nominaHQ vs PayDay
PayDay is one of the longest-standing payroll solutions in Panama, with a broad product suite. nominaHQ is a newer, 100%-cloud platform with transparent pricing and instant sign-up. Here's how to choose based on what you value.
| nominaHQ | PayDay | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | 100% cloud, multi-company, multi-tenant | Established suite (includes a cloud option) |
| Pricing | Published, per employee; free 30-day trial, no card | Contact the vendor |
| Getting started | Instant self-service sign-up, no meetings | Via contact or demo |
| Panama compliance | CSS/SIPE, ISR, décimo, vacations, liquidations, Ley 462 by date | Panama payroll compliance |
| API & webhooks | Yes — REST v1 and signed webhooks, documented | Contact the vendor |
| Free calculators & guides | Yes, no sign-up | — |
| For accountants & BPO | Native multi-company, one account for all clients | Contact the vendor |
| Language | Spanish (Panama) + English | Spanish |
When to choose nominaHQ
If you want to start today without going through sales, know exactly what you'll pay, run several companies from one account, or integrate payroll with your stack via API — nominaHQ is built for that.
Note: this comparison is based on public information and nominaHQ's approach as of June 2026. Other vendors' features may change; verify directly with them. PayDay is a trademark of its respective owner.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare nominaHQ's cost against PayDay if PayDay doesn't publish prices?
nominaHQ publishes its per-employee monthly price on annual billing: $3.11 (1–25 employees), $2.60 (26–100) and $2.08 (101–300), with a $25/month minimum on the Starter plan and custom pricing for 300+. PayDay is quoted by the vendor, so multiply your headcount by nominaHQ's rate and ask PayDay for an equivalent quote to compare apples to apples.
If I switch to nominaHQ mid-year, does the décimo and CSS calculation stay correct?
Yes. nominaHQ applies the current Panama rules: 1/12 of earnings for the décimo (15 April, August and December partidas) and date-based CSS rates under Ley 462 (9.75% employee / 13.25% employer on ordinary salary). You just load the year's accumulated totals so the partidas and withholdings come out exact from your very first payroll run.
I'm coming from a closed suite like PayDay; can I integrate payroll with my other systems in nominaHQ?
Yes. nominaHQ is API-first: it offers a public REST v1 API and signed, documented webhooks, plus native CifraHQ integration, to connect payroll with your accounting or your own software. It also generates the SIPE file for CSS and ACH files for the banks, with no manual exports.
Can I try nominaHQ before leaving my current provider?
Yes. The free trial runs 30 days, up to 5 employees and no credit card, with instant self-service sign-up and no sales meetings. You can run it in parallel with your current payroll to compare results before deciding.