Payroll software
Patriot Payroll review
Very small businesses that want basic payroll for the lowest monthly cost.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.
- What it is
- Payroll software
- Best for
- Lowest cost basic payroll
- Price
- See the official site
- Prices checked
- October 25, 2026
We researched Patriot Software's official pricing and terms, plus independent reviews and customer feedback. We haven't used Patriot Software ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.
Who it’s best for
- Very small US businesses that want basic payroll at the lowest monthly cost.
Who should skip it
- Probably not the best fit if you want benefits and HR tools built in.
How it works day to day
This part draws on Patriot Payroll’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 26, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Patriot Payroll ourselves.
Running payroll in Patriot is a three-step routine: enter each worker's hours or pay, approve the payroll Patriot calculates, then pay by direct deposit or print checks and pay stubs. On Full Service, Patriot then files and deposits the payroll taxes; on Basic, you handle the filings. Employees log in to a free portal to see pay stubs, pay history, time-off balances and W-2s.
Key features in use
- Three-step payroll with unlimited runs (noted above).
- Free direct deposit, including 4-day and, for those who qualify, 2-day deposit.
- A free employee portal for pay stubs, pay history, time off and electronic W-2s.
- Payroll tax filing and deposits on Full Service.
Setup and learning curve
Patriot's help center has a payroll collection that covers setup: company details, tax information, employees and bank accounts. After that, the routine is short enough that reviewers often praise its ease of use (noted above).
Integrations
Patriot syncs payroll to QuickBooks Online after you connect and map your accounts; QuickBooks Desktop users export and import a file instead. It also pairs with Patriot's own accounting software.
Support
Patriot offers free US-based support by phone, email and chat.
Real-world use cases
- A small shop with a handful of hourly employees runs payroll every other week.
- An owner who already does their own tax filings saves with the Basic plan.
- A business on QuickBooks Online wants payroll entries to post automatically.
What it costs
Prices checked October 25, 2026, from Patriot Payroll’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.
- Basic Payroll: $17 a month plus $4 per worker paid. You file payroll taxes yourself.
- Full Service Payroll: $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid. Patriot files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes.
- Example for 10 workers: $57 a month (Basic) or $87 a month (Full Service).
- Each additional state is $12 a month.
What we like
- Low price for small teams.
- Unlimited payroll runs and an employee portal.
- Full Service includes a tax-filing guarantee.
- Reviews often praise its ease of use, support and value.
What to watch for
- US-only payroll.
- Fewer HR and benefits tools than Gusto.
- Limited advanced integrations.
The fine print
- On Basic, filing payroll taxes is your job.
The main alternative: Gusto
Gusto handles payroll, tax filings, benefits and onboarding with an easy app. A contractor-only plan exists. Per-person fees add up for larger teams.
What it costs: $49/mo + $6/person (Simple), checked October 26, 2026
Pick Patriot Payroll if you…
- want the cheapest reliable payroll for a small US team.
- don't need benefits administration.
Pick Gusto if you…
- want payroll plus benefits, onboarding and HR tools in one place.
- will pay more for a more modern all-in-one.
Our take
Patriot is a low-cost, no-frills payroll service that suits small US employers. Choose Full Service unless you're comfortable filing payroll taxes yourself. Gusto costs more but adds benefits and HR tools.
Side by side
| Company | Best for | Starting price | Trial / refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | Lowest cost basic payroll | See the official site | Free trial |
| Gusto | Most small businesses, easy setup | $49/mo + $6/person (Simple), checked October 26, 2026 | See the official site |
From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.
What we checked
- Patriot's pricing page and help article on monthly cost, read October 25, 2026
- TechRepublic and PCMag reviews of Patriot Payroll
- Gusto's details: from our small business payroll guide, which read the official pricing page on October 25, 2026
- Patriot Payroll's feature pages, help-center articles and integration pages, read October 26, 2026
Sources
- Patriot pricing
- Patriot cost help article
- TechRepublic Patriot review
- Gusto pricing
- Patriot Payroll (official site)
- Patriot Payroll features
- Patriot help: payroll
- Patriot help: QuickBooks Online integration
Visit Patriot Payroll’s official site
How we review
We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.