Common praise
- Responsive and knowledgeable support
- Streamlined setup and navigation
- Affordable for small businesses
Common complaints
- Direct deposit described as slow and restrictive
- Occasional glitches and setup issues
- Limited advanced reporting
Patriot Payroll Review
by Patriot Software
Cloud payroll software for US small businesses of up to 500 employees, offering Basic and Full Service plans with free direct deposit, unlimited payrolls and optional tax filing.
Best for
- US small businesses wanting published payroll pricing
- Teams paying contractors through the same payroll
- QuickBooks Online users syncing payroll entries
Not ideal for
- Employers outside the US
- Teams that need advanced payroll reporting
Quick answers
- How much does Patriot Payroll cost?
- List prices are $17 per month plus $4 per worker for Basic Payroll and $37 plus $5 for Full Service Payroll. The vendor also advertises 30 days free and 50% off for the first 3 months.Based on Starting base fee: $17/mo
- Does Patriot Payroll file taxes?
- Yes, on the Full Service plan, which files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes and handles year-end filings. Basic Payroll does not list tax filing.Based on Automatic tax filing: Yes
- Does Patriot Payroll integrate with QuickBooks?
- Yes. It syncs payroll entries to QuickBooks Online and exports to QuickBooks Desktop.Based on Notable integrations: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop (export), Vestwell, SimplyInsured, ERGO NEXT
- Is Patriot Payroll safe?
- Patriot states it is a SOC 2 Type II compliant organization audited annually.Based on SOC 2 Type II: Yes
- Can Patriot Payroll pay contractors?
- Yes. Contractors can be paid in payroll, with a free contractor portal and optional 1099 e-filing. Each contractor paid counts toward the per-worker fee.Based on Contractor payments: Yes
Specifications
Fit
- Best for
- Small businesses
- Industry focus
- Accounting, construction, retail
- Countries supported
- US
Our verdict
Patriot Payroll is a US small-business payroll service for companies of up to 500 employees, with published pricing that starts at $17 per month plus $4 per worker. The main trade-off is reviewer-reported slow direct deposit and limited advanced reporting.
Strengths
Published, low entry pricing
Basic Payroll lists at $17 per month plus $4 per worker, and Full Service Payroll at $37 plus $5, with a 30-day free trial.
Evidence: Price transparency: Published
Free direct deposit, unlimited runs
Direct deposit is free and the vendor states payroll runs are unlimited.
Evidence: Direct deposit speed: 4-day and 2-day (for qualifying customers)
Optional full-service tax filing
Full Service Payroll files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes and includes year-end filings at no additional fee.
Evidence: Automatic tax filing: Yes
Weaknesses
Direct deposit speed complaints
Reviewers describe direct deposit as slow and restrictive, and the vendor lists 4-day and 2-day options, with 2-day for qualifying customers only.
Evidence: Direct deposit speed: 4-day and 2-day (for qualifying customers)
Limited advanced reporting
Reviewers cite limited advanced reporting and occasional glitches and setup issues.
Tax filing and add-ons cost extra
Tax filing is listed only under the higher-priced Full Service plan, and Time & Attendance and HR Software add-ons are each $6 per month plus $2 per employee.
What users say
Third-party ratings are shown as cited text; they are not part of the LeadChange Score.
Coverage of core payroll software capabilities
Capabilities verified against Patriot Payroll’s own documentation; capabilities we could not verify are not listed.
9 of 9 standard features
Price at a glance
Starting base fee
Starting price per employee
Pricing model
Price transparency
Free trial
Patriot Payroll integrations
Partner and marketplace apps
- QuickBooks Online
- QuickBooks Time
- Stripe
- Plaid
- Vestwell
- SimplyInsured
- ERGO NEXT
Compare Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll alternatives
QuickBooks Payroll75% similar
SurePayroll75% similar
Gusto67% similar
OnPay52% similar
Square Payroll45% similar
Paychex Flex35% similar
Where it ranks
- #1 of 18Payroll Software
Implementation and support
- Typical implementation
- Self-service setup wizard or onboarding team assistance; no timeline published
- Support channels
- Phone, email, live chat
Changelog
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.
- Patriot Software pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
- Patriot Software website: Payroll · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
- Patriot Software website: About · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
- capterra.com/p/116050/Patriot-Payroll · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026