Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll is an easy-to-use cloud-based software designed to help American small business owners run payroll accurately in minutes with guaranteed calculations and optional full-service tax filing support.
Square Payroll
Square Payroll is a full-service payroll software that automates tax filings, employee payments, and benefits management for small businesses using integrated time tracking and point-of-sale data.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Patriot Payroll | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Website | patriotsoftware.com | squareup.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $17/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2002 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Canton, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll provides a straightforward way for you to manage your company's payroll without needing an accounting degree. You can choose between a basic plan where you handle your own tax deposits or a full-service option where the platform manages all federal, state, and local tax filings for you. The interface is designed for speed, allowing you to finish a standard payroll run in just three simple steps.
You can easily manage employee direct deposits, print checks, and handle various pay types like commissions and bonuses. The software also includes a free employee portal where your team can view their pay stubs and tax forms independently. It is built specifically for U.S. small businesses with 1 to 500 employees who need a reliable, no-frills solution that keeps them compliant with tax laws.
Square Payroll
Square Payroll simplifies how you pay your team by automating the most complex parts of business ownership. You can pay employees and contractors in just a few clicks, whether they are hourly or salaried. The platform automatically calculates, files, and pays your federal and state payroll taxes, ensuring you stay compliant without manual paperwork. Because it integrates directly with Square POS, your team's hours sync automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry or messy spreadsheets.
You can manage everything from a single dashboard, including workers' compensation, health insurance, and 401(k) plans. The system supports flexible payment options like Instant Payments, allowing you to send funds to employees the same day they work. Whether you are running a single coffee shop or managing multiple retail locations, you get a straightforward tool that handles the back-office heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business.
Overview
Patriot Payroll Features
- Three-Step Payroll Run your entire payroll in just minutes by entering hours, reviewing the totals, and clicking submit.
- Full-Service Tax Filing Let the experts handle your federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and deposits with a 100% accuracy guarantee.
- Employee Self-Service Give your team 24/7 access to their own pay stubs, W-2s, and time-off balances through a secure online portal.
- Flexible Payment Options Choose between free direct deposit or printing your own paper checks at no additional cost to your business.
- Time and Attendance Sync Connect your payroll directly to integrated time tracking to eliminate manual data entry and reduce human errors.
- Multiple Pay Rates Manage different pay rates and types for various roles or departments within your company from a single dashboard.
Square Payroll Features
- Automated Tax Filings. Let the software calculate, file, and pay your state and federal payroll taxes automatically to ensure total compliance.
- Time Card Sync. Import employee hours directly from Square POS or the Team App to eliminate manual data entry errors.
- Instant Payments. Access your funds immediately and pay your team the same day they work using your Square Balance.
- Benefits Integration. Offer and manage health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers' comp directly through your payroll dashboard.
- Contractor Payments. Pay your independent contractors via direct deposit and let the system generate and file 1099-NEC forms.
- Employee Mobile App. Give your team a dedicated app to track their hours, view pay stubs, and manage their tax forms.
Pricing Comparison
Patriot Payroll Pricing
- Setup wizard and free support
- Guaranteed accurate calculations
- Free direct deposit
- Print checks on your own
- Employee self-service portal
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Federal tax filings and deposits
- State tax filings and deposits
- Local tax filings and deposits
- Year-end W-2 and W-3 processing
- Tax filing accuracy guarantee
Square Payroll Pricing
- $5 per person paid monthly
- No monthly base fee
- Direct deposit included
- 1099-NEC generation and filing
- Self-service contractor account
- Everything in Contractor plan, plus:
- $6 per person paid monthly
- Full-service tax filings
- Time card and POS integration
- Health insurance and 401(k) access
- Live phone and chat support
Pros & Cons
Patriot Payroll
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface that requires no training
- Highly responsive and knowledgeable US-based support
- Very affordable pricing compared to major competitors
- Quick and painless initial setup process
- Reliable and accurate tax calculations every time
Cons
- Limited advanced HR features for larger corporations
- No native mobile app for employers
- Integration options are fewer than enterprise platforms
Square Payroll
Pros
- Seamless integration with Square Point of Sale
- Automatic tax filing saves hours of manual work
- Simple and transparent per-employee pricing model
- Easy setup process for new business owners
Cons
- Customer support can be difficult to reach
- Limited advanced HR features for large corporations
- Account freezes can occasionally delay payroll processing