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Patriot Payroll alternatives

Patriot Payroll compared with 5 alternatives: Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll, QuickBooks Workforce and Square Payroll.

Patriot Payroll is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months). None of the alternatives has a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.

5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Patriot PayrollThis toolFree trial · from $17/moTrial onlyWeb
GustoFrom $49/moNoWeb, iOS, Android
OnPayFree trial · from $49/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
SurePayrollFrom $20/moNoWeb, iOS, Android
QuickBooks WorkforceFree trial · from $50/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
Square PayrollFrom $6/moNoWeb, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

Patriot Payroll starts at $17 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 5 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Square Payroll.

Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll and QuickBooks Workforce score higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessPatriot PayrollGustoOnPaySurePayrollQuickBooks WorkforceSquare Payroll

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of payroll services, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Patriot Payroll

  1. Gusto

    Payroll and HR for small businesses, with apps for owners and staff

    • Gusto starts at $49 per month, plus $6 per person paid (Simple). Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months).
    • Only Gusto lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Gusto also covers expense tracking.
    • Patriot Payroll also covers reports.

    Suits: Small US businesses paying W-2 employees and contractors

    Gusto vs Patriot PayrollGusto pricing and details

  2. OnPay

    US payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons

    • OnPay starts at $49 per month, plus $6 per worker paid. Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months).
    • Only OnPay lists iOS and Android apps.

    Suits: Small US businesses that want to know the price without a sales call

    OnPay vs Patriot PayrollOnPay pricing and details

  3. SurePayroll

    Online payroll for small US businesses and household employers

    • SurePayroll starts at $20 per month, plus $4 per employee. Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months).
    • Only SurePayroll lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Patriot Payroll also covers time tracking.

    Suits: Small US businesses with a handful of employees

    SurePayroll vs Patriot PayrollSurePayroll pricing and details

  4. QuickBooks Workforce

    Intuit's payroll and HR service, sold alone or with QuickBooks

    • QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly. Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months).
    • Only QuickBooks Workforce lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Patriot Payroll also covers reports.

    Suits: US businesses already keeping their books in QuickBooks Online

    QuickBooks Workforce vs Patriot PayrollQuickBooks Workforce pricing and details

  5. Square Payroll

    Payroll for Square sellers, with timecards from Square POS

    • Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll. Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months).
    • Only Square Payroll lists iOS and Android apps.

    Suits: Restaurants, shops and salons already taking payments with Square

    Square Payroll vs Patriot PayrollSquare Payroll pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Patriot Payroll

  • Runs payroll in the US only; Full Service files in all 50 states, at $12 a month for each state after the first.
  • Basic Payroll does not file or deposit payroll taxes; that needs Full Service.
  • Time & Attendance and HR Software cost $6 a month plus $2 per employee each.
  • There is no mobile app: payroll is run in a phone's or computer's browser.
Patriot Payroll pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Patriot Payroll?

The alternatives to Patriot Payroll in this directory are Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll, QuickBooks Workforce and Square Payroll. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Patriot Payroll.

Is there a free alternative to Patriot Payroll?

None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. OnPay and QuickBooks Workforce offer a free trial.

Which Patriot Payroll alternatives work on Android?

The Patriot Payroll listing does not include an Android app. Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll, QuickBooks Workforce and Square Payroll list one.

Which Patriot Payroll alternatives work on iOS?

The Patriot Payroll listing does not include an iOS app. Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll, QuickBooks Workforce and Square Payroll list one.

When were these prices checked?

Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.