QuickBooks Payroll pricing in 2026: the three Workforce plans
QuickBooks now sells payroll as QuickBooks Workforce. Workforce Payroll costs $50 a month plus $7 per employee, Premium $88 plus $13 and Elite $134 plus $17.1 When we checked, the base fee was 50% off for the first 3 months; the per-employee fee stays the same.1
In short
- All three plans calculate, file and pay your payroll taxes and include unlimited 1099 e-filing.1
- Workforce Payroll pays employees the next business day; Premium and Elite pay the same day.1
- Time tracking starts with Premium.1
- Accounting is a separate step at checkout, after you pick the payroll plan.1
The three Workforce plans
| Workforce Payroll | Workforce Premium | Workforce Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $50 + $7 per employee1 | $88 + $13 per employee1 | $134 + $17 per employee1 |
| First 3 months | $25 + $7 per employee1 | $44 + $13 per employee1 | $67 + $17 per employee1 |
| Direct deposit | Next business day, if you run payroll by 5:00 PM1 | Same day, if you run payroll by 7:00 AM1 | Same day, if you run payroll by 7:00 AM1 |
| Time tracking | Not included | Included1 | Included1 |
| Setup help | Not included | An expert reviews your setup1 | An expert does the setup for you1 |
| HR | Not included | HR resource center and handbook creator, by Mineral1 | The same, plus a personal HR advisor by phone or online1 |
| IRS penalty protection | Not included | Not included | Penalties and interest up to $25,000 a year, terms apply1 |
Read on November 14, 2026, then checked a second time. "Not included" means the plan's list on the pricing page does not show the feature.
What a month costs
The table assumes every employee is paid each month and leaves out benefits, workers' comp and accounting.
| Employees | Payroll | Premium | Elite | Payroll, first 3 months | Premium, first 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $57 | $101 | $151 | $32 | $57 |
| 5 | $85 | $153 | $219 | $60 | $109 |
| 10 | $120 | $218 | $304 | $95 | $174 |
| 25 | $225 | $413 | $559 | $200 | $369 |
Our arithmetic from QuickBooks' published prices: base fee plus the per-employee fee times the number of employees.1
The gap between plans grows with headcount, because the per-employee fee rises from $7 to $13 to $17.1 At 25 employees, Premium costs $188 a month more than Workforce Payroll, so same-day pay and time tracking need to be worth that much to you.1
Included in every plan
- Full-service payroll taxes. QuickBooks says it will "calculate, file, and pay your payroll taxes for you."1
- Deductions. Garnishments and deductions are set up and calculated for each paycheck.1
- Auto payroll for salaried employees paid by direct deposit.1
- 1099 forms. Unlimited 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC e-filing with the IRS, with copies sent to your contractors.1
- Support from payroll experts by phone and chat.1
What the price leaves out
- Accounting. The checkout has three steps: pick a payroll plan, add accounting, check out.1 The payroll prices above do not include QuickBooks accounting.
- Benefits and insurance. Health packages from Allstate, 401(k) plans from Vestwell and workers' comp from Next are offered through the plans, with no prices on the pricing page.1
- The offer's terms. The 50% discount is marked with an asterisk; check its conditions at checkout before you rely on the lower price.1
QuickBooks compared with Square and OnPay
At 10 employees, Workforce Payroll costs $120 a month at the regular price, against $109 at OnPay and $95 at Square Payroll.1, 3, 2 OnPay charges $49 plus $6 per worker, and Square $35 plus $6 per person paid.3, 2 If you already use QuickBooks for your books, the pricing page says you can sign in and add Workforce to your account.1 For more providers, including what ADP and Paychex keep for a quote, see our payroll provider comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much is QuickBooks Payroll per month?
Workforce Payroll is $50 a month plus $7 per employee, Premium $88 plus $13, and Elite $134 plus $17.1
Is there a QuickBooks Payroll discount?
On November 14, 2026 the pricing page offered 50% off the base fee for 3 months: $25, $44 or $67 instead of $50, $88 or $134.1 The per-employee fee was not discounted.1
Which QuickBooks plan pays employees the same day?
Premium and Elite, when you run payroll by 7:00 AM. Workforce Payroll pays the next business day if you run payroll by 5:00 PM.1
Does QuickBooks Payroll include time tracking?
Only Premium and Elite include it, according to QuickBooks' FAQ.1
How we checked
We read QuickBooks' payroll pricing page on November 14, 2026 and checked every figure a second time, with a different tool. The monthly costs are our own arithmetic from the published prices. We have not run payroll with QuickBooks.
We use AI tools to help research and draft our pages.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Prices change often; check QuickBooks' website before you buy. Best Payroll Provider is not affiliated with Intuit or the other companies named.