Patriot Payroll Software Review: Features, Pros & Cons

Patriot Payroll’s comprehensive software works best for small and midsize businesses that need excellent customer support, thorough payroll tools, and a below-average starting price. However, Patriot Payroll’s less extensive HR and workforce-management capabilities mean it won’t work as well for businesses that want payroll alongside more advanced HR capabilities such as recruiting, performance management, and broader workforce management.

Patriot Payroll pricing

Patriot Payroll has two payroll plans with transparent monthly pricing. Basic Payroll starts at $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid, while Full Service Payroll costs $37 per month plus $5 per worker paid. Patriot charges the per-worker fee only once per month, regardless of how many payroll runs you process.

Basic Payroll

Patriot’s Basic Payroll plan costs $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid.

The self-service plan includes payroll calculations, unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, employee and contractor payments, and year-end tax forms. Patriot calculates federal, state, and local payroll taxes, but your business is responsible for filing payroll tax returns and making the required tax deposits.

Full Service Payroll

Patriot’s Full Service Payroll plan costs $37 per month plus $5 per worker paid.

It includes the payroll features in Basic Payroll, plus federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and deposits. Year-end W-2 and 1099 filing is also included.

Patriot also offers a tax-filing guarantee for Full Service Payroll. If Patriot makes an error while filing or depositing your payroll taxes, the company says it will correct the mistake and cover resulting penalties or interest.

Patriot Payroll’s key features

Payroll features

Patriot Payroll includes unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, employee self-service, and payroll tax support in both plans. Key features include:

• Unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle payrolls, at no additional charge.
• Free four-day direct deposit, with two-day direct deposit available to qualifying customers.
• Employee self-service for viewing paychecks and pay stubs, accessing W-2s, updating personal and direct-deposit information, and managing federal tax withholding.
• Employee self-onboarding for new hires.
• 401(k) integration through Patriot’s retirement-plan partner.
• Workers’ compensation insurance integration.
• Federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations with both plans.
• Payroll tax deposits and filings with Full Service Payroll.
• Year-end W-2 and eligible 1099 filing with Full Service Payroll.
• Automatic payroll for businesses with predictable payroll schedules.

Customers on third-party review sites call out Patriot’s exceptionally user-friendly interface, uncomplicated payroll tools, and extremely responsive customer service team.

Human resource features

Patriot offers more HR functionality than its payroll-first positioning might suggest, although its tools are still less extensive than those of broader HR platforms such as Gusto, Paychex, and ADP.

All Patriot Payroll customers get access to basic HR Center resources, including employment-law alerts, a compliance dashboard, and an HR assessment. Patriot’s optional HR Software add-on adds features, such as employee document management, e-signatures, an organizational chart, HR reports, and additional HR resources.

Patriot also supports integrations for health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers’ compensation. However, businesses that need more advanced recruiting, performance management, learning, or workforce-planning features may still find Patriot too limited.

Time and attendance features

Patriot’s Time & Attendance add-on starts at $6 per month plus $2 per employee using time cards. It integrates directly with Patriot Payroll and includes:

• Employee clock-in and clock-out.
• Mobile time punches through the My Patriot app.
• Geotagging for mobile clock-ins and clock-outs.
• Time-card review and approval.
• Automatic transfer of approved hours to payroll.
• Custom overtime rules.
• PTO and other time-off tracking.

The add-on works well for small businesses that need straightforward hourly time tracking tied directly to payroll. However, businesses that need more advanced employee scheduling or workforce-management tools may need a more comprehensive platform.

Patriot pros

Affordable payroll pricing

Patriot has a relatively low starting price, with Basic Payroll costing $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid and Full Service Payroll costing $37 per month plus $5 per worker paid. Its per-worker pricing can also keep costs competitive as your team grows, particularly compared with providers such as Gusto, whose Simple plan starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person.

SurePayroll is another low-cost option, with plans starting at $20 per month plus $4 per employee. However, its Full Service plan costs $29 per month plus $7 per employee, so the cheaper option will depend on your headcount and whether you need payroll tax filing.

Free expert setup

New customers can set up Patriot Payroll themselves using its step-by-step setup wizard or get free onboarding assistance from Patriot’s U.S.-based team. The onboarding team can help enter company, employee, and year-to-date payroll information, which can make switching payroll providers easier.

U.S.-based customer support

Patriot offers free U.S.-based customer support by phone, live chat, and email Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Third-party reviewers frequently praise Patriot for its responsive support, making customer service one of the platform’s stronger selling points.

Patriot cons

Limited scalability for more complex HR needs

Patriot works best for small and midsize U.S. businesses with relatively straightforward payroll and HR requirements. Although you can add HR and time-tracking tools, Patriot lacks the broader recruiting, performance management, learning, and workforce-planning features available from more comprehensive HR platforms.

Patriot also focuses on U.S. payroll, so businesses that need to pay employees internationally will need an international payroll provider.

Limited advanced HR functionality

Patriot’s optional HR Software adds useful administrative features such as document storage and sharing, e-signatures, HR reports, an organizational chart, and compliance resources. However, it remains primarily a payroll and HR administration tool rather than a complete HR platform.

Businesses that need recruiting, applicant tracking, performance management, learning management, or other advanced talent-management features may outgrow Patriot as their HR needs become more complex.

Smaller integration ecosystem than broader platforms

Patriot integrates with several useful business services, including QuickBooks Online and Desktop, SimplyInsured for health benefits, Vestwell for 401(k) plans, and ERGO NEXT for workers’ compensation.

