Skuad vs Square Payroll
Skuad simplifies hiring globally, acting as an Employer of Record (EOR) across 160 countries. Square Payroll excels at automated, local tax and compliance, especially for businesses using Square POS. This comparison hinges entirely on where your workforce is located: worldwide or primarily domestic.
Effective Global Payroll, Invoicing Needs Polish
We note that Skuad (now Payoneer WFM) offers robust tools for hiring and managing global contractors and full-time employees, complete with local compliance and multi-currency payroll. We appreciate the clear pricing structure and the inclusion of necessary tax management support for EOR services. Overall, the platform shows strong potential but must immediately improve diligence regarding billing accuracy and prompt resolution of the serious administrative problems highlighted by corporate users.
Pros
- Easiest platform for paying and managing international contractors.
- Reliably timely salary payments reported by employees.
- Supports hiring full-time employees and contractors globally.
- Strong focus on local compliance and localized contracts.
Cons
- Significant issues reported regarding invoice accuracy and justification.
- Support response times can be extremely slow, sometimes taking weeks.
- Lack of detailed data for verifying expenses like benefits and social security.
- Historical reports of failure to remit income tax payments in certain countries.
Excellent payroll for Square ecosystem users.
We found Square Payroll offers robust, full-service compliance that perfectly complements the existing Square ecosystem. Its straightforward, usage-based pricing structure minimizes complexity for small businesses managing both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Overall, this is a highly reliable and efficient payroll solution, especially for companies already integrated with Square’s Point of Sale and payment tools.
Pros
- Automated federal and state tax payments and filings are included.
- Seamless integration with existing Square POS simplifies time tracking and data import.
- Clear pricing structure includes a budget-friendly Contractor-only option ($6 per person).
- No long-term commitment required, offering flexible usage terms.
Cons
- The Full-service plan requires a $35 base fee, even for one employee.
- Mixed experiences regarding general customer support responsiveness were reported.
- Some users reported issues with account security, such as accounts being flagged for fraud.
AboutSkuad
Skuad has successfully transitioned and is now known as Payoneer Workforce Management (WFM). This service focuses entirely on simplifying global employment for businesses of any size. It provides world class support and tools to manage your workforce from onboarding through daily operations. 💡
AboutSquare Payroll
Square Payroll is a dependable, full-service payroll solution designed to pay your employees and protect your business. It effectively helps ensure everyone is happy and productive.
It works well for various types of businesses. You can use it whether you run a retail store, a food and beverage spot, or a home repair service. The system operates right from your online Square Dashboard, making payroll faster and easier. You can even choose a specific contractor-only option if that fits your needs. ✅
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Global Employment
Skuad specializes in international EOR; Square Payroll is focused on US and limited regions.
Skuad manages hiring and payments across a vast 160+ countries globally. They handle localized employment contracts and compliance across 70 currencies. This removes the need for your company to set up foreign legal entities. Square Payroll is built for domestic payroll compliance, primarily within the United States. It supports multistate calculations and localized tax handling within supported regions like the US, Canada, and the UK. The difference is clear: Skuad is a strategic global expansion tool, while Square Payroll is an operational domestic payment tool. If your team is international, Square Payroll cannot manage global EOR duties like Skuad can. Need to hire a specialist in Germany immediately? Skuad handles the full legal burden easily.
Pricing Model
Square Payroll uses simple, transparent per-person pricing; Skuad starts much higher per person.
Skuad's pricing is structured per seat, starting at $19 for contractors and $199 for full-time employees. This large cost covers full EOR and compliance services globally. Square Payroll has two affordable options: $35 plus $6 per person, or just $6 per contractor with no base fee. This is affordable even for a single W-2 employee. Square Payroll offers superior affordability and transparency, especially for smaller domestic teams. Skuad's cost reflects the inherent complexity of global employment. A small US company paying five employees would spend $65 monthly with Square Payroll, much less than Skuad's entry price.
Core Integrations
Square Payroll seamlessly integrates with its own POS ecosystem; Skuad lacks explicit third-party integrations.
Square Payroll's strength is its deep, seamless integration with Square POS systems. It automatically imports tips, time cards, and commissions for fast payroll processing. It also links automatically with QuickBooks Online for bookkeeping. Skuad does not explicitly advertise direct integrations with popular HR or accounting software like QuickBooks. Users must inquire about compatibility during a demo. For businesses already running on Square's ecosystem, Square Payroll is an essential, plug-and-play solution. Skuad is a standalone global platform. If you manage a retail staff, Square Payroll instantly pulls their clocked hours, saving managers significant data entry time.
Payment Speed
Square Payroll offers instant payment options; Skuad handles multi-currency payments but lacks explicit speed options.
