SurePayroll vs Patriot Payroll: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
SurePayroll
Simple online payroll from Paychex for small businesses under 10 employees. AutoPilot runs payroll automatically every cycle.
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 | SurePayroll | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll | Very small businesses under 20 employees where cost is the top priority |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $19.99/mo | $17/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB |
| Rating | 7.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
Pros & Cons
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- Interface is functional but outdated compared to Gusto and Rippling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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SurePayroll | subscription | $19.99/mo |
| Patriot Payroll | subscription | $17/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose SurePayroll if...
Micro-businesses with 1-10 employees that want set-and-forget payroll
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.