Patriot Payroll vs Workday: 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.
Workday
4.3(1,523 reviews)
Enterprise cloud platform for HR, finance, and planning with AI-powered insights.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Patriot Payroll | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority | Large enterprises (1,000+ employees) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Contact Sales |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | Contact Sales |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.6/10 | 4.3/10 |
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
Workday
Pros
- Unified platform for HR, finance, and planning
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance
- Powerful analytics with machine learning
- Regular updates without disruptive upgrades
- Strong ecosystem of consulting partners
Cons
- Expensive—typically $100-200+ per employee annually
- Complex implementation taking 6-18 months
- Requires dedicated administrators to manage
- Overkill for companies under 1,000 employees
- Steep learning curve for all users
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
| Workday | contact sales | Contact Sales |
Our Verdict
Choose Patriot Payroll if...
Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority
Choose Workday if...
Large enterprises (1,000+ employees)
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.