Free payroll tools and calculators
Interactive tools that answer the cost, fit, and compliance questions buyers ask before they shortlist a provider. Four are live now, the rest are on the way, and none of them ask you to sign up.
All PayrollModo tools
Showing all 12 tools
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Calculator
In-House vs Outsourced Payroll Cost Calculator
Enter your headcount, admin hours, and a provider quote to see what running payroll yourself really costs, and where the break-even sits.
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Generator
Payroll Feature & Compliance Checklist Generator
Answer a few questions about your workers, states, and benefits, and get a tailored list of the features to demand from every provider.
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Quiz
PEO or Payroll Service? Find Out Which Fits
Headcount, benefits, and workers' comp decide this one. Six questions and you will know which model suits you, and what you give up either way.
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Quiz
Switch Now or Wait? Timing Your Payroll Move
Contract dates and quarter ends change what a switch costs you. Answer five questions to see whether to move now or hold for a clean break.
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Quiz
Full-Service or Self-Service? Find Your Match
Answer six questions about your team, states, and how much you want to handle, and see which type of payroll service actually fits.
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Calculator
Employee vs Contractor Cost Estimator
Compare the full employer burden of a W-2 hire against a 1099 contractor, including FICA, FUTA, SUTA, and workers' comp.
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Calculator
Paycheck Gross-Up Estimator
Enter the take-home amount you want an employee to receive and see the gross pay needed to cover federal and state withholding.
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Planner
Payroll Switching Cost & Timing Planner
Enter your current contract terms and renewal date to find the cheapest window to switch and any early-termination exposure.
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Checker
Multi-State Payroll Registration Checker
Select the states you employ people in and see the registrations, local tax jurisdictions, and which states get genuinely complex.
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Calculator
Payroll Penalty Risk Calculator
Enter a deposit amount and how late it is to see the IRS failure-to-deposit penalty at each tier, and what a missed quarter really costs.
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Scorecard
Provider Comparison Scorecard
Add the providers you are considering, weight the factors that matter to your business, and get a side-by-side score.
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Calculator
True Cost of a Pay Run
Turn any quote into a cost per paycheck and compare it against market bands, so per-month and per-run pricing sit on the same scale.
Coming soon
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How to use these tools
Start with a cost tool to set your budget, use a decision tool to narrow the type of service you need, then take the checklist or scorecard into your provider conversations so every quote answers the same questions.
Every tool produces an estimate based on the figures you enter. Results are for comparison and planning, not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Confirm rates and filing requirements with your accountant or the relevant state agency before you act on them. Read our full methodology for how we build and check these tools.
Learn before you switch
Payroll guides
Plain-language guides for the parts of the decision a calculator cannot answer.
How Much Does a Payroll Service Cost?
Base fees, per-employee pricing, and the add-ons that quietly raise the bill.
Read the guide How toHow to Choose a Payroll Provider
The seven criteria that separate a good provider from the wrong one, plus the ten questions to ask before you sign.
Read the guide ResearchData & Research
Payroll benchmarks, rates, and original research behind the numbers these tools use.
See the dataDone with the numbers? Compare real quotes.
Compare vetted providers and get real quotes side by side. It is free, and there is no obligation to switch.