Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll Comparison
Patriot Payroll
Starting at $14 /Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
The Patriot's secure payroll solution is designed to lower the total cost of payroll administration, while helping you reduce your staffs' workload. With its fully integrated interface with Patriot's fund accounting and…
Heartland Payroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Medium Business
- Small Business
Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…
Patriot Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.9-star rating across 2,950 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
Patriot PayrollHeartland Payroll
The core difference between Patriot Payroll and Heartland Payroll lies in their target employee range and specific features; Patriot Payroll is ideal for small businesses with up to 100 employees seeking affordability and simplicity, while Heartland Payroll caters to small to mid-sized businesses with 20-500 employees, focusing on automation and integrated payment solutions. Ideal buyers for Patriot Payroll are small business owners and office managers, whereas Heartland Payroll is better suited for payroll managers and HR directors in larger organizations.
- Best for small businesses with up to 100 employees - Affordable pricing at $14 - User-friendly interface with strong US-based support - Ideal for various industries including retail and healthcare - Focused on simplicity and streamlined payroll processes - Suitable for small business owners and accountants
- Designed for small to mid-sized businesses with 20-500 employees - Emphasizes automated tax filings and payment processing - Strong support tailored for retail, hospitality, and healthcare sectors - Ideal for payroll managers and HR directors - Offers features to reduce manual work - Pricing details not listed
Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll — at a glance
| Feature | Patriot Payroll | Heartland Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 2,950 | 118 |
| Starting price | $14 /Month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | 11+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | — |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep) |
| Certifications | — | — |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between Patriot Payroll and Heartland Payroll
- Pricing: Patriot Payroll starts at $14 /Month. Heartland Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Patriot Payroll offers a free trial; Heartland Payroll does not.
- Target audience: Patriot Payroll is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Heartland Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
- User satisfaction: Patriot Payroll scores higher with a 4.9-star average.
- Deployment: Patriot Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
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Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
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Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best payroll software for small businesses needing simple, affordable solutions.
- You run a small to medium business with up to 100 employees.
- You want a user-friendly, streamlined payroll system with strong US-based support.
- You need integration with fund accounting and compliance tools for payroll automation.
- You require advanced, highly customizable payroll features for complex business needs.
- You are a large enterprise scaling beyond small to medium business capabilities.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
- You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
- You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
- You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
- Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
- You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.
Patriot Payroll: Best payroll software for small businesses needing simple, affordable solutions. Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
Description | The Patriot's secure payroll solution is designed to lower the total cost of payroll administration, while helping you reduce your staffs' workload. With its fully integrated interface with ... Read More about Patriot Payroll | Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland Payroll |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesSmall to medium businesses | 20-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Flexible Payroll Options: Choose between basic and full-service payroll, depending on whether you want to handle tax filing yourself or let Patriot do it.
- Easy-to-Use Interface: Designed with small business owners in mind, the platform simplifies payroll processing with intuitive navigation and clear workflows.
- Affordable Pricing & U.S. Support: Offers competitive rates with no hidden fees and access to expert, U.S.-based customer support when needed.
- Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
- Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
- User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
Best fit
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, construction, professional services, healthcare, nonprofit, and manufacturing
- Small Business Owners, Accountants, Payroll Managers, Office Managers, and HR Coordinators
- 20–500 employees
- Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
- Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Small businesses looking for simple payroll solutions with affordable, transparent pricing and U.S.-based support.
- Companies needing basic or full-service payroll options with the flexibility to manage taxes internally or outsource.
- Businesses prioritizing user-friendly software without the complexity of enterprise-level platforms.
- Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
- Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
- Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Patriot Payroll and Heartland Payroll Compare on Features?
Total Features | 10 Features | 12 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Patriot Payroll and Heartland Payroll on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page |  | Pricing information not available |
Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
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Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Patriot Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall, users praise Patriot Payroll for its ease of use, affordability, and strong customer support, with minor setup challenges noted. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  4 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  3 Videos |  2 Videos |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Patriot Payroll or Heartland Payroll?
- Patriot Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Patriot Payroll and Heartland Payroll offer a free trial?
- Patriot Payroll offers a free trial. Heartland Payroll does not.
- What is the starting price of Patriot Payroll vs Heartland Payroll?
- Patriot Payroll starts at $14 /Month. Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Patriot Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Patriot Payroll include APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll.
- What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.