PayStubNest vs ThePayStubs: price, taxes and templates compared (2026)
ThePayStubs charges about $8.99 per pay stub. PayStubNest charges $1 with a free preview, 50-state tax tables, 18 templates and YTD carried across a series. Side-by-side comparison.
Published
ThePayStubs is one of the most visited pay stub generators in the US. It is a solid product, and it is also one of the more expensive ones: a single pay stub costs about $8.99. This page lays out how PayStubNest compares, feature by feature, so you can decide which one fits your payroll.
Create a pay stub on PayStubNest — preview is free, a download is $1.
Side by side
| Feature | PayStubNest | ThePayStubs |
|---|---|---|
| Price per pay stub | $1 | About $8.99 |
| Preview before paying | Free, figures hidden until you pay | Limited |
| Unlimited plan | $9.99 / month or $99.99 / year | Not offered |
| Federal and state withholding | All 50 states + DC, 2025 and 2026 tables | Yes |
| Year-to-date totals | Automatic, carried across a series | Entered per stub |
| Templates | 18, plus your own designs | A handful |
| Contractor (1099) stubs | Yes | Yes |
| Direct deposit advice | Optional add-on | Not listed |
| Account required | Yes (free) | No |
| Other documents (W-2, 1099 forms) | No | Yes, sold separately |
Where ThePayStubs is the better fit
ThePayStubs also sells W-2 and 1099 forms and lets you check out without creating an account. If you need those tax forms from the same vendor, or you only ever need one stub and do not want an account, it is a reasonable choice.
Where PayStubNest is the better fit
If you issue pay stubs more than once, price is the difference. Ten stubs cost about $89.90 on ThePayStubs and $10 on PayStubNest, or $9.99 for an unlimited month. PayStubNest also carries year-to-date totals forward automatically, so a run of biweekly stubs stays consistent without re-typing the YTD figures each time.
What PayStubNest includes at $1
- Federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security and Medicare withholding for all 50 states and DC, from the published withholding tables (tax years 2025 and 2026).
- Year-to-date totals carried forward across a series of pay stubs, generated in one go.
- 18 templates, your own template designs, and your company logo.
- Hourly or salary pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions and custom deductions on their own lines.
- Contractor (1099) payment statements and an optional direct deposit advice.
- A free preview of every pay stub before you pay. Credits never expire.
- Unlimited plans for businesses that run payroll regularly: $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
PayStubNest is a payroll record-keeping tool. It is meant for pay stubs that reflect pay that was actually issued or received; see the Acceptable Use Policy.
Competitor prices and features were checked on October 20, 2026 from the vendors' public pages and can change at any time. PayStubNest is not affiliated with any company named on this page. If you spot an error, email support@paystubnest.com and we will correct it.