If you've decided you want someone else to handle your nanny taxes, HomePay and Poppins Payroll are probably on your shortlist. Both are full-service, meaning they calculate your taxes and file them for you.
The fastest pricing answer: HomePay's published rates are $75/mo Premium ($900/yr) or $59/mo Basic ($708/yr); Poppins lists $49/mo ($588/yr for one employee, +$10/mo per additional). Both cover federal employment taxes per IRS Publication 926 and all 50 states.
So what's actually different beyond price?
Why You're Paying $588–$900/Year for "Full-Service"
Both HomePay and Poppins are full-service — they file your nanny taxes for you. Per IRS Publication 926:
"If you have a household employee, you may need to withhold and pay social security and Medicare taxes, pay federal unemployment tax, or both."
That filing burden — Form W-2 to SSA, Schedule H attached to your 1040, quarterly state unemployment returns, and any state withholding filings — is what these services charge you to handle. Filing yourself takes about 15 minutes per quarter on the IRS and state websites. The $312/year price gap between Poppins and HomePay Premium buys you Care.com integration and a longer brand history — not better tax calculations.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Poppins Payroll is $49/month for one employee ($588/year) — about $312/year cheaper than HomePay Premium and $120/year cheaper than HomePay Basic. Both file your taxes for you and cover all 50 states. (Poppins charges +$10/month per additional employee; HomePay's flat fee covers your household regardless of headcount.)
| Feature | HomePay (Basic) | HomePay (Premium) | Poppins Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $59 | $75 | $49 |
| Annual total | $708 | $900 | ~$588 |
| Files taxes for you | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Direct deposit | Included | Included | Included |
| All 50 states | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated phone support | No | Yes | Yes (98% answered in <15 sec) |
| Tax ID applications | No | Yes | Included |
| Care.com integration | Yes | Yes | No |
Poppins is significantly cheaper — $312 less per year than HomePay's Premium plan, and $120 less than the stripped-down Basic.
Pricing Breakdown
HomePay's Premium plan is $75/month ($900/year) and includes dedicated phone support, tax ID applications, tax agency communications, and a Care.com Premium membership. A stripped-down Basic plan exists at $59/month ($708/year) but drops dedicated support and tax ID help.
Poppins charges $49/month for one employee, +$10/month per additional. W-2, Schedule H, pay stubs, nanny contracts, EIN help: all included. Annual total: about $588 (one employee) or $708 (two). New customers' signup-month is free.
That's a $312/year difference compared to HomePay's Premium tier — for two services that do fundamentally the same thing. Even vs. Basic, Poppins saves $120/year.
Where HomePay Wins
Available everywhere. HomePay covers all 50 states, with nearly two decades of experience navigating state-specific rules.
Established track record. Breedlove & Associates — the business behind HomePay — has been doing nanny payroll since 1992, carries an A+ BBB rating, and has been BBB-accredited since 2016. Care.com (founded 2006) acquired Breedlove in 2012 and rebranded the service as HomePay. Three decades of household payroll experience under the hood, even though the HomePay name itself is newer.
Care.com integration. If you found your nanny through Care.com, the connection is seamless. Makes sense, since Care.com owns HomePay.
For a deeper look at HomePay specifically, see our full HomePay review.
Where Poppins Wins
Price. $312/year cheaper than HomePay Premium. What you see is what you pay.
Support speed. Poppins advertises that 98% of calls are answered in under 15 seconds. HomePay has BBB complaints about hold times, so this is a meaningful difference if you value phone support.
Extras included. Poppins bundles customizable nanny contracts and hands-on EIN registration into the subscription. HomePay offers a sample contract template and handles EIN through their tax application packet, but Poppins makes these more front-and-center.
Cleaner experience. Poppins has a more modern interface. HomePay's platform works fine, but it feels like it was last redesigned a few years ago.
For more on Poppins, check out our Poppins Payroll review.
Where They're the Same
Both HomePay and Poppins cover all 50 states, so availability isn't a deciding factor. You can look up your state's specific nanny tax requirements on our state guides page to understand what's involved either way.
What They Have in Common
Both HomePay and Poppins:
- Calculate federal and state taxes for each payroll
- File your quarterly tax forms with the IRS and state agencies
- Prepare and file your W-2 and Schedule H at year-end
- Include direct deposit at no extra charge
- Offer phone support with real humans
If filing your own taxes is a non-starter, either service will handle it. The question is really about price, support, and how much the extras matter to you.
Who Should Pick Which
Go with HomePay if:
- You found your nanny through Care.com and want seamless integration
- You value the longest track record in the industry (Breedlove since 1992; Care.com acquired and rebranded as HomePay in 2012)
- The $312/year difference doesn't move the needle for you
Go with Poppins if:
- You want the lower price without giving up full-service filing
- Fast phone support matters to you (98% of calls answered in under 15 seconds)
- You want nanny contracts and EIN help bundled in
A Third Option Worth Knowing About
Self-service nanny payroll exists at a fraction of these prices. If you're comfortable spending 15 minutes per quarter filing forms on the IRS and state websites, the math changes dramatically.
NannyKeeper is a self-service payroll tool that costs $10-$18/month ($100-$180/year on annual billing). It calculates all the same federal and state taxes, generates your W-2 and Schedule H, and sends email reminders before every deadline. The difference: you file the forms yourself, which takes about 15 minutes per quarter on the IRS and state websites.
| HomePay (Basic) | Poppins | NannyKeeper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $708 | ~$588 | $100–$180 |
| Direct deposit | Included | Included | $6-$8/transfer |
| Files for you | Yes | Yes | No (you file) |
| All 50 states | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Use our nanny tax calculator to see what you'd actually owe in your state. It's free, no signup needed.
See what you'll owe
Use our free calculator to estimate your nanny tax costs for 2026.
FAQ
Is Poppins Payroll cheaper than HomePay?
Yes. Poppins costs about $588/year compared to HomePay's $900/year (Premium) or $708/year (Basic). That's a $312/year savings vs. Premium. Both are full-service and include direct deposit.
Does Poppins Payroll work in all 50 states?
Yes. Poppins now covers all 50 states, same as HomePay and NannyKeeper. State availability is not a differentiator between these services.
Is HomePay the same company as Breedlove?
Yes. HomePay was formerly Breedlove & Associates before being acquired by Care.com and rebranded. Same service, new name.
What's the cheapest way to do nanny payroll?
Self-service tools like NannyKeeper start at $10/month ($100/year on annual billing) and handle all 50 states. You file the forms yourself using the documents and reminders the platform provides. If you want full-service filing, Poppins at $49/month is the most affordable option.
Can I switch between HomePay and Poppins mid-year?
Yes. You can switch nanny payroll providers at any time. Your new provider will handle filings going forward, and you'll get a W-2 covering the full calendar year. Switching at the start of a quarter makes the transition cleanest.
Compare NannyKeeper vs HomePay →