SurePayroll vs Square Payroll vs Gusto vs Patriot Payroll Comparison
SurePayroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
SurePayroll is a cloud-based, Payroll Software with Time Tracking Service. The software can be accessed from any device and is hosted by SurePayroll in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center for fast processing and pe…
Square Payroll
Starting at $34 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Square Payroll is our new, easy-to-use payroll software that integrates with your existing payroll provider. It helps you pay employees faster, keep better track of hours worked, and outsource the labor-intensive parts o…
Gusto
Starting at $49 /user/month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Medium Business
Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to grow and nurture your team. Tru…
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…
Square Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 15 reviews.
SurePayroll vs Square Payroll vs Gusto vs Patriot Payroll — at a glance
| Feature | SurePayroll | Square Payroll | Gusto | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 4.9 / 5 |
| Reviews | 1,436 | 15 | 947 | 3,151 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $34 /User/Month | $49 /user/month | $14 /Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | — | — | — | 11+ apps |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | SOC 2, GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR | — |
| Data residency | US | US | US | US |
Key differences between SurePayroll and Square Payroll
- Pricing: Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month. SurePayroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Target audience: SurePayroll is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Square Payroll targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Square Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
- Deployment: SurePayroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Square Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Compare SurePayroll vs Square Payroll vs Gusto vs Patriot Payroll — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
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
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small businesses needing simple, reliable payroll with tax automation.
- You run a small business with up to 100 employees needing easy payroll setup.
- You want automated federal, state, and local tax filing without manual effort.
- You value hands-on, personalized customer support for payroll management guidance.
- You require highly customizable or advanced payroll features for complex needs.
- You cannot tolerate occasional payment discrepancies or need fully autonomous payroll.
Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.
- You run a small to medium business with hourly or tipped employees.
- You want effortless integration with Square POS and existing payroll providers.
- You need a simple, user-friendly payroll system with built-in time tracking.
- You require advanced payroll reporting, customization, or analytics.
- You manage complex pay structures, multiple locations, or international staff.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR.
- You want an all-in-one platform combining payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance.
- Your team values a user-friendly interface with straightforward setup and workflows.
- You need strong integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks Online.
- Your business requires highly complex or heavily customized payroll processing.
- You are a large enterprise with extensive, process-heavy HR workflows.
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.
SurePayroll: Best for small businesses needing simple, reliable payroll with tax automation. Square Payroll: Best for small to medium service businesses needing simple payroll and time tracking.
Description | SurePayroll is a cloud-based, Payroll Software with Time Tracking Service. The software can be accessed from any device and is hosted by SurePayroll in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data ... Read More about SurePayroll | Square Payroll is our new, easy-to-use payroll software that integrates with your existing payroll provider. It helps you pay employees faster, keep better track of hours worked, and ... Read More about Square Payroll | Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to ... Read More about Gusto | 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 |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.8/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesSmall Business | 1-100 employeesMedium Business | 1-50 employees51-100 employees | 1-100 employeesSmall to medium businesses |
Get pricing help | 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
- Accurate Tax Filing & Compliance: SurePayroll automatically calculates, files, and deposits federal, state, and local payroll taxes, reducing compliance risks.
- User-Friendly Platform: The intuitive interface and mobile app simplify payroll management for small business owners and their employees.
- Flexible Payroll Options: It supports various pay schedules, contractor payments, and employee self-service, accommodating diverse payroll needs.
- Seamless Integration with Square POS: Syncs easily with Square’s point-of-sale system, making it ideal for hourly or tipped workers in service industries.
- Contractor & Employee Support: Easily pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors with direct deposit and generate tax forms from a single dashboard.
- Streamlined Payroll Processing: Gusto simplifies payroll management, allowing administrators to run payroll in just a few clicks. Managers can save valuable time and reduce errors, ensuring employees get paid accurately and on time.
- Comprehensive Benefits Management: With Gusto, offering employee benefits becomes a breeze. From health insurance to retirement plans, you can easily manage and customize benefits packages that enhance employee satisfaction and retention.
- User-Friendly Interface: Both managers and employees appreciate Gusto's intuitive design. This user-friendly platform means less training time for staff and more focus on what really matters – growing your business.
- 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.
Best fit
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, small professional services, restaurants, construction, nonprofits, and startups
- Small Business Owners, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Accountants, and HR Coordinators
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, food service, salons, hospitality, and other service-based small businesses
- Business Owners, Payroll Managers, Accountants, Restaurant Managers, and HR Assistants
- 1-100 employees
- Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants, Nonprofits, Professional Services
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Business Owners, Office Managers
- 1–100 employees
- Retail, construction, professional services, healthcare, nonprofit, and manufacturing
- Small Business Owners, Accountants, Payroll Managers, Office Managers, and HR Coordinators
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Small businesses seeking an easy-to-use, online payroll solution with reliable tax filing and compliance support.
- Companies that require automated payroll processing with options for both full-service and self-service features.
- Businesses wanting integration with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero for streamlined bookkeeping.
- Businesses already using Square for POS may seek deeper payroll integrations or industry-specific HR features.
- Employers needing more advanced reporting, analytics, or benefits management might explore broader HR platforms.
- Companies managing multi-state or international employees could require tools with expanded compliance capabilities.
- Users may seek alternatives to Gusto if they require specific features not offered by the platform, such as advanced payroll reporting or industry-specific compliance tools that better meet their unique business needs.
- Companies with larger workforces might explore alternatives for scalability, as they may find that other solutions provide more robust support for managing high employee volumes efficiently.
- Budget-conscious businesses might look for more cost-effective payroll and HR solutions, especially if they find Gusto's pricing structure doesn't align with their financial goals or operational requirements.
- 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.
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How do SurePayroll, Square Payroll, Gusto and Patriot Payroll Compare on Features?
Total Features | 10 Features | 13 Features | 54 Features | 10 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare SurePayroll, Square Payroll, Gusto and Patriot 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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Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | — | ✗ No |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
SurePayroll vs Square Payroll vs Gusto User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||||
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Rating Distribution | ||||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlighting ease of use and reliable payroll processing, tempered by occasional payment issues and limited advanced features. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Square Payroll's ease of use, integration capabilities, and time-saving automation, though some desire more advanced features for larger or more complex businesses. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and comprehensive features, tempered by some concerns over support consistency and limited advanced customization. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
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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 | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. | No Integration information available. | No Integration information available. |
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List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. | No Customers information available. |  Handlebar Cyclery  Dwg  American Canning | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  6 Screenshots |  4 Screenshots |
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Videos |  4 Videos |  1 Videos |  1 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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Related Blogs and Articles for Payroll Software
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, SurePayroll or Square Payroll?
- Square Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do SurePayroll and Square Payroll offer a free trial?
- Yes, both SurePayroll and Square Payroll offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of SurePayroll vs Square Payroll?
- SurePayroll starts at Contact for pricing. Square Payroll starts at $34 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to SurePayroll?
- Top alternatives to SurePayroll include Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Paycor, Square Payroll, Justworks.
- What are the top alternatives to Square Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Square Payroll include Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Paycor, Freshbooks, PaymentEvolution.