Patriot Payroll vs SurePayroll: 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.
SurePayroll
Simple online payroll from Paychex for small businesses under 10 employees. AutoPilot runs payroll automatically every cycle.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Patriot Payroll | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority | Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 |
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
SurePayroll
Pros
- AutoPilot runs payroll automatically every cycle — truly set-it-and-forget-it
- Very competitive pricing for businesses under 10 employees
- Backed by Paychex tax compliance infrastructure — bulletproof tax filing
- Nanny/household payroll option fills a niche most competitors ignore
- Two-day free trial lets you test with real data before committing
Cons
- No benefits brokerage — health insurance must be arranged separately
- No built-in time tracking — need a separate tool or manual entry
- Interface is functional but outdated compared to Gusto and Rippling
- Customer support limited to business hours Eastern time only
- Not built to scale — starts feeling cramped past 10-15 employees
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
| SurePayroll | subscription | $19.99/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Patriot Payroll if...
Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority
Choose SurePayroll if...
Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.