QuickBooks Payroll vs Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll lists lower prices: $17 plus $4 per worker, or $37 plus $5 with tax filing, versus $50 plus $7 for QuickBooks Workforce Payroll. QuickBooks costs more but offers time tracking, hiring, and HR workflows on higher plans, same-day direct deposit, and a tax penalty guarantee up to $25,000 on Elite.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated 34 verified data points10 sources

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for
Small businesses wanting payroll synced with accounting data

Choose QuickBooks Payroll if

  • You want time tracking, scheduling, hiring, and onboarding included on Premium ($88 plus $13 per employee).
  • You want same-day direct deposit; Patriot lists four-day and two-day options.
  • You want tax penalty protection up to $25,000 on Elite (conditions apply).
  • You want expert-assisted setup and HR advisor access through Mineral on higher plans.
  • You want Payroll AI to collect time and attendance data and flag inconsistencies.

Patriot Payroll

Best for
US small businesses wanting published payroll pricing

Choose Patriot Payroll if

  • Budget comes first; Patriot Basic lists $17 plus $4 per worker versus QuickBooks' $50 plus $7.
  • You want tax filing included from $37 plus $5 per worker, below QuickBooks' $50 plus $7 entry price.
  • You want a 30-day free trial, free direct deposit, and unlimited payrolls.
  • You want documented SOC 2 Type II compliance and free US-based phone, email, and chat support.
  • You weigh third-party reviews; Patriot is rated 4.8 out of 5 across 3,966 Capterra reviews, with reviewers citing responsive support.

Key differences

Where QuickBooks Payroll and Patriot Payroll differ (3)
AttributeQuickBooks PayrollPatriot Payroll
DeploymentCloudWeb, iOS, Android
Support channelsPhone, onlinePhone, email, live chat
OwnershipPublishedPrivate
Show 7 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (7)
AttributeQuickBooks PayrollPatriot Payroll
Pricing modelBase fee + per employeeBase fee + per employee
Price transparencyPublishedPublished
Best forSmall businessesSmall businesses
Mobile appsIOS, Android
SOC 2 Type II
Automatic tax filing
Contractor payments

Price by headcount

Estimated list price per month by scenario
EmployeesQuickBooks Payroll Workforce PayrollPatriot Payroll Basic Payroll
10$120/mo$57/mo (lowest)
50$400/mo$217/mo (lowest)
200$1,450/mo$817/mo (lowest)

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

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Patriot lists $17 plus $4 per worker (Basic) and $37 plus $5 with tax filing; QuickBooks Workforce Payroll lists $50 plus $7, or about $87 versus $120 per month at 10 workers with tax filing. We could not confirm the QuickBooks prices on a payroll pricing page, and Patriot's per-worker fee also counts paid contractors.

Capabilities. Both document tax filing, direct deposit, and employee self-service. Patriot documents multi-state payroll, off-cycle runs, and year-end forms, and sells time and HR as $6 plus $2 add-ons; QuickBooks bundles time and HR by plan and lists same-day direct deposit and a penalty guarantee.

Security. Patriot reports SOC 2 Type II, audited annually. QuickBooks Payroll does not publish a SOC 2 statement, which is a documentation gap rather than proof it lacks certification.

Fit and support. Both target small business. Patriot lists phone, email, and chat support and is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra across 3,966 reviews, though reviewers describe direct deposit as slow; QuickBooks lists phone and online support, and we did not find third-party ratings for it.

Neither one?

Gusto

Gusto has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (5.8/10).

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

Frequently asked questions

Is QuickBooks Payroll cheaper than Patriot Payroll?

No, on list prices Patriot is cheaper. Basic Payroll is $17 plus $4 per worker and Full Service, which includes tax filing, is $37 plus $5. QuickBooks' entry plan is listed at $50 plus $7, though we could not confirm it on a payroll pricing page. For 10 workers with tax filing that is about $87 versus $120 per month before add-ons and promotions.

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

Both target small business. Patriot supports companies up to 500 employees, offers a 30-day free trial, and is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra across 3,966 reviews. QuickBooks Payroll adds optional time tracking and hiring on higher plans. Patriot reviewers criticize slow direct deposit, and Patriot lists four-day and two-day options.

Can you switch between QuickBooks Payroll and Patriot Payroll?

QuickBooks states you can cancel anytime; Patriot does not publish its contract term. Patriot lists a QuickBooks Online integration and a QuickBooks Desktop export, which may ease accounting-side changes. Neither vendor publishes migration timelines, so ask how year-to-date payroll and tax accounts transfer.

What is the key difference between QuickBooks Payroll and Patriot Payroll?

Price and scope. Patriot is lower priced, with free direct deposit, unlimited payrolls, and time and HR add-ons at $6 plus $2 per employee. QuickBooks Payroll costs more but bundles time tracking, hiring, and HR workflows in higher plans, lists same-day direct deposit, and offers a $25,000 tax penalty guarantee on Elite.

Does Patriot Payroll integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes. Patriot lists QuickBooks Online as an integration and QuickBooks Desktop as an export. QuickBooks Payroll supports general-ledger export and lists Allstate, Vestwell, NEXT, and Mineral for benefits and HR. Patriot lists Vestwell, SimplyInsured, and ERGO NEXT. We could not confirm a payroll API for either product.

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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. Intuit pricing page: Bundle · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  2. Patriot Software pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  3. Intuit website: Payroll · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  4. capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Payroll · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  5. Patriot Software website: Payroll · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  6. sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/896878/000089687826000037/intu-20260731.htm · primary source, checked Oct 6, 2026
  7. Patriot Software website: About · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  8. assurance.intuit.com · primary source, checked Oct 6, 2026
  9. Gusto, Inc. pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026