Side by side
| 123PayStubs | PayDocs | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per pay stub | $3.99 from the second stub | $4.99 per pay stub, or packs of 4 ($14.99) and 12 ($35.99); pack credits never expire. Checkout opens soon: you can make and preview documents now |
| Free to try | First stub free | Unlimited free preview of the finished pay stub (watermarked), no account or card. No free PDF |
| Add-on fees (per stub) | Optional: advanced federal and state withholding $1, additional earnings and deductions (tips, overtime, bonuses) $2, deposit slip $1, time-off policy $1 | None: every field, line and layout is included in the price |
| Layouts | 30+ templates | 6 layouts for US pay stubs |
| Other forms | None listed on its pricing or features page | Form W-2 (employee copies), Form 1099-NEC (recipient copies) and Form 1099-MISC (recipient copies), each priced like one pay stub |
| Tax calculation | Federal and state withholding from Form W-4 (2020 and 2019 versions); its home page says all 50 states | Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for 2026 pay dates, plus state income tax in 40 states. You enter local taxes. Every line stays editable |
| Account | Sign-in account with saved employees and stub history; two-factor sign-in offered | Not needed to create or preview. A free account saves drafts, employees and documents |
| Corrections | Unlimited free corrections; after an order is complete, through its support team | Free for 30 days for the same employer, employee and pay period, done yourself in the workspace |
| Refunds | For a double payment, a stub you can't view or download, or one you can't edit; not for change of mind, doubts about the calculations or edits after 48 hours | Within 30 days if the document fails because of us, you were charged twice, or a pack is unused (less one document) |
| Phone app | iOS and Android apps | No app. The generator works in a phone browser |
Checked October 8, 2026. From 123paystubs.com/pricing, /features, the home page and /refund-policy. "Not stated" means the pages we read didn't say, not that the feature is missing. The PayDocs column is read from PayDocs' live prices and settings when this page is built.
What a pay stub costs on each
The headline prices are close, so the add-ons decide it. 123PayStubs lists its add-ons on the same pricing page as the $3.99 price. PayDocs has one price per stub whatever lines it carries.
| The stub you need | 123PayStubs | PayDocs |
|---|---|---|
| Salary or hourly pay, standard taxes | $3.99 | $4.99 |
| Plus overtime, tips or a bonus line | $5.99 ($3.99 + $2 add-on) | $4.99 |
| Plus the advanced withholding add-on | $6.99 ($3.99 + $2 + $1) | $4.99 |
123PayStubs prices read from 123paystubs.com/pricing on 8 October 2026. PayDocs packs of 4 and 12 bring its price per stub down; the current pack prices are in the table above and on the PayDocs pricing page.
Where 123PayStubs is better
- Your first stub is free. PayDocs lets you preview as often as you like, but every PDF you keep is paid for.
- A plain salary stub costs less: $3.99 against $4.99, if you need none of the add-ons.
- More choice of look. Its pricing page lists 30+ templates; PayDocs has six layouts.
- Phone apps for iOS and Android, with stubs and employee profiles kept in sync with the website. PayDocs runs in a phone browser and has no app.
- You can buy a stub today. On the day we checked, the PayDocs checkout wasn't open yet.
Where PayDocs is better
- No add-ons. Overtime, tips, bonuses, extra deductions and every layout are in the $4.99 price, so a stub with an overtime line costs the same as one without.
- You see the finished stub before you pay. The free preview is the same document as the PDF, with a watermark, and you can redo it as many times as you like.
- Corrections are free for 30 days and you make them yourself in the workspace. 123PayStubs' refund policy excludes edits more than 48 hours after the stub is created and paid for.
- More than pay stubs. PayDocs also makes employee copies of Form W-2 and recipient copies of 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC, each priced like one stub, plus UK payslips and P60s.
- Pack credits never expire, which suits a household employer who pays a nanny every week.
On tax: PayDocs works out federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and supported state taxes for 2026 pay dates (see what we calculate). Each calculated line names the IRS or state rule set it came from, and you can overwrite any figure with the one from your payroll record.
Which one should you choose?
Choose 123PayStubs if you want one free stub, a phone app or a wider choice of templates, and your stubs are plain salary or hourly pay with no extra lines.
Choose PayDocs if your stubs carry overtime, tips or bonuses, if you want to check the finished document before paying, or if you also need W-2 or 1099 copies at the end of the year. It is built for employers recording pay they made, including household employers.
Either way, try the free part first: 123PayStubs' first stub, or a PayDocs preview with your own figures, then compare the two documents line by line.
What neither one does
Both make the pay stub document. Neither pays your employees, deposits payroll taxes or files Forms 941, 940 or W-2 with the government for you. If you need those jobs done, you need payroll software or a payroll service; our comparison of pay stub generators on the blog lists what each type of tool covers.
Questions
Is 123PayStubs cheaper than PayDocs?
For a plain stub, yes: $3.99 against $4.99 on 8 October 2026, and its first stub is free. Once a stub needs an add-on, such as the $2 one for overtime or bonus lines, 123PayStubs costs more than PayDocs.
Does 123PayStubs charge for add-ons?
Yes, optionally. Its pricing page lists advanced federal and state withholding at $1, additional earnings and deductions at $2, a deposit slip at $1 and a time-off policy at $1, each per stub. PayDocs has no add-ons.
Which has more pay stub templates?
123PayStubs. Its pricing page lists 30+ templates. PayDocs has six layouts for US pay stubs, each showing this period and year-to-date columns, and you can preview all six free before you pay.
Can I make a W-2 with either one?
PayDocs makes employee copies of Form W-2 and recipient copies of 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC. We found no W-2 or 1099 forms on 123PayStubs' pricing or features pages on 8 October 2026.
Why doesn't this page rate the two?
A score would be invented. We list only what each company publishes on its own site, with the date we read it, and say where we think each one is the better fit.
Other comparisons
Sources
- 123PayStubs: Pricing (read October 8, 2026)
- 123PayStubs: Features (read October 8, 2026)
- 123PayStubs: Home page (read October 8, 2026)
- 123PayStubs: Refund policy (read October 8, 2026)
- PayDocs: Pricing (read October 8, 2026)
- PayDocs: Refund policy (read October 8, 2026)
123PayStubs facts come from its own public pages on the date shown; prices and features change, so check its site before you buy. We haven’t bought from 123PayStubs, and this page rates no one. Product names identify the services compared; PayDocs isn’t affiliated with 123PayStubs. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.