Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pilot VS Square Payroll

Compare Pilot VS Square Payroll and see what are their differences

Pilot logo Pilot

Focus on your business, knowing that our expert bookkeepers, aided by software superpowers, are taking care of your books.

Square Payroll logo Square Payroll

Pay your team from anywhere
  • Pilot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-28
  • Square Payroll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-12

Pilot

Website
pilot.com
Release Date
2016 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Jeff Arnold
Employees
100 - 249

Pilot features and specs

  • Comprehensive Bookkeeping
    Pilot offers comprehensive bookkeeping services managed by a team of experts, making it suitable for businesses that require accurate and up-to-date financial records.
  • Scalability
    The service can scale with your business as it grows, offering a flexible solution for startups and expanding companies alike.
  • Tax Services
    Pilot also provides tax preparation and advisory services, which helps to streamline financial management and tax compliance.
  • Integration with Tools
    Pilot integrates seamlessly with a variety of business tools like QuickBooks, Gusto, Stripe, and more, ensuring a unified financial ecosystem.
  • Dedicated Support
    Each client has a dedicated account manager for personalized support, ensuring specialized attention to each business’s financial needs.

Possible disadvantages of Pilot

  • Cost
    Pilot's services can be pricey, particularly for smaller businesses or startups operating on tight budgets.
  • Complexity of Setup
    Initial setup can be complicated and may require significant time and effort to fully integrate Pilot with existing business systems.
  • Limited Customization
    The services may not offer the level of customization some businesses require, as they follow standardized procedures.
  • Dependence on Third-Party Software
    Pilot relies heavily on connecting with third-party software, which might be limiting or problematic if you use niche or specialized tools.
  • Potential Over-Reliance
    Businesses might become overly reliant on Pilot's services, potentially neglecting internal financial expertise and controls.

Square Payroll features and specs

  • Integration with Square Ecosystem
    Square Payroll seamlessly integrates with other Square products, such as Point of Sale (POS), making it easier for businesses already using Square to manage their payroll without needing additional software.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Square Payroll offers a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies the payroll process, making it accessible even for users who are not tech-savvy.
  • Automatic Tax Filing
    The service automatically handles federal, state, and local tax filings and withholdings, helping businesses stay compliant with tax regulations.
  • Employee Self-Service
    Employees can easily access their pay stubs, tax forms, and benefits information through an online portal, reducing administrative workload for employers.
  • Flexible Payment Options
    Square Payroll offers multiple payment options, including direct deposit and manual check issuance, providing flexibility to meet various business needs.

Possible disadvantages of Square Payroll

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Square Payroll may lack some advanced features found in other payroll solutions, such as complex reporting tools or advanced HR functions.
  • Pricing
    While competitive, Square Payroll's pricing can become costly for larger businesses with many employees, especially when compared to other payroll providers that offer bulk discounts.
  • Availability
    Square Payroll is currently only available in the United States, limiting its applicability for businesses that operate internationally.
  • Complex Timekeeping
    Businesses with more complex timekeeping needs might find Square Payroll's time tracking features less robust compared to specialized time and attendance systems.
  • Customer Support
    Some users have reported that the customer support experience can be hit or miss, with occasional delays or inconsistent quality in responses.

Analysis of Pilot

Overall verdict

  • Pilot is generally considered a good choice for startups and growing businesses that need reliable financial services without the overhead of building an in-house finance team. Their focus on transparency, use of advanced technology, and startup-friendly approach make them a suitable partner for many young companies.

Why this product is good

  • Pilot (pilot.com) is a financial services firm that specializes in providing bookkeeping, tax, and CFO services primarily for startups and small businesses. Their services are appreciated for being tech-enabled, efficient, and tailored to the specific needs of fast-growing companies. By leveraging technology to automate routine tasks, Pilot aims to provide more accurate and timely financial data. This approach helps businesses make informed decisions based on up-to-date financial insights.

Recommended for

  • Startups looking to outsource their bookkeeping and financial needs.
  • Small to medium-sized businesses in need of CFO services.
  • Tech-savvy companies that value data-driven insights and automated solutions.
  • Businesses seeking to streamline their financial operations without the complexities of traditional accounting firms.

Analysis of Square Payroll

Overall verdict

  • Square Payroll is a strong contender in the payroll services market, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses that require a cost-effective, easy-to-use solution. It is best suited for those who prioritize simplicity and integration with existing Square services.

