Best payroll software in Canada (2026) 

Payroll is the quiet heartbeat of every business. When it runs smoothly, no one notices. When it doesn’t, everyone does. Across Canada, employers are under pressure — regulations change, employees expect transparency and manual systems buckle under the weight of modern work.

We see the impact every day. In our latest Payroll Mistakes Impact Report, nearly half of the businesses surveyed said payroll errors directly damaged trust with their teams. Many also reported unexpected costs, compliance issues and hours lost to rework; proof that even small mistakes multiply fast.

As payroll experts here at Employment Hero, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. In this guide, we’ll unpack the best payroll software in Canada for 2026, with clear, human insight into what makes each platform tick. Legacy systems weren’t built for the way Canadians work today, and patchwork tools can’t keep up with modern teams. The future of payroll is connected, mobile and effortless — and that’s where we lead.

What is payroll software?

Payroll software automates the process of paying employees correctly and on time. The best tools handle everything from gross-to-net calculations to CRA deductions, T4s, ROEs and provincial compliance, without the endless copy-paste between systems.

A good platform doesn’t just “do payroll.” It connects time, attendance and scheduling data automatically. It spots errors before they happen, sends clean reports to finance and gives employees access to their pay slips, tax documents and balances in one place.

In short, payroll software replaces the stress of “Did we get that right?” with confidence that you did.

Benefits of using payroll software

If you’re still running payroll manually or through disconnected tools, here’s what modern systems deliver:

1. Accuracy you can trust
Mistakes in source deductions or statutory holiday pay can be costly. Automated software helps ensure every dollar and every hour is right and compliant.

2. Efficiency and time savings
What used to take days becomes minutes. Approvals, imports and reconciliations happen in one flow.

3. Confidence in compliance
CRA and provincial rules change. The right system keeps you aligned automatically, with updates built in.

4. Better employee experience
Teams get instant access to their pay slips, time off and tax forms. It’s transparency that builds trust.

5. Room to grow
The best Canadian payroll software scales with your team, adding new locations, roles or benefits without rebuilding your process.

For a deeper dive into how payroll systems actually work under the hood, check out our guide on how payroll software works.

10 best payroll software platforms compared

We analyzed the top tools used by Canadian SMBs. We looked at ease of use, automation, mobile experience, support quality and, most importantly, how well they handle Canada’s complex provincial compliance.

Key Features	Employment Hero	Payworks	Wagepoint	ADP Workforce Now	Ceridian Dayforce	BambooHR	Rippling	Collage HR	Rise People	QuickBooks Payroll
CRA & Provincial Compliance	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✘	✘	✔️	✔️	✔️
Integrated HR + Payroll	✔️	✘	✘	✔️	✔️	✘	✔️	✘	✔️	✘
Time & Attendance Tracking	✔️	✔️	✔️ (add-on)	✔️ (add-on)	✔️	✘	✔️	✔️	✔️	✘
Scheduling / Shift Management	✔️	✘	✔️ (add-on)	✔️ (add-on)	✔️	✘	✘	✘	✔️	✘
Mobile App	✔️	Limited	✔️	Limited	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Transparent Pricing	✔️	✘	✔️	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔️	✘	✔️
Canadian Localisation	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✘	✘	✔️	✔️	✔️
Employee Self-Service	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Performance & Engagement Tools	✔️	✘	✘	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✘	✔️	✘
Implementation Time	Fast	Moderate	Fast	Slow	Slow	Moderate	Moderate	Fast	Moderate	Fast
Best For	Growing SMBs	Traditional payroll users	Microbusinesses	Enterprises	Enterprises	HR-only users	US-centric orgs	Micro-SMBs	Small teams	Sole proprietors

Employment Hero 

Employment Hero was built for the way modern Canadian businesses actually work. Payroll isn’t a separate process; it’s part of the daily rhythm of scheduling, approvals and employee communication.

Our platform connects it all. Managers approve shifts and time in one place. Payroll runs automatically with CRA deductions and provincial rules already applied. Reports and remittances are ready in seconds. Employees can view everything from pay slips to time off in the mobile app. No chasing, no confusion.

