Patriot Software was founded in 2012 and has focused on building the most affordable payroll option for very small US businesses and solo entrepreneurs. The platform is available in two versions with a genuinely distinctive pricing model. Basic Payroll at $17 per month plus $4 per employee allows businesses to run payroll and have Patriot calculate tax liabilities, but the business owner is responsible for submitting tax filings to federal and state agencies. Full-Service Payroll at $37 per month plus $4 per employee has Patriot handle all tax submissions. For a business owner comfortable with tax filings or working with an accountant who handles them, Basic Payroll at $17 base is the lowest-cost full-featured payroll software available from a reputable US provider. For 5 employees on Basic, total cost is $37 per month. For 5 employees on Full-Service, total cost is $57 per month — still competitive against Gusto ($70) and OnPay ($70) for the same headcount. The platform handles direct deposit, unlimited payroll runs, employee self-service pay stub access, multiple pay schedules, and basic HR through an add-on. Year-end W-2 and 1099 filing is included in the Full-Service plan. On Basic, year-end forms are available for an additional fee. Where Patriot has limitations is feature depth. The interface is functional but not modern. HR features are basic even with the add-on. The platform is designed for simple payroll operations, not for businesses that need onboarding workflows, benefits administration, or advanced HR tools. Patriot is the right payroll solution for micro-businesses, sole proprietors, and very small companies where payroll is straightforward and the lowest possible monthly cost is the primary decision criterion.
Patriot Payroll
OnPay's all-inclusive plan at $40 base plus $6/employee is only slightly more expensive than Patriot Full-Service and provides materially better HR features and customer support
Finance Specs
- $17/month base is the lowest entry price in the US payroll category from a reputable provider
- Two-tier model — Basic saves money for businesses comfortable handling their own tax filings
- Unlimited payroll runs at no extra charge — direct deposit, multiple pay schedules included
- Basic plan requires you to file your own payroll taxes — not suitable for businesses without accounting support
- Interface and UX is functional but not modern compared to Gusto, OnPay, or Rippling
- Limited HR features even with add-on — no onboarding workflows, offer letters, or benefits administration
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Frequently Asked Questions
Basic Payroll ($17/month + $4/employee) calculates payroll and tax liabilities but requires the business owner to submit tax filings to federal and state agencies. Full-Service Payroll ($37/month + $4/employee) has Patriot handle all tax submissions and remittances. W-2 and 1099 year-end forms are included with Full-Service; on Basic they are available for an additional fee.
Yes. For a sole proprietor paying themselves as a W-2 employee or with 1-2 employees, Patriot is the lowest-cost option in the market. Basic at $17 plus $4 per employee means a 1-person payroll costs $21/month on the Basic plan. Full-Service costs $41/month for 1 employee — still competitive.
Yes. Direct deposit is included in both Basic and Full-Service plans at no additional charge. Standard direct deposit processes in 4 business days. 2-day direct deposit is also available. Same-day direct deposit is not currently offered — businesses that need same-day deposit should evaluate QuickBooks Payroll Premium or Elite.
Patriot Full-Service costs $37 base plus $4/employee. OnPay costs $40 base plus $6/employee. For a 5-employee company, Patriot Full-Service costs $57/month versus OnPay's $70/month — a $13 difference. OnPay provides better HR features, higher-rated customer support, and a more modern interface. The choice depends on whether the $13 savings per month justifies the feature and support trade-offs.
Yes. Patriot handles payroll for employees in multiple states on both Basic and Full-Service plans. On Full-Service, Patriot handles tax filings in all states where you have employees. State tax registration may be required as a setup step — Patriot provides guidance but the business is responsible for registration in each state.
Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing verified April 2026 from Patriot Software's official pricing page.. We may receive compensation for clicks or purchases on this site.