Managing payroll and generating pay stubs is a crucial part of running a small business. With the ever-evolving demands of compliance, taxes, and employee satisfaction, it is vital to make sure your business remains on top of its payroll duties. Fortunately, there are a variety of pay stub generator tools available to help simplify the process. In 2025, small businesses can take advantage of free, easy-to-use pay stub generator tools to keep operations smooth, reduce the risk of errors, and maintain accurate records.
Below is a list of the top 10 free pay stub generator tools that small businesses can leverage to create professional and accurate pay stubs for their employees.
1. StubCreator
StubCreator is one of the most popular free pay stub generators for small businesses. This easy-to-use tool offers free pay stub generation with the option to pay for premium services when needed. The free version allows small business owners to create professional and detailed pay stubs that comply with legal requirements.
With StubCreator, you can enter all the necessary information, such as employee details, pay period, taxes, deductions, and hours worked. The generated pay stubs are well-organized and look highly professional, which makes them great for both internal records and providing to employees.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub creation for small businesses
- Supports various payment types (salary, hourly, commission, etc.)
- Automatic tax calculation
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Why it’s great: StubCreator allows for quick and easy pay stub creation, making it an excellent tool for small businesses with limited payroll resources.
2. PayStubCreator
PayStubCreator offers a straightforward way for businesses to generate pay stubs with minimal effort. The free version provides essential features, including customizable templates, automatic tax calculations, and a preview option. It is ideal for businesses that need to generate pay stubs frequently without complicating the payroll process.
Key Features:
- Instant pay stub generation
- Auto-calculation of deductions and taxes
- Customizable templates
- Free version for basic use
Why it’s great: Its ease of use and comprehensive features make PayStubCreator a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.
3. Wave Payroll
Wave Payroll is a cloud-based software solution that offers payroll services and pay stub generation. While Wave is known for its accounting services, it also includes a reliable pay stub generator. The free version can generate basic pay stubs, and the platform supports tax filing, which makes it a great option for small businesses that need to streamline their payroll.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub generation (with paid premium features)
- Supports tax filings
- Offers full payroll solutions for small businesses
- Integrated with Wave’s accounting software
Why it’s great: Wave Payroll is perfect for businesses that need a comprehensive payroll solution with integrated accounting tools.
4. 123PayStubs
123PayStubs is another user-friendly tool for generating pay stubs. The free version of this service allows businesses to quickly create pay stubs, complete with tax deductions, overtime pay, and deductions like healthcare or retirement plans. The platform provides an option to upgrade for additional features such as direct deposit integrations.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub creation with basic features
- Customizable templates for pay stubs
- Detailed tax calculations
- User-friendly interface
Why it’s great: 123PayStubs is particularly great for businesses looking for a balance between free service and the option to upgrade to more advanced payroll features.
5. Check Stub Maker
Check Stub Maker is an excellent pay stub generator for small businesses in need of a simple tool to create professional pay stubs. It allows users to enter basic payroll information such as hourly rate, hours worked, and deductions. While it offers a free plan, users can also upgrade for additional features like more customization options and printable receipts.
Key Features:
- Free plan available
- Simple to use with basic features
- Customizable templates for pay stubs
- Additional features with premium plans
Why it’s great: It is an easy-to-use tool for businesses looking to create pay stubs without any complex payroll software.
6. Gusto
Gusto is a cloud-based payroll solution that offers free pay stub creation for small businesses, especially for startups and small teams. The platform makes it easy to generate pay stubs with built-in tax calculations. For businesses that want to upgrade, Gusto offers an extensive suite of payroll services, including tax filing and HR tools.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub generation
- Automatic tax calculations
- Offers payroll and HR management features
- Customizable pay stub templates
Why it’s great: Gusto’s platform makes pay stub generation and payroll management easy, especially if you need to upgrade to a full-service payroll solution.
7. Zoho Payroll
Zoho Payroll is an excellent tool for businesses that want to keep their payroll simple and straightforward. The free version lets you generate pay stubs and calculate taxes automatically. Zoho is also known for its robust suite of business tools, so users can take advantage of integrations with Zoho’s accounting software.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub creation
- Automatic tax and deduction calculations
- Easy integration with Zoho accounting software
- Employee self-service portal
Why it’s great: Zoho Payroll is ideal for businesses already using other Zoho tools, ensuring seamless integration across business processes.
8. Payroll4Free
As the name suggests, Payroll4Free is a payroll management software that includes free pay stub generation as one of its core features. The software allows businesses to generate pay stubs, calculate deductions, and even manage employee records. Payroll4Free also offers direct deposit features for a small fee.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub generation with basic features
- Tax calculation and deduction management
- Employee self-service portal
- Integration with other payroll services
Why it’s great: Payroll4Free is ideal for small businesses that need a full-fledged payroll service without the hefty price tag.
9. PayStubDirect
PayStubDirect offers free and easy pay stub generation services for small businesses. The free tool helps users create professional pay stubs with automatic deductions, tax calculations, and customizable templates. PayStubDirect’s simplicity makes it ideal for business owners who need quick access to their employees’ pay stubs.
Key Features:
- Instant pay stub generation
- Detailed tax deductions
- Supports multiple pay frequencies
- Customizable templates
Why it’s great: PayStubDirect makes creating and sharing pay stubs hassle-free, ensuring timely payroll management for small business owners.
10. Square Payroll
Square Payroll is well-known for its integrated solutions for small businesses, offering payroll processing, tax filing, and pay stub generation. Square’s free version provides basic pay stub creation with the option to upgrade to more robust features like time tracking and HR management.
Key Features:
- Free pay stub generation
- Comprehensive payroll services
- Automatic tax filing and calculations
- Integration with Square’s other business tools
Why it’s great: For small businesses already using Square for payment processing, Square Payroll integrates smoothly into their existing workflows, providing a one-stop payroll solution.
Conclusion
For small businesses in 2025, there are numerous free pay stub generator tools available to simplify payroll management. These tools not only help ensure compliance with tax regulations, but they also offer professional pay stubs that can be easily shared with employees. Whether you’re looking for a simple tool like StubCreator or a comprehensive platform like Wave Payroll, there’s an option that can meet your specific needs.
Choosing the right pay stub generator depends on the size of your business, the complexity of your payroll, and any additional services you may need, such as tax filing or direct deposit. Whatever option you choose, these free tools will help you keep your payroll running smoothly while staying within budget.
