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Most buyers should pick Patriot Payroll.
Choose Patriot Payroll if keeping payroll costs down matters most. Its Basic plan is listed at $8.50/month plus $2 per worker paid at the introductory rate ($4 normally); Full Service starts at $18.50 plus $2.50 per worker paid. Gusto Simple starts at $49/month plus $6 per person monthly. Both lack a free plan, but Patriot lists a 30-day trial. Gusto is the broader payroll-and-HR option, with features such as time tracking, hiring, and benefits.
01Side by side
| Patriot Payroll | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8.50/month + per-worker fee | $49/month + $6/person |
| Free plan | No; 30-day free trial | No; trial not listed |
| Best for | Small businesses running payroll in-house | Teams needing payroll, HR, and benefits |
| Core strength | Unlimited payrolls and free direct deposit | Payroll plus HR, hiring, and benefits |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use review score: 8/10 | Ease-of-use review score: 7/10 |
| Integrations/data | Not specified on the vendor's site | Not specified on the vendor's site |
| Team/seat costs | Basic: $2/worker paid intro; $4 normally | Simple: $6/person/month |
| Support | Support review score: 5/10 | Support review score: 4/10 |
Patriot Payroll Choose Patriot Payroll if
- Choose Patriot Payroll if lower starting costs are your priority.
- Choose Patriot Payroll if you want unlimited payrolls and free direct deposit.
- Choose Patriot Payroll if a 30-day trial matters.
Gusto Choose Gusto if
- Choose Gusto if you want payroll and broader HR tools together.
- Choose Gusto if you need hiring, onboarding, and benefits features.
- Choose Gusto if your workforce spans states or includes contractors.
02Pricing compared
Patriot is cheaper on its listed introductory pricing. Basic Payroll is $8.50/month plus $2 per worker paid; the per-worker rate is normally $4. Full Service is $18.50/month plus $2.50 per worker paid, normally $5. Patriot advertises a 30-day free trial and 50% off for three months after the free period. Its pricing page shows monthly rates, not annual billing.
Gusto Simple costs $49/month plus $6 per person per month. Plus is $80 plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180 plus $22 per person. Gusto says its plans are month-to-month and cancellable anytime; annual rates and a free trial are not listed. That per-person monthly charge can make Gusto costlier as headcount grows. Compare the ongoing rates, not just Patriot’s introductory offer.
03Features and depth
Both products support unlimited payrolls. Patriot Basic includes free direct deposit, an employee portal, and auto payroll; tax filings and deposits are included with Full Service, which covers federal, state, local, and year-end filings. Patriot also lists an employee app for W-2 workers to view paychecks and change federal withholding. Time and attendance and HR software are add-ons, each currently listed at $3/month plus $1 per employee at introductory prices.
Gusto’s Simple plan includes tax filings and payments. Plus adds time tracking and scheduling, multi-state payroll, and contractor invoice management. Gusto also lists hiring and onboarding tools, employee benefits, and compliance support. Some capabilities cost extra or depend on the plan: for example, Gusto Business Compliance is listed at $85 per state monthly on an annual contract, unless you have Premium. Gusto is the broader HR and benefits package; Patriot covers core payroll with fewer listed capabilities included in its base plans.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Patriot’s review summary describes it as affordable and simple for small teams, and its ease-of-use score is 8 out of 10. That points to a straightforward fit for basic payroll, but the available information does not detail setup steps or migration support. Its review also flags complex benefits and retirement setups as a weaker area.
Gusto’s ease-of-use score is 7 out of 10 in the published review, with support scoring 4. Its wider payroll, HR, hiring, and benefits scope may mean more choices to configure, but the published material does not establish how long setup takes. We would compare the workflows you actually need, especially benefits and multi-state payroll, rather than assume either product is easier for every business.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, Patriot Payroll or Gusto?
Patriot is cheaper on the listed introductory rates: Basic is $8.50/month plus $2 per worker paid, while Gusto Simple is $49/month plus $6 per person monthly. Patriot says its per-worker Basic rate is normally $4, so compare ongoing costs as well as the promotion.
Does Patriot Payroll include tax filing?
Patriot includes tax filing and deposits with Full Service Payroll, listed at $18.50/month plus $2.50 per worker paid at the introductory rate. Basic is for businesses running payroll in-house. Gusto Simple, by comparison, lists tax filings and payments as included.
Does Patriot or Gusto include time tracking?
Patriot lists Time & Attendance as an add-on, currently $3/month plus $1 per employee at introductory prices; the normal rates are $6/month plus $2 per employee. Gusto Plus includes time tracking and scheduling. Gusto also lists Time & Attendance Plus separately at $6 per person monthly after a free trial.
Does either payroll service offer a free trial?
Patriot lists a 30-day free trial and advertises 50% off for three months after the free period. Gusto’s published pricing information does not list a free trial for its payroll plans. Both products are listed without a free plan.