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Justworks vs QuickBooks Payroll (2024 Comparison)

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Author

Martin Lunendonk

Last Update

Nov 07, 2024

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Excellent Value For Price
4.3

0

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Justworks

Justworks offers a comprehensive HR platform with a user-friendly interface and strong compliance support, making it ideal for businesses seeking an all-in-one HR solution.

  • Comprehensive HR platform
  • User-friendly interface
  • Strong compliance support
  • Limited payroll features
  • Higher cost for small businesses

Free plan?

No

Starting price

$8 per month per person
Excellent Value For Price
4.5

0

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QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll provides seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting, robust payroll features, and automatic tax calculations, making it perfect for businesses prioritizing payroll management.

  • Seamless QuickBooks integration
  • Robust payroll features
  • Automatic tax calculations
  • Limited benefits administration
  • Focus on payroll over HR

Free plan?

Yes

Starting price

$42.50 per month

What is Justworks?

Justworks is a comprehensive HR platform designed to simplify payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR management for businesses. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage employee benefits, payroll, and compliance with ease. Justworks helps businesses streamline their HR processes, ensuring that you can focus on growing your business rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks. With its robust features, Justworks is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to manage their HR needs efficiently.

What is QuickBooks Payroll?

QuickBooks Payroll is a powerful payroll software that integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software. It helps businesses manage payroll, taxes, and employee benefits efficiently. With features like automatic tax calculations, direct deposit, and employee self-service, QuickBooks Payroll simplifies the payroll process, saving you time and reducing errors. It's perfect for businesses that already use QuickBooks for accounting and want a streamlined solution for managing payroll and related tasks.

Pros and Cons of Justworks vs QuickBooks Payroll

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Pros & Cons of Justworks

Comprehensive HR platform
  • Justworks offers a wide range of HR features, including payroll, benefits, and compliance management, making it an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to streamline their HR processes.
User-friendly interface
  • The platform is designed with ease of use in mind, providing a straightforward interface that allows users to navigate and manage HR tasks efficiently, reducing the learning curve for new users.
Strong compliance support
  • Justworks provides robust compliance support, helping businesses stay up-to-date with labor laws and regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential penalties.
Limited payroll features
  • While Justworks offers payroll management, its features are not as extensive as those of dedicated payroll software, which may be a limitation for businesses with complex payroll needs.
Higher cost for small businesses
  • The pricing structure of Justworks may be higher for small businesses, especially those that do not require the full range of HR features offered by the platform.
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Pros & Cons of QuickBooks Payroll

Seamless QuickBooks integration
  • QuickBooks Payroll integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software, providing a unified solution for managing both accounting and payroll, which is ideal for businesses already using QuickBooks.
Robust payroll features
  • The software offers a comprehensive set of payroll features, including automatic tax calculations, direct deposit, and employee self-service, making payroll processing efficient and error-free.
Automatic tax calculations
  • QuickBooks Payroll simplifies tax management with automatic tax calculations and filing, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring compliance with tax regulations.
Limited benefits administration
  • While QuickBooks Payroll offers some benefits administration features, it is primarily focused on payroll, which may be a limitation for businesses seeking a comprehensive HR solution.
Focus on payroll over HR
  • The software's primary focus is on payroll management, which may not meet the needs of businesses looking for a broader HR platform with features like benefits and compliance management.

Justworks vs QuickBooks Payroll: At A Glance

Decision FactorJustworksQuickBooks Payroll
Value to Price
Good4.2
Excellent4.4
Ease of Use
Excellent4.5
Excellent4.6
Functionality
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.7
Scalability
Excellent4.4
Excellent4.5
Integrations
Good4.1
Excellent4.6
Customer Support
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.4
Security
Excellent4.5
Excellent4.5
Overall Rating
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.5

Value to Price

Value to Price is a crucial dimension that evaluates how well the software's features and benefits justify its cost. Justworks offers a competitive pricing structure with a comprehensive suite of HR tools, making it a great value for small to medium-sized businesses. QuickBooks Payroll, on the other hand, provides excellent value for businesses already using QuickBooks, as it seamlessly integrates with their accounting software. If you're looking for a cost-effective solution with robust features, QuickBooks Payroll might be the better choice.

