Best Payroll Software for Singapore SMEs in 2026: Complete Comparison

Quick answer: For Singapore SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) with 1-50 employees, the best payroll software depends on your priorities: AIMM Payroll is cheapest for small teams (S$8/month flat), Payboy is best for PSG-eligible companies, and Talenox is best for Xero integration. Here's our full comparison.

Choosing payroll software is one of those decisions that looks simple until you actually run a pay cycle in Singapore. Between CPF (Central Provident Fund) contribution rates that change by age band, SDL (Skills Development Levy) that most people forget exists, Self-Help Group (SHG) deductions, Foreign Worker Levy (FWL), and IRAS (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore) Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS) filing, the compliance surface is wide. Get one of these wrong and you are looking at penalties, late-payment interest, or a tax undercharge assessment.

This guide compares seven payroll tools built for the Singapore market: AIMM Payroll, Talenox, Payboy, QuickHR, JustLogin, Swingvy, and SimplePay. All pricing figures below were verified against each vendor's published pricing page in June 2026. We have been deliberately fair to competitors, because the goal is to help you pick the right tool for your situation, not to sell you on one option.

What Singapore SMEs need from payroll software

Before comparing vendors, it helps to be clear about the minimum bar. A Singapore SME payroll tool must handle, at minimum:

Statutory compliance

Singapore payroll is unusually compliance-heavy relative to its headcount. Your software should auto-calculate:

• CPF contributions - employer and employee rates by age band (under 55, 55-60, 60-65, 65+), graduated rates for Permanent Residents in their first two years, the Ordinary Wage (OW) ceiling of S$8,000/month, and the Additional Wage (AW) ceiling. Get this wrong and you face 1.5%/month late-payment interest plus composition sums. See our CPF contribution rates guide for the full rate tables.
• SDL - 0.25% of monthly remuneration per employee, minimum S$2, maximum S$11.25, payable by the employer for every employee (citizen, PR, and foreign). See our SDL calculation guide.
• SHG funds - CDAC, MBMF, SINDA, and ECF contributions for eligible employees, collected alongside CPF.
• FWL - Foreign Worker Levy for Work Permit and S Pass holders, by sector and quota.
• IRAS AIS filing - employers with 5 or more employees must submit employment income data to IRAS via the Auto-Inclusion Scheme. The deadline is 1 March each year, and non-submission can attract a S$5,000 penalty with 200% of tax undercharged for errors. AIS-compliant software generates IR8A (and Appendix 8A/8B where applicable) and IR21 (tax clearance) in the IRAS-required format. See our IRAS AIS and IR8A filing guide.

MOM itemised payslips

Under the Employment Act, employers must issue itemised payslips to all employees covered by the Act, within 3 working days of payment. Payslips must contain 12 mandatory items including basic salary, deductions (with itemisation of CPF, SDL, SHG, FWL, and any others), overtime pay, start and end date of the pay period, and net salary paid. Your payroll software should generate compliant payslips automatically. See our itemised payslip requirements guide.

GIRO bank files

Paying salaries by cheque or manual transfer does not scale beyond a handful of employees. Most Singapore banks accept GIRO bulk-payout files (often in a specific CSV or fixed-width format) so you can pay your entire team in one upload. Payroll software should generate these files in your bank's format. See our GIRO bulk payout guide.

Leave management

Annual leave, sick leave, maternity, paternity, childcare, and infant care leave all carry statutory minimums under the Employment Act, plus government-paid components. A payroll tool that also tracks leave balances avoids double-entry and keeps leave deductions accurate in each pay run. See our Singapore leave entitlements guide.

Affordability

SMEs are price-sensitive for good reason. Payroll is a fixed monthly cost that does not directly generate revenue, so the pricing model matters as much as the headline number. The two dominant models in Singapore are flat per-company pricing (one fee regardless of headcount within a tier) and per-employee pricing (cost scales with headcount). The difference compounds fast - see our payroll software pricing comparison: flat-rate vs per-seat.

How we evaluated

We assessed each vendor against seven criteria that matter to Singapore SME buyers:

All pricing was verified against each vendor's live pricing page in June 2026. PSG eligibility was checked against the IMDA/GoBusiness PSG vendor list. AIS status was checked against the IRAS AIS software developers list at iras.gov.sg. Where a vendor's status is unclear or in progress, we say so explicitly rather than guessing.

Payroll software comparison table

This is the core of the article. The table below compares all seven vendors across the dimensions that most SME buyers weigh.

Sources: Pricing verified on each vendor's pricing page (aimmpayroll.com/pricing, talenox.com.sg/pricing, payboy.sg/pricing, quickhr.co/pricing, justlogin.com/pricing, swingvy.com, simplepay.sg) in June 2026. PSG eligibility per IMDA/GoBusiness PSG vendor list. AIS status per IRAS AIS software developers list at iras.gov.sg.

