PayWow

PayWow provides small businesses with payroll and compliance tools for employees and contractors. Complete Payroll supports both worker types; PayWow says it withholds and deposits taxes and electronically files quarterly and annual federal and state forms. Employees can enter their own information through a portal, and the service includes new-hire reporting. The myPayWow app supports shift clock-ins and outs, time-off requests, and location-based clocking. Its Android app also offers pay-stub downloads, e-signatures, and tax-form access. Contractors can receive payment by direct deposit or check, with automatic 1099 filing. A trucking solution tracks loads and supports driver pay by mile, load, or specified rates. Plans include free Contractor Payroll Basic, Contractor Payroll Pro at $9/mo plus $1.49 per direct deposit, and Complete Payroll at $25/mo plus $4 per employee or contractor. PayWow lists Android, iOS, and web access, as well as payroll-specialist support. Its service-selection page says it is currently not accepting new signups and directs interested users to its support team.

PayWow lists payroll, tax, timekeeping, and contractor tools for small businesses. Its current signup restriction is an important consideration for anyone looking to start using the service.

PayWow is aimed at small businesses, including employers with single-digit workforces, that need payroll for employees or contractors. Its trucking tools may suit businesses paying drivers by load, mile, or set rates.

PayWow brings payroll, tax filing, timekeeping, and contractor payments into one small-business service. It is most relevant to employers with single-digit teams, particularly those paying both employees and contractors or managing trucking crews. Its range is appealing, but the current pause on new signups makes it a poor choice for a business that needs a provider now.

Overview

PayWow combines employee and contractor payroll with compliance tools and industry-specific workflows. Scheduled payment schedules, employee self-service, and payroll-specialist support address practical needs in a small operation. The catch is immediate: PayWow is currently not accepting new signups and directs prospective users to its support team.

Key features

Payroll, tax, and onboarding

Complete Payroll handles payments to employees and contractors. PayWow says it withholds and deposits taxes and e-files quarterly and annual federal and state forms, bringing recurring payroll and tax work together rather than leaving those tasks across separate services. Employees can enter their own information through a portal, and new-hire reporting is available. That combination suits small employers seeking a consolidated workflow; it may be more than needed for a business that only pays contractors.

Contractor payments and trucking

Contractors can be paid by check or direct deposit, with automatic 1099 filing. Trucking businesses get load tracking and driver pay calculated by the mile, load, or a specified rate. These specialized workflows make PayWow more relevant to businesses with those needs than a basic payroll tool, though contractor-plan integrations require Pro.

Timekeeping, mobile, and security

The myPayWow app supports shift clock-ins and outs, time-off requests, and location-based clocking. The Android app also supports pay-stub downloads, e-signatures, and access to tax forms, useful for employees handling routine tasks on a phone. PayWow describes its application as storing user data securely and displays an AICPA SOC Certified Company badge. Payroll-specialist support is offered by email at [email protected] and by phone at 704.234.6000.

Pricing

PayWow uses a freemium model, with a free plan and paid plans from $9/mo. Contractor Payroll — Basic costs nothing, billed $0/Monthly, and includes unlimited contractors, limited reports, and check payments. It is the no-monthly-cost option for businesses that can work with checks and fewer reports; direct deposit, extensive reporting, a contractor portal, and integrations are not included.

Contractor Payroll — Pro costs $9 a month, billed $9/Monthly + $1.49 per direct deposit. It keeps unlimited contractors and adds extensive reports, a contractor portal, and integrations. The per-deposit charge matters for businesses making frequent payments, so the monthly fee alone does not capture its full cost.

Complete Payroll costs $25 a month, billed $25/Monthly + $4 per employee/contractor, and covers payroll for both employees and contractors. It is the relevant plan for employers paying staff as well as contractors, but its per-worker charge means the total rises with headcount. A business that only needs contractor payments can avoid that employee-payroll plan.

Platforms

PayWow is available on Android, iOS, and the web. Its mobile tools support timekeeping and employee access to pay stubs, signatures, and tax forms.

Who it's for

PayWow is aimed at small businesses, including employers with single-digit teams, that want payroll and compliance tools together. Contractor-focused firms can choose between check payments on Basic and broader reporting and self-service on Pro; employers with staff and contractors can use Complete Payroll. Trucking businesses may also benefit from the load and driver-pay workflows. New customers, however, cannot currently sign up.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Employee and contractor payroll share a service, with tax withholding, deposits, and quarterly and annual federal and state e-filing.
• Pros: Unlimited contractors are included on both contractor plans, while Pro adds a portal, extensive reports, and integrations.
• Pros: Location-based clocking and trucking-specific load and driver-pay options address needs beyond basic payroll.
• Cons: New signups are currently closed, so businesses looking to adopt a service now must consider another provider.
• Cons: Basic limits contractors to check payments and limited reports; Pro adds a $1.49 charge per direct deposit.
• Cons: Complete Payroll adds $4 per employee/contractor to its monthly base, so its cost grows with the team.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of contractor payment options, see Contractor Payment Software.

Cleo Pay offers a free Get Paid plan for vendors and contractors with one user seat and unlimited incoming payments, but no outbound payments; it suits users focused on receiving payments rather than running PayWow-style payroll. Zoho Payroll has a free plan for up to 10 employees with basic payroll and email support, making it worth considering for a small employee team comparing payroll options.

Payoneer Payer is another option for businesses with higher payment volumes, with custom pricing and fees that vary by method and location. Gusto starts with paid payroll plans, including Simple at $49 a month plus $6/mo per person, for readers weighing another paid payroll service. QuickBooks Contractor Payments is a paid alternative with a plan that includes 20 contractors and charges for additional contractors.

Qurbie charges per payment under its Essential and Professional plans, so it is an alternative to compare for large-payment workflows. OnPay offers paid payroll with a $49 base fee per month plus $6 per worker per month, along with unlimited pay runs and included year-end filings. Deel is another paid option, with plans that include worker profiles, time off, workflows, and approvals.

Verdict

PayWow is a strong fit on paper for small employers that need employee and contractor payroll, tax filing, and timekeeping together, with useful extras for trucking and contractor workflows. Its main reason to choose it is that breadth; its main reason to look elsewhere is that new signups are currently closed. Businesses ready to start should compare alternatives rather than plan around PayWow.