Ease of Use

Ease of Use measures how intuitive and user-friendly the software is. Justworks is known for its straightforward interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage HR tasks efficiently. QuickBooks Payroll also scores high in this dimension, with a simple setup process and easy integration with QuickBooks accounting. If you prioritize a user-friendly experience, both tools are excellent choices, but QuickBooks Payroll might have a slight edge due to its seamless integration with existing QuickBooks users.

Functionality

Functionality assesses the range and effectiveness of features offered by the software. Justworks provides a comprehensive HR platform with features like payroll, benefits, and compliance management. QuickBooks Payroll excels in payroll management, offering features like automatic tax calculations and direct deposit. If your primary focus is on payroll functionality, QuickBooks Payroll is the superior choice, while Justworks is better for those seeking a broader HR solution.

Scalability

Scalability evaluates the software's ability to grow with your business. Justworks is designed to support small to medium-sized businesses, offering scalable solutions as your company expands. QuickBooks Payroll is also scalable, particularly for businesses already using QuickBooks for accounting. If you anticipate significant growth and need a solution that can scale with you, both tools are suitable, but QuickBooks Payroll may offer more seamless scalability for existing QuickBooks users.

Integrations

Integrations measure the software's ability to connect with other tools and platforms. Justworks offers a range of integrations with popular business tools, enhancing its functionality. QuickBooks Payroll, however, stands out with its seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software, making it an ideal choice for businesses already using QuickBooks. If integration with accounting software is a priority, QuickBooks Payroll is the clear winner.

Customer Support

Customer Support evaluates the quality and availability of support services provided by the software. Justworks offers reliable customer support with various channels, including phone and email support. QuickBooks Payroll also provides excellent customer support, with additional resources like online tutorials and community forums. If you value strong customer support, both tools are commendable, but QuickBooks Payroll may offer more comprehensive resources for troubleshooting and learning.

Security

Security assesses the software's ability to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry standards. Both Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll prioritize security, offering features like data encryption and secure access controls. If security is a top concern, both tools provide robust measures to protect your data, making them equally reliable choices.

Overall Rating

Overall Rating is a comprehensive assessment of the software's performance across all dimensions. Justworks scores well for its all-in-one HR platform, making it a strong choice for businesses seeking a comprehensive solution. QuickBooks Payroll, with its seamless integration and payroll-focused features, scores slightly higher, making it the preferred option for businesses prioritizing payroll management.

Justworks vs QuickBooks Payroll: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features

FeaturesJustworksQuickBooks Payroll
Payroll Management
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.8
Benefits Administration
Excellent4.5
Good4.2
Compliance Management
Excellent4.4
Excellent4.3
Tax Calculations
Good4.2
Excellent4.7
Employee Self-Service
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.6
Direct Deposit
Excellent4.4
Excellent4.8

Payroll Management

When it comes to payroll management, QuickBooks Payroll shines with its robust features and seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software. It offers automatic tax calculations, direct deposit, and employee self-service, making payroll processing a breeze. Justworks, while offering solid payroll management, focuses more on providing a comprehensive HR platform. If payroll is your primary concern, QuickBooks Payroll is the better choice, but if you need a broader HR solution, Justworks might be more suitable.

Benefits Administration

Justworks excels in benefits administration, offering a wide range of options for managing employee benefits. It simplifies the process of enrolling employees in health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. QuickBooks Payroll, while offering some benefits administration features, is more focused on payroll. If benefits administration is a priority for your business, Justworks is the superior choice, providing a more comprehensive solution.

Compliance Management

Compliance management is a critical aspect of HR software, and both Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll offer strong features in this area. Justworks provides tools to help businesses stay compliant with labor laws and regulations, while QuickBooks Payroll offers compliance support related to payroll taxes. If your primary concern is compliance across HR functions, Justworks is the better option, but for payroll-specific compliance, QuickBooks Payroll is a strong contender.

Tax Calculations

QuickBooks Payroll stands out in tax calculations, offering automatic tax calculations and filing, which saves time and reduces errors. Justworks also provides tax calculation features, but its focus is more on overall HR management. If accurate and efficient tax calculations are crucial for your business, QuickBooks Payroll is the preferred choice, offering a more streamlined solution.

