Patriot Software alternatives: top competitors compared
Named alongside Patriot Software
GustoBest forU.S. small and midsize businesses81% of Patriot Software answersOnPayBest forSmall businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients61% of Patriot Software answersQuickBooks PayrollBest forSmall businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books48% of Patriot Software answersRipplingBest forCompanies wanting identity, device and access management tied directly to HR and payroll data42% of Patriot Software answers
Data from SlateIndex weekly runs
Patriot Software has a visibility score of 19.3 in Payroll, #6 of 46. AI answers that name Patriot Software most often also name these 4.
What AI answers fault Patriot Software for
Limited advanced HR features
Raised in 1 collected answer.
No standard annual-billing discount
Raised in 1 collected answer.
Quick reference
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Visibility | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | U.S. small and midsize businesses | — | 49.2% | — |
| OnPay | Small businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients | $15 per seat / mo | 22.2% | Free data migration and white-glove setup, with the same human support on every plan and no support paywall |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Small businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books | — | 26.8% | Native integration with QuickBooks Online, so payroll reconciliation with the books largely disappears |
| Rippling | Companies wanting identity, device and access management tied directly to HR and payroll data | — | 28.7% | Access and device provisioning driven by a single source of truth for employee data shared across HR, IT and finance |
Alternative 1
Gusto vs Patriot Software →Gusto
Gusto suits u.S. small and midsize businesses.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 49.2% visibility score · #1 in Payroll
Key features
- Gusto Payroll — Payroll and tax filing for U.S. small and midsize businesses.
- Gusto Benefits — Benefits administration, including health, 401(k) and voluntary life and disability coverage.
- Gusto HR — HR support for U.S. small and midsize businesses, including outsourced HR support added in 2026.
- Gusto Embedded — Payroll API that lets other software platforms offer Gusto payroll.
Gusto vs Patriot Software
| Dimension | Gusto | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 49.2% | 19.3% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | $17 / mo |
| Free plan | — | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Intuitive, clean user interface
- Transparent, straightforward pricing
- Automated tax filing
- Robust built-in benefits administration
- Free setup and onboarding until running payroll
Cons
- Generally more expensive than alternatives
Alternative 2
OnPay vs Patriot Software →OnPay
OnPay suits small businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients.
Quick facts
- $15 per seat / mo · per seat
- 22.2% visibility score · #5 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll — Payroll Essentials with multi-state payroll, automated tax payments and filings, and W-2 and 1099 year-end forms
- HR — Customizable onboarding workflows, eSignature templates, PTO management and task delegation
- Benefits — Medical, dental and vision plans selected with in-house licensed agents, plus 401(k) and workers' comp
- Time Tracking — Mobile clock-in with geofencing, automatic overtime calculation and timesheets that feed the next pay run
OnPay vs Patriot Software
| Dimension | OnPay | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 22.2% | 19.3% |
| Pricing model | Per seat | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | $15 per seat / mo | $17 / mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Transparent flat-fee pricing
- Free trial with full access
- Unlimited pay runs
- Simple, easy starting point for small businesses
- Good value and budget-friendly
Cons
QuickBooks Payroll suits small businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 26.8% visibility score · #4 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll Core — Full-service US payroll with direct deposit.
- Premium — Adds same-day deposit, QuickBooks Time and HR support.
- Elite — Top plan, includes multi-state payroll.
- QuickBooks Time — Time tracking for payroll.
QuickBooks Payroll vs Patriot Software
| Dimension | QuickBooks Payroll | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 26.8% | 19.3% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | $17 / mo |
| Free plan | — | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting and tax tools
- Over 800 third-party integrations and app connections
- Widely used payroll platform for small businesses
- Strong mobile app and bookkeeping synchronization
- Free 30-day trial
Cons
Alternative 4
Rippling vs Patriot Software →Rippling
Rippling suits companies wanting identity, device and access management tied directly to HR and payroll data.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 28.7% visibility score · #3 in Payroll
- 600+ native integrations
Key features
- Identity and Access Management — Automatically updates app access, permissions and groups as roles change, with SSO and RPass.
- Device Management — Setup, configuration and software install across macOS, Windows, iOS and iPadOS.
- Inventory Management — Stores, ships and retrieves devices from procurement to buyback.
- Helpdesk — Automatically resolves employee IT requests.
Rippling vs Patriot Software
| Dimension | Rippling | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 28.7% | 19.3% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | $17 / mo |
| Free plan | — | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Unified HR, IT, and payroll in one automated system
- Strong user ratings from reviewers and analysts
- Recruiting tightly integrated with HR and payroll
- Ease of use and intuitive interface
- Expense management connected to HR and payroll
Cons
- Mandatory annual contracts with undisclosed discounts
- Custom quotes make pricing hard to compare
How to choose
Match the pricing model to your cost driver: headcount, usage or features.
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Software | Flat tiers | $17 / mo |
| Gusto | — | — |
| OnPay | Per seat | $15 per seat / mo |
| QuickBooks Payroll | — | — |
| Rippling | — | — |
More alternatives
Ranked by how often AI answers name them alongside Patriot Software in the latest weekly run.