What does PayslipIQ do that PaycheckCity does not?

PayslipIQ is built as a plain-English explainer first, calculator second. It walks you through what each line on a US pay stub means (federal income tax, FICA, state worker contributions like CA SDI and NY PFL, local taxes like NYC/Yonkers/Philadelphia/Detroit) — not just produce a number. We also offer an AI pay-stub upload explainer and city-level pages for 22 major US metros.

Yes. All core PayslipIQ tools — the Paycheck Calculator, Pay Stub Checker, Gross-to-Net Calculator, FICA Explainer, W-4 Guide, state pages, and city pages — are free with no account required.

Is PaycheckCity accurate?

PaycheckCity is a long-established calculator used by many payroll professionals. It is generally accurate for federal and state withholding. PayslipIQ uses the same IRS Publication 15-T tables and state DOR rates. Where calculators differ, the difference usually comes from interpretation of edge cases (multi-state, supplemental wages, ESPP).

Does PayslipIQ have the same state coverage as PaycheckCity?

PayslipIQ covers all 50 states + DC, plus 11 jurisdictions of explicit worker contributions (CA SDI, NY SDI + PFL, NJ SDI + FLI, MA PFML, OR Paid Leave, WA PFML + WA Cares, RI TDI, CO FAMLI, HI TDI, CT PFML, DC PFL). Plus 22 city-specific pages.

Where is the methodology behind PayslipIQ?

Publicly documented at /methodology with citations to IRS Notice 2025-67, IRS Publication 15-T (2026), SSA wage base, and each state DOR. PaycheckCity's detailed methodology is less publicly visible.

Why would I use PayslipIQ over PaycheckCity?

If you want a number, both work. If you want to understand why your paycheck is what it is — line by line in plain English — PayslipIQ was built specifically for that. If you want city-specific guidance (NYC/Yonkers/Philadelphia/Detroit local tax) without copy-pasting rates, PayslipIQ has dedicated city pages.

USA · COMPARISON · 2026 · Educational only

PayslipIQ vs PaycheckCity

Both tools calculate take-home pay. PayslipIQ adds a plain-English explainer for every line, an AI pay-stub upload tool, 22 city-specific calculators, an open methodology page, and explicit handling of state worker contributions (SDI / PFL / PFML / TDI / FAMLI).

Reviewed by PayslipIQ Editorial Team, in-house payroll editor

Last reviewed May 2026 · Editorial standards on methodology

Side-by-side

Feature	PayslipIQ	PaycheckCity
All 50 states + DC	Yes	Yes
Plain-English line-by-line explainer	Yes — every line	Limited
AI pay-stub upload explainer	Yes (waitlist)	No
State worker contributions explicit (SDI/PFL/PFML/TDI/FAMLI)	11 jurisdictions encoded	Partial
City-specific pages	22 metros	Few
Open methodology with citations	/methodology	Less visible
Free, no account required	Yes	Yes for basic
Spanish (beta)	Yes — /es/	Limited
FAQ + schema on every page (Google AI Overviews-ready)	Yes	Partial

What each tool does best

PaycheckCity is the long-running gold standard for raw payroll calculation, widely used by HR teams and payroll professionals. If you know exactly which number you want and want it fast, PaycheckCity delivers.

PayslipIQ is built around “I do not understand my pay stub.” Every line is explained in language a worker (not a payroll professional) can use. The tools sit next to the explanation, not behind it. The AI Pay Stub Checker is a unique feature — upload a stub and get a written, line-by-line explanation back.

When to use which

Use PaycheckCity if you are an HR/payroll professional confirming a number for a known scenario.
Use PayslipIQ if you are a worker trying to understand why your paycheck looks the way it does — or if you live in a state with SDI/PFL/PFML/TDI/FAMLI and want those lines explained.
Use both if you want a sanity check across two independent sources.

What we do not claim

PayslipIQ is educational only. It is not a substitute for advice from a CPA, EA, payroll specialist, or attorney. Numbers are estimates. Real paychecks depend on employer payroll software, mid-year W-4 amendments, multi-state nexus, benefits elections, and garnishments. Verify with your payroll team before relying on anything.

Common questions

What does PayslipIQ do that PaycheckCity does not?: PayslipIQ is built as a plain-English explainer first, calculator second. It walks you through what each line on a US pay stub means (federal income tax, FICA, state worker contributions like CA SDI and NY PFL, local taxes like NYC/Yonkers/Philadelphia/Detroit) — not just produce a number. We also offer an AI pay-stub upload explainer and city-level pages for 22 major US metros.
Is PayslipIQ free?: Yes. All core PayslipIQ tools — the Paycheck Calculator, Pay Stub Checker, Gross-to-Net Calculator, FICA Explainer, W-4 Guide, state pages, and city pages — are free with no account required.
Is PaycheckCity accurate?: PaycheckCity is a long-established calculator used by many payroll professionals. It is generally accurate for federal and state withholding. PayslipIQ uses the same IRS Publication 15-T tables and state DOR rates. Where calculators differ, the difference usually comes from interpretation of edge cases (multi-state, supplemental wages, ESPP).
Does PayslipIQ have the same state coverage as PaycheckCity?: PayslipIQ covers all 50 states + DC, plus 11 jurisdictions of explicit worker contributions (CA SDI, NY SDI + PFL, NJ SDI + FLI, MA PFML, OR Paid Leave, WA PFML + WA Cares, RI TDI, CO FAMLI, HI TDI, CT PFML, DC PFL). Plus 22 city-specific pages.
Where is the methodology behind PayslipIQ?: Publicly documented at /methodology with citations to IRS Notice 2025-67, IRS Publication 15-T (2026), SSA wage base, and each state DOR. PaycheckCity's detailed methodology is less publicly visible.
Why would I use PayslipIQ over PaycheckCity?: If you want a number, both work. If you want to understand why your paycheck is what it is — line by line in plain English — PayslipIQ was built specifically for that. If you want city-specific guidance (NYC/Yonkers/Philadelphia/Detroit local tax) without copy-pasting rates, PayslipIQ has dedicated city pages.

Try PayslipIQ

Paycheck Calculator

All 50 states + DC, 2026 rates.

AI Pay Stub Checker

Upload a stub, get an explanation.

PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, accounting, employment, benefits, or payroll advice. PayslipIQ is not a CPA firm, law firm, financial advisor, payroll provider, or tax authority. Always verify your paycheck, deductions, withholdings, and tax position with your employer's payroll department, a qualified CPA, the IRS, your state tax authority, or another appropriately qualified professional. Calculations are estimates; your actual paycheck may differ based on factors specific to your employer, location, benefits elections, and personal tax situation.

Frequently asked questions