Gusto vs Patriot Payroll: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Gusto
4.6(5,247 reviews)
Payroll and HR platform for small businesses with benefits, compliance, and hiring tools.
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 | Gusto | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small businesses and startups (1-100 employees) | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $40/mo | $17/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB |
| Rating | 4.6/10 | 7.6/10 |
Pros & Cons
Gusto
Pros
- Excellent payroll that handles all 50 states flawlessly
- Easy setup—most companies run first payroll same day
- Affordable benefits access typically reserved for larger companies
- Clean, intuitive interface for employers and employees
- Strong customer support for complex payroll questions
Cons
- HR features are basic compared to dedicated HRIS platforms
- Gets expensive as employee count grows past 50
- Limited international capabilities—US focused
- Reporting and analytics could be more powerful
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gusto | subscription | $40/mo |
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Gusto if...
Small businesses and startups (1-100 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.