Best payroll software for Canadian small business (2026)
Wagepoint is the best all-round payroll tool for most Canadian small businesses – it handles CRA remittances, CPP/EI, and T4s automatically and integrates with the accounting tools you already use. Humi wins if you want payroll bundled with full HR. ADP is the full-service option for complex payrolls. Payment Evolution is the budget pick.
Updated June 2026. Pricing changes – confirm current rates on each provider’s site.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Starting price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Wagepoint | Most small businesses that just want payroll done right | ~$20/mo base + ~$4/employee |
| Humi | Payroll + HR, time-off, onboarding and benefits in one | Module-based, ~$49/mo base + per-employee |
| ADP | Larger teams, complex pay rules, full-service support | Custom quote |
| Payment Evolution | Very small or budget-conscious payrolls | Free tier; paid from low single digits/employee |
Wagepoint – best overall
Wagepoint is purpose-built for Canadian small business payroll, and it shows. It calculates CPP, EI, and income tax deductions, files and remits to the CRA (and Revenu Québec) on the right schedule, generates T4s and T4As at year-end, handles direct deposit, and supports ROEs. It’s the option most Canadian bookkeepers reach for first because it’s reliable and stays out of your way.
Pricing is transparent and per-payroll-friendly: a Solo plan runs around $20/month plus ~$4 per employee for one pay run a month, and an Unlimited plan around $40/month plus ~$6 per employee for weekly or bi-weekly runs. It integrates tightly with Xero, Zoho Books, and QuickBooks, so payroll journal entries flow straight into your books.
Pros: Built specifically for Canadian payroll – CRA and Revenu Québec remittances handled. Clean, transparent pricing. Excellent accounting integrations. Direct deposit, T4s, and ROEs included. Strong reputation with Canadian bookkeepers.
Cons: It’s payroll, not HR – no onboarding, performance, or benefits modules. Per-employee pricing adds up for larger teams. Support is online-first.
Humi – best payroll + HR bundle
Humi is a Canadian HR platform with payroll built in, now part of Employment Hero. If you want one system for payroll and the people stuff – employee records, time-off tracking, onboarding, performance reviews, and group benefits – Humi consolidates it instead of stitching together three tools. Payroll covers CRA remittances, T4s, and direct deposit like you’d expect.
Pricing is module-based: you pick the pieces you need (core HR, payroll, benefits, etc.) on top of a base fee, so a full HR+payroll setup costs more than standalone payroll. That’s the trade – you pay for the breadth.
Pros: Payroll and full HR in one Canadian platform. Strong onboarding, time-off, and document management. Integrated group benefits. Good fit as you grow past a handful of employees.
Cons: More expensive than payroll-only tools. You pay for modules you may not need at first. Overkill for a 1–3 person company that just needs paycheques run.
ADP – best for complex, full-service payroll
ADP is the global incumbent and the right answer when payroll gets complicated – multiple provinces, union rules, large headcount, garnishments, or a desire to hand the whole thing to a provider and stop thinking about it. ADP offers managed/full-service options where their team handles compliance, and the platform scales well past where smaller tools get awkward.
Pros: Scales to large and complex payrolls. Full-service options offload compliance. Deep reporting and integrations. Established, well-resourced support.
Cons: Pricing is quote-based and generally higher; setup and contracts can be heavier. More than most micro-businesses need. The interface is enterprise-flavoured.
Payment Evolution (PaymentEvolution) – best budget option
Payment Evolution is a Canadian payroll platform with a free tier for very small payrolls and inexpensive paid plans. It handles deductions, remittances, direct deposit, and T4s. If cost is the deciding factor and your payroll is simple, it’s a legitimate way to start without a monthly base fee eating into a one- or two-person operation.
Pros: Free tier for small payrolls. Canadian-built, CRA-compliant. Low cost as you add employees. Direct deposit and year-end slips included.
Cons: Fewer integrations and a less polished experience than Wagepoint. Support is lighter on the free tier. Fewer HR extras.
How to choose
- You just want payroll done correctly and integrated with your books: Wagepoint.
- You want payroll plus HR, onboarding, and benefits in one place: Humi.
- You have a large or complex payroll and want it managed: ADP.
- You’re tiny and cost-sensitive: Payment Evolution.
Before you run your first payroll
You need a CRA payroll (RP) program account attached to your Business Number before you can remit source deductions. If you haven’t set that up, start with our Business Number guide. Payroll software calculates and files the deductions, but the account has to exist first. Remittance is due by the 15th of the month following the pay period for most small employers – late remittances draw penalties of up to 10%.
FAQ
Does payroll software file my T4s with the CRA?
Wagepoint, Humi, ADP, and Payment Evolution all generate T4s and can file the T4 summary with the CRA. Confirm the filing is included in your plan rather than a manual export.
Do I still need an accountant if I use payroll software?
Payroll software handles the mechanics, but many owners still use an accountant or bookkeeper for year-end, corporate tax, and to catch setup mistakes. The two work together – see our accounting software comparison.
What about Quebec payroll?
Quebec has separate provincial deductions (QPP, QPIP, Quebec income tax) administered by Revenu Québec. Confirm the tool you choose supports Quebec payroll – Wagepoint does.
Can I run payroll inside my accounting software instead?
Some accounting tools offer add-on payroll, but dedicated payroll software is usually more accurate on Canadian compliance and integrates back into your books. Many businesses use Wagepoint alongside Xero or Zoho Books.
Next steps
- Start payroll the easy way: Wagepoint.
- Want HR bundled in? Humi.
- Set up the CRA side first: Business Number & program accounts.
Last updated: June 9, 2026. We review this page when rules or pricing change. Spot an error?