Skip to content
Español

Payroll software review

Hourly

Payroll with built-in time tracking and pay-as-you-go workers' comp. Gold costs $80 a month plus $12 per active employee.

By HourlyParent company: Hourly, Inc.

RTC SCORE

5.2

#15 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

Hourly fits a small restaurant that wants payroll, time tracking and workers' comp in one app at a published price. It does not connect to your POS, so tips are entered by hand.

What we like

  • Published price: Gold is $80 a month plus $12 per active employee, with unlimited pay runs.
  • Files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxes in all 50 states, and its terms say it pays penalties caused by its own errors.
  • Time tracking with GPS, scheduling and a FICA tip report are in every plan.
  • Workers' comp is billed from real payroll each month, not as an estimate.

What to watch

  • No POS integration: tips do not come in from your POS and have to be entered by hand.
  • On Gold, direct deposit takes two to four days; faster deposit needs Platinum, 8 payroll runs and credit approval.
  • Phone support is weekdays only, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific.
  • The agreement has a 3-year initial term that renews each year (you can end it with 30 days' notice).

How the score breaks down

RTC Score5.2out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness88%

We could verify 88% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), Who files payroll taxes, Published pricing
Weakest point
12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%StrongestWeakest4.0 out of 10

    $3,120 over 12 months

  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%0.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%No data
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%2.5 out of 10
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%3.3 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Time trackingWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%5.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%No data
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%2.0 out of 10
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Garnishments and new-hire reportingWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Declared cash tipsWeight 2%No data
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%No data
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%No data

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
Base fee$80/moSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Gold plan, the cheapest with full-service payroll. Platinum is $120 + $16 per employee; Platinum+ is by quote.
Per employee$12Source: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeEach person paid that monthSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)An active user is anyone who records a shift or gets paid in the month.
Per contractor (1099)UnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Contractor payments are included in the plan; Hourly does not say whether a contractor counts as an active user for the per-person fee.
Published pricingPublishedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Gold and Platinum are published; Platinum+ is by quote.
Setup feeUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)The pricing page and the terms list no setup fee, but they do not say there is none either.
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Listed as included in every plan, including Gold. Mailed W-2s are on request.
Each extra stateUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Hourly files in all 50 states but does not say whether an extra state costs more.
Other fees$75 per NSF return; $35 stop-payment fee on uncashed checks; corrected tax returns after the quarter grace period from $250 (federal) and $350 (state) each; 1.5% a month on unpaid balances.Source: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)The same page lists Form W-2 and Form 1099 among the forms it files.
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Tax penalty guaranteePays penalties caused by its own errorsSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Garnishments and child support payments are listed in every plan. New-hire reporting is not mentioned.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a monthSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedThree or more business daysSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Gold: the pricing page says two-day in one table and four-day in the other, so we take the slower one. Next-day and same-day are only on Platinum and Platinum+, after 8 payroll runs and credit approval.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)UnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsSource: Hourly Help Center (opens in a new tab)Hourly documents no POS integration or tip import on its site or in its 25 payroll help articles.
Tip pooling and tip-outsUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Gives you a report for itSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Listed in every plan with no detail; it counts as a report, not the form.
Declared cash tipsUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Not confirmedSource: Hourly Help Center (opens in a new tab)We found no mention of the 2026 W-2 code TP or the tipped occupation code on hourly.io or in its help center.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Not confirmedSource: Hourly Help Center (opens in a new tab)We found no mention of the 2026 W-2 code TT on hourly.io or in its help center.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
State and local minimum wages built inUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Source: Hourly Help Center (opens in a new tab)No POS integration is documented; time comes from Hourly's own app with GPS clock-in.
Time trackingIncludedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
SchedulingIncludedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Marked in all three plans in the pricing table.
Accounting integrationsQuickBooks OnlineSource: Hourly Help Center (opens in a new tab)Linked through an Intuit login.
Payroll engineAnother providerSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Tax calculation and filing run through an unnamed third-party provider; the funds go through SouthState Bank.
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Hourly deducts benefits you already have, but does not say it offers health plans.
Workers' compensationPay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial term36 monthsSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)The agreement has a 3-year initial term, but you may end it during the term with 30 days' written notice and the terms set no early termination fee.
Automatic renewal12 monthsSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Notice to avoid renewal30 daysSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Early termination feeNoneSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)The terms set no early termination fee: 30 days' written notice.
Early termination clauseNone stated. You give 30 days' written notice, during the initial term or a renewal.Source: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise pricesHourly may change fees at its discretion with notice; continued use means you accept the change.Source: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Your records when you leaveUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Reports download in Excel and PDF while you are a customer; the terms do not say how long you keep access after leaving.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)
Live support hours a week55Source: Hourly (opens in a new tab)11 hours a day, Monday to Friday.
Dedicated specialistNoSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Marked only for Platinum and Platinum+, not for Gold (the plan in the calculator). The payroll page promises a customer success manager without naming the plan.
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishPartlySource: Apple App Store (Hourly, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)Only the App Store listing says Spanish, which counts as a hint; Hourly does not document Spanish pay stubs or onboarding.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Contract or terms in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)Not documented: we searched hourly.io (pricing, payroll, features, terms) and the Hourly help center on Oct 1, 2026 and found nothing on this.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: Hourly (opens in a new tab)hourly.io is in English only (no Spanish version found on Oct 1, 2026).

More about Hourly

How we score