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Payroll software review

OnPay Payroll

Payroll with one plan at $49 a month plus $6 per worker paid that month, with tax filings, multi-state payroll and year-end forms included, and documented restaurant features such as tip credit make-up and Form 8846.

By OnPayParent company: OnPay, LLC

RTC SCORE

7.1

#4 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

Documented tip credit make-up and Form 8846 at a published price, month to month. You will still enter tips by hand, because it does not connect to any POS.

What we like

  • One published price: $49 a month plus $6 per worker paid that month, with federal, state and local tax filings, all 50 states and W-2 and 1099 forms included.
  • Tip credit make-up is calculated automatically, and Form 8846 comes filled in for your tax return.
  • Fields for qualified tips, tipped occupation codes and qualified overtime are already in each pay run for 2026.
  • Month to month with no early termination fee, and the first month is free.
  • The Terms of Service commit OnPay to pay tax penalties caused by its own errors.

What to watch

  • No POS integration: tips and hours are entered in each pay run or come from a time tracking app.
  • No tip pooling and no early pay for employees.
  • Direct deposit takes 2 to 4 business days depending on OnPay's risk review, with no next-day option.
  • Time tracking costs extra ($15 a month plus $4 per worker), and live support is weekdays only, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score7.1out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness100%

We could verify 100% of the scoring data

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

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%Strongest9.4 out of 10

    $1,668 over 12 months

  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%5.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%10.0 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%5.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • 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%10.0 out of 10
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%0.0 out of 10

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$49/moSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Payroll Essentials, the only payroll plan.
Per employee$6Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeEach person paid that monthSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)A worker included in a pay run counts even if the net pay is $0; a worker not paid that month is not charged.
Per contractor (1099)$6Source: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)Contractors cost the same $6 as employees.
Published pricingPublishedSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Setup fee$0 one-timeSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Forms are free to download and print; having OnPay mail them costs $10 per form.
Each extra state$0Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Other feesMailing W-2 and 1099 forms to your workers costs $10 per form (downloading and printing them is free). Cancelling a pay run has no fee. Sales tax may apply to the subscription in some states. Optional add-ons: time tracking ($15 a month plus $4 per worker), HR ($15 plus $2 per worker), Compliance Resources ($10 a month) and Live HR Support ($65 a month).Source: OnPay Help Center (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: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Employees and contractors can go in the same pay run, at the same $6 per worker.
Tax penalty guaranteePays penalties caused by its own errorsSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Penalties caused by wrong information you provide stay with you.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay withholds garnishments from pay, but you send the payment to the agency yourself (help center, How to add garnishments and levies).
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedThree or more business daysSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)Direct deposit is free, but the turnaround (2 or 4 business days) depends on OnPay's risk assessment of your company; 2 days is not guaranteed. OnPay does not publish a next-day or same-day option.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)Not offeredSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not document early pay for employees; we looked on its pricing page, its app directory and its help center.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay's restaurant page and app directory name no POS system; tips are entered in each pay run as Cash Tips or Controlled Tips.
Tip pooling and tip-outsNot offeredSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not document tip pooling or tip-outs; we looked on its restaurant page, its pricing page and its help center (search for tip pool).
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upCalculated automaticallySource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)Set in company preferences; it can be turned off.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Prepares the formSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)OnPay leaves Form 8846 filled in; you file it with your tax return.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)A "Cash Tips" pay item.
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Announced or partly documentedSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)A tipped occupation code (TTOC) field per employee and an "OBBB Qualified Tips" column in each pay run; how the 2026 W-2 will show code TP is not confirmed yet.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Announced or partly documentedSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)An "OBBB Qualified OT" field in each pay run; code TT on the 2026 W-2 is not named.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not say how it treats mandatory service charges; we looked on its restaurant page and its help center (search for service charge).
State and local minimum wages built inNoSource: OnPay Help Center (opens in a new tab)OnPay publishes local rates in its help center, but asks you to keep local minimum wages up to date yourself.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay's app directory lists no POS system (time tracking: Deputy, When I Work and QuickBooks Time). Some reviewers describe connecting a POS through a scheduling app; that is not a direct integration.
Time trackingPaid add-on or higher planSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)$15 a month plus $4 per worker. Deputy, When I Work and QuickBooks Time also connect at no added fee.
SchedulingOnly through an integrationSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay's own time tracking add-on does not list scheduling; staff schedules come from apps such as When I Work or Deputy.
Accounting integrationsQuickBooks Online, Xero, OthersSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Others: QuickBooks Desktop (help center setup guide).
Payroll engineThe vendor itselfSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsOffered and connected to payrollSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Plan administration and payroll deductions are included; you pay the plan premiums. You can also keep your own broker.
Workers' compensationPay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Month to month; you can end the service with 30 days' written notice.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Month to month, with no renewal term.
Notice to avoid renewal30 daysSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)There is no renewal to avoid; this is the written notice the Terms of Service ask for to end the service.
Early termination feeNoneSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)The Terms of Service have no early termination fee.
Early termination clauseNo early termination fee. Month to month; you can end the service with 30 days' written notice (Terms of Service, section 10).Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise pricesOnPay may change its terms and fees at any time. It says it will try, without being obligated, to give 30 days' notice of a material change; if you do not accept it, you can end the service before it takes effect (Terms of Service, section 6).Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Your records when you leaveYou can download them yourselfSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)You export your reports yourself while the account is open; employees keep lifetime access to their pay stubs and year-end forms. OnPay does not publish how long you keep access after closing.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)
Live support hours a week55Source: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Phone and chat, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.
Dedicated specialistNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)Only setup is dedicated; after that, support comes from the general team by phone, chat and email.
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not document a Spanish version of its employee app or portal; we looked in its help center (search for Spanish) and on its website.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not document a Spanish owner's dashboard; we looked in its help center and on its website.
Pay stubs in SpanishNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay does not document pay stubs in Spanish; we looked in its help center (pay stub and Spanish searches).
Support in SpanishNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay's contact page and help center do not mention support in Spanish.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)The Terms of Service are published only in English.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: OnPay (opens in a new tab)OnPay's sitemap has no Spanish-language pages, and onpay.com/es/ does not lead to a Spanish site.

More about OnPay Payroll

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