Our verdict · 8.0/10 Excellent
Hard to beat on price for small US teams with simple payroll. It does not offer the HR, benefits and onboarding depth of Gusto or Rippling.
Key takeaways
- Best for: US businesses with a handful of employees.
- Strongest area: Value for money (9.2/10). Weakest: Integrations & ecosystem (6.6/10).
- Price: From $17 / month + $4 per worker — free trial available.
- Watch out for: US only.
What is Patriot Payroll?
Patriot Payroll runs unlimited US payrolls with direct deposit and an employee portal. The Basic plan leaves tax filing to you; Full Service files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes. It is one of the lowest-cost options for very small US employers.
Patriot Payroll is made by Patriot Software and is reviewed here as a payroll platform. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 8.0 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Patriot Payroll if
- US businesses with a handful of employees
- Owners who want low-cost full-service payroll
- Firms also using Patriot Accounting
Not for you if
- Businesses outside the US
- Teams wanting benefits and HR in one platform
Key features
Run payroll as often as needed with direct deposit.
Federal, state and local filing on Full Service.
Workers see pay stubs and W-2s online.
Optional add-on for hours tracking.
- Patriot Accounting
- QuickBooks Online
Pros & cons
What we like
- Very low base and per-worker price
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Free US-based support
- Optional HR add-on
Watch out for
- US only
- Limited benefits administration
- Fewer integrations than Gusto
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | ≈ $17 / mo base + $4 / employee / mo | You file payroll taxes |
| Full Service | ≈ $37 / mo base + $5 / employee / mo | Patriot files and deposits taxes |
Pricing watch-out: Full Service (tax filing) from $37/month + $5 per worker. 30-day free trial.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked November 5, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Base fee on top of per-seat pricing. Basic adds a fixed monthly base fee, so a 5-person team pays about $7 per person per month, not the headline per-seat rate.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked November 5, 2026 (source). Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 7.2 | 1.80 | |
| Ease of use | 20% | 8.7 | 1.70 | |
| Value for money | 20% | 9.2 | 1.80 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 8.5 | 0.90 | |
| Security & privacy | 10% | 8.0 | 0.80 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 6.6 | 1.00 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for business software products | 8.0 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Patriot Payroll against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Patriot Software’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any payroll platform
Check Patriot Payroll against the same list we use for every payroll platform — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Automatic tax filing in your jurisdictions
- Contractor payments
- Benefits and time-off management
- Employee self-service portal
- Accounting integration
See every ranked option in Payroll & HR.
Patriot Payroll alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Paychex Flex≈ $39/mo vs $57/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Easier to use
GustoEase-of-use score 9.2 vs 8.7 - Better integrations
RipplingIntegrations score 9.2 vs 6.6 - Stronger on securityRRemoteSecurity & privacy score 8.8 vs 8.0
- Higher overall scoreGustoOverall 8.5 vs 8.0
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Patriot Payroll. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Friendly, full-service US payroll with benefits and HR built in.
Simple, all-inclusive payroll at one flat price.
Payroll from the largest US provider, with dedicated support and HR add-ons.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Patriot Payroll FAQ
Does Patriot file payroll taxes?
Only on the Full Service plan. On Basic you calculate payroll in Patriot but file and pay taxes yourself.
Is Patriot Payroll cheaper than Gusto?
Usually yes at small headcounts, but Gusto includes more HR and benefits features.
Does Patriot Payroll have a free plan?
No, Patriot Payroll does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at From $17 / month + $4 per worker (indicative).
Who is Patriot Payroll best for?
Patriot Payroll is best for: US businesses with a handful of employees; owners who want low-cost full-service payroll; firms also using Patriot Accounting.
How much does Patriot Payroll cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Basic) works out at roughly $57 per month, or about $684 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the Patriot Payroll score calculated?
The 8.0/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for software products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Patriot Payroll?
Popular alternatives include Gusto, OnPay, ADP RUN. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.