Reviewed Sep 13, 2026 · 7 calculators · 6 criteria · No paid rankings

Best Free Paycheck Calculators,
Compared and Scored

SmartAsset is the best free paycheck calculator for most U.S. workers because it combines federal withholding with broad state and local tax coverage. BoringToolsKit scores #2 on our rubric because privacy and showing the math matter, but it remains weaker for local-tax estimates. ADP is the strongest alternative for standard W-2 payroll scenarios.

See the rankingsTry our paycheck calculator

The BoringToolsKit paycheck calculator, ranked #2 here by the same weighted criteria as every other tool.

Why you can trust this ranking

We run this site, and our own paycheck calculator is in this ranking — ranked #2 by the same weighted criteria as every other tool, weaknesses stated plainly. We earn nothing from links to competitors.

See how we tested ↓

Best by situation

Jump straight to the calculator built for your case.

Best overall
SmartAsset
State + local taxes
ranked #1 · score 84.6
Best for W-2
ADP
Employer-grade defaults
ranked #3 · score 83.5
Best for privacy
BoringToolsKit
Shows the math
ranked #2 · score 84.0
Best for hourly
PaycheckCity
Overtime handling
ranked #4 · score 79.3

Which paycheck calculator should you use?

Do you pay city or local income tax?
Yes → SmartAsset — broadest local coverage
Do you want to see every calculation line?
Yes → BoringToolsKit — full math shown, nothing stored
Are you costing out an employee?
Yes → Gusto
Hourly pay with overtime?
Yes → PaycheckCity

The scorecard

Rankings follow the weighted score. Every dimension score is shown so you can check our arithmetic; the published score is the exact weighted result rounded to one decimal. We do not claim a score is an independently audited accuracy certification.

CalculatorOverall Tax coverage Deduction handling Pay frequency Privacy Clarity Shows the math
SmartAsset84.6969095508850
BoringToolsKit Paycheck Calculator ✓84.068869010095100
ADP Salary Paycheck Calculator83.5928990658055
PaycheckCity79.3888885456274
Gusto Paycheck Calculator73.9806680558072
Calculator.net Take-Home Pay Calculator73.8747288922586
Forbes Advisor Paycheck Calculator71.1846485457442

Weights: Tax coverage 35% · Deduction handling 20% · Pay frequency 15% · Privacy 10% · Clarity 10% · Shows the math 10%. Ties break on tax-coverage breadth.

The rankings, one by one

#1Best overall84.6/ 100

SmartAsset

complete state and local tax coverage

The most complete free paycheck calculator on tax tables, period. Covers federal withholding, FICA and every state's income tax, plus many local jurisdictions, with a visual percentage-of-paycheck breakdown.

The catch: The visual polish hides some of the math; you see the result more than the calculation.

Choose this if

  • You need accurate numbers for a specific state or city
  • You want to see what share of gross goes to each tax

Skip this if

  • You want every intermediate calculation line explained
  • You dislike financial-site advertising and data collection
Open SmartAsset ↗Score breakdown
#2Best for privacy84.0/ 100

BoringToolsKit Paycheck Calculator

privacy, clarity and showing the math

The clearest answer with every line of math shown, and no account, no email and no stored inputs. Federal and FICA withholding with each deduction line displayed and explained; works instantly on mobile with the answer above the fold; nothing you enter is stored.

Why we did not rank ourselves #1: State income tax handling is simpler than SmartAsset's, and local taxes are not covered. If your paycheck depends on city or county tax, use SmartAsset instead.

Choose this if

  • You care about who sees your financial inputs (nobody, here)
  • You want to understand the calculation, not just see a number
  • You want a fast answer on a phone

Skip this if

  • You need city or county level tax accuracy
  • You need employer-side cost views
Open our calculatorScore breakdown
#3Best for W-283.5/ 100

ADP Salary Paycheck Calculator

standard W-2 scenarios with employer-grade defaults

Employer-grade defaults make this the most realistic W-2 estimate. ADP runs payroll for millions of workers, and its default deduction assumptions match what actually appears on a pay stub more often than competitors.

The catch: State coverage is per-state pages rather than one tool, and the interface pushes ADP services.

Choose this if

  • You are a salaried employee and want the most realistic default assumptions
  • You want both the hourly and salary variants

Skip this if

  • You have complex pre-tax deductions
  • You are not in the US
Open ADP ↗Score breakdown
#4Best for hourly79.3/ 100

PaycheckCity

hourly workers with overtime

The deepest hourly and overtime handling of any free tool. Separate hourly and salaried calculators with detailed gross-up and overtime options, plus per-state variants.

The catch: Dated interface and heavier ad load than the rest of this list.

