Best Payroll Options for Businesses in 2025

Managing payroll for a business, especially one with employees across multiple countries, can be complex. Ensuring compliance with local labor laws, handling payroll taxes, and managing employee payments require a streamlined and reliable payroll system. That’s why businesses are constantly looking for the best payroll options to simplify their processes while staying compliant with regulations.

With the payroll services market growing to $77 billion in 2024, there is an increasing demand for automated, secure, and cloud-based payroll solutions. In this guide, we explore the top payroll options available in 2025 to help businesses find the right solution.

Different Payroll Options for Businesses

When selecting a payroll solution, businesses typically have three main options:

  • Local payroll providers: Companies can work with payroll providers in each country where they operate. This approach offers flexibility and ensures local expertise but can lead to challenges in consolidating payroll data across different regions.
  • Global payroll providers: A global payroll provider acts as a centralized service that manages payroll across multiple countries. While this simplifies payroll processing, it often requires replacing existing local payroll providers and internal teams, leading to higher costs and a longer implementation time.
  • Payroll software solutions: Payroll software helps businesses automate and standardize payroll operations while integrating with existing providers. This option allows companies to maintain their current payroll relationships while benefiting from automation and unified payroll management.

How We Evaluated the Best Payroll Options

To help businesses choose the right payroll solution, we considered the following factors:

  • Key Features: The ability to consolidate payroll, automate processes, and ensure compliance.
  • Pricing: Cost-effectiveness for businesses of different sizes and needs.
  • Problem-Solving: Solutions that address payroll challenges, such as compliance and reporting.
  • User Experience: Customer feedback and reviews to assess the effectiveness of each tool.

Based on these criteria, we’ve selected the best payroll options for 2025.

Top Payroll Solutions for 2025

Oyster HR

Oyster HR

Best for: Companies hiring international employees and contractors

Oyster HR is a user-friendly global employment solution, primarily designed for businesses managing international teams. It simplifies payroll processing for employees and contractors in over 130 countries.

Key Features:

  • Streamlined payroll approval and expense management
  • Easy access to payroll reports and cost breakdowns
  • Payroll specialist support

Pricing:

Starting at $25 per employee/month

Pros:

  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • Access to payroll specialists
  • Clear reporting and breakdowns

Cons:

  • Limited payroll coverage in some countries
  • Higher setup costs for direct employee payroll
  • Fewer integration options compared to competitors

CloudPay

Best for: Businesses needing automated global payroll solutions

CloudPay provides a cloud-based payroll solution that integrates payroll processing and salary payments into one platform. It’s ideal for businesses looking for a comprehensive, automated payroll solution.

Key Features:

  • Centralized payroll data management
  • Automated payroll processing
  • Strong data security measures

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on business size and regions covered

Pros:

  • Consolidates payroll data in a single system
  • Advanced automation capabilities
  • Secure platform

Cons:

  • Complex user interface
  • Slow customer support response times
  • Long setup and onboarding process

Payslip

Best for: Large enterprises managing multi-region payroll

Payslip provides a centralized payroll platform designed for large companies managing payroll across multiple countries. It integrates with HR and financial systems to enhance payroll efficiency.

Key Features:

  • Seamless payroll and HR data integration
  • Payroll management and provider coordination
  • Ensures compliance with local labor laws

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on employee count and country coverage

Pros:

  • Supports payroll consolidation across multiple regions
  • Strong compliance features
  • Good integration with HR tools

Cons:

  • More suited for large businesses
  • Less intuitive reporting features
  • Can be complex for smaller businesses

Dayforce

Best for: Businesses looking for an all-in-one HR and payroll platform

Dayforce is a complete HR management solution with payroll processing, workforce management, and compliance tools. It offers payroll services in over 200 countries.

Key Features:

  • Real-time payroll processing
  • HR and workforce management add-ons
  • Mobile app for employee access

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on company size and services required

Pros:

  • Wide country coverage
  • Includes additional HR tools
  • Mobile accessibility

Cons:

  • Long setup time (6+ months)
  • Higher costs for customer support
  • Requires extensive training to use

Paylocity

Paylocity

Best for: Businesses expanding internationally

Paylocity is a payroll and HR platform designed for companies expanding globally. It offers integrated payroll processing and tax compliance for multiple countries.

Key Features:

  • Centralized payroll management
  • Automated payroll calculations for different regions
  • Employee self-service portal

Pricing:

Custom pricing based on payroll scope

Pros:

  • Supports international payroll compliance
  • User-friendly self-service features
  • Simplifies global payroll operations

Cons:

  • Limited capabilities compared to specialized providers
  • Customer support can be slow
  • Integration issues between product modules

Remote

Best for: Businesses managing remote employees and contractors

Remote is a global payroll and HR platform that helps companies manage employee payments and benefits while staying compliant with local regulations in over 50 countries.

Key Features:

  • Payroll services for full-time employees and contractors
  • Tax and compliance management
  • Automatic compliance checks

Pricing:

Starting at $29 per employee/month

Pros:

  • Simplifies global payroll operations
  • Strong compliance support
  • Wide network of global entities

Cons:

  • High onboarding and implementation costs
  • Limited support for large organizations
  • Reports of slow customer service

Conclusion

Managing international payroll can be challenging, but the right payroll solution makes it easier. At Playroll, we offer an intuitive and automated global payroll management system that consolidates payroll operations while ensuring compliance.