Patriot Payroll
Low-cost online payroll for small US businesses
Patriot Payroll report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026
Best for very small US businesses watching every dollar
Patriot is the cheapest payroll in this category: $37 a month for five people if you file your own taxes, $62 if Patriot does it. Months without a payroll cost only the base fee. There's no app, though, and each extra state is $12 a month.
Who Patriot Payroll is for
- Great if you're happy filing payroll taxes yourself and want the lowest price
- Handy when you don't pay staff every month, since quiet months cost only the base fee
- Good for Patriot Accounting users who want payroll in the same account
Who Patriot Payroll is not for
- 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 both are add-ons
Why Patriot Payroll gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyBasic is $17 a month plus $4 a worker, $37 for five, the cheapest in this category and under 60% of its cheapest quarter. Full Service, which files your taxes, is $62 for five, still the lowest price for that. Each extra state is $12.
- CFree plan and trialA 30-day free trial, then half price for 3 months. No free plan, and the listing doesn't say whether the trial needs a card.
- CFeaturesPayroll done fully on Full Service, with federal, state and most local filing and year-end forms. It's a smaller job, though: Basic leaves the taxes to you, and time tracking and HR are add-ons at $6 a month plus $2 a person each.
- CEase of useNo App Store rating on record, and no app to rate. Payroll can run itself on a schedule once it's set up, but there's bank and tax setup first, as with any payroll.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb only: you run payroll in a phone or computer browser. It does link to Patriot Accounting, QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Patriot Software's own pages on 17 October 2026. Patriot's pricing page turned our reader away on 17 October 2026, so its prices are as the listing has them. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/patriot-payroll#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/patriot-payroll.svg" alt="Patriot Payroll: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Patriot Payroll stands among payroll services
Patriot Payroll's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 16 of the 18 other payroll services we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 17 of 18) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $17 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 1 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 19 payroll services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Patriot Payroll’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 17 of 18, level with 1
- CFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 18, level with 3
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 18, level with 5
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 18, level with 4
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 18, level with 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 14 payroll services. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Keep Patriot Payroll, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Patriot Payroll you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 16 of the 18 other payroll services we grade. It costs $204 a year.
What you could make
- Time tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- It plugs into other products, Patriot Accounting, QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop among them.
What this rests on. Patriot Payroll’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Patriot Payroll?
Patriot Payroll is online payroll software for small US businesses, sold by Patriot Software alongside its accounting product. Basic Payroll calculates pay and pays staff and contractors, while Full Service Payroll also files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes. It runs in a browser, with no app to install.
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). See every plan
Good for
- Very small US businesses that want a low monthly base fee
- Owners comfortable filing their own payroll taxes, on Basic
- Patriot Accounting users who want payroll in the same account
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Patriot Payroll pricing
- Starts at
- $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial, then 50% off for 3 months
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Payroll | $17per 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 | $37per 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. |
Read from patriotsoftware.com on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Patriot Payroll before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savings50% 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.
Stated on patriotsoftware.com - Other savingsPartner pricing for accountants
Accountants and bookkeepers who join Patriot's Partner Program get discounted pricing for the businesses they manage.
Stated on patriotsoftware.com
Works with
- Patriot Accounting
- QuickBooks Online
- QuickBooks Desktop
- Vestwell
- SimplyInsured
- ERGO NEXT Insurance
Patriot Payroll alternatives
- Patriot Payroll vs Gusto
From $49/mo
- Patriot Payroll vs OnPay
Free trial · from $49/mo
- Patriot Payroll vs SurePayroll
From $20/mo
- Patriot Payroll vs QuickBooks Workforce
Free trial · from $50/mo
- Patriot Payroll vs Square Payroll
From $6/mo
Common questions
Is Patriot Payroll free?
No, Patriot Payroll is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial, then 50% off for 3 months.
How much does Patriot Payroll cost?
Patriot Payroll lists 2 plans. Basic Payroll: $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid. Full Service Payroll: $37 per month, plus $5 per worker paid. Prices were read from patriotsoftware.com on Oct 17, 2026.
What platforms does Patriot Payroll work on?
Patriot Payroll is available on Web.
Does Patriot Payroll offer any discounts?
Patriot Payroll publicly lists the following: 50% off for 3 months after the free trial; Partner pricing for accountants.
Does Patriot Payroll have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Patriot Payroll is listed for Web.
Does Patriot Payroll have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Patriot Payroll is listed for Web.
Is Patriot Payroll open source?
Patriot Payroll is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does Patriot Payroll integrate with?
Patriot Payroll's listing names Patriot Accounting, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT Insurance. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Patriot Payroll?
Patriot Payroll is made by Patriot Software LLC.
What are the alternatives to Patriot Payroll?
The closest alternatives to Patriot Payroll in our directory are Gusto, OnPay, SurePayroll, QuickBooks Workforce and Square Payroll. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Patriot Payroll.
How does Patriot Payroll compare with other payroll services?
Patriot Payroll's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 16 of the 18 other payroll services we grade, and level with 1. It stands best on value for money (A, above 17 of 18) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Is Patriot Payroll good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Patriot Payroll A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $17 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 1 of the 13 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Could I make my own version of Patriot Payroll?
To replace Patriot Payroll you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 16 of the 18 other payroll services we grade. It costs $204 a year. What you could not make: Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. It plugs into other products, Patriot Accounting, QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop among them. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026.