Pros of Employment Hero for payroll software

Pros

• Purpose-built for Canadian SMBs, not retrofitted from a US system.
• Full integration between payroll, time tracking, HR and scheduling.
• Transparent pricing that grows with you; no surprise add-ons.
• Responsive support from payroll experts who know the Canadian landscape.
• Scalable features like onboarding, performance and benefits built in.

Payworks

Payworks is a long-standing Canadian payroll provider offering payroll, time management and HR modules for businesses across the country. They’re well known for their local presence and focus on compliance, with tools that support payroll processing and reporting for Canadian teams.

Wagepoint

Wagepoint is a Canadian payroll tool designed for smaller businesses that want a simple way to run payroll. The platform focuses on core payroll tasks and offers optional add-ons for HR and time tracking, making it a familiar choice for early-stage or microbusiness teams.

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a global human capital management platform that includes payroll, HR, benefits and workforce tools. It serves a wide range of industries and is commonly used by larger organizations seeking a centralized system with many configuration options.

Ceridian Dayforce

Dayforce is an enterprise-focused human capital management suite that combines payroll, HR, workforce management, analytics and talent tools. It’s often used by complex organizations that need a unified platform for large employee populations or multi-jurisdiction operations.

BambooHR

BambooHR is an HR management platform centred on employee data, onboarding, performance and culture tools. While it offers payroll in the United States, its Canadian customers typically use it for HR functions and integrate it with separate payroll systems.

Rippling

Rippling is a workforce platform that combines HR, IT and finance management in a single system. It’s widely known for its automation capabilities and modular design, which allows companies to manage onboarding, devices, permissions and workforce data through one ecosystem.

Collage HR

Collage HR is a Canadian HR platform focused on people management, benefits administration, onboarding and time tracking. It is commonly used by small businesses that want a central place to manage employee information and connect HR tasks with their benefits provider.

Rise People

Rise People is a Canadian people management platform that includes HR, payroll, benefits, scheduling and time tracking. It offers a mix of workforce tools designed to centralize employment tasks for small and mid-sized Canadian companies.

QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll is an add-on to the QuickBooks accounting platform, letting small businesses run payroll directly within their financial system. It’s frequently used by sole proprietors or new businesses looking to manage bookkeeping and pay runs in one place.

How Employment Hero supports businesses with payroll software

Employment Hero takes payroll beyond paycheques. Our Employment Operating System unites HR, payroll, scheduling and time tracking so every part of employment works together.

Managers build rosters that respect budgets. Staff clock in on mobile, and their time flows straight into payroll. CRA filings and year-end forms are generated automatically. You see the full picture of labour costs, attendance and performance in one dashboard.

This isn’t just efficiency, it’s peace of mind. Payroll errors become exceptions, not weekly headaches. And when you need help, our Canadian payroll specialists are a message away, not a support queue.

For step-by-step help during year-end, download our Year-End Payroll Checklist.

How to choose the right payroll software

Start with clarity: what’s slowing you down today? If it’s manual time entry, disconnected tools or confusing compliance, the right system will solve those first.

When evaluating providers, look for:

• Full CRA and provincial coverage — no workarounds.
• True integration — time, HR and scheduling data flow seamlessly.
• Transparent pricing — clear tiers, no hidden fees.
• Reliable support — responsive teams who understand Canadian rules.
• Ease of use — your managers and employees shouldn’t need training marathons.

If you want a payroll system that grows with your business, one that actually saves time instead of shifting the workload, Employment Hero is the clear choice.

Final Thoughts

Payroll isn’t just about numbers. It’s about trust, efficiency and getting your people paid right every single time.

Canada’s payroll landscape is full of legacy tools and US imports that don’t quite fit local needs. Employment Hero was built differently, for Canadian businesses that want payroll, HR and scheduling working together, not apart.

If you’re ready to simplify compliance, save time and give your team a better payroll experience, explore Employment Hero Payroll Software.

Because when payroll just works, your business can too.

Ready to make payroll stress-free? Join the Canadian businesses switching to Employment Hero: the all-in-one platform that does payroll right.