However, its integration marketplace is still more limited than those of larger payroll and HR platforms. Businesses that rely on a wider range of accounting, HR, recruiting, scheduling, or workforce-management applications should check whether their existing tools connect with Patriot before signing up.

Employer payroll management remains browser-based

Patriot offers the My Patriot mobile app for employees, allowing workers to view payroll information and, when Time & Attendance is enabled, record working hours and manage time cards.

However, the app is employee-focused rather than a full payroll administration app for employers. Business owners who want to run and manage payroll primarily from a dedicated mobile app may prefer a provider with more extensive employer-side mobile functionality.

Top Patriot Payroll alternatives

SurePayroll by Paychex

SurePayroll by Paychex is a strong Patriot alternative for small businesses that want full-service payroll with mobile payroll administration and additional HR and benefits options. SurePayroll’s Full Service plan has a lower base fee than Patriot’s Full Service plan, although its per-employee fee is higher, so the less expensive option depends on your headcount.

Like Patriot, SurePayroll supports unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, multiple pay schedules, employee self-service, and payroll tax support. SurePayroll stands out for its employer mobile app, which lets business owners enter, review, submit, and approve payroll from a phone.

SurePayroll also offers SureHR, which includes compliance alerts, templates, guides, and employee handbooks, along with optional health insurance, 401(k), and workers’ compensation services.

Pricing

SurePayroll by Paychex’s full-service plan costs $29 per month plus $7 per employee. Its self-service plan labelled No Tax Filing costs $20 per month plus $4 per employee, but the employer is responsible for filing and depositing payroll taxes.

SurePayroll occasionally offers promotional discounts for new customers, so check its website for current offers before signing up.

Features

• Unlimited payroll runs.
• Free two-day direct deposit.
• Employer and employee mobile payroll apps.
• AutoPayroll for scheduling payroll to run automatically.
• Multiple pay rates and pay schedules.
• SureHR compliance resources.
• Optional health insurance, 401(k), and workers’ compensation services.

Pros

• Full-service payroll starts at a lower base price than Patriot.
• Employers can run and approve payroll through the mobile app.
• Free two-day direct deposit.
• Customer support is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.

Cons

• Higher per-employee fee than Patriot Full Service.
• Limited advanced HR and talent-management functionality compared with broader HR platforms.

Gusto

Gusto is a stronger Patriot alternative for small businesses that want payroll combined with broader HR, benefits, and workforce-management tools. Both providers offer unlimited payroll runs, payroll tax support, employee self-service, and benefits options, but Gusto includes a wider range of HR functionality as businesses grow.

Gusto supports onboarding, time tracking, performance and compensation management, HR resources, and employee benefits in addition to payroll. It also offers health insurance, 401(k) plans, workers’ compensation, commuter benefits, HSAs, and FSAs.

Gusto generally costs more than Patriot, but it is better suited to businesses that want to manage payroll and more of their HR operations from the same platform.

Pricing

Gusto’s Simple plan starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person and includes single-state payroll, unlimited payroll runs, and payroll tax filings and payments.

The Plus plan costs $80 per month plus $12 per person and adds multi-state payroll, next-day pay, and time tracking. Premium costs $180 per month plus $22 per person and includes dedicated support, access to certified HR experts, performance and compensation management, and custom reporting.

Gusto’s Contractor Only plan normally costs $35 per month plus $6 per contractor. Gusto occasionally offers promotional pricing for this plan, so check its website for current offers.

Features

• Unlimited payroll runs and automated payroll tax filings and payments.
• Employee onboarding and self-service.
• Health insurance, 401(k), workers’ compensation, HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits.
• Time tracking on higher-tier plans.
• Performance and compensation management on Premium.
• Optional HR Resources with certified HR experts, an HR library, and compliance alerts.

Pros

• Broader HR and benefits functionality than Patriot.
• Integrated payroll and benefits administration.
• Multi-state payroll available on Plus and Premium.
• Performance management and HR expert access available on higher tiers.

Cons

• Higher starting price than Patriot.
• Time tracking and several advanced HR features require higher-tier plans or add-ons.

Is Patriot Payroll right for your business?

Patriot Payroll is a strong fit for small and midsize U.S. businesses that want affordable, straightforward payroll software without paying for a broader HR suite. Its low starting price, unlimited payroll runs, free onboarding assistance, and U.S.-based customer support make it especially appealing to businesses running payroll for the first time.

Patriot can also cover basic HR and workforce needs through optional HR and Time & Attendance add-ons, plus integrations for health insurance, 401(k) plans, workers’ compensation, and QuickBooks. However, businesses that need recruiting, performance management, learning, international payroll, or a larger integration ecosystem may outgrow the platform.

Choose Patriot if keeping payroll costs low and getting hands-on support are your priorities. Consider SurePayroll if mobile payroll administration matters more, or Gusto if you want broader HR and benefits functionality in the same platform. Larger or more complex businesses may be better served by providers such as Rippling, Paychex, or ADP.

How we evaluated Patriot Payroll

To evaluate Patriot Payroll, we reviewed the company’s product demo and tested the software through a live account. We assessed the platform’s payroll workflows, usability, available HR and time-tracking tools, pricing, and customer support.

We also reviewed verified customer feedback on third-party sites such as Trustpilot and Gartner Peer Insights to compare our experience with recurring user feedback and identify where Patriot performs well and where it may fall short for small businesses.