Employee Self-Service

Employee self-service is an important feature for empowering employees to manage their own information. QuickBooks Payroll offers a user-friendly self-service portal, allowing employees to access pay stubs, tax forms, and update personal information. Justworks also provides self-service features, but its focus is more on HR management. If employee self-service is a priority, QuickBooks Payroll offers a more comprehensive solution.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is a key feature for payroll software, and both Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll offer reliable direct deposit options. QuickBooks Payroll excels with its seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting, making the process even more efficient. Justworks also provides direct deposit, but its focus is more on overall HR management. If direct deposit is a critical feature for your business, QuickBooks Payroll is the superior choice.

Pricing Comparison of Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll

To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Justworks and QuickBooks Payroll. This comparison will highlight the best option for managing your HR and payroll needs.

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Justworks Pricing Plans

Payroll
For Small Businesses
$8

per month per person

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Payroll includes:
  • Access to essential HR tools for efficient management.
  • Expert support available for any payroll-related queries.
  • Time tracking feature to monitor employee hours accurately.
  • Multi-state payroll capabilities for businesses operating in various locations.
PEO Basic
For Growing Businesses
$59

per month per person

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Includes Payroll, plus:
  • HR consulting services to optimize workforce management.
  • 24/7 support for immediate assistance and guidance.
  • Commuter benefits to enhance employee satisfaction.
  • Access to time tracking for accurate payroll processing.
PEO Plus
For Large Enterprises
$109

per month per person

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Includes PEO Basic, plus:
  • HSA/FSA accounts for flexible health spending.
  • Health advocacy services for personalized health support.
  • Access to One Medical for convenient healthcare services.
  • Advanced HR tools and benefits for complete solutions.
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QuickBooks Payroll Pricing Plans

Payroll Core + Simple Start
For Small Businesses
$42.5

per month

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Payroll Core + Simple Start includes:
  • Auto Payroll feature to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.
  • Employee portal for easy access to pay stubs and tax forms.
  • Track income and expenses to maintain financial clarity.
  • Invoice and accept payments to streamline cash flow management.
Payroll Core + Essentials
For Growing Businesses
$57.5

per month

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Includes Payroll Core + Simple Start, plus:
  • Run enhanced reports to gain deeper insights into business performance.
  • Manage bills and enter time to streamline operations.
  • Connect up to 3 sales channels for expanded reach.
  • Includes 3 users to facilitate team collaboration.
Payroll Premium + Plus
For Large Enterprises
$92

per month

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Includes Payroll Core + Essentials, plus:
  • 24/7 expert product support for uninterrupted assistance.
  • Track project profitability to optimize resource allocation.
  • Track inventory to manage stock levels effectively.
  • Includes 5 users to support larger teams.

Our Rating Methodology

We thoroughly evaluate each payroll software, focusing on key factors like functionality, ease of use, and integrations. By analyzing user reviews and conducting in-depth testing, we ensure our recommendations meet your needs. Each factor is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you make informed decisions.

Decision FactorScoring Weight
Value to Price
20%
20%
Ease of Use
20%
15%
Functionality
20%
25%
Scalability
20%
15%
Integrations
20%
10%
Customer Support
20%
10%
Security
20%
5%

Justworks or QuickBooks Payroll: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?

Choose Justworks If You Need ...

  • Comprehensive HR solution

    If you are a business looking for a comprehensive HR solution that includes payroll, benefits, and compliance management, Justworks is the ideal choice. Its all-in-one platform simplifies HR processes, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

  • Strong compliance support

    If your business requires strong compliance support to stay up-to-date with labor laws and regulations, Justworks is the better option. It provides robust compliance tools, reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential penalties.

Choose QuickBooks Payroll If You Need ...

  • Seamless QuickBooks integration

    If your business already uses QuickBooks for accounting and you want a seamless integration with payroll software, QuickBooks Payroll is the perfect choice. It provides a unified solution for managing both accounting and payroll efficiently.

  • Focus on payroll management

    If your primary focus is on payroll management and you need robust features like automatic tax calculations and direct deposit, QuickBooks Payroll is the superior choice. It offers a comprehensive set of payroll features, making payroll processing efficient and error-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Author

Martin Lunendonk

Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.