Both Square Payroll and Xero Payroll are leading payroll software solutions, but which one is better for you and your business?
Below we compare Square Payroll and Xero Payroll across nearly 50 different data points to help you make find the right one.
Square Payroll vs Xero Payroll Reviews
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| Square Payroll | Xero Payroll | ||
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 | |
| Number of Trustpilot Reviews | 4049 | 5747 | |
| iPhone App Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 | |
| Number of iPhone App Reviews | 5 | 26300 | |
| Android App Rating | 3.8 | 4.3 | |
| Number of Android App Reviews | 2660 | 7410 |
Square Payroll vs Xero Payroll Pricing
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| Square Payroll | Xero Payroll | |
| Free Trial | n/a | Yes |
| Free Trial Length | n/a | 1 month |
| Cheapest Plan Name | Pay Contractors Only | Early |
| Cheapest Plan Cost Per Month | $n/a | $9.25 |
| Mid Priced Plan Name | n/a | Growing |
| Mid Priced Plan Cost Per Month | $n/a | $9.25 |
| Top Plan Name | Pay Employees & Contractors | Established |
| Top Plan Cost Per Month | $41 | $17.5 |
Square Payroll vs Xero Payroll Features
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| Features | Square Payroll | Xero Payroll |
| Target Business Size | Small business | Small business |
| Unlimited Payrolls | ✔ | ✘ |
| Automated Tax Filing & Payments | ✔ | ✔ |
| E-sign I-9 & W-4 | ✘ | ✘ |
| Live Customer Support | ✔ | ✔ |
| Third-Party Integrations | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ability To Manage Employee Benefits | ✔ | ✔ |
| Employee Access To Platform | ✔ | ✔ |
| Direct Deposit | ✔ | ✔ |
| Expense Reimbursement | ✘ | ✔ |
| Time Off Accrual | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pre-Tax Deductions | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wage Garnishment | ✔ | ✔ |
| Background Checks | ✘ | ✘ |
| Check Printing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Check Delivery | ✔ | ✘ |
| API | ✔ | ✔ |
Square Payroll Pay Contractors Only Features
- We mail all 1099-NEC forms
- M–F 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT support
- Pay by check, direct deposit, or Cash App
- Free seasonal inactivity
- All features included, with no hidden fees
- No commitment, cancel anytime
Xero Payroll Early Features
- Send quotes and 20 invoicesâ€
- Enter 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Capture bills and receipts with Hubdoc
- Short-term cash flow and business snapshot
- Payroll with Gusto (Optional)
Square Payroll Pay Employees & Contractors Features
- No additional fees
- Full-service payroll
- Payroll for employees and contractors
- Automatic payroll tax calculations
- All tax filings and payments
- Multistate payroll
- Live support for account setup
- Timecards and employee app
- Track and import tips and commissions
- We mail W-2s and 1099-NEC forms
- Pay by check, direct deposit, or Cash App
- M–F 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT support
- No commitment, cancel anytime
- Unlimited pay runs per month
- Free seasonal inactivity
Xero Payroll Established Features
- Send invoices and quotes
- Enter bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Capture bills and receipts with Hubdoc
- Short-term cash flow and business snapshot
- Bulk reconcile transactions
- Use multiple currencies
- Track projects
- Claim expenses
- Analytics Plus
- Payroll with Gusto (Optional)
Square Payroll vs Xero Payroll Pro & Cons
| Square Payroll | Xero Payroll | |
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