Eddy vs Patriot Payroll (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Eddy if

• Fits if you run a small US team and want HR and payroll in one place
• Makes sense if you want time off and records handled alongside payroll

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you add payroll, as it is on top of the HR base fee and per-person charge
• Not for you if you pay staff outside the US, as payroll is US only
• Watch out: the hiring tool is another add-on at $199 a month
• Watch out: next-day pay costs extra, and support runs on limited live hours
• Skip it if you need to know the trial length first, as it is not stated

Pick Patriot Payroll if

• Fits if you're happy filing payroll taxes yourself and want the lowest price here
• Works for firms that don't pay staff every month, since quiet months cost only the base fee

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to run payroll from an app, as there isn't one
• Tight if your staff work in several states, at $12 a month for each state after the first
• Too light for teams that want HR and time tracking built in, as each is $6 a month plus $2 a person
• Watch out: Basic doesn't file or deposit payroll taxes, and the half-price start lasts only 3 months
• Not for you if you pay anyone outside the US, as it runs US payroll only

Eddy

• Payroll is a separate add-on at $50 per month plus $6 per person, charged on top of the $50 or $75 HR base fee and its per-person charge.
• Payroll is available in the US only.
• The hiring tool is another add-on at $199 per month.
• Next-day pay costs extra, and phone, chat and email support run on limited live hours.

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.

Eddy

Full-service payroll

Unlimited payrolls per month, including bonus and off-cycle runs, with direct deposit and automatic federal, state and local tax filing and payment.

Year-end forms

Builds digital W-2s for employees and 1099s for contractors, and files forms such as 940, 941 and 8974.

Time tracking and time off

Clock in and out from the web or the mobile app, with overtime rules, geo-tagging, a tablet kiosk app, PTO policies and a who's-out calendar.

Employee records and documents

A single employee database with e-signature documents, W-4 and W-9 collection, new-hire task lists and training or license tracking.

Hiring add-on

Posts jobs to a career page and major job boards, with candidate messaging, hiring team reminders and offer letters.

Patriot Payroll

Unlimited and automatic payroll

Run as many payrolls as needed for the same monthly fee, or set payroll to run itself on schedule. Months without a payroll cost only the base fee.

Tax filing on Full Service

Full Service collects, files and deposits federal, state and most local payroll taxes and files Forms 940, 941, W-2 and W-3 at no extra fee.

Free direct deposit

Standard 4-day direct deposit is free, with 2-day deposit for qualifying customers; checks can also be printed from the software.

Employee and contractor portals

Staff see pay stubs, pay history, time-off balances and W-2s online, and 1099 contractors can be paid in the same payroll and get their own portal.

Benefits and insurance links

Free integrations connect 401(k) plans through Vestwell, health insurance through SimplyInsured and pay-as-you-go workers' comp through ERGO NEXT.

Time & Attendance and HR add-ons

Time tracking and HR software can each be added for $6 a month plus $2 per employee, and payroll syncs to Patriot's own accounting software.

Eddy

• Starter$50

  per month, plus $4 per person

  Core HR: records, document storage (up to 50 documents), onboarding, time tracking, time off and basic reporting. Payroll is not included.

• Growth$75

  per month, plus $8 per person

  Everything in Starter, plus training tracking, custom signature documents, onboarding templates, custom data fields, an org chart and manager approval flows.

• PremiumCustom

  Everything in Growth, plus Eddy Payroll, hiring, premium support and a dedicated support representative. Priced by quote.

• Payroll add-on$50

  per month, plus $6 per person

  Unlimited payrolls, 2-day or 4-day direct deposit, quarterly and annual tax filings, and W-2 and 1099-NEC preparation. Added on top of a base HR plan.

Patriot Payroll

• Basic Payroll$17

  per month, plus $4 per worker paid

  Unlimited payrolls, free direct deposit, employee and contractor portals and payroll reports; you file taxes. Advertised at $8.50 plus $2 for 3 months.

• Full Service Payroll$37

  per month, plus $5 per worker paid

  Adds federal, state and local tax filings and deposits and year-end forms. Each extra state is $12 a month. Advertised at $18.50 plus $2.50 for 3 months.

Eddy

No public discounts listed.

Patriot Payroll

• Other savings

  50% off for 3 months after the free trial

  After the 30-day trial, new customers pay half the listed price for 3 months: $8.50 plus $2 per worker on Basic and $18.50 plus $2.50 on Full Service.

• Other savings

  Partner pricing for accountants

  Accountants and bookkeepers who join Patriot's Partner Program get discounted pricing for the businesses they manage.