Pricing verified on patriotsoftware.com on September 3, 2026.
Patriot Payroll review
Patriot is the cheapest payroll software I'm comfortable recommending. Basic runs $17 a month plus $4 per worker, and Full Service — where Patriot handles the tax filings — is $37 plus $5. The interface looks like it was designed in 2012 and the feature list is short. For a tiny team that wants payroll to cost almost nothing, that is exactly the point.
What Patriot costs
- Basic Payroll: $17/mo + $4/worker. Wage math, direct deposit, pay contractors, employee portal. You file the taxes.
- Full Service: $37/mo + $5/worker. Everything in Basic plus federal, state, and local filings and year-end filings included.
- Add-ons: Time & Attendance $6/mo + $2/worker; HR $6/mo + $2/worker.
Source: Patriot's pricing page, which publishes flat prices with no quote call. Patriot runs frequent promotions — 30 days free plus a months-long discount at the time we checked — so the checkout price can dip below these numbers.
Where Patriot wins
Price, full stop. A 10-person team pays $87 a month on Full Service versus $109 at Gusto or OnPay. A two-person team on Basic pays $25. Patriot is based in Canton, Ohio, staffs its phones with US-based support, and publishes its prices — three things that matter more than a fancy dashboard when you are choosing who touches your tax filings.
Where it doesn't
The software is plain. Benefits administration, onboarding workflows, and time tracking are thin or behind add-ons. Basic puts every deposit and filing deadline on you — miss a federal deposit and the penalty scales from 2% up to 10% as it goes unpaid, which can erase a year of savings in one mistake. If you want benefits, onboarding polish, or multi-state guidance, Gusto or OnPay fit better.
Bottom line
One or two employees, one state, detail-oriented owner: Patriot Basic and don't look back. Anyone else: Patriot Full Service for the cheapest done-for-you filings, or read the Gusto and OnPay reviews for more feature depth. Verified cost comparisons are here, and the full ranking lives in best payroll software.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Patriot Payroll cost?
Basic Payroll is $17 a month plus $4 per worker paid, and you file the taxes yourself. Full Service is $37 plus $5 per worker with federal, state, and local filings handled for you. Both list add-ons: Time & Attendance $6/mo + $2/worker, HR $6/mo + $2/worker.
What is the difference between Basic and Full Service?
Basic calculates wages and withholds taxes, but you run the deposits and quarterly filings. Full Service files and deposits federal, state, and local taxes for you and includes year-end filings. The $20-a-month gap buys away all the tax deadline risk.
Is Patriot Payroll legitimate?
Yes. Patriot Software is a US company based in Canton, Ohio, serving small businesses, with US-based phone support. Its prices are published openly on its pricing page, which is why we can verify them.