Independent research on 266 HR & workforce products. Facts checked against vendors’ official documentation.

We may earn a referral fee. We may earn a referral feeHow we make money

LeadChange Group

Patriot Payroll vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP

Patriot Payroll8.7/10

ADP RUN Powered by ADP5.1/10

Scored in Payroll Software

The short answer

Patriot Payroll publishes two plans: Basic Payroll at $17 a month plus $4 per worker, where you file and deposit payroll taxes yourself, and Full Service at $37 plus $5, where Patriot does it. RUN Powered by ADP quotes four packages, from Essential Payroll to HR Pro Payroll & HR.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Based on 12 sources, most recently checked

Patriot Payroll

Starting price
$17/mo + $4/employee/mo (you file taxes)1
Best for
US small businesses that want payroll at a low published price

Choose Patriot Payroll if

  • You want a low published price: Full Service costs $37 a month plus $5 per worker.
  • You are comfortable filing payroll taxes yourself to pay less (Basic Payroll, $17 plus $4).
  • You want to try it first: Patriot lists a free trial.
  • You want unlimited payroll runs at no extra fee.

What Patriot Payroll costsPatriot Payroll alternatives

ADP RUN Powered by ADP

Best for
Small businesses paying 1 to 49 employees, including owners who pay only themselves

Choose ADP RUN Powered by ADP if

  • You want payroll support at any hour by phone or chat.
  • You want native iOS and Android apps and payroll by phone.
  • You want HR services in the payroll package: HR HelpDesk, handbook wizard, applicant tracking and training.
  • You want state unemployment insurance management and garnishment payments handled.

ADP RUN pricingADP RUN alternatives

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Scorecard

Patriot Payroll wins 2ADP RUN Powered by ADP wins 2

Patriot Payroll vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP by dimension
DimensionPatriot PayrollADP RUN Powered by ADP
PricingPatriot lists Basic at $17 a month plus $4 per worker and Full Service at $37 plus $5, with no setup fee and $12 a month for each additional state on Full Service. ADP RUN quotes every package and adds fees for year-end forms and more frequent payrolls. None1$37/mo + $5/employee/mo (Full Service Payroll plan)Quote only
CapabilitiesADP RUN adds HR support, recruiting, learning management, garnishment payments and state unemployment insurance management to payroll. Patriot covers payroll, with time and attendance and HR software as paid add-ons. Payroll, Payroll tax filing, Contractor payments, HR support (HR HelpDesk), Recruiting (ZipRecruiter; applicant tracking by CareerPlug in HR Pro), New hire onboarding, Learning management (HR Pro), Garnishment payment service, State Unemployment Insurance management, Bill pay and invoicing, Time and attendance (add-on)29 of 12 core capabilities10 of 12 core capabilities
IntegrationsADP RUN exports the general ledger to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave and Creative Solutions and connects to Clover and ZipRecruiter. Patriot connects to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT. Run payroll from a computer or the mobile app, Automated recurring payroll, Multi-jurisdiction and multi-company payroll, General ledger export to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave and Creative Solutions, Direct deposit, Wisely debit card or paper check, W-2 and 1099 creation and e-filing, Client invoices, vendor bills and cash flow in one place, Clover POS integration37 documented15 documented
SecurityPatriot states SOC 2 Type II. ADP RUN names no certification on the product pages we reviewed. Yes4SOC 2SOC 2 (type not stated), GDPR

Patriot Payroll or ADP RUN Powered by ADP: what matters most to you?

We match on verified product facts for this need, never on who pays us.

Key differences

Where Patriot Payroll and ADP RUN Powered by ADP differ (10)
AttributePatriot PayrollADP RUN Powered by ADP
Pricing modelBase fee + per employee1Quote only2
Price transparencyPublished1Quote only2
Free trial12
DeploymentCloud1Cloud, mobile2
Mobile appsMobile web (no app to install)1RUN Powered by ADP app (iOS), RUN Powered by ADP app (Android)5
Support channelsPhone, email, chat1Phone, chat, email, HR HelpDesk by phone and email (Complete and HR Pro)6
Typical implementationSelf-service setup wizard or free setup assistance; no timeline published1Some customers are up and running within 2 days; others transition over a period of weeks6
Founded2002719498
HeadquartersCanton, Ohio, US9Roseland, NJ, US8
OwnershipPrivate4Publicly traded8
Show 4 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (4)
AttributePatriot PayrollADP RUN Powered by ADP
Contract termMonthly1Monthly2
Best forSmall businesses10Small businesses8
Automatic tax filing12
Contractor payments12

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Patriot lists Basic at $17 a month plus $4 per worker and Full Service at $37 plus $5, with no setup fee and $12 a month for each additional state on Full Service. ADP RUN quotes every package and adds fees for year-end forms and more frequent payrolls.

Capabilities. ADP RUN adds HR support, recruiting, learning management, garnishment payments and state unemployment insurance management to payroll. Patriot covers payroll, with time and attendance and HR software as paid add-ons.

Integrations. ADP RUN exports the general ledger to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave and Creative Solutions and connects to Clover and ZipRecruiter. Patriot connects to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Vestwell, SimplyInsured and ERGO NEXT.

Fit and support. ADP RUN offers 24/7 payroll support by phone or chat. Patriot offers phone, email and chat from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.

