Patriot Payroll vs BambooHR: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Patriot Payroll
Budget-friendly payroll software starting at $17/month. Basic and full-service options for very small businesses under 20 employees.
BambooHR
4.5(2,847 reviews)
HR software for small and medium businesses with hiring, onboarding, and employee management.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Patriot Payroll | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority | Small to medium businesses (25-500 employees) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | $6/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.6/10 | 4.5/10 |
Pros & Cons
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
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
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
| BambooHR | subscription | $6/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Patriot Payroll if...
Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority
Choose BambooHR if...
Small to medium businesses (25-500 employees)
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.