A few things stand out:

• AIMM is the only vendor with flat per-company pricing and a free tier. Talenox discontinued its free plan in January 2026, leaving AIMM as the only option in this set with a genuinely free tier (up to 3 employees).
• AIMM is the cheapest at every headcount because its price does not scale with employees. The trade-off: AIMM does not yet have Xero/QBO integration, a mobile app, or IRAS AIS vendor listing, all of which are in progress.
• Talenox, QuickHR, JustLogin, and Swingvy all integrate with Xero, which matters if accounting sync is non-negotiable.
• Payboy, QuickHR, and JustLogin are PSG-eligible, which can offset up to 50% of subscription costs for qualifying SMEs.

AIMM Payroll - best for small SMEs and accountants

AIMM Payroll is built around a single design principle: one flat price per company, not per employee. That makes it the cheapest option in this comparison at almost every headcount, and dramatically cheaper at scale.

Pricing

At 10 employees, AIMM Starter costs S$8/month. Talenox's annual payroll plan at the same headcount costs S$43.60/month - over five times more. At 50 employees the gap widens further: S$24 versus S$218.

What AIMM does well

• Flat pricing. Predictable cost regardless of headcount within a tier. No per-employee surprises when you hire.
• AI co-pilot (Growth tier and above). Assists with pay-run setup, flagging anomalies, and answering compliance questions in natural language.
• Compliance-first design. CPF by age band and PR status, SDL, SHG (CDAC/MBMF/SINDA/ECF), FWL, IR8A and IR21 file generation, GIRO bank files, and eZpay support are built in.
• Leave management included from the Growth tier.
• Audit trail for compliance and internal control.
• Multi-client accountant dashboard (in development). This is the differentiator for accounting firms managing multiple SME clients - no other vendor in this comparison offers a purpose-built multi-client view.

Where AIMM is honest about gaps

AIMM is a younger product and is transparent about what is still being built:

• IRAS AIS vendor listing: in progress. AIMM generates IR8A and IR21 files in the correct format, but is not yet on the IRAS AIS software developers list. Direct API submission (Category A) is the next milestone.
• PSG pre-approval: in progress. AIMM is pursuing PSG pre-approval but is not yet on the IMDA/GoBusiness vendor list. Do not assume PSG funding applies to AIMM today.
• Xero and QBO integration: planned. Not yet available.
• Mobile app: planned. Currently web-based.

If you need AIS Category A direct submission, PSG funding, or Xero sync today, AIMM is not yet the right fit. If your priority is the lowest cost with solid compliance coverage, AIMM is the cheapest option here by a wide margin.

Talenox - best for brand trust and Xero integration

Talenox is the most established name in Singapore cloud payroll and the brand most accountants recognise. It earns that trust with deep integrations and a mature compliance track record.

Pricing

Talenox uses per-employee pricing with a base fee covering the first 5 employees:

Talenox discontinued its free plan in January 2026, moving displaced free users to view-only access. A 30-day free trial is available.

What Talenox does well

• Brand trust and tenure. On the IRAS AIS software developers list since YA2018, widely recommended by accountants.
• Xero and QBO integration. Live two-way sync with Xero chart of accounts; also integrates with QuickBooks Online. This is Talenox's strongest differentiator for accounting-led SMEs.
• One-click CPF APEX API submission. Direct submission to CPF Board without manual file uploads.
• Multi-country support. Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong payroll in one platform - useful for regional SMEs.
• Bank file generation for major Singapore banks including Standard Chartered and HSBC.

Where Talenox is weaker

• Cost scales fast. At 50 employees, the annual payroll plan costs S$218/month - nearly ten times AIMM's Growth tier. The Suite plan is higher still.
• No free tier since January 2026.
• No multi-client dashboard for accountants managing several entities; firms rely on separate logins per company.

Talenox is the safe, established choice - especially if Xero integration or multi-country payroll is a hard requirement. You pay a premium for that maturity.

Payboy - best for PSG-eligible F&B and retail

Payboy targets shift-based businesses - F&B, retail, services - where scheduling, time tracking, and overtime are daily concerns. Its modular pricing lets you buy only what you need.

Pricing

Payboy charges per-employee, per-module. The Payroll module starts at approximately S$3 to S$3.50 per employee per month (some figures cited before GST). Exact pricing depends on the modules selected and headcount. At 10 employees, expect roughly S$30 to S$35/month for payroll alone, before adding scheduling, time attendance, or leave modules.

