CheckMark Payroll vs Kit by KitchenSync
CheckMark Payroll
checkmark.com
Kit by KitchenSync
kitchensync.usSide by side
| Figure | CheckMark Payroll | Kit by KitchenSync |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $20/mo | $1,500/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 3 |
| Spec score · Restaurant Payroll Software | 9.2 (#2) | 7.8 (#11) |
| Integrations | The restaurant page says payroll data can be exported to CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and other accounting software. | The site says Kit works with Toast, QuickBooks, bank feeds, and other POS systems; its privacy policy also names Square and Clover POS systems. |
| Privacy | CheckMark says it does not sell customer personal or company information to others. | The site says client data is kept private to each group, is not used to train AI models, and AI decisions have an audit trail. |
| Purpose | CheckMark Payroll is desktop, do-it-yourself payroll software marketed to restaurants, bars, breweries, and other tip-based businesses. | Kit is an AI back office for multi-unit restaurant operators that handles reconciliation, accounts payable, cash forecasting, payroll, labor, and margin monitoring. |
| Security | The company says desktop payroll data is encrypted locally, while Online Payroll uses encryption in transit and at rest with login access controls. | The privacy policy describes TLS 1.2 or higher in transit, AES-256 or equivalent at rest, role-based access controls, security testing, monitoring, and SOC 2-audited or similarly certified hosting providers. |
| Support | Support is offered by phone, email, chat and online program fixes, with Pro and Pro+ plans specifying included support time. | The contact page says KitchenSync replies to inquiries within one business day. |
Plans
CheckMark Payroll
- CheckMark Online Payroll$20 a month
- CheckMark Payroll Pro$579 a year
- CheckMark Payroll Pro$599 a year
- CheckMark Payroll Pro+$649 a year
- CheckMark Payroll Pro+$669 a year
Kit by KitchenSync
- Kit Essentials$1,500 a month
- Kit Pro$1,950 a month
- Kit Max$7,500 a month
In their own words
CheckMark Payroll
CheckMark Payroll is desktop do-it-yourself payroll software marketed to restaurants, bars, breweries, and other tip-based businesses. It calculates and tracks tipped wages, and supports automated pay calculations, multiple pay schedules, special checks, check edits and reissues, and wage allocation. The restaurant offering advertises unlimited employees, locations, and payroll runs without extra charges for payroll frequency. Employers can print MICR checks or create ACH direct deposit files for submission to a bank or ACH provider. Listed tax and reporting functions include federal payroll form printing, W-2 and W-3 printing and e-filing, employer payroll tax filings, and access to more than 40 payroll report types. Payroll data can be exported to CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and other accounting software. The desktop software is available for Windows and macOS, but an internet connection is required for installation, activation, and use. A 60-day trial is offered without a credit card. Pro costs $599 a year in the first year and $419 a year from the second year; Pro+ costs $669 a year in the first year and $489 a year from the second year. Both include one company and one computer.
Kit by KitchenSync
Kit by KitchenSync is an AI back office for multi-unit restaurant operators, combining finance and workforce functions such as reconciliation, accounts payable, cash forecasting, payroll, labor and margin monitoring. It reconciles bank transactions overnight, prepares weekly P&Ls, codes invoices and flags possible duplicate or excessive charges. Its cash forecast rolls 13 weeks ahead. Kit works with Toast, QuickBooks, bank feeds and other POS systems; Square and Clover are also named in its privacy policy. A KitchenSync team reviews AI work and investigates anomalies, with staff accountants and a relationship manager listed on the product page. The company says client data stays private to each group, is not used to train AI models, and AI decisions have an audit trail. Kit can be explored free using sample data, without a credit card or sales call; charges begin when customers connect their own data. Kit Essentials costs $1,500 per location per month. Kit Pro is $1,950 per location per month, and Kit Max is $7,500 per location per month. Android, iOS, web and API platforms are listed.