Gusto vs Patriot Software
A detailed comparison of Gusto and Patriot Software. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Gusto | Patriot Software | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Starting Price | $40/mo | $17/mo |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
This is a straightforward US payroll showdown, and the decision usually comes down to budget vs features. Both are well-regarded, but they target different segments of the small business market.
Gusto (founded 2011, rated 4.5/5) starts at $40/month + $6/person and provides full-service payroll, automatic tax filings, benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401k, HSAs), time tracking, hiring and onboarding tools, and basic HR features. Gusto's interface is polished and modern, and the benefits brokerage is a genuine differentiator — it lets small businesses offer competitive benefits packages without a separate broker. The downside is cost: Gusto is roughly 2-3x the price of Patriot for payroll alone.
Patriot Software (founded 2002, rated 4.8/5) starts at $17/month + $4/person for its full-service payroll plan (basic payroll is even cheaper at $17/month + $4/person with self-service tax filing). Patriot handles payroll processing, tax calculations, direct deposit, and W-2/1099 generation reliably and affordably. What it lacks is the HR extras — Patriot doesn't offer benefits administration, 401k, time tracking, or hiring tools at the same depth as Gusto. It's payroll focused, and it does payroll well at a low price.
If you just need payroll done affordably and correctly, Patriot is hard to beat on value. If you want an all-in-one HR platform with benefits, Gusto justifies the premium.
Editor's Note
Budget-driven decision? Patriot. All-in-one HR? Gusto. For a 10-person company, the cost difference is meaningful — roughly $57/month for Patriot vs $100/month for Gusto. But Gusto's benefits administration alone can justify the price difference if you're offering health insurance, 401k, or other benefits — managing those through a separate broker costs time and money. If you're a very small business (under 10 employees) that handles benefits separately or doesn't offer them, Patriot gives you clean, reliable payroll at the lowest price in the category.
Key Differences
Gusto and Patriot Software share 7 features. Gusto has 2+ unique features.
Only in Gusto
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
Gusto
Cloud-based payroll and HR platform for small businesses handling payroll processing, benefits administration, time tracking, hiring, and compliance in one system.
Patriot Software
Budget-friendly payroll and accounting software for small businesses with 1-100 employees, starting at $17/month plus $4/employee.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Gusto
Patriot Software
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Gusto
Pros & Cons
Gusto
Pros
- +Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
- +Very easy to set up and use
- +Transparent, affordable pricing
- +Excellent employee self-service portal
Cons
- -Limited to US-based companies (mostly)
- -HR features less deep than dedicated HRIS tools
- -Reporting not as robust as enterprise solutions
- -Not ideal for companies over 200 employees
Patriot Software
Pros
- +Among the cheapest payroll solutions available ($17/month + $4/employee)
- +Extremely straightforward — no unnecessary complexity
- +US-based customer support with consistently high ratings
- +Free 30-day trial with no credit card required
Cons
- -No HR features in the base payroll product
- -No mobile app — browser-based only
- -Limited integrations with third-party tools
- -No benefits administration for health insurance
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Gusto if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
Choose Patriot Software if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You want to try before committing (free trial available)
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.5)
- • Budget is a priority (starts from $17/mo vs $40/mo)
- • Among the cheapest payroll solutions available ($17/month + $4/employee)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Patriot Software reliable for payroll tax filings?
Yes. Patriot has been in business since 2002 and its full-service plan handles federal, state, and local tax filings automatically. It has a 4.8/5 rating, which is among the highest in the payroll category. It's a no-frills product, but the core payroll functionality is solid and well-proven.
Can I switch from Patriot to Gusto later as my company grows?
Yes, and this is a common path. Many companies start with Patriot for affordable payroll when they're small, then migrate to Gusto once they reach 10-20+ employees and need benefits administration, structured onboarding, or more HR features. Both platforms make data export straightforward, and Gusto has a guided migration process.
Does Patriot offer any benefits administration?
Limited. Patriot offers basic integrations with some benefits providers, but it doesn't have Gusto's built-in benefits brokerage or the ability to shop, enrol, and manage health insurance, 401k, and other benefits directly within the platform. If benefits administration is a priority, Gusto has a significant advantage.
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How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.