What Payboy does well

• PSG-eligible. Listed on the IMDA/GoBusiness PSG pre-approved vendor list, so qualifying SMEs can claim up to 50% of subscription costs.
• Shift scheduling and clock-in. Purpose-built for F&B and retail with rotating shifts, split shifts, and attendance tracking.
• Xero and QBO integration. Accounting sync with both Xero and QuickBooks Online.
• Modular pay-as-you-use. Buy payroll, leave, scheduling, and time attendance separately.
• PayBeyond cross-border payouts via Rapyd - useful for SMEs paying remote or overseas staff.

Where Payboy is weaker

• Per-employee cost adds up once you stack modules. A full HRMS stack at 30 employees can approach QuickHR or Talenox territory.
• No free tier.

Payboy is the strongest pick if you run a shift-based business, want PSG funding, and need scheduling tightly coupled with payroll. If you are a desk-based SME that just needs clean payroll and CPF, it may be more than you need.

QuickHR - best for full HRMS on a budget

QuickHR positions as a broad HRMS (Human Resource Management System) at a low per-employee price point, with PSG eligibility and ISO 9001 certification.

Pricing

QuickHR uses tiered per-employee pricing:

At 10 employees, the Essential tier costs roughly S$20 to S$50/month depending on whether the promotional rate applies. PSG-eligible.

What QuickHR does well

• Lowest headline per-employee rate among PSG-eligible vendors (at the Essential tier).
• Full HRMS breadth - payroll, leave, claims, scheduling, time attendance, biometric integration, appraisal.
• PSG-eligible and ISO 9001 certified.
• Xero and QBO integration at the Growth tier and above.
• Strong shift management with rotating-shift overtime automation.

Where QuickHR is weaker

• Pricing transparency is uneven. The widely advertised S$2 rate is not universally available; the standard Essential rate is closer to S$5/employee.
• Per-employee cost climbs at higher tiers - Enterprise at S$15/employee is S$750/month for 50 employees.
• No free tier.

QuickHR is the value pick if you want a full HRMS and PSG funding, and you do not mind per-employee pricing. The Growth tier with Xero integration is a sensible default for accounting-led SMEs who find Talenox too expensive.

JustLogin - best for conservative buyers

JustLogin leans on a 25-year track record and government-grade integration credentials. It is the choice for SMEs that value stability and institutional backing over the newest features.

Pricing

JustLogin charges from S$5/employee/month with a minimum of 5 employees, on modular pricing. At 10 employees, expect approximately S$50/month for the payroll module. A 14-day free trial is available. PSG-eligible.

What JustLogin does well

• Tenure and stability. 25 years in the Singapore market - the longest track record in this comparison.
• AIS Category A certified - direct API submission to IRAS, the gold standard accountants look for.
• GovTech APEX API for CPF submission and Singpass integration for identity.
• App Marketplace (launched June 2026) with Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Bukku, and Convera integrations.
• PSG-eligible.

Where JustLogin is weaker

• Per-employee pricing at S$5/employee is mid-pack - more than Payboy or QuickHR Essential, less than Talenox Suite.
• UI and UX feel dated relative to newer entrants; the trade-off for a mature, stable platform.
• No free tier (14-day trial only).

JustLogin is the right call if your board or finance committee wants a vendor with a long track record, AIS Category A certification, and government integration credentials, and you are comfortable with a more traditional interface.

Price comparison at different headcounts

This is where the pricing model difference becomes concrete. The table below shows monthly cost at 5, 10, 20, and 50 employees for each vendor, plus AIMM versus Talenox extended to 100 employees to show how the gap widens.

All vendors at key headcounts

Notes: Payboy figures are estimates at S$3-3.50/employee for the payroll module only. QuickHR uses the standard S$5 Essential rate; the promotional S$2 rate would roughly halve these figures. SimplePay uses S$12 base + S$4/employee for employees 4-25, S$3/employee for 26+. Swingvy at S$5/user/month. JustLogin at S$5/employee/month. Talenox uses the annual Payroll plan (S$4.36/employee, S$21.80 base for first 5).

AIMM vs Talenox: the flat-pricing advantage

Because AIMM charges per company and Talenox charges per employee, the cost gap widens with every hire:

At 50 employees, AIMM costs about one-ninth of what Talenox's annual payroll plan costs. At 100 employees, AIMM's Business tier (S$58) is still less than what Talenox charges for 15 employees. This is the structural advantage of flat per-company pricing - and it is the single biggest reason price-sensitive SMEs switch.

The trade-off, as noted above, is that AIMM is still building AIS vendor listing, PSG pre-approval, and Xero/QBO integration. If those are must-haves today, the pricing advantage may not compensate. If they are nice-to-haves, AIMM is the clear value leader. For a deeper dive on pricing models, see our flat-rate vs per-seat pricing comparison.

How to choose: a decision framework

There is no single best payroll software - only the best fit for your situation. Use the questions below to narrow down.

