Square Payroll vs Aurion

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Our analysts compared Square Payroll vs Aurion based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Payroll Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Based in the cloud, Square Payroll is suited for businesses of all sizes. Integrating with the well-known POS solution from the same company offers features that assist with processing pay, filing taxes, employee self-service and more. The support staff helps users with implementation, whether they need help with their first implementation or simply just assistance migrating data from an old interface. Its capabilities also provide time tracking, invoice creation, appointment scheduling, direct deposit and more.
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Aurion is a cloud-based HRIS platform for compensation management, time tracking and employee operations. It offers HTML5 elements and a 24-hour self-service portal on any device. All management solutions are ISO certified and STP compliant. It accommodates small and large businesses and bases pricing on company requirements and number of employees.
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Synchronized Systems: Fully synchronize the payroll solution with other Square systems, including partners that offer timecard solutions. Automatically calculate employee hours to run payroll.
  • Payroll On-The-Go: Run payroll directly from any internet-connected device with the mobile app. Creates a quick and seamless process that gets employees paid expediently, while administers don’t have to spend time tediously inputting data.
  • Affordable Small Businesses Payroll: Offers two pricing models, one of which is specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses that rely on contractors. The monthly subscription fee starts as low as $34 monthly for companies with standard employees. Hire contractors and spend only $5 monthly per contractor or employee.
  • Manageable Processes: Run payroll with only necessary employee information. Customize pay periods while employees can create their accounts, making the setup process quick and straightforward.
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  • Streamlined Operations: Hire faster and increase employee engagement by collecting employee data for performance career management. Save time during the workday by automating workflows and approval processes. 
  • Better Tailored Solutions: Meet the needs of any department by choosing between outsourced or in-house software management. Make informed finance management choices with expert advice and personalized services from legislation experts. 
  • Heightened Security: Secure the user experience under industry-leading security accreditation. Protect vulnerable data with multiple forms of verification. 
  • End-to-End Employee Support: Increase employee productivity and streamline record keeping in a centralized dashboard. Increase employee satisfaction with faster compensation and personnel processing. 
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  • Automatic Payroll: Import employee hours and overtime and calculate salaries to process each pay period automatically. Handles multiple pay rates and does all off-cycle and unlimited bonus runs for no extra charge. Customizes scheduling for payment. Process payroll by 8:00 p.m. PT, so employees get their direct deposit on payday.
  • Employee Self-Service: Have employees create their account, set up direct deposit, fill out necessary forms and even clock in for their shifts. Provide them with 24/7 access to these features to make changes as needed through the mobile app.
  • Tax Filing: Ensure compliance with Square Payroll’s tax functions. Manage W2s and automatically calculates and files tax withholdings, payments, and filings at the local, state and federal level. Supports post-tax deductions and reimbursements. Files federal and state taxes quarterly and files and sends out W-2s and 1099-MISC forms at the end of the year. Includes forms such as form 940, form 941, form 944 and W-3s.
  • Reporting: Provides new hire reports, quarterly reports and sales reports to provide real-time analysis and make more informed decisions about the business. Send reports to key stakeholders.
  • Team Management: Set schedules, track hours, customize access for different groups and provide employee onboarding. Comes in one of two versions, team management and team plus. Team management includes reporting for time cards, time clocks, scheduling for shifts, break tracking and overtime reporting. Team plus has broader functionality such as early break prevention, report for break violations, preventing early clock-ins from break, notes on timecards, many wage rates, unlimited permissions and more.
  • Compliance: Updates automatically to ensure users stay abreast of changes to tax laws and stay in compliance with payment best practices. Save time and money by obeying regulations.
  • Benefits Management: Customize and manage benefits packages while the integrated benefits management functionality enables the system to calculate and make deductions automatically when running payroll. Provides workers’ comp through AP Intego.
  • Integrations: Integrates with QuickBooks Online for users who want to include accounting and can function with any other Square product.
  • Time Tracking: Synchronize Square Payroll with the vendor’s Point of Sale app at no additional cost to allow employees to clock in for their shift directly at the register. Employees can then import timecards, or synchronize with a variety of other popular time tracking systems. Managers can also enter employee hours manually. Tracks sick leave, PTO and overtime. Use customizable user permissions to manage it effectively.
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  • Strategic Recruiting: Publish job vacancies, track time taken to fill positions and schedule interviews from one location. Collaborate with new applicants by automating responses to frequently asked questions. View resumes with highlighted performance indicators to make informed hiring decisions. 
  • Compensation Planning: Develop payment plans adjusted for salaried, hourly or commission wages. Accurately disburse superannuation benefits and reduce tax discrepancies by streamlining compliance. 
  • Timekeeping Tracker: Customize timesheets and scale shift availability using the Timekeeper Workbench. Automate timesheet approvals or capture and upload timestamps from swipe cards and other tracking devices. 
  • Career Development: Increase employee engagement by using 360-degree feedback to submit evaluations. Identify skill gaps or assign training using employee advancement tools. Create and monitor individual professional development plans. 
  • Mobile Accessibility: Access a full range of features on any device 24/7. Download pay stubs, apply for leave and view employment information in real time through the mobile app. 
  • Integration: Save time by integrating with existing management systems. Configure timekeeping solutions with external rosters from Time Target or Kronos to adjust employee status. Import employee time and leave data through one-way integrations with Tanda. 
  • Security Standards: Provide secure solutions that are ISO-certified and ASAE accredited. Prevent theft or fraud using effective security controls like code, fingerprint or face ID to sign in to the app. 
  • Expert Guidance: Consult with trained experts who provide data and comprehensive support for compliance, wage and security concerns. 
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Product Ranking

