Copper vs Patriot Payroll: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Copper and Patriot Payroll — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Patriot Payroll wins on our scorecard (8/10 vs 7.2/10).
| Scored on | Copper | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 7 | 7 |
| Basic Plan (per user) | $23/mo (Annual) | — |
| Professional (per user) | $52/mo (Annual) | — |
| Business (per user) | $99/mo (Annual) | — |
| Free Trial | 14 Days | — |
| Basic Payroll Base Fee | — | $17 / month |
| Full Service Base Fee | — | $37 / month |
| Per Employee Fee | — | $4 / month |
Copper in one paragraph
The best CRM on the market for businesses that exclusively use Google Workspace and want to eliminate manual data entry.
Skip it if: You use Microsoft Outlook or plan to scale your team beyond 50 employees in the next 18 months.
Patriot Payroll in one paragraph
Patriot Payroll is the best 'bang-for-your-buck' option for small teams who want simple compliance without the high-overhead costs of big-box payroll providers.
Skip it if: You need next-day direct deposit or integrated health insurance administration within the same dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Copper or Patriot Payroll?
On our five-axis scorecard, Patriot Payroll scores higher (8/10 vs 7.2/10). Patriot Payroll is the best 'bang-for-your-buck' option for small teams who want simple compliance without the high-overhead costs of big-box payroll providers.
Who should skip Copper?
You use Microsoft Outlook or plan to scale your team beyond 50 employees in the next 18 months.
Who should skip Patriot Payroll?
You need next-day direct deposit or integrated health insurance administration within the same dashboard.