PayWow

PayWow is a payroll and compliance service for small employers, with workflows for employees, contractors, and trucking businesses. It suits employers that want payments, tax filing, and timekeeping under one roof. Its breadth is appealing, but the current pause on new signups makes it a poor choice for businesses that need to start with a provider now.

Overview

PayWow combines payroll with tax filing, employee onboarding, and timekeeping, and offers distinct tools for contractors and trucking operations. That range is useful for a small business whose payroll needs span employees and independent workers, rather than a business seeking only a way to send contractor payments.

The immediate drawback is practical: PayWow is not accepting new signups and directs interested businesses to its support team. Existing customers may still value the breadth of the service, but new buyers should treat the signup pause as a substantial barrier.

Key features

Payroll, taxes, and onboarding

Complete Payroll covers both 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. Employees can enter their own details through a portal, and new-hire reporting is also supported. This is a sensible combination for a small employer handling both payroll and compliance; a business that needs only contractor payouts may not need the broader employee-payroll package.

Contractor and trucking workflows

Contractors can be paid by direct deposit or check, with automatic 1099 filing. The trucking solution tracks loads and lets businesses pay drivers by the mile, by load, or at specific rates. Those industry-specific payment options give PayWow a clearer fit for trucking businesses than a general payroll setup. Integrations are included with the Contractor Payroll Pro plan, not Basic.

Timekeeping and mobile access

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, time tracking, and tax-form access. These tools connect attendance and employee paperwork to the payroll service, though the platform list also includes iOS and web.

Support and security

PayWow offers payroll-specialist support and provides email and phone contact options. Its homepage describes user data as stored securely and displays an AICPA SOC Certified Company badge. Those are useful signals for a service handling payroll information, but they do not change the signup limitation.

Pricing

PayWow uses a freemium model, with a free plan and paid options from $9/mo. The plans have different billing terms and payment charges, so the headline monthly prices do not tell the whole cost for businesses using direct deposit or covering multiple workers.

• Contractor Payroll — Basic: free, billed monthly. It includes unlimited contractors, limited reports, and payment by check. This is the narrowest option for a business that can work with checks and does not need extensive reporting, a contractor portal, or integrations.
• Contractor Payroll — Pro: $9 a month, billed monthly, plus $1.49 per direct deposit. It includes unlimited contractors, extensive reports, a contractor portal, and integrations. It is the stronger fit for businesses that need contractor self-service or integrations, but direct-deposit fees add to the subscription.
• Complete Payroll: $25 a month, billed monthly, plus $4 per employee or contractor. It covers payroll for both employees and contractors, making it the relevant plan for mixed workforces. The per-worker charge means the base price is not the full monthly cost.

The free Basic plan is limited to check payments and reports; Pro adds portal access, integrations, and broader reporting. Complete Payroll changes the scope to employee and contractor payroll rather than simply expanding contractor features. Payment schedules are scheduled, and tax-form support is available.

Platforms

PayWow is available on Android, iOS, and the web. Its mobile tools support timekeeping and employee access to payroll documents and tax forms, while the web service covers the broader payroll and compliance offering.

Who it's for

PayWow is aimed at very small employers, including businesses with single-digit headcounts. It is most compelling for those combining employee and contractor payroll, or for trucking businesses that need to track loads and calculate driver pay by different rate methods. Contractor-only businesses can start with a free check-based plan, while those needing direct deposit, self-service, or integrations should consider Pro. Any new customer, however, must first resolve the current signup pause with PayWow.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Employee and contractor payroll sit alongside tax filing and new-hire reporting, which can consolidate recurring administration for small employers.
• Pro: Contractor plans include unlimited contractors, and the trucking tools support load tracking and multiple driver-pay methods.
• Pro: The free contractor plan allows check payments, while Pro adds a portal and integrations for businesses willing to pay the monthly fee and per-deposit charge.
• Con: PayWow is not accepting new signups, which prevents a new buyer from simply starting service.
• Con: Direct deposits on Pro cost an additional $1.49 each, and Complete Payroll adds $4 per employee or contractor to its $25 monthly base.
• Con: Basic has limited reports and check-only payments, so businesses wanting contractor self-service or integrations must move to Pro.

Alternatives

Contractor Payment Software is a useful place to compare contractor-focused options.

• Cleo Pay has a free plan for vendors and contractors with one user seat and unlimited incoming payments, but no outbound payments; consider it when receiving payments matters more than paying contractors.
• Zoho Payroll offers a free plan for up to 10 employees with basic payroll and email support, plus a free trial; it may suit a small team looking for an employee-count-capped payroll option.
• BuildFair has a free Owner plan for project access when a builder invites an owner; consider it for that specific project-access need.
• Plane Contractor Management offers a free HRIS Platform with guided hiring and onboarding, a contractor and employee directory, custom reports, holidays, and time tracking; consider it when workforce administration is the priority.
• IRIS Practice Engine is a paid alternative.
• OnPay is a paid payroll option with a free trial; its $49 base monthly fee plus $6 per worker includes unlimited pay runs and schedules and year-end filings, making it a different-cost option for buyers who need those payroll terms.
• QuickBooks Contractor Payments is a paid contractor-payments option with no free plan or trial; its $12.50 monthly plan includes 20 contractors, with an extra charge for additional contractors.
• TLC IT is another paid alternative.

Verdict

PayWow is best for very small employers that need employee and contractor payroll together, or trucking businesses that need load-based driver pay. Its combination of tax filing, onboarding, and timekeeping is the main reason to choose it; the signup pause is the main reason to look elsewhere. For new buyers, an alternative that is currently available is the more practical choice.