Rippling Payroll
Cost Breakdown
Rippling Payroll is an add-on module at $8/employee/month. With required Core HR, your minimum payroll cost is $16/employee/month.
Payroll module
$8
/employee/month
With Core HR
$16
/employee/month
What Rippling Payroll Includes
Everything bundled in the $8/employee/month Payroll add-on.
US Payroll Processing
Automated payroll runs for salaried and hourly employees. Supports multiple pay schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly). Off-cycle and bonus runs available at no extra charge.
Tax Filing & Deposits
Rippling calculates federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically. Files quarterly (941) and annual (940) returns. Handles state unemployment (SUTA) filings. Tax penalty protection included.
Direct Deposit
Two-day and four-day direct deposit options. Employees can split deposits across multiple accounts. Deposit reversals available for payroll corrections. Net pay advances supported.
W-2 & 1099 Generation
Annual W-2 forms for employees and 1099-NEC forms for contractors. Electronic filing with the IRS and state agencies. Employees access forms through their self-service portal.
State Tax Registration
When you hire in a new state, Rippling automatically registers your company for state income tax, unemployment insurance, and any local tax accounts. Covers all 50 states.
Wage Garnishments
Processes court-ordered garnishments including child support, tax levies, and creditor garnishments. Handles calculations, deductions, and remittances to the appropriate agencies.
What Rippling Payroll Does NOT Include
These features require separate modules or services.
Global Payroll
The standard Payroll module covers US employees only. International payroll through Rippling's EOR (Employer of Record) service costs $500-600/employee/month depending on the country. Alternatively, Rippling partners with local payroll providers through their Global Payroll Network.
Consider Deel ($49-599/contractor) or Remote ($599/ee/mo) for international-only teams.
Benefits Administration
Health insurance, 401(k), FSA/HSA, and other benefits are a separate module at $6/employee/month. While payroll and benefits integrate seamlessly, they are billed independently.
If you need payroll + benefits, budget $22/ee/mo (Core HR $8 + Payroll $8 + Benefits $6).
Time & Attendance
Time tracking, PTO management, and shift scheduling are a separate module at $8/employee/month. Without it, you must manually enter hours for hourly employees before each payroll run.
For salaried-only teams, time tracking is optional. For hourly workers, it is practically essential.
Contractor Payments (advanced)
Basic contractor 1099 filing is included. However, Rippling charges separately for contractor management features including international contractor payments, contract generation, and compliance monitoring. Expect $5-8/contractor/month.
Deel is often better value for contractor-heavy teams, especially international contractors.
Payroll Cost by Company Size
Core HR ($8) + Payroll ($8) = $16/employee/month minimum.
10 employees
Core HR + Payroll
At this size, Gusto Simple ($100/mo) is cheaper. Consider Rippling only if you need IT management or plan to scale.
25 employees
Core HR + Payroll
Comparable to Gusto ($190/mo). Rippling offers more automation and scales better as you grow past 50.
100 employees
Core HR + Payroll
Rippling's sweet spot. Automation saves 10-20 hours/month of manual payroll work. Gusto ($640/mo) is cheaper but less capable.
500 employees
Core HR + Payroll
Negotiate volume discounts. At this scale, compare with ADP Workforce Now and Paychex for enterprise payroll features.
Rippling Payroll vs Gusto vs ADP
Head-to-head comparison of the three most popular SMB payroll platforms.
| Feature | Rippling | Gusto | ADP Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base price | $8/ee/mo + Core HR ($8) | $40/mo + $6/ee/mo | $59/mo + $4/ee/mo* |
| Cost for 25 employees | $400/mo | $190/mo | ~$159/mo* |
| Cost for 100 employees | $1,600/mo | $640/mo | ~$459/mo* |
| Multi-state payroll | Included | Included | Included |
| Auto state tax registration | Included | Plus plan ($80+$12/ee) | Add-on |
| Next-day direct deposit | Available | Plus plan & above | Add-on |
| Contractor payments | $5-8/contractor/mo | $6/person/mo | Included in base |
| Global payroll | $500-600/ee/mo (EOR) | Not available | Available (enterprise) |
| IT management | +$8/ee/mo (unique) | Not available | Not available |
| Implementation | $0-$10,000 | Free (self-serve) | Varies ($0-$5,000) |
| Contract | Annual (preferred) | Month-to-month | Annual or multi-year |
*ADP Run pricing is estimated. ADP uses quote-based pricing that varies by region, features, and contract. Last verified March 2026.
When to Choose Each Payroll Platform
Choose Rippling Payroll if...
- ✓You need HR + IT + Payroll in one platform
- ✓You have employees in multiple states and want automatic tax registration
- ✓You plan to grow past 50 employees and want a platform that scales
- ✓You value workflow automation (auto-run payroll, auto-provision apps on hire)
- ✓You need global payroll capabilities alongside US payroll
Choose Gusto if...
- ✓You have fewer than 25 employees and budget is the priority
- ✓You want month-to-month billing without annual contracts
- ✓You need simple, self-service setup without implementation fees
- ✓Your needs are payroll + basic HR + benefits only
- ✓You prefer a friendlier, simpler interface over advanced automation
Choose ADP if...
- ✓You have 200+ employees and need enterprise payroll features
- ✓You operate in heavily regulated industries (construction, healthcare)
- ✓You need a payroll provider with 70+ years of compliance expertise
- ✓You want a dedicated payroll specialist assigned to your account
- ✓You need advanced reporting and analytics for large workforces