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Patriot

Review by RAECHEL CONOVER
Updated June 19, 2024

Patriot payroll is an affordable, entry-level payroll software designed for small businesses and new payroll managers. The company prides itself on being fast and efficient, saying it takes under three minutes and just three steps to run payroll.

Pros

  • Free trial available
  • Two- and four-day direct deposit
  • Free onboarding and setup wizard
  • Unlimited payroll runs without extra charges
  • Run payroll in three steps
Cons

  • Not for companies outside the U.S.
  • Full tax service only available in higher tier
Patriot logo
Best for newbies
4.8
Features
5
Pricing
5
Support
4
Reputation
5

What is Patriot?

Patriot is a payroll and accounting software as a service provider. Patriot payroll customers can also choose to add on HR and time and attendance software that integrates seamlessly together. Patriot stands out for having expert customer service and free account onboarding through a setup wizard.

Patriot payroll is one of the most affordable payroll software options we’ve reviewed. It’s designed for small businesses with up to 500 employees or accountants that run payroll for their clients. There are two plans – Basic Payroll and Full Service Payroll. Both plans start with the same three-step process to run payroll. On the Basic plan, you’ll be responsible for remitting tax deposits and filings. The Full Service plan will handle federal, state, and local tax deposits and filings on your behalf.

With Patriot’s Full Service Payroll, all end-of-the-year payroll tax filings are included at no additional charge. This is a differentiator between Patriot and many other payroll providers who offer similar payroll services.

Patriot payroll software also stands out for its high-quality customer service and free payroll account setup and onboarding. Beyond that, running payroll itself takes about three minutes and three clicks.

patriot manage time cards screenshot

Manage and approve time cards for quick three-step payroll. Source: Patriot portal demo.

Patriot software reviews indicate that the payroll software has very few drawbacks and is easy for anyone – even those new to payroll software – to use. Add that to its affordable price point, and it’s the perfect solution for small businesses without a dedicated payroll staff and a small budget.

patriot portal screenshot

Patriot portal and overview. Source: Patriot payroll software login.

How much does Patriot cost?

patriot pricing screenshot

Patriot software pricing and add-ons. Source: Patriot software demo.

Patriot plans start at $17 per month.

Starting price:
$17 per month + $4 per employee or contractor
Free trial:
30 Days (60 with promo code SS46)
Free version:
Not Available

2 months free with promo code SS46 Visit Patriot’s website.

Patriot Payroll Pricing & Plans
Basic Payroll Full Service Payroll
Starting at $17/month Starting at $37/month
Plus $4 per employee or contractor Plus $4 per employee or contractor

What’s included in every Patriot payroll plan? Both Patriot payroll plans include free setup and onboarding, unlimited payroll runs in multiple locations and frequencies, direct deposit, an employee portal, US-based customer service, and seamless integrations with Patriot HR and Time and Attendance Software, QB Time, Patriot Accounting Software, Quickbooks desktop, and Quickbooks Online software. At the Basic level, you handle payroll taxes yourself, whereas Patriot handles your payroll taxes for you on the Full Service level.

Which features does Patriot offer?

Payroll Software Features
Free 4- and 2-day direct deposit
Electronic and printable W-2 forms delivered to the employee portal; optional e-filing of 1099s is available for free for Full Service Payroll customers or at a low filing fee for Basic Payroll customers.
Patriot portal for employees with all pay information they need
Multiple integrations including Quickbooks and Patriot’s accounting and HR software
Free unlimited payrolls in multiple locations at various frequencies

Other notable Patriot features

  • Pay independent contractors the same as you would your employees
  • The same expert customer service with every price level
  • Free payroll setup
  • Mobile friendly software, so no Patriot payroll app is needed
patriot payroll software demo screenshot

Patriot has the ability to pay and offer the same payroll service to independent contractors without extra fees. Source: Patriot payroll software demo.

What types of support does Patriot offer?

Data Migration
1-on-1 Live Training
Self-Guided Online Training
Knowledge Base
FAQs/Forum
Email Support
Live Chat
Phone Support

2 months free with promo code SS46 Visit Patriot’s website.

Patriot user review highlights

We analyzed 5,185 user reviews about Patriot from four third-party review websites to provide this summary.

Patriot payroll reviews have very few gripes. In fact, most users say point blank they have no complaints. Of the very limited negative remarks that we read, users say that while customer service is overall wonderful, the email response time could be a little faster. Others report that there needs to be more integrations with popular HR software.

Most remarks made in Patriot payroll reviews are extremely positive. Users appreciate the responsive, friendly, professional, and helpful customer service. Another standout feature that users love is that Patriot software is all online, meaning they find it convenient to run payroll from anywhere. Users also comment about how affordable the payroll software is, saying the price tag is unbeatable. And finally, reviewers appreciate how easy it is to use.

patriot customer service screenshot

Patriot payroll customer service. Source: Patriot software demo.

  • Ease of Setup – Patriot reviews report that set up is a breeze, and the onboarding process takes the guesswork out of getting started.
  • Ease of Use – Users say that Patriot payroll is incredibly easy to use. One user comments that it’s so easy for her even without payroll experience and has saved her company from having to hire a payroll expert.
  • Features – Helpful and professional customer service is the top feature Patriot users comment on. They also appreciate how easy to use it is, how truly affordable it is, and that it’s browser-based making it convenient to use from anywhere.
  • Quality of Support – Patriot software customer support is the highest rated feature, and users remark that the company representatives are helpful, professional, friendly, and responsive.
  • Value for Money – Many users report finding exceptional value for the money with Patriot payroll. Users are blown away by the ease of use at the affordable price point.

Patriot Contact Information

Parent Company:
Patriot Software
Headquarters:
Canton, OH
Year Founded:
2002
Website:
patriotsoftware.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/patriotsoftware
Twitter:
twitter.com/patriotsoftware
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/patriot-software/
Instagram:
instagram.com/patriot_software/

ADP alternatives

Software Starting Price B2B Reviews Score
Patriot $17/month + $4 per person per month 4.8
Gusto $40/month + $6 per person per month 4.8
ADP Not Disclosed 4.3

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