#21

among all
Payroll Software

#85

among all
Payroll Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1069 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 1 reviews
93%
of users recommend this product

Square Payroll has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 1069 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

100%
of users recommend this product

Aurion has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 100% when considering 1 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

4.4 (23)
n/a
4.66 (571)
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4.6 (471)
5.0 (1)
4.5 (4)
n/a

Awards

Square Payroll stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Aurion stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Simple UI: Over 90% of users who discussed the ease-of-use were impressed by the system.
Affordable: Reviewers felt the pricing was appropriate and affordable in more than 90% of comments that discussed it.
Efficient Payroll Processing: More than 90% of users who discussed payroll processing felt it worked well.
Highly Recommended: In reviews that discussed recommending the service, over 80% said they’d advise other businesses to use it.
Filing Taxes and Reports: More than 80% of comments that discussed filing taxes and year-end reporting were happy with its capabilities.
Adequate Functionality: Users liked the features and felt they worked well in over 80% of reviews that talked about it.
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Streamlined Onboarding: Aurion streamlines the onboarding process for new employees, automating tasks like tax file number declarations and superannuation choices, which reduces paperwork and manual data entry for HR teams.
Automated Award Interpretation: Aurion's built-in award interpretation engine ensures compliance with complex Australian awards and agreements, automatically calculating correct pay rates, allowances, and entitlements, minimizing the risk of errors and underpayments.
Employee Self-Service: The employee self-service portal empowers employees to manage their personal information, leave requests, and payslips, reducing administrative burden on HR staff and providing employees with greater control over their data.
Comprehensive Reporting: Aurion offers a wide range of reporting options, allowing HR and payroll teams to gain insights into workforce costs, leave liabilities, and other key metrics, facilitating informed decision-making.
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Limited Customization Options: Over 70% of reviews that talked about customization said the options were inadequate.
No Employee Discounts: Businesses had trouble giving employees discounts in over 70% of comments that discussed it.
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Limited Customization: Users have expressed frustration with the inflexibility of the platform, particularly when it comes to tailoring the system to their specific needs. For example, setting up unique pay rules or generating custom reports can be cumbersome.
Complex User Interface: Navigating the software can feel overwhelming due to its intricate design and multiple layers. This complexity can make simple tasks time-consuming and lead to user errors.
Integration Challenges: Seamlessly integrating Aurion with other business systems, such as time and attendance or HR platforms, has proven difficult for some users. This lack of smooth integration can create data silos and increase manual workarounds.
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Square Payroll is an online payment, time and attendance and POS system. Users like it best because it’s easy to use with an intuitive design that can be adopted quickly. They felt the pricing was fair and were especially pleased with its efficient processing of payment. Many users said they’d recommend it to other businesses similar to their own and were happy with its ability to create and file sales, quarterly and new hire reports. Lastly, they were pleased with its features, specifically its easy sign-in, reporting, time tracking and tax calculating. On the con side, customization options were minimal as it’s a reasonably straightforward system. Many companies that use the solution are restaurants that either want to give employees discounts on food or pay with money from their upcoming paycheck. They were displeased with its inability to allow this. Overall, this solution is excellent for small businesses, especially retail and food service. Larger companies should look elsewhere.

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Is Aurion the real deal, or is it just a flash in the pan? User reviews from the last year paint a somewhat mixed picture. While some users praise Aurion for its robust features and comprehensive reporting capabilities, others find it clunky and difficult to navigate. One recurring theme is that Aurion is a powerful tool, but it comes with a steep learning curve. Users appreciate the software's ability to handle complex payroll scenarios, such as multi-state taxes and union dues, but they also point out that it can be time-consuming to set up and configure. Compared to competitors like ADP and Paychex, Aurion is often perceived as a more customizable solution, but one that requires more technical expertise. This makes it a good fit for larger organizations with dedicated HR and IT staff, but perhaps not the best choice for small businesses looking for a plug-and-play solution. Ultimately, Aurion is a powerful payroll and HR management tool that can deliver significant value, but only if you're willing to invest the time and resources to learn its intricacies.

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Top Alternatives in Payroll Software


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Paychex

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QuickBooks Payroll

Rippling

TriNet

Workday HCM

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