[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Payroll Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/payroll-management/) \> [Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/payroll-software/) \> [Gusto](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/gusto/) \> Gusto vs Patriot Payroll # Gusto vs Patriot Payroll Last Updated: May 11th, 2026 Our analysts compared [Gusto](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/gusto/) vs [Patriot Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/patriot-payroll/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [Payroll Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/payroll-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Payroll Software&cta=payroll-software). [Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Analyst Ratings](#analyst-rating-section) [Comparison Charts](#product-comparison-charts) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) Remove Add to Compare [![Gusto Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317793)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/gusto/) [ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) Remove Add to Compare [![Patriot Payroll Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/ee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317798)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/patriot-payroll/) [ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Gusto&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317793) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Gusto&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317793) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Gusto&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317793&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Gusto&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317793&price=2) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Patriot%2BPayroll&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317798) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Patriot%2BPayroll&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317798) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Patriot%2BPayroll&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317798&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Payroll+Software&product%5Fname=Patriot%2BPayroll&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317798&price=2) ### Products Insights Overall Rating Comparison [ Analyst Rating 75 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) (9898 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) [ Analyst Rating 56 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) (1898 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) Price Starts From $49 Monthly [ Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Gusto&category=Payroll Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/8466a2b43729c29dcd7cc0fdfa1a9e7a-4770395907408ad234a01c495ed34cfa/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317793) $21 Monthly [ 30 Day Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Patriot Payroll&category=Payroll Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/ee389847678a3a9d1ce9e4ca69200d06-e6095912df44a327826f00cd55e2772a/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317798) Pros What we like about Gusto and Patriot Payroll: * Automated tax filing handles e-filing, deductions, and credits with minimal manual work * Built-in benefits with access to over 9,000 medical, dental, and vision plans * Supports contractor payments in over 120 countries for distributed teams * Customer support is responsive and well-regarded by a strong majority of users * Affordable starting price with flexible month-to-month subscription and no penalties * Smooth onboarding process guided by a knowledgeable support team Cons What we dislike about Gusto and Patriot Payroll: * Reporting lacks depth and doesn't support bookmarking saved filters or columns * Customer support is slow to resolve issues and can require repeated escalations * Not a strong fit once you move past the mid-market and need advanced HR tools * Direct deposit requires a four-day lead time, which can complicate tight pay cycles * No built-in benefits administration — you'll need a separate solution for that * Time and attendance tracking is an add-on, not included in the base plan ### Our Review **Bottom line:** Gusto is the better pick if you want payroll, benefits, and HR bundled together with solid automation. Patriot Payroll works well if you need a simple, affordable payroll tool and don't mind piecing together HR functions through add-ons. Gusto starts at $49 per month plus $6 per employee per month. Patriot Payroll starts at $21 per month. Both are month-to-month with no contracts. Gusto's pricing is more predictable as you scale, while Patriot's lower entry cost makes it attractive for very small teams. Where Gusto stands out is its depth. You get automated tax filing, multi-state payroll, and employee self-service all in one place. Employees can manage their own onboarding, PTO, and benefits enrollment without going through HR. Patriot's feature set is simpler by design — it handles core payroll well, but time and attendance and HR functions cost extra. Patriot users consistently praise the support team for being responsive and helpful. Gusto users have had a different experience — slow resolution times and repeated escalations come up frequently in reviews. If support quality matters a lot to you, that's a real tradeoff to weigh. Gusto also supports contractor payments in over 120 countries, which matters if you're working with international talent. Patriot doesn't have that kind of global reach. If you're a small team that just needs clean, reliable payroll at a low cost, Patriot is a solid choice. If you want more built in — benefits, compliance, self-service, and international support — Gusto justifies the higher price. ### Analyst Rating Summary Overall Scores Based on the research and analysis by SelectHub's team of research analysts, Gusto has an analyst rating of 75\. By comparison Patriot Payroll has an analyst rating of 56. 