PayWow

Overview

PayWow brings payroll and compliance tools together for very small employers, with distinct workflows for contractors and trucking businesses. It may suit an employer that wants to handle employee and contractor pay, tax filing, and timekeeping in one service, but the current signup pause makes it a poor choice for anyone who needs to switch providers now.

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, a useful combination for small employers trying to keep routine payroll and compliance tasks together. Employees can enter their own information through a portal, and new-hire reporting is also offered. Businesses needing only a narrow payment tool may not need this broader payroll package.

Contractor payments and trucking

Contractors can be paid by direct deposit or check, with automatic 1099 filing. The trucking solution tracks loads and supports driver pay by mile, load, or specific rate, giving trucking businesses a more tailored workflow than contractor payments alone. Integrations are reserved for the Pro contractor plan, so Basic is less suitable for teams that need connected software.

Timekeeping and mobile access

The myPayWow app supports shift clock-ins and outs, time-off requests, and location-based clocking. The Android app adds pay-stub downloads, e-signatures, and tax-form access. These functions can make the service more useful for employees who need payroll and timekeeping access away from a desktop.

Security and support

PayWow describes user data as securely stored and displays an AICPA SOC Certified Company badge. It also offers payroll-specialist support, with contact by email or phone. These are relevant assurances and support routes, though they do not change the practical barrier for new customers: the service-selection page says signups are currently closed and directs prospective users to the support team.

Pricing

PayWow has a free contractor plan and paid plans starting at $9 per month. The free tier is unusually broad on contractor count, but its limited reports and check-only payments make it a better fit for simple workflows than businesses relying on direct deposit or detailed reporting.

• Contractor Payroll — Basic: free (billed $0/Monthly). Includes unlimited contractors, limited reports, and pay by check. It suits businesses that can work without direct deposit, integrations, or extensive reports.
• Contractor Payroll — Pro: $9 a month (billed $9/Monthly + $1.49 per direct deposit). Includes unlimited contractors, extensive reports, a contractor portal, and integrations. It is the stronger contractor option when self-service and connected tools matter, though direct deposits add a per-payment charge.
• Complete Payroll: $25 a month (billed $25/Monthly + $4 per employee/contractor). Covers payroll for employees and contractors. The monthly base is only part of the cost for a staffed business, since each employee or contractor adds $4.

All three plans use monthly billing. Businesses comparing costs should account for the per-deposit charge on Pro and the per-person charge on Complete Payroll.

Platforms

PayWow is available on web, Android, and iOS. The mobile app capabilities described include payroll documents, time tracking, time-off requests, e-signatures, and tax forms; the fuller set of specific mobile functions is described for Android.

Who it's for

PayWow is aimed at very small employers, including businesses with single-digit headcounts, that want payroll and compliance tools together. It is especially relevant to employers paying both employees and contractors, and to trucking businesses that need load tracking and flexible driver pay calculations. It is not a practical option for a business that needs to begin onboarding with a payroll provider immediately, given the current signup restriction.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Employee and contractor payroll, tax filing, onboarding, and timekeeping sit in one small-business offering, reducing the need to coordinate those workflows separately.
• Pro: Trucking-specific load tracking and pay calculations address needs beyond standard contractor payments.
• Pro: The $0 Basic contractor plan supports unlimited contractors, making it usable for check-based payments without a subscription fee.
• Con: Basic has limited reports and check payments only; direct deposit, integrations, and extensive reports require Pro.
• Con: Complete Payroll adds $4 per employee or contractor to its $25 monthly base, so the total rises with workforce size.
• Con: New signups are currently not being accepted, a decisive drawback for prospective customers.

Alternatives

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

• Cleo Pay may suit vendors or contractors seeking a free plan with unlimited incoming payments and one user seat, but its free Get Paid plan includes no outbound payments.
• Zoho Payroll is worth considering for an employer wanting a free plan capped at 10 employees, with basic payroll and email support, or a free trial before choosing a paid plan.
• BuildFair may fit construction project participants: invited owners get free project access, while subcontractors can choose a monthly plan.
• Petl Pay is another freemium option for projects and contributors.
• Plane Contractor Management may suit teams seeking a free HRIS platform with hiring and onboarding tasks, a contractor and employee directory, custom reports, holidays, and time tracking.
• Payoneer Payer is an alternative for businesses with higher payment volumes that want custom pricing; payment fees vary by method and location.
• IRIS Practice Engine is another paid alternative.
• TLC IT is another paid alternative with a free plan.

Verdict

PayWow is a strong conceptual fit for a very small employer that needs employee and contractor payroll, tax filing, and perhaps trucking-specific tools in one service. Its contractor tiers offer a clear choice between free check-based payments and paid direct deposit, reporting, and integrations. But with new signups currently closed, businesses choosing software now should look elsewhere unless PayWow confirms it can accept them.