Patriot Payroll vs Gusto

Patriot Payroll lists Basic Payroll at $17 plus $4 per worker and Full Service, with tax filings, at $37 plus $5. Gusto starts at $49 plus $6 with tax filings included and lists 152 app integrations, a broad benefits lineup, and HR tools.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated 36 verified data points12 sources

Patriot Payroll

Best for
US small businesses wanting published payroll pricing

Choose Patriot Payroll if

  • You want the lowest list price: Full Service with tax filings is $37 plus $5 per worker.
  • You want free direct deposit and unlimited payrolls on the Basic plan at $17 plus $4 per worker.
  • You want to start with a 30-day free trial from a vendor rated 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra (3,966 reviews).
  • You want a documented SOC 2 Type II report and US-based phone, email, and live chat support.
  • You prefer buying Time & Attendance or HR as add-ons, each at $6 plus $2 per employee.

Gusto

Best for
US small businesses wanting automated payroll tax filing

Choose Gusto if

  • You rely on apps such as Slack, Salesforce, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365; Gusto lists 152 integrations.
  • You want to offer health, dental, vision, 401(k), HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits.
  • You want faster pay: next-day on Plus and same-day or instant on Premium, versus Patriot's four-day or two-day deposit.
  • You want no contracts, free account setup, and no implementation fee.
  • You pay domestic contractors on any plan, or global contractors in 120+ countries through an add-on.

Key differences

Where Patriot Payroll and Gusto differ (2)
AttributePatriot PayrollGusto
Mobile appsIOS, AndroidGusto employee app, Employer mobile app
Support channelsPhone, email, live chatEmail, chat, phone, live online training
Show 7 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (7)
AttributePatriot PayrollGusto
Pricing modelBase fee + per employeeBase fee + per employee
Price transparencyPublishedPublished
Free trial
Best forSmall businessesSmall businesses
Automatic tax filing
Contractor payments
OwnershipPrivatePrivate

Price by headcount

Estimated list price per month by scenario
EmployeesPatriot Payroll Basic PayrollGusto Simple
10$57/mo (lowest)$109/mo
50$217/mo (lowest)$349/mo
200$817/mo (lowest)$1,249/mo

Monthly list price of each product’s entry plan with published per-employee pricing.

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Patriot's Basic is $17 plus $4 per worker, and Full Service, which adds tax filings, is $37 plus $5. Gusto's Simple, which includes tax filings, is $49 plus $6, and multi-state payroll requires Plus at $80 plus $12.

Capabilities. Both document tax filing, multi-state payroll, direct deposit, and employee self-service. Gusto also documents HRIS capabilities, benefits administration (open enrollment, life events, and deduction sync), and an API, while Patriot sells HR and Time & Attendance as paid add-ons.

Integrations. Gusto's App Directory shows 152 apps, and it documents a REST API. Patriot names seven partners, several of which appear only on its Capterra listing, and publishes no integration count.

Security. Patriot documents SOC 2 Type II, audited annually. Gusto's security page shows only SOC and HIPAA headings without detail, so we could not confirm its certifications.

Fit and support. On Capterra, Patriot is rated 4.8 out of 5 across 3,966 reviews and Gusto 4.6 across 4,228. Patriot reviewers praise responsive support but cite slow direct deposit and limited advanced reporting; Gusto reviewers flag mixed support response times and limited reporting customization.

Neither one?

OnPay

OnPay has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (5.5/10).

From $49/mo + $6/employee/mo

Frequently asked questions

Is Patriot Payroll cheaper than Gusto?

On list prices, yes. Patriot Basic is $17 plus $4 per worker, and Full Service with tax filings is $37 plus $5. Gusto Simple is $49 plus $6 with tax filings included. Patriot's per-worker fee also applies to contractors paid. Gusto charges extra for same-day pay, compliance, and priority support. These figures exclude a 50% three-month promotion that Patriot advertises.

Which is better for a small business, Patriot Payroll or Gusto?

Both target small US businesses; Patriot supports up to 500 employees. Patriot is cheaper for payroll-only needs. Gusto fits better if you also want benefits, HR tools, and integrations, with 152 apps listed. On Capterra, Patriot is rated 4.8 out of 5 across 3,966 reviews and Gusto 4.6 across 4,228.

Can you switch between Patriot Payroll and Gusto?

Neither vendor publishes a migration process. Gusto states free account setup, no implementation fee, and no contracts. Patriot offers a self-service setup wizard or onboarding team help with no published timeline, and we could not confirm its contract term or implementation fee. Ask each vendor about importing prior-period payroll history.

What is the key difference between Patriot Payroll and Gusto?

Price versus breadth. Patriot undercuts Gusto on published payroll pricing and includes free direct deposit, but direct deposit takes four days, or two for qualifying customers. Gusto costs more and adds benefits, HR tools, 152 integrations, and next-day pay on Plus.

Do Patriot Payroll and Gusto integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes, at different depth. Gusto lists QuickBooks and Xero among its native integrations. Patriot lists QuickBooks Online as a marketplace partner and supports a QuickBooks Desktop export. Patriot's integrations page lists categories only, so confirm the specific sync before choosing.

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Changelog

  1. First published.

Data sources

Every value on this page links to its source below. Primary sources are the vendor's or authority's own pages.

  1. Patriot Software pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  2. Gusto, Inc. pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  3. Patriot Software website: Payroll · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  4. capterra.com/p/131882/Gusto · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  5. Gusto, Inc. website: About · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  6. Patriot Software website: About · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  7. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gusto_(company) · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  8. OnPay, LLC pricing page: Costs pricing · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026