Comparison

Payroll Congress vs Surf Payroll

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Payroll Congress

Access world-class education and networking at the 2026 Payroll Congress & Expo. Build a customized program from workshops on payroll, tax, finance, HR, and benefits. Stay updated on legislative changes and connect with industry experts.

Highlights
  • Customizable education program
  • Workshops on payroll and tax
  • Networking opportunities
  • Latest legislative updates
  • Access to expo information
Features
Read full description

Discover the keys to solving your most complex payroll challenges and unlock strategic leadership at the 2026 Payroll Congress & Expo! Join thousands of your colleagues for world-class education in payroll, tax, finance, global mobility, human resources, and benefits. The Payroll Congress app allows attendees to build a customized education program from a wide variety of workshops covering topics pertaining to domestic and foreign payroll, accounts payable, human resources, management, benefits, technology, and career development. Payroll Congress provides crucial payroll updates, unparalleled networking opportunities, and the chance to hear the latest legislative and regulatory changes directly from government representatives and industry experts. Plus, it features the industry's largest payroll, AP, and finance expo.

About

Surf Payroll

Features
Read full description

SURF Payroll makes payroll simple for businesses, employees, and CPAs. Business owners: Run payroll, manage employees and benefits, review expenses, and access paystubs. CPAs: Manage clients, onboard companies, jump into client accounts, track deadlines, create reminders, and sync calendars. Employees: View paystubs, manage your profile, submit expenses, and stay updated. Securely access your account with 2FA, Face ID, Touch ID, and SURF App PIN. One app. One SURF experience. Note: 1. A Surf account is required to use the app. Employers/CPAs must be active Surf customers to sign in. 2. Employees can access the app only if their Employer/CPA uses Surf and has provided them with portal access. Download Surf and simplify your payroll experience today.

Screenshots

Payroll Congress3 screens
Surf Payroll4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Surf Payroll at every 10 days against Payroll Congress's every 5 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Payroll Congress ships an update every 5 months, Surf Payroll every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Payroll Congress versus Surf Payroll: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPayroll CongressSurf Payroll
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB99 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAmerican Payroll Institute, IncJaya Peddineni

In-app purchases

None

Payroll Congress

No in-app purchases

None

Surf Payroll

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Payroll Congress free?
Payroll Congress is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Surf Payroll free?
Surf Payroll is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Payroll Congress or Surf Payroll have ads?
Neither Payroll Congress nor Surf Payroll shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Payroll Congress or Surf Payroll?
Payroll Congress ships an update every 5 months, and Surf Payroll every 10 days. Most recently, Payroll Congress was updated on November 3, 2026 and Surf Payroll on October 31, 2026.

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