat-fee product like Canadian Payroll usually wins on cost by a wide margin.
- Heavy QuickBooks Online user: QuickBooks Payroll's integration may be worth the premium.
- 50+ employees with benefits and HR: ADP or Ceridian/Dayforce are the realistic options.
- Want a polished UI and don't mind per-run fees: Wagepoint is a solid choice.
Try Canadian Payroll — $50/employee/year, flat
No monthly base fee, no per-pay-run charges. CRA-formula calculations, T4s, ROEs, and pay stubs included for every province.
Disclaimer: Competitor pricing and feature details are summarized from publicly available information as of 2025 and may change. Confirm directly with each provider before making a purchasing decision.