Best Embedded Payroll API

We dive deep into every Payroll API so you don’t have to. This is our technical research of the best Embedded Payroll APIs.

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Building payroll is tricky business, but Embedded Payroll API providers allow you to offer payroll to your users and keep the user interface they know and love, yours!

Positioned at the top of Payroll APIs, Check and Gusto lead with technically sophisticated platforms and substantial customer bases. Up and coming challengers Zeal and Salsa have followed bringing to market new features like international contractors and Canadian support as part of their initial payroll offerings.

This is your ultimate guide—and our take—to the best Payroll APIs in 2024.

We've conducted interviews with technical teams across various software companies, ranging from small startups to large enterprises, all involved in managing payroll for numerous end-user companies. Also, we have personally undertaken thorough technical due diligence for each of the Payroll API vendors highlighted in the list below.

As a co-founder and Head of Payroll at Monograph, I personally spent over three months evaluating, writing code against, and doing business due diligence before selecting our Embedded Payroll API vendor. Subsequently we launched payroll, sold and onboarded customers, ran millions of dollars worth of payroll, and learned even more what to look for in a Payroll API vendor.

Pioneering embedded payroll, Check leads the way with a substantially mature Payroll API infrastructure and a tight focus on developer-centricity. As the most seasoned platform, they've encountered and addressed numerous edge cases, solidifying product robustness. They also consistently expand functionality through new API endpoints and webhooks, as documented in their changelog. The velocity and shipping cadence is impressive for a company working in such a regulated and compliance-oriented market.

As with all platforms, Check does have a few areas to note as they’re learning how to scale within the enterprise. As the veritable industry leader, Check has less pressure to step out of their payroll lane to provide features that other competitors need to differentiate like international support or time and attendance features. Notably, enterprises like Service Titan experienced limitations with Check, prompting a platform change.

Despite a few shortcomings, we recommend starting your procurement process with Check, the industry leader in Embedded Payroll.

Gusto knows payroll—Gusto embedded payroll is your ticket to quickly integrating payroll and HR features into your platform without the hassle of starting from square one. Just keep in mind, there's some admin stuff like commercial discussions, security checks, and setup talks with Gusto's partnerships team before you can hit the ground running with your coding.

Founded as Puzzl in 2018, Zeal emerged from Y Combinator's 2019 cohort, offering a modern solution to the traditional payroll challenges by enabling companies to build their own payroll products using its API tool. With a focus on hyper-customized experiences and audience-driven HR, Zeal seeks to reshape the payroll landscape, providing businesses with the flexibility and transparency they need to navigate the evolving payroll landscape efficiently.

Salsa, founded in 2021 by John Kramer and Juan Barroso, aims to simplify the integration of payroll features into software products through its API, addressing a pain point many companies face. With $10 million in funding, Salsa streamlines the process, offering developers an efficient solution to embed revenue-generating payroll tools while handling compliance, calculations, tax filing, and money movement, all within a month's timeframe.

Rollfi stands out in the realm of embedded offerings with its innovative approach to streamlining health benefits for your customers, supported by a licensed insurance advisor. Leveraging cutting-edge technology like Mintlify for documentation, Rollfi boasts a state-of-the-art software stack designed to speed up product and engineering teams. With a seamless progression from white-label to embedded iframes, and ultimately customization through their robust API, Rollfi accelerates your time to market, ensuring swift and efficient integration of payroll and benefits.

Worklio's embedded payroll solution empowers partners to swiftly develop customized payroll products for their customers using a robust payroll API platform. With features ranging from complex tax calculations to job costing and HR management, Worklio handles all aspects of payroll processing, ensuring seamless payment transmittance and compliance. The platform's security measures, including individual partner instances and Microsoft Azure® Cloud hosting, prioritize data protection, while its customizable interface caters to diverse customer needs, making it a versatile solution for vertical SaaS companies and HR outsourcing organizations alike.

With ADP Embedded Payroll, you can enhance your platform with tried and true payroll technology backed by over 75 years of industry-leading expertise. From automated payroll processing to expert support and compliance assistance, ADP ensures a smooth and efficient payroll experience for both you and your clients.

Everee Embed provides everything you need for efficient worker management, from instant payments and compliance to modern APIs and webhook support for critical workflows. With personalized integration support and industry-standard security features like multi-factor authentication and fraud monitoring, Everee enables you to enhance operations and ensure data security without extensive development work.

Paycor's Embedded HCM solution marks a significant leap forward in the industry, offering partners a comprehensive suite of modern HCM tools tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses. With a focus on interoperability and continuous compliance updates, Paycor empowers partners to deliver premium HCM solutions that drive success in today's competitive landscape, while expanding Paycor's reach and enhancing its market position.