NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

Spotsaas logo
Last updated:

Best Patriot Payroll Alternatives — 7 Compared, With Free Tools (2026)

Explore 7 alternatives to Patriot Payroll — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The 7 strongest free Patriot Payroll alternatives, side by side

Quick answer

If Patriot Payroll isn't working out, the best alternatives are Zenefits, OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll. Zenefits ranks first with a SpotScore of 9.5 and a 4.5★ rating. See all 7 compared on score, rating, and price below.

Patriot Payroll works for plenty of teams, but it isn't the only choice. If price, features, or the learning curve are pushing you to switch, these 7 payroll software free alternatives are the strongest replacements. We rank by SpotScore, a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence, alongside ratings and pricing. Start with the table, then read each breakdown.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
ZenefitsStreamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.9.5★★★★★ 4.5(545)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.96(447)Freefrom $40/moteams of all sizes
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★☆ 4.4(56)Freefrom $49/mosmall businesses
JustworksEfficient payroll management on the go.9.2★★★★☆ 3.9(50)Freefrom $8 /user/monthteams of all sizes
Square PayrollStreamline your payroll with ease.8.8★★★★★ 5(15)Freefrom $34 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
MicrokeeperEfficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.8.7★★★★★ 4.69(90)Freefrom $2.25 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
CheckMark PayrollStreamline payroll processing with ease.8.2★★★★☆ 4.17(6)Freefrom $449teams of all sizes

9.5

SpotScore

Zenefits - Payroll Software

Zenefits

Streamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

4.5

545 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Zenefits?

Zenefits is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits administration platform for growing companies that want to consolidate onboarding, time-off tracking, payroll processing, and compliance management in a single system. It eliminates the common pattern of using separate tools for HR records, ...

Read more about Zenefits
Free TrialTry Free →·

Zenefits offers custom pricing plan

9.4

SpotScore

OnPay - Payroll Software

OnPay

Streamline your payroll process and save time and money.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

447 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is OnPay?

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps companies of all sizes reduce costs for processing payroll checks, making tax reports, tracking down pay ...

Read more about OnPay
Free TrialTry Free →

Spotsaas Ads

Want your product up here? Put it in front of buyers the moment they're comparing your category.

Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year
Advertise your product

9.2

SpotScore

QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software

QuickBooks Payroll

Streamline your payroll process with ease.

Best for: SMB teams

Start Free Trial

4.4

56 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is QuickBooks Payroll?

QuickBooks Payroll makes it easy to stay on top of your HR needs. It’s payroll software that gives you the power to handle all the payroll processing you need, from modeling an employee’s paycheck to tracking deductions and taxes. Whether you need a few employees or thousands, QuickBooks ...

Read more about QuickBooks Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

9.2

SpotScore

Justworks - Payroll Software

Justworks

Efficient payroll management on the go.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.9

50 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Justworks?

Justworks is payroll software that offers international payroll