Why this product is good

  • Square Payroll is often considered a good option because it offers a seamless integration with other Square products, making it ideal for businesses already using the Square ecosystem. It provides user-friendly payroll processing, tax filing, and employee support features. The platform is appreciated for its straightforward interface, affordability, and the ability to handle both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors efficiently.

Recommended for

  • Small business owners using Square POS
  • Businesses that need to manage both employees and contractors
  • Companies seeking an affordable and user-friendly payroll solution
  • Entrepreneurs who value seamless accounting and payroll integration

Pilot videos

No Pilot videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Square Payroll videos

Square Payroll Review 2020: So easy to use

More videos:

  • Review - CUE Insights: Compare & Review Square Payroll Vs Gusto

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pilot and Square Payroll)
Accounting
100 100%
0% 0
HR
0 0%
100% 100
Bookkeeping
100 100%
0% 0
HR Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Pilot and Square Payroll. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pilot and Square Payroll

Pilot Reviews

  1. Gulab Singh
    · Founder at Warriors Defence Academy ·
    it is a good accounting software

    Smart Accounting for Growing Business is a user-friendly and efficient accounting solution designed to streamline financial management for expanding businesses. It offers features like automated bookkeeping, expense tracking, invoicing, and real-time financial insights.

Square Payroll Reviews

Top 8 Best Payroll Software For Accountants In 2022
VISIT SQUARE PAYROLLSquare PayrollDiscover the benefits and disadvantages of Square Payroll. Learn the software price, see the description, and read the most helpful reviews for UK business users.Capterra6. Rippling
Source: www.toksta.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pilot should be more popular than Square Payroll. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Pilot mentions (9)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2024)
    Pilot.com | San Francisco | Senior Software Engineers, Staff Software Engineers, Engineering Managers | https://pilot.com | Hybrid/SF & Remote Pilot runs your business’s financial back office so you don’t have to: our aim is to provide our customers with the same superpowers as large companies with full finance teams — superpowers that include having a deep understanding of financial health of the business, the... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2024)
    * Senior Software Engineer, Infrastructure ( All of our teams have unique charters to collectively build the software, services and systems that enable Pilot to deliver a high-quality experience, profitably, at scale. From the Banking Universe — teams that ingest, normalize, transform, and categorize customer financial data to the Business Universe — teams that ingest our customer revenue and expense information... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (December 2023)
    Pilot (https://pilot.com/) | Full-time | Onsite (SF) | Sr Software Engineer (Backend or Full-Stack) Pilot is a Series-C funded, 7-year-old successful startup that partners with other companies to run their financial back office. We let small businesses focus on what they do best -- running their business -- and offload to us the financial back office. We build software that makes this possible: software that... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Curious about fractional hiring. Have you done it? Why/why not?
    Curious to get this groups thoughts on fractional hiring. I’ve seen companies like Shiny or Pilot pilot that offer fractional c-suite folks, and I’m curious if anyone here has considered using any of these services - or what stopped you from pursuing a fractional hire? Source: about 2 years ago
  • Do you believe billionaires are inherently bad, why or why not?
    They should use it to create even more net positives for society (Like the founders of Pilot did, see here). Most of them at the moment find that helping other 'potential future billionaires' is a pretty good way of doing this (This is what a VC fund is generally, or Angel investors, very different dynamics to zero-sum investors). But I don't think you'll find any that just sit there with it. Besides - the whole... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Square Payroll mentions (1)

  • Payroll softwares for business with less than 5 employees?
    I highly recommend Square POS and their suite of small business software and services, they offer payroll and other important functionality in one place, making management of your business super easy and integrated. DM if you want to discuss... —Rocco. Source: almost 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pilot and Square Payroll, you can also consider the following products

Bench.co - Bench is the online bookkeeping service.

Deel - Payroll and compliance for international teams

Leap the Pond - AcctTwo is focused on delivering the future of finance and accounting to our customers.

Gusto - Gusto. Payroll, benefits and compliance in one integrated product. We're here to change how the world works, and put people first.

Papaya Global - Papaya integrates your entire global workforce and payroll management onto a single global platform connecting you to a network of verified local vendors

ADP Mobile Solutions - Payroll. Talent. Benefits. HR. Time. All in one.