Security. Patriot states SOC 2 Type II. ADP RUN names no certification on the product pages we reviewed.

Neither one?

QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (8.5/10).

From $50/mo + $7/employee/mo11

QuickBooks Payroll review

Frequently asked questions

How much is Patriot Payroll per month?

Basic Payroll costs $17 a month plus $4 per worker paid, and Full Service costs $37 a month plus $5, billed monthly in arrears. For 10 workers that is $57 or $87 a month; ADP quotes RUN instead.

Who owns Patriot Payroll?

Patriot Payroll is made by Patriot Software, a privately held company in Canton, Ohio. RUN is made by ADP, a public company headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey.

Does Patriot file payroll taxes for me?

Only on Full Service, which files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes and year-end forms. On Basic Payroll you file and deposit them yourself. ADP RUN files payroll taxes on every package.

Do Patriot and ADP RUN have mobile apps?

ADP RUN has iOS and Android apps. Patriot works in a mobile browser with no app to install.

Who pays if a payroll tax filing is wrong?

On Full Service, Patriot covers penalties and interest caused by an error on its end. ADP pays the fines or penalties that its own tax filing errors cause.

How fast is direct deposit with Patriot and ADP RUN?

Patriot pays by direct deposit in 4 days as standard and in 2 days for qualifying customers, free of charge. ADP RUN runs a two-day processing cycle.

Do Patriot Payroll and ADP RUN Powered by ADP offer a free trial?

Patriot Payroll lists a free trial; ADP RUN Powered by ADP does not.

Who are Patriot Payroll’s biggest competitors?

Patriot Payroll ranks #1 of 15 in our payroll software ranking. Besides ADP RUN Powered by ADP, the highest-scored are QuickBooks Payroll, Gusto, and Square Payroll. Every alternative, matched to the reason you might switch: Patriot Payroll alternatives.

How this page was made

  • What it is built from

    41 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 8, 2026.

  • Method

    Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology

  • Independent review

    Our independent review of Nov 6, 2026 asked for changes. How we review

  • Hands-on testing

    We have not tested either product hands-on: this page uses public information only.

  • Who made it

    The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us

  • Independence and errors

    Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction

Patriot Payroll or ADP RUN Powered by ADP? Your answer in 3 questions

Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices.

LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.We may earn a fee.

Get my answer

Patriot Payroll vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP

We may earn a fee.

Sources

The 12 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.

Quotes from the sources
  1. Patriot Software patriotsoftware.com/pricing“If you use Patriot’s payroll software, you will be charged $4 (Basic) or $5 (Full Service) per worker you pay during the month.” “No, Patriot Software does not charge setup fees or other hidden fees.”
  2. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx“Applicant Tracking System, powered by CareerPlug … Learning Management System … Garnishment Payment Service … State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Management … Bill Pay and Client Invoicing … Time and Attendance” “Payroll costs are influenced by several variables, including how often you run payroll, the number of employees or contractors you pay and how frequently your workforce changes. Pricing may also increase if you add HR tools, benefits administration or more advanced compliance support, such as garnishment management or State Unemployment Insurance.”
  3. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/products/run-powered-by-adp.aspx“Run payroll in minutes from your desktop or mobile device … Pay employees by direct deposit, a Wisely debit card … or paper check … Automate recurring payroll … Manage client invoices, vendor bills and cash flow … Process payroll alongside payments with Clover POS integration … Generate and e-file W-2 and 1099 year-end forms”
  4. Patriot Software patriotsoftware.com/about“As a SOC 2 Type II compliant organization, we follow rigorous data protection standards and adhere to all required federal privacy, anti-fraud, and security regulations.” “He said that we could service our customers better if we stayed private.”
  5. ADP (Apple App Store listing) apps.apple.com/us/app/adp-run/id388928133“the RUN Powered by ADP® payroll mobile app is built for the way your small business works. Here are some of the features available at your fingertips—wherever your day takes you. • Start payroll with a tap • Avoid payroll mistakes with error detection powered by AI”
  6. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/switching-to-adp.aspx“Support from a payroll specialist via phone & email, at no additional fee … ADP offers 24/7 access to real payroll professionals to help resolve issues before they impact your team or business.” “With ADP, some customers can be up and running within 2 days, while others choose to transition over a few weeks.”
  7. Built In builtinla.com/company/patriot-software-llc“Year Founded: 2002”
  8. ADP sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8670/000000867026000030/adp-20260630.htm“In 1949, our founders established ADP with a simple, innovative idea: help clients focus on their business by solving their payroll challenges.” “its corporate headquarters in Roseland, New Jersey”
  9. Patriot Software patriotsoftware.com/blog/press/patriot-software-10000-customers“Patriot Software, located in Canton Ohio, provides online payroll and accounting software for small businesses.”
  10. Patriot Software patriotsoftware.com/payroll“Many reviews consider Patriot Payroll the best payroll software for small business thanks to its affordability, usability, and customer support.”
  11. Intuit quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing/bundle“WORKFORCE PAYROLL Pay your team and get payroll taxes done for you. $50 + $7/employee”
  12. ADP adp.com/privacy.aspx“ADP has adopted Binding Corporate Rules (BCR) for processing Client employee data and business contact data.”

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.

Payments, commissions and lead fees are never inputs.