- OfficePortal vs OnPay in one line: OnPay runs US payroll and files the taxes; OfficePortal runs the HR work that feeds payroll, for teams in any country.
- OnPay starts at $49 a month plus $6 per person, with HR and time-tracking add-ons on top.
- OfficePortal Premium costs $4 per user per month billed yearly, with no base fee, and the Standard plan is free for up to five users.
- OnPay doesn't list biometric attendance, shift scheduling, performance reviews or payroll outside the US.
- If US tax filing matters most, OnPay is strong. If you need attendance, shifts and reviews too, OfficePortal does more for less.
What does OnPay actually do?
OnPay is payroll first. Every account includes unlimited pay runs, multi-state payroll and federal, state and local tax filings, with W-2s and 1099s handled at year end and no implementation fee. It also administers benefits such as health insurance, workers' compensation and 401(k) plans, where you pay the premiums. HR tools (onboarding, e-signatures and time-off management) and time tracking (mobile clock-in with geofencing) are paid add-ons.
When does OfficePortal make more sense than OnPay?
When payroll is only part of the job. OfficePortal is the better fit if:
- You need attendance you can trust: web and biometric check-in, with GPS and selfie add-ons, through attendance tracking.
- You run shifts: shift scheduling builds rosters and calculates overtime automatically.
- You review performance: performance management with review cycles, assessments and goals is included on Premium.
- Your team isn't only in the US: attendance, leave and reviews work for people wherever they are, with calendars and holidays per location.
- You'd rather not pay a base fee: OfficePortal charges per user only, and every price is on our pricing page.
How much does OnPay cost compared with OfficePortal?
OnPay starts at $49 a month plus $6 per person. For ten people that's $109 a month; for fifty, $349. Those figures cover payroll only, before the HR and time-tracking add-ons. OfficePortal Premium comes to $40 and $200 a month for the same teams, with attendance, shifts, leave and reviews included. OnPay does offer a free first month; OfficePortal's Standard plan stays free for up to five users.
OnPay disadvantages: why do companies look for alternatives?
- A base fee plus a per-person fee. Costs start at $49 a month before anyone is paid, then rise with every person.
- HR and time tracking cost extra. Onboarding, e-signatures, time off and clock-in sit in paid add-ons.
- Gaps in day-to-day HR. OnPay's site doesn't list biometric attendance, shift scheduling or performance reviews.
- US payroll only. There's no listed option for paying employees in other countries.
- Fewer integrations. Some reviewers say its integrations are less extensive than other providers'.
- Small frustrations. Reviewers mention no native employer app, no way to pause the account in months without payroll, no volume discounts and limited payroll reporting.
What does OnPay do well?
Plenty, and it's fair to say so. OnPay's pricing is flat and easy to understand, tax filing is included, and support is based in the US. Reviewers rate it highly: Capterra showed 4.8 out of 5 from roughly 470 reviews in late 2026, with ease of use and support singled out most often.
Which should you choose?
- Choose OnPay if you're a small US business and want payroll and tax filing handled cleanly, with optional HR add-ons.
- Choose OfficePortal if you want attendance, shifts, leave, reviews and payroll in one system, have people outside the US, or want to avoid a base fee.
- Not sure? Start on OfficePortal's free plan with your team and see whether the HR side is what you're missing.
Does OfficePortal file US payroll taxes?
No, and we'd rather say it plainly. OfficePortal doesn't file US federal, state or local payroll taxes. If that's essential, OnPay is built for it. OfficePortal is the stronger choice when you need the HR work around payroll handled well.
How do you switch from OnPay to OfficePortal?
- Export employee records, pay history, deductions and time-off balances from OnPay.
- Book a demo. The OfficePortal onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training.
- Set up attendance rules, shifts and leave policies, then run one payroll in parallel before you switch fully.
Comparing more payroll tools? See how OfficePortal compares with Gusto, Justworks and others on our HR software alternatives page.