Gusto vs Patriot Payroll: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Patriot Payroll — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: it's a tie on our scorecard — pick on fit, not score.
| Scored on | Gusto | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Basic Payroll Base | — | $17/mo |
| Full Service Base | — | $37/mo |
| Per Employee/Contractor | — | $4/mo |
| Direct Deposit | — | $0 |
Gusto in one paragraph
Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Skip it if: You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Patriot Payroll in one paragraph
A lean, high-speed payroll solution that is perfect for owners who want to avoid tax penalties without paying for HR features they won't use.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need an all-in-one HR platform that manages your company's health insurance and 401(k) directly within the software.
Frequently asked questions
Who should skip Gusto?
You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Who should skip Patriot Payroll?
Skip it if you need an all-in-one HR platform that manages your company's health insurance and 401(k) directly within the software.