75 56 Features Comparison **Benefits Management** Easily handle employee perks like health plans and retirement savings, so you can offer attractive benefits without the administrative headache. 90 45 **Dashboard and Reporting** See clear summaries of your payroll data and create helpful reports, giving you quick insights into costs and employee payments. 80 56 **Document Management** Keep all your important payroll records organized in one secure place, making it simple to find files and stay compliant. 100 100 [Show More](#) [Show More](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Payroll Software) Strengths The best features of Gusto and Patriot Payroll as judged by user reviews and analyst validation. Document Management Platform Security and Compliance Integrations and Extensibility Benefits Management Self-Service Portal Document Management Tax Management ### Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Payroll Software) How Gusto and Patriot Payroll compare against the top 11 functional requirements as defined by SelectHub project data. Gusto Patriot Payroll \+ Add Product [\+ Add Product](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Payroll Software) Benefits Management Dashboard AndReporting Document Management Expense Management Mobile Capabilities Payroll Management Platform Capabilities Platform Security AndCompliance Self-Service Portal Tax Management Time And AttendanceManagement 90 80 100 67 53 83 71 100 86 82 84 45 56 100 40 56 78 40 65 51 91 48 0 25 50 75 100 Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Benefits Management** Easily handle employee perks like health plans and retirement savings, so you can offer attractive benefits without the administrative headache. 83% 0% 17% 42% 0% 58% **Dashboard And Reporting** See clear summaries of your payroll data and create helpful reports, giving you quick insights into costs and employee payments. 80% 0% 20% 50% 10% 40% **Document Management** Keep all your important payroll records organized in one secure place, making it simple to find files and stay compliant. 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% **Expense Management** Track and manage employee spending with ease, allowing you to review submissions, reimburse costs, and keep your budget in check. 50% 0% 50% 0% 67% 33% **Mobile Capabilities** Manage payroll tasks from your phone or tablet, letting you approve time off and view information conveniently, wherever you are. 50% 0% 50% 50% 0% 50% **Payroll Management** Process employee payments accurately and on time, handling deductions, taxes, and paychecks automatically, so you can focus on your team. 83% 0% 17% 77% 0% 23% **Platform Capabilities** Imagine your payroll system working smoothly with other tools you use, sharing information easily and fitting into your existing workflows. 57% 0% 43% 43% 0% 57% **Platform Security And Compliance** Protect sensitive employee data and stay up-to-date with payroll regulations, giving you peace of mind about security and legal requirements. 100% 0% 0% 67% 0% 33% **Self-Service Portal** Let your employees access their pay stubs, tax forms, and personal information directly, saving you time and empowering them with self-management. 86% 0% 14% 43% 14% 43% **Tax Management** Automatically calculate and file your payroll taxes accurately, so you can avoid penalties and stay compliant with government regulations effortlessly. 82% 0% 18% 91% 0% 9% **Time And Attendance Management** Effortlessly track employee work hours, manage time-off requests, and ensure accurate paychecks by streamlining your attendance processes. 70% 0% 30% 10% 60% 30% **Customize This Data For Your Unique Needs** and compare feature capabilities head-to-head [CUSTOMIZE NOW](#) [CUSTOMIZE NOW](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Payroll Software) ### Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Payroll Software) Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Integrations And Extensibility** Connect your payroll system with other tools you rely on, making data flow smoothly and tailoring the software to your unique business needs. 95% 0% 5% 42% 0% 58% **Requirements Summary** Of typical requirements, 75.5% are fully supported out of the box by Gusto including Document Management, Platform Security And Compliance and Integrations And Extensibility. Patriot Payroll supports 53.7% and excels at Document Management, Tax Management and Payroll Management. Gusto has an analyst rating of 75 and a user sentiment rating of 'excellent' based on 9898 reviews, while Patriot Payroll has an analyst rating of 56 and a user sentiment rating of 'excellent' based on 1898 reviews. ### User Sentiment Summary Gusto has a user sentiment rating of 92 based on 9898 reviews. Patriot Payroll has a user sentiment rating of 96 based on 1898 reviews. ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 9898 reviews ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 1898 reviews Synopsis Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 92% of users recommend this product Gusto has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 9898 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites. 96% of users recommend this product Patriot Payroll has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 96% when considering 1898 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. User Review Scores **FinancesOnline** n/a **5.0** (14) **G2.com, Inc** **4.6** (5736) **4.8** (358) **Software Advice, Inc** n/a **4.8** (1513) **Capterra Inc** **4.6** (4162) n/a **TrustRadius** n/a **4.3** (13) ### Awards SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Gusto and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Platform Security and Compliance and Integrations and Extensibility. Gusto stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. ![User Favorite Award]() ![Platform Security and Compliance Award]() Show more ![Integrations and Extensibility Award]() Patriot Payroll stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. ![User