Quick Answer: Which Should You Use?
Pay44 is the better choice if you want offline access, budgeting tools, and scenario comparison on your phone. It saves calculations and exports to PDF, CSV, or Text.
Choose SmartAsset if you prefer a browser-based calculator with no download required. SmartAsset has visual breakdowns and helpful state-specific tax guides built in.
Disclosure: Pay44 (Paycheck Calculator US) is developed by EHM Tech. We've done our best to present an honest comparison, including areas where SmartAsset has advantages. This comparison is for informational purposes only. We tested these tools in January 2026. Features, pricing, and availability may change. Always verify calculations with official payroll or tax professionals.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Platform: Pay44 is a mobile app (iOS/Android). SmartAsset is web-only.
- Offline access: Pay44 works without internet. SmartAsset requires a connection.
- Planning tools: Pay44 has budgeting, scenario simulation, and paycheck comparison built into the calculator. SmartAsset's budget calculator is standalone, but it's more detailed than Pay44's — factoring in location, household size, and income.
- Educational content: SmartAsset includes state-specific tax guides alongside calculations. Pay44 focuses on the numbers.
- Ads: SmartAsset has sponsored content and affiliate links. Pay44 offers optional ad removal.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Pay44 | SmartAsset |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS, Android | Web only |
| iOS Rating | 4.9 | N/A (web only) |
| Android Rating | 4.7 | N/A (web only) |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Offline Mode | Yes | No |
| All 50 States | Yes | Yes |
| Local/City Taxes | No | Yes |
| Account Required | No | No |
| Save Calculations | Yes | No |
| Export Results | PDF, CSV, Text, Grid | No |
| Visual Tax Breakdown | Yes | Yes (charts) |
| State Tax Guides | No | Yes |
| Monthly Budgeting | Yes (integrated) | Separate tool |
| What-If Scenarios | Yes (with deltas) | No |
| Compare Paychecks | Yes (normalized) | No |
| Hourly vs Salary Compare | Yes | No |
Pay44 (Paycheck Calculator US) Our Pick
Pay44 is a native mobile app with 4.9 stars on iOS and 4.7 on Android. It also includes integrated budgeting, scenario simulation, and paycheck comparison tools. SmartAsset's budget calculator is standalone, but it's more complete than Pay44's.
Budgeting Tool
SmartAsset has a separate budget calculator that factors in location and household size, but it's disconnected from your paycheck results. Pay44 integrates budgeting directly into your paycheck workflow, letting you combine multiple paychecks with custom income and expense items and visualize your money flow with waterfall charts.
Simulate Scenarios
SmartAsset doesn't save calculations between sessions, so there's no way to test "what if" scenarios. Pay44 saves everything and lets you adjust salary, hourly rate, or hours worked to instantly see deltas for gross pay, taxes, deductions, and net income.
Compare Paychecks
SmartAsset starts fresh every visit, so you'd need to write down results to compare them. Pay44 saves your calculations and compares them side-by-side in a normalized table showing gross income, taxes, deductions, and net pay, including hourly vs salary positions.
Other Features:
- 2026 federal and state tax tables for all 50 states
- Salary and hourly with multiple pay frequencies
- Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, health insurance)
- Post-tax deductions and additional withholding
- Works offline (no internet required)
- Export results as PDF, CSV, Text, or Grid
Pros
- Works offline
- Budgeting with visual charts
- What-if scenario simulation
- Side-by-side paycheck comparison
- Export to PDF, CSV, Text, Grid
- Save and revisit calculations
- Free with optional ad removal
Cons
- Mobile-only (no web version)
- No local/city tax support
- No built-in tax education content
Best for: Job offer comparisons, monthly budgeting, what-if planning, anyone who wants offline access on mobile.
SmartAsset Paycheck Calculator Best Web Experience
SmartAsset offers the cleanest browser-based paycheck calculator we tested. The interface is modern, the tax breakdowns are visual, and each state page includes helpful context about local taxes and deductions.
Key Features:
- Clean, modern web interface
- Visual breakdown showing where your money goes
- State-specific tax information and guides
- Helpful explanations alongside calculations
- Links to related financial tools
- Federal and state tax calculations for all 50 states
- No account or download required
Pros
- Cleanest web interface we tested
- Educational content built in
- Free to use
- No account required
- Visual tax breakdowns
- Some local tax support
- Standalone budget calculator that's more detailed than Pay44's, factoring in location, household size, and income
Cons
- Web-only (no mobile app)
- Contains sponsored content and affiliate links
- Cannot save or export calculations
- No scenario comparison
- Requires internet connection
Best for: Anyone who wants a quick paycheck estimate in the browser with helpful tax context and visual breakdowns.
When to Use Each Calculator
Choose Pay44 if you:
- Need offline access on your phone
- Are comparing job offers (normalized side-by-side comparison)
- Want to compare hourly vs salary positions on equal footing
- Need to build a monthly budget with visual charts
- Want to test "what if" scenarios (raises, new jobs, different states)
- Need to save and export results (PDF, CSV, Text, Grid)
- Prefer a dedicated mobile app experience
Choose SmartAsset if you:
- Prefer calculating in the browser without downloading an app
- Want educational content about your state's tax structure
- Need a quick, one-off paycheck estimate
- Want visual breakdowns of where your money goes
- Need local/city tax estimates
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Pay44 Paycheck Calculator. Mobile app with 2026 tax tables, all 50 states, and offline support.
- SmartAsset Paycheck Calculator. Web calculator with visual breakdowns and state tax guides.