1. How many employees do you have, and how price-sensitive are you?

• Under 3 employees and want free: AIMM Payroll Free tier (S$0). It is the only free tier in this comparison since Talenox discontinued theirs.
• 4-10 employees, price-sensitive: AIMM Payroll Starter (S$8/month flat). Cheapest by a wide margin.
• 11-50 employees, price-sensitive: AIMM Payroll Growth (S$24/month flat). The AI co-pilot and leave management are included.
• 50+ employees, price-sensitive: AIMM Payroll Business (S$58/month flat) remains the cheapest, but evaluate whether the missing integrations matter at that scale.

2. Is PSG funding important to you?

If you are a qualifying SME and want to claim up to 50% of subscription costs through the Productivity Solutions Grant, restrict your shortlist to Payboy, QuickHR, or JustLogin. AIMM is pursuing PSG pre-approval but is not yet listed. Talenox is not PSG-eligible. Confirm current eligibility on the GoBusiness PSG grant directory before committing, as the vendor list changes.

3. Do you need Xero or QuickBooks Online integration?

If accounting sync is non-negotiable, your shortlist is Talenox, Payboy, QuickHR (Growth+), JustLogin, or Swingvy. AIMM's Xero and QBO integration is planned but not yet available; SimplePay does not offer it.

4. Do you run a shift-based business (F&B, retail, services)?

If shift scheduling, clock-in attendance, and rotating-shift overtime are core needs, Payboy is purpose-built for this. QuickHR also has strong shift management. AIMM, Talenox, and SimplePay are less focused on shift work.

5. Are you an accountant or bookkeeper managing multiple clients?

AIMM Payroll is the only vendor in this comparison with a multi-client accountant dashboard in development. Today, most multi-client firms use Talenox with separate logins per company. If managing 10+ SME payroll clients from one view matters to you, AIMM's roadmap is worth watching.

6. Do you need AIS Category A direct API submission?

If direct API submission to IRAS (Category A) is a hard requirement - common for larger SMEs and accounting firms - your shortlist today is Talenox and JustLogin (both Category A). AIMM's AIS vendor listing is in progress. Other vendors on the IRAS list offer AIS submission; confirm the category on the IRAS AIS software developers list before deciding.

7. Do you want the most established, conservative vendor?

If your priority is a long track record and institutional stability, JustLogin (25 years) is the most conservative choice, with AIS Category A certification and GovTech integration credentials.

How to switch payroll software

Switching payroll software mid-year is less painful than most SMEs fear, provided you time it right and preserve your data. Here is a brief migration guide.

When to switch

The cleanest switch point is the start of a new calendar year, because CPF ceilings, AIS filing, and year-to-date totals reset. The second-best point is the start of a new month, so you only migrate month-to-date totals rather than full-year history. Avoid switching in the middle of a pay cycle.

What to export from your current system

Before you cancel, export:

1. Employee master data - name, NRIC/FIN, date of birth, nationality, PR status and date, bank details, joining date.
2. Year-to-date payroll history - gross salary, CPF (employer and employee), SDL, SHG, FWL, net pay, per employee, per month.
3. Leave balances - annual, sick, and any other carried-forward balances.
4. CPF submission records - confirmation that contributions have been paid to date, so the new vendor does not double-submit.
5. IR8A/YTD income data if switching late in the year, so AIS filing continuity is preserved.

Migration steps

1. Set up the new system in parallel for one pay cycle. Run both old and new side by side and compare net pay, CPF, and deductions for every employee. Discrepancies here catch most migration errors.
2. Reconcile CPF for the transition month. Ensure the old system's final CPF submission and the new system's first submission do not overlap or leave a gap.
3. Issue payslips from the new system starting from the cutover month. Keep the old payslips on file for audit.
4. Notify employees of the change and where to access new payslips.
5. Update IRAS AIS if you are enrolled. If your old vendor submitted via AIS API, ensure the new vendor takes over submission for the current year. If switching after 1 March, coordinate carefully with your new vendor on AIS filing responsibility.
6. Cancel the old subscription only after confirming the new system has run a clean pay cycle and CPF has been reconciled.

For a detailed migration walkthrough - especially if you are moving off Talenox after the free-plan sunset - see our Talenox alternative and migration guide.

Summary

The best payroll software for a Singapore SME depends on what you optimise for:

AIMM Payroll wins on price and is building the accountant dashboard no other vendor offers, but is still completing AIS vendor listing, PSG pre-approval, and Xero/QBO integration. Talenox wins on maturity and integrations but is the most expensive at scale. Payboy, QuickHR, and JustLogin split the PSG-eligible middle ground by use case.

Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that your software handles CPF, SDL, SHG, FWL, AIS filing, and itemised payslips correctly out of the box - because the compliance cost of getting those wrong dwarfs any difference in subscription price. See our CPF contribution rates guide and IRAS AIS filing guide to understand exactly what your payroll software should be doing for you.

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