Favorite Award]() ### Product Assistance Training Resources Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Knowledge Base 24/7 Live Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Knowledge Base 24/7 Live Support ### Product Basics Company Size i Small Medium Large Small Medium Large Platforms Supported Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Deployment Supported Cloud On-Premise Mobile Cloud On-Premise Mobile Comparison of Top Alternatives [ Gusto Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-management/gusto-alternatives/) [ Patriot Payroll Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/patriot-payroll/alternatives/) ### Screenshots ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ### Key Features * **Automated tax filing** – Handles e-filing for forms like W-2s, 1099s, and 94x series, with built-in calculators for deductions and tax credits, though year-end filings may incur extra fees. * **Benefits enrollment** – Lets employees choose from over 9,000 medical, dental, and vision plans, plus add-ons for 401(k), HSA, and FSA, all managed within the platform. * **Employee self-service** – Employees can self-onboard, manage their profiles, track PTO, upload documents, and access their lifetime accounts without HR involvement. * **Reporting tools** – Offers pre-built reports for payroll summaries, tax liabilities, and workforce costing, but doesn't support bookmarking saved filter configurations. * **Tax calculation and filing** – Calculates federal, state, and local taxes automatically during payroll runs; full filing and payment support requires the full-service subscription tier. * **Time and attendance** – Available as a paid add-on that supports clock-in and clock-out tracking and gives employees access to electronic time cards. * **Year-end reporting** – Generates and electronically files W-2 and W-3 forms, along with printable 940 and 941 documents, at year end. * **Reporting and exports** – Downloads reports in PDF or CSV format with filters for employee, location, check type, and totals, including a tax liability report to flag potential issues. ### Top Alternatives in Payroll Software [ ADP RUN ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/adp-run/) [ APS Payroll ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/aps-payroll/) [ Justworks ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/peo-software/justworks/) [ Namely ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/namely/) [ OnPay ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/onpay/) [ Patriot Payroll ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/patriot-payroll/) [ Paychex ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/paychex/) [ Payroll4Free ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/payroll4free/) [ QuickBooks Payroll ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/quickbooks-payroll/) [ Rippling ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/rippling/) [ Square Payroll ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/square-payroll/) [ TriNet HR Plus ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/trinet/) [ UKG Ready ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/hr-management-software/ukg-ready/) [ Wagepoint ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/wagepoint/) [ Wave Payroll ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payroll-software/wave-payroll/) ### Head-to-Head Comparison ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![ADP RUN Software Tool]() [Gusto VS ADP RUN](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-adp-run/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![ADP Workforce Now Software Tool]() [Gusto VS ADP Workforce Now](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/adp-workforce-now-vs-gusto/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Dayforce Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Dayforce](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-dayforce/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Namely Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Namely](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-namely/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Oracle HCM Cloud Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Oracle HCM Cloud](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-oracle-hcm-cloud/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Paychex Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Paychex](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/paychex-vs-gusto/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Paycom Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Paycom](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/paycom-vs-gusto/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Paylocity Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Paylocity](https://www.selecthub.com/hr-management-software/paylocity-vs-gusto/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![QuickBooks Payroll Software Tool]() [Gusto VS QuickBooks Payroll](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![SuccessFactors Software Tool]() [Gusto VS SuccessFactors](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-successfactors/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![TriNet HR Plus Software Tool]() [Gusto VS TriNet HR Plus](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-trinet/) ![Gusto Software Tool]() ![Workday HCM Software Tool]() [Gusto VS Workday HCM](https://www.selecthub.com/payroll-software/gusto-vs-workday-hcm/) **About SelectHub (and our data)** We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies. WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more... ![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() [ Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/payroll-requirements-onsite-1/) ![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() [ Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Payroll%20Software) **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 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