Last updated: October 2026
Patriot payroll review 2026: what $37 plus $5 per employee buys
Patriot Software publishes one of the lowest full-service rates.
Who Patriot is for
Businesses with 1 to 50 employees that want competent payroll processing at the lowest possible monthly cost. Patriot's sweet spot is the company that has outgrown doing payroll by hand or through their accountant, needs tax filing handled correctly, but cannot justify $100 or more per month for features they will not use. A 10 person landscaping company, a 6 person dental office, a 15 person retail store. Small employers in trades like landscaping should confirm their workers comp carrier integrates with whatever payroll platform they choose.
Pricing
Two plans. That is it.
The Basic plan costs $17 per month plus $4 per employee. This is the self-service plan. You file the returns and make the deposits yourself through the IRS EFTPS system and your state agency portals. If you are comfortable logging into EFTPS once a month and your state portal once a quarter, the Basic plan saves you real money.
The Full Service plan costs $37 per month plus $5 per employee. Patriot files all federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf, makes the deposits, and prepares year-end W-2s. That includes filing Form 941 quarterly. At 10 employees, Full Service costs $87 per month. Gusto Simple costs $109 for the same headcount. OnPay costs $109. Patriot sits at the low end of that group.
At 20 employees, Patriot Full Service runs $137 per month. Gusto Simple runs $169. That $384 annual difference covers a lot of expenses for a 20 person company operating on thin margins. At 50 employees, the gap is $744 per year. The per-employee cost of $5 does not increase with headcount, and direct deposit and tax filing carry no add-on fee. Additional states do carry one. Patriot's pricing FAQ states that "there is a $12 fee for each additional state that we file in."
What it does well
Patriot calculates federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, state income tax, state unemployment, and local taxes where applicable. Direct deposit funds arrive in 2 to 4 business days. Customer support is available by phone, email, and chat during business hours.
Patriot's time and attendance add-on integrates directly with payroll. The add-on is priced the same on Basic and Full Service, at $6 per month plus $2 per employee. At 10 employees the add-on works out to $26 per month. Patriot's pricing page states that its software is mobile friendly and that you can run payroll from a smartphone or tablet with no app to download.
What it does poorly
Patriot does not administer benefits in house. It lists free integrations with named partners instead: employee health benefits through SimplyInsured, 401(k) through Vestwell, and pay-as-you-go workers comp through ERGO Next Insurance. Enrollment, eligibility and carrier connections sit with those partners. HSA and FSA management and COBRA administration do not appear on Patriot's pricing or features pages.
Who should skip Patriot
Companies that offer employee benefits. Gusto or Rippling administer benefits inside the payroll platform, which is a different tradeoff to price out.
How it compares
Patriot competes most directly with SurePayroll and the base tiers of Gusto and OnPay. SurePayroll wins on multi-state cost (no per-state charges). Against Gusto Simple, Patriot is $12 cheaper at the base plus $1 per employee. Against OnPay, Patriot is cheaper. For a full view, browse the provider comparison hub.
Who gets the most from Patriot
Patriot is the right answer for budget-conscious small businesses with simple payroll. If you have fewer than 50 employees, do not offer benefits through your payroll platform, and want the lowest monthly cost with accurate tax filing and direct deposit, Patriot delivers. Start a free trial and run a test payroll to see if the simplicity fits your workflow before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Patriot payroll cost per month?
The Basic (self-service) plan is $17 per month plus $4 per employee. The Full Service plan is $37 per month plus $5 per employee. At 10 employees, Full Service costs $87 per month. Direct deposit and year-end W-2 preparation carry no extra fee. Multi-state filing does: Patriot charges $12 for each additional state it files in. Optional add-ons include time and attendance ($6 plus $2 per employee) and accounting software ($20 per month).
Is Patriot payroll worth it for a small business?
For small businesses under 50 employees with straightforward payroll and no need for benefits administered in house, yes. Patriot publishes one of the lowest full-service rates. A 20 person company saves $384 per year compared to Gusto Simple.
What is the difference between Patriot Basic and Full Service?
Basic calculates your payroll taxes and tells you what to file and deposit. You log into the IRS and state agency portals to do it yourself. Full Service handles all filing and depositing automatically, including federal, state, and local payroll taxes plus year-end W-2s. The upgrade costs $20 more at the base plus $1 more per worker paid, so at 10 employees the difference is $30 per month.
Does Patriot handle multi-state payroll?
Yes. Additional states are not free. Patriot charges $12 for each additional state it files in, so a company with employees in 2 states adds $12 per month and one in 3 states adds $24.
Can Patriot pay 1099 contractors?
Yes. You can pay contractors through direct deposit, and Patriot lists optional 1099 e-filing on both Basic and Full Service. Patriot states that nominal fees apply for Basic Payroll customers and does not publish the amount, so ask before you rely on it.
This is not legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.