Best Canadian Payroll Software for 2025 (Our Top Picks)

Running payroll is important to every business. Few businesses love their payroll process. A big part of the problem is their payroll software and manual processes. We put together this list to help you make the right decision in selecting your payroll platform.

Between CRA deadlines, ROEs, multi-province compliance, and making sure everyone gets paid correctly (and on time), payroll is a high-stakes job. That’s why choosing the right Canadian payroll software matters. The right tool can save you hours each month, reduce stress, and help you avoid costly mistakes. Not sure what your current payroll deductions might look like per employee? Try our free Canadian payroll calculator to get a quick estimate before you dive into choosing a payroll platform.

We’ve reviewed the best Canadian payroll platforms, from lean tools for small teams to enterprise-ready suites. And yes, we’re a little biased (we’ll explain why). But we’ve done our best to give you a fair breakdown of the top options. The focus is on Canadian SMBs (small and medium sized businesses) and their payroll provider needs.

Here are our picks for the best Canadian payroll software in 2025, starting with our favourite.

1. Collage HR: Best Overall Payroll Software for Canadian SMBs

We might be a little biased. But we really do believe Collage HR is the best payroll software for Canadian businesses. The platform is built with simplicity, Canadian compliance, and the SMBs in mind.

Collage is a modern payroll platform that works for 10-person teams as well as those that have hundreds of employees across provinces and much more complicated needs. It handles everything from CRA remittances and direct deposit to year-end tax forms, while integrating seamlessly with your time off (PTO), time tracking, onboarding, and benefits workflows.

Whether you’re running your first pay run or managing multiple pay groups across provinces, Collage simplifies the process without cutting corners.

What we love about Collage:

• CRA-compliant payroll with automatic deductions, remittances, and year-end reporting
• Direct deposit and full employee self-serve access for pay stubs and T4s
• Tightly integrated with time off, timesheets, benefits, and HR
• Bilingual support from real Canadian payroll experts (no outsourcing!)
• Works just as well for small businesses as it does for growing teams
  
  

Who it’s for:
Any Canadian business looking for a simple, compliant, and scalable payroll solution. Especially great if you want to manage HR and payroll together, without paying for and managing five different tools.

Book a demo with Collage HR

2. Humi by Employment Hero

An all-in-one HR platform with solid payroll functionality for small businesses. Best for startups that need recruiting, onboarding, and HR tools alongside payroll.

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Pros: Centralized platform, self-serve tools
Cons: Lacks necessary functionality for teams above 50 employees, pricing adds up with features, owned by Australian based Employment Hero (not Canada first)

3. Knit

Built for small and medium-sized teams, Knit automates payroll and offers HR integrations.

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Pros: Automated ROEs, time-off tracking
Cons: Limited customization, some delays in updates

4. Wave Payroll

Good tool for extra small businesses. An affordable option if you’re already using Wave’s accounting platform.

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Pros: Budget-friendly, fully self-serve and very easy to use
Cons: Limited functionality for businesses above 10 employees, owned by US based H&R Block

5. Payworks

A long-standing Canadian provider with options for both self-managed and full-service payroll.

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Pros: Detailed reports, strong compliance
Cons: Less intuitive interface, longer setup

*Syncs data with Collage HR

6. Rise

Good for very small teams looking for payroll, benefits, and HR in one place.

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Pros: Employee access, one platform for HR, benefits, and payroll
Cons: Limited functionality across payroll and HR, support challenges

7. Rippling

Offers a Canadian payroll offering as part of a larger global platform. More enterprise and finance/IT focused.

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Pros: Automation and scalability
Cons: Very expensive, not Canada-first, wrapped up in a dramatic legal battle with Deel (US competitor)

8. Dayforce (Ceridian)

A comprehensive payroll and HR suite used by larger teams.

‍Pros: Built-in compliance, scalable
Cons: Not small business friendly, steeper learning curve, ongoing integrations with separate Ceridian platform

*Syncs data with Collage HR

9. ADP

Global name with Canadian support, but not always the most nimble option.

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Pros: Full payroll suite, good overall functionality and reputation
Cons: Clunky interface, inconsistent support

*Syncs data with Collage HR

10. Sage

Sage Payroll works best as an add-on to their accounting products.

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Pros: Self-serve access, CRA remittances
Cons: Expensive for smaller companies, rigid system

11. QuickBooks Online Payroll

A natural choice if you’re under 10 employees and are already using QuickBooks.

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Pros: Easy integration, time tracking
Cons: Limited Canadian functionality for more sophisticated needs, challenges with support team

12. Wagepoint

Good platform for smaller teams with simpler needs.

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Pros: Intuitive tool, focused on small Canadian businesses
Cons: Compliance issues in 2024 related to year-end CPP calculations, unsuccessful building and migration of new Wagepoint platform 

*Syncs data with Collage HR

What to Look for in Canadian Payroll Software

Here are a few non-negotiables when picking your payroll platform:

CRA compliance and automatic remittances
Direct deposit and employee self-serve
Built-in ROE and year-end form generation
Time-saving integrations with HR and accounting
Support from real payroll professionals who understand Canadian payroll rules

Why we Rank Collage HR #1

There are different payroll tools out there but most are either:

• Built just for small businesses
• Overpriced and overbuilt for enterprise
• Not truly Canadian (with support teams to match)
  
  

Collage HR sits in the sweet spot. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, it gives you everything you need, without making things complicated. Plus, you get built-in HR tools, Canadian tax expertise, and a support team that’s actually available and ready to help.

We’re proud to rank ourselves #1. And if you give it a try, we think you’ll agree.

Get started with Collage HR
Want help deciding if it’s the right fit? Ask us anything. Our Canadian team is here to help your Canadian team.