Choose this if

  • Your pay is hourly with variable overtime
  • You need gross-up calculations

Skip this if

  • You want a fast, clean mobile experience
Open PaycheckCity ↗Score breakdown
#5Tested Sep 202673.9/ 100

Gusto Paycheck Calculator

the employer-side view

Best free tool for what an employee actually costs an employer. Shows employer taxes and total cost to company alongside net pay, which no other free calculator does cleanly.

The catch: It is a lead-in to Gusto's paid payroll service, and the employee-side deduction detail is thinner than ADP.

Choose this if

  • You run a small business and want true employment cost
  • You are comparing offers as an employer

Skip this if

  • You are an employee who only wants net pay
Open Gusto ↗Score breakdown
#6Tested Sep 202673.8/ 100

Calculator.net Take-Home Pay Calculator

power users who want every field

The maximum-control option: every parameter, exposed. Unmatched field depth for people who know exactly what their withholdings are and want to drive every input themselves.

The catch: Dense layout intimidates anyone who does not already understand payroll terms.

Choose this if

  • You know payroll mechanics and want full control
  • You are checking another calculator's work

Skip this if

  • You want a quick answer with sensible defaults
Open Calculator.net ↗Score breakdown
#7Tested Sep 202671.1/ 100

Forbes Advisor Paycheck Calculator

state-by-state guidance

Solid calculator with strong state-specific supporting content. Per-state pages combine the calculation with plainly written tax context for that state.

The catch: Fewer pre-tax deduction fields than ADP or PaycheckCity, and heavy advertising.

Choose this if

  • You want the calculation plus plain-language tax context for your state

Skip this if

  • You need deep deduction modeling
Open Forbes ↗Score breakdown

Side by side

Weights reflect what actually changes a paycheck estimate: tax tables dominate, presentation does not.

CalculatorScoreBest forThe catch
SmartAsset84.6complete state and local tax coverageThe visual polish hides some of the math; you see the result more than the calculation.
BoringToolsKit Paycheck Calculator84.0privacy, clarity and showing the mathState income tax handling is simpler than SmartAsset's, and local taxes are not covered. If your paycheck depends on city or county tax, use SmartAsset instead.
ADP Salary Paycheck Calculator83.5standard W-2 scenarios with employer-grade defaultsState coverage is per-state pages rather than one tool, and the interface pushes ADP services.
PaycheckCity79.3hourly workers with overtimeDated interface and heavier ad load than the rest of this list.
Gusto Paycheck Calculator73.9the employer-side viewIt is a lead-in to Gusto's paid payroll service, and the employee-side deduction detail is thinner than ADP.
Calculator.net Take-Home Pay Calculator73.8power users who want every fieldDense layout intimidates anyone who does not already understand payroll terms.
Forbes Advisor Paycheck Calculator71.1state-by-state guidanceFewer pre-tax deduction fields than ADP or PaycheckCity, and heavy advertising.
Six weighted criteria used to rank free paycheck calculators: tax coverage 35 percent, deduction handling 20 percent, pay frequency 15 percent, privacy 10 percent, clarity 10 percent, shows the math 10 percent
Six weighted criteria used to rank free paycheck calculators: tax coverage 35 percent, deduction handling 20 percent, pay frequency 15 percent, privacy 10 percent, clarity 10 percent, shows the math 10 percent

How we tested

7calculators
6criteria
Rubricscored consistently
6dimensions
Sep 13last verified

Methodology. We compared all seven calculators in September 2026 using a documented six-dimension rubric: tax coverage, deduction handling, pay frequency, privacy, clarity and whether the calculation is explained. We recorded the visible capabilities, input requirements and output presentation on each tool's live page, then applied the same weights to every product, including our own. This is a comparative rubric review, not a claim that every tool was run through an identical automated benchmark dataset; limitations and source links are provided so readers can verify the products themselves.

Change log

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my take-home pay from gross salary?
Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, FSA), subtract federal income tax withholding using the current year's brackets, subtract FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the wage base plus 1.45% Medicare), subtract any state and local income tax, then subtract post-tax deductions. A paycheck calculator does these steps for you; the best ones show each line.
Which paycheck calculators are most accurate?
Accuracy mostly comes down to tax tables. SmartAsset and ADP maintain the most complete state and local tables. For standard W-2 scenarios with simple deductions, most calculators in this list agree within a dollar or two; differences appear with local taxes and unusual deductions.
Do paycheck calculators include state and local taxes?
All seven tools here handle federal tax and FICA. State coverage varies, and local (city or county) tax is where tools differ most: SmartAsset covers many local jurisdictions, while simpler tools like BoringToolsKit and Calculator.net handle state-level only. If you live somewhere with local income tax, prefer a tool that covers it.
Are free paycheck calculators safe to use?
A safe calculator needs no account, no email and should not store what you enter. BoringToolsKit and Calculator.net work with no sign-in at all. Avoid entering your Social Security number anywhere; no legitimate paycheck calculator needs it.

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