The short answer
Patriot Payroll is the lower-priced of the two: Basic Payroll costs $17 a month plus $4 per worker and Full Service, which files and deposits taxes, $37 plus $5. OnPay costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker, with multi-state payroll, W-2s and 1099s included.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
OnPay wins 1Patriot Payroll wins 13 ties
| Dimension | OnPay | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| PricingPatriot lists Basic Payroll at $17 a month plus $4 per worker and Full Service at $37 plus $5. OnPay lists $49 plus $6, with W-2s, 1099s and multi-state payroll included. | $49/mo + $6/employee/mo (Payroll Essentials plan) | $17/mo + $4/employee/mo |
| CapabilitiesBoth run unlimited payrolls, pay contractors and sell HR and time tracking as add-ons. OnPay adds benefits administration and live HR support; Patriot adds a separate accounting product. Yes | 10 of 12 core capabilities | 9 of 12 core capabilities |
| IntegrationsOnPay lists 9 integrations, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, JazzHR and TurboTax. Patriot connects to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT. 9 | 9 native | 7 documented |
| Fit and supportOnPay serves small and mid-size businesses, with phone support from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Patriot serves small businesses, with phone, email and chat support from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| SecurityBoth state SOC 2 Type II. Yes | SOC 2 | SOC 2 |
| Attribute | OnPay | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| Founded | 2011 | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia | Canton, Ohio, US |
| Attribute | OnPay | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base fee + per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Price transparency | Published | Published |
| Free trial | ||
| SOC 2 Type II | ||
| Support channels | Phone, email, chat | Phone, email, chat |
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Contractor payments | ||
| Ownership | Private | Private |
| Employees | OnPay Payroll Essentials | Patriot Payroll Basic Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $109/mo | $57/mo (lowest) |
| 50 | $349/mo | $217/mo (lowest) |
| 200 | $1,249/mo | $817/mo (lowest) |
Monthly list price of each product’s entry plan with published per-employee pricing.
Pricing. Patriot lists Basic Payroll at $17 a month plus $4 per worker and Full Service at $37 plus $5. OnPay lists $49 plus $6, with W-2s, 1099s and multi-state payroll included.
Capabilities. Both run unlimited payrolls, pay contractors and sell HR and time tracking as add-ons. OnPay adds benefits administration and live HR support; Patriot adds a separate accounting product.
Integrations. OnPay lists 9 integrations, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, JazzHR and TurboTax. Patriot connects to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT.
Fit and support. OnPay serves small and mid-size businesses, with phone support from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Patriot serves small businesses, with phone, email and chat support from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
Security. Both state SOC 2 Type II.
QuickBooks Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (8.8/10).
From $50/mo + $7/employee/mo
OnPay costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker, so 10 workers cost $109 a month. Patriot’s Full Service costs $37 plus $5, $87 for 10 workers, and Basic Payroll, where you file taxes yourself, $17 plus $4, or $57.
OnPay has run payroll since 2011 from Atlanta and states SOC 2 Type II. It offers an accuracy guarantee on payroll and tax filings. Patriot, founded in 2002 in Canton, Ohio, also states SOC 2 Type II.
OnPay’s single payroll plan includes federal, state and local tax filings. At Patriot, Full Service files and deposits federal, state and local taxes and includes year-end forms such as the 940, 941 and W-2; on Basic Payroll you file and deposit them yourself.
OnPay includes multi-state payroll in its price. Patriot’s Full Service charges $12 a month for each additional state filed, so workers in three states add $24 a month.
OnPay runs benefits administration for medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA, FSA, commuter and 401(k) plans; you pay only the premiums. Patriot offers 401(k) through Vestwell, a health benefits integration and pay-as-you-go workers' comp through ERGO NEXT.
Both offer a free trial, and neither charges a setup fee. OnPay also migrates your payroll data at no cost, and Patriot offers free setup assistance or a self-service setup wizard.
No, at list price: for 25 employees Patriot Payroll comes to $117 a month and OnPay to $199 on their lowest published plans, before add-ons. Patriot Payroll pricing lists every plan.
Yes, both list a free trial.
OnPay ranks #5 of 12 in our payroll software ranking. Besides Patriot Payroll, the highest-scored are QuickBooks Payroll, Gusto, and Paychex Flex. Every alternative, matched to the reason you might switch: OnPay alternatives.
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
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What the LeadChange Score means
A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
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