Patriot Software vs TriNet

A detailed comparison of Patriot Software and TriNet. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.

At a Glance

Patriot Software TriNet
Rating 4.8/5 4.0/5
Starting Price $17/mo N/A
Free Trial Yes No
Free Plan No No
Features 7 9
Best For SMB SMB

Key Differences

Patriot Software and TriNet share 7 features. TriNet has 2+ unique features.

Only in TriNet

  • Slack Integration
  • Zapier Integration

Patriot Software

Budget-friendly payroll and accounting software for small businesses with 1-100 employees, starting at $17/month plus $4/employee.

Rating 4.8/5
Best for SMB
Free trial Yes
Free plan No
Start Free Trial →

TriNet

Full-service PEO providing HR, payroll, benefits, risk management, and compliance for SMBs, with industry-specific expertise.

Rating 4.0/5
Best for SMB
Free trial No
Free plan No
Visit TriNet →

Feature Comparison

Feature Patriot Software TriNet
Workflow Automation
Reporting Dashboard
EEO/OFCCP Compliance
GDPR Compliance
API Access
HRIS Integration
Mobile App
Slack Integration
Zapier Integration

Pricing Comparison

Patriot Software

Basic Payroll $17/mo
Full Service Payroll $37/mo

TriNet

Custom Custom

Integrations

Both tools integrate with

Outlook QuickBooks Zapier

Only Patriot Software

Gmail Google Workspace

Only TriNet

Azure AD Greenhouse Microsoft 365 Okta Slack

Pros & Cons

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

TriNet

Pros

  • +Full-service HR outsourcing — payroll, benefits, compliance, risk management
  • +Industry-specific packages (tech, finance, life sciences)
  • +Access to Fortune 500-level benefits for small companies
  • +Dedicated HR representative for ongoing support

Cons

  • -Expensive compared to DIY HR software ($80-150/employee/month)
  • -Less control over HR processes — you are outsourcing to TriNet
  • -Contract terms can be inflexible
  • -User interface is functional but not modern

Which Should You Choose?

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 4.0)
  • • Among the cheapest payroll solutions available ($17/month + $4/employee)
Try Patriot Software Free

Choose TriNet if:

  • • Your company is SMB size
  • • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
  • • Full-service HR outsourcing — payroll, benefits, compliance, risk management
Visit TriNet

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.