Square Payroll provides flexible payment speeds, including standard two-day deposits. It allows Instant Payments using a Square balance and Cash App deposits for contractors, dramatically speeding up cycles. Skuad ensures reliably timely salary payments for employees and contractors across 70 currencies. However, specific features for next-day or instant payment processing are not publicly advertised. Square Payroll offers flexibility crucial for high-turnover businesses or those needing tight cash flow management. Skuad prioritizes compliant, multi-currency transfer reliability over speed. Need to run an urgent off-cycle bonus payment? Square Payroll handles unlimited pay runs and fast deposits easily.
Compliance Focus
Skuad handles complex local compliance globally; Square Payroll focuses on federal and state tax compliance domestically.
Skuad builds compliance into its core by offering localized employment agreements tailored to 160+ countries' laws. It includes IC compliance and robust IP protection (Shield component). Square Payroll automates complex US tax filings, payments, and W-2/1099 generation effortlessly. It manages multistate tax jurisdictions correctly within the US. Skuad addresses the exponentially harder problem of cross-border legal compliance and risk management. Square Payroll solves the necessary but less complex problem of single-country compliance. If you are hiring in Asia, Skuad ensures your employment contract upholds all local labor laws instantly.
Contractor Management
Skuad offers multi-currency contract payment; Square Payroll offers much cheaper contractor pricing.
Skuad is excellent for managing international contractors, facilitating payments in 70 currencies for milestone or hourly invoicing. The service starts at $19 per contractor, ensuring high-level global compliance. Square Payroll has a highly affordable Contractor-only plan at only $6 per person, including digital 1099 filing. This is perfect for US-based 1099 workers. If your contractors are global and need complex payments, use Skuad. If they are US-based and affordability is key, use Square Payroll. Both tools excel in their specific spheres. A company with 50 US contractors saves significantly using Square Payroll versus Skuad due to the massive difference in per-contractor cost structure.
Customer Support
Square Payroll support is praised for friendliness; Skuad support is reported to be slow, taking weeks for resolution.
Square Payroll offers dedicated specialist support available Monday through Friday within standard business hours (Pacific Time). User reviews often praise the staff's professionalism and kindness. Skuad provides "world-class support," but user reviews report significant issues with response times. Resolutions sometimes take weeks for complicated issues. Fast support resolution is non-negotiable for critical payroll issues. Square Payroll shows better real-world support availability and user satisfaction. Delayed invoicing and slow response times at Skuad created genuine compliance risks for some users.
Our Verdict
The decision between Skuad and Square Payroll is easy: it depends entirely on your business geography. Both tools automate payroll, but they solve entirely different compliance problems. Square Payroll is the clear winner if your workforce is primarily domestic or within supported regions. Skuad dominates the niche of strategic global expansion and multi-country management. Skuad's superpower is acting as your Employer of Record (EOR) across 160+ countries effortlessly. Square Payroll cannot match Skuad's ability to handle localized contracts, IP protection, and payroll in 70 currencies. Choose Skuad if you must hire permanent staff overseas without creating new global legal entities yourself. Be prepared for Skuad's higher starting cost of $199 per full-time seat, reflecting this specialized service. Square Payroll's key advantage is its simplicity, transparency, and seamless domestic automation. It handles all US federal and state tax filings automatically for a low $35 base fee plus $6 per employee. Square Payroll’s deep integration with Square POS automatically pulls time cards and tips, minimizing pay run errors. Both tools manage contractors, but Square Payroll's $6/contractor plan is much cheaper than Skuad's $19 rate for US-based 1099 workers. The deciding factor is your highest business risk. If your primary risk involves cross-border employment legalities, you need Skuad. If you use Square POS and need worry-free domestic US payroll, Square Payroll is unbeatable. Skuad is essential for achieving enterprise-level, compliant growth worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: Skuad or Square Payroll?
If your small team is US-based, Square Payroll is better and significantly cheaper. The base Full-service plan is only $35 + $6 per person. Skuad's full-time employee costs start much higher, making Square Payroll the budget choice.
Can Square Payroll handle international employees like Skuad?
No, Square Payroll is built for domestic compliance in specific regions (US, CA, UK). Skuad is a specialized EOR service that hires and pays employees compliantly in over 160 countries. Square Payroll cannot handle global expansion needs like Skuad.
Which tool offers faster payments: Skuad or Square Payroll?
Square Payroll offers faster payment options, including Instant Payments using a Square balance and next-day processing options. Skuad ensures timely global payments across 70 currencies but does not advertise instant or same-day transfer speeds locally.
Does Skuad require me to set up local entities overseas?
No, Skuad acts as the Employer of Record (EOR), allowing you to hire without setting up local entities. This crucial service simplifies global expansion compared to traditional legal methods.
Which tool is more affordable for managing 1099 contractors?
Square Payroll is far more affordable for managing domestic contractors at only $6 per person paid. Skuad’s contractor plan starts at $19 per person, reflecting the added complexity of multi-currency, cross-border compliance.
Does Square Payroll integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes, Square Payroll automatically syncs payroll data with QuickBooks Online for simplified bookkeeping. Skuad does not explicitly mention official integrations with third-party accounting applications.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.