BambooHR vs Patriot Payroll: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
BambooHR
4.5(2,847 reviews)
HR software for small and medium businesses with hiring, onboarding, and employee management.
Patriot Payroll
Budget-friendly payroll software starting at $17/month. Basic and full-service options for very small businesses under 20 employees.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | BambooHR | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small to medium businesses (25-500 employees) | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $6/mo | $17/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB |
| Rating | 4.5/10 | 7.6/10 |
Pros & Cons
BambooHR
Pros
- Intuitive interface that employees actually enjoy using
- Strong onboarding workflows reduce new hire paperwork
- Excellent mobile app for employee self-service
- Good applicant tracking for companies hiring frequently
- Responsive customer support with dedicated success managers
Cons
- Payroll add-on is limited compared to dedicated payroll providers
- Pricing gets expensive for larger organizations
- Benefits administration requires third-party integration
- Limited customization for complex approval workflows
Patriot Payroll
Pros
- Cheapest payroll on the market — Full Service at $37/month + $4/employee is half the cost of Gusto
- Transparent pricing with no contracts, no setup fees, and no hidden costs
- Free US-based customer support that actually picks up the phone quickly
- Basic Payroll option at $17/month is perfect for businesses comfortable filing their own taxes
- Seamless integration with Patriot Accounting if you use both products
Cons
- Dated interface that looks like it was designed a decade ago
- No benefits brokerage — you need separate insurance and 401(k) providers
- Time tracking is a separate add-on product, not built into payroll
- No native mobile app — the mobile experience is a responsive web version
- Limited scalability — not designed for companies growing past 50-100 employees
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | subscription | $6/mo |
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose BambooHR if...
Small to medium businesses (25-500 employees)
Choose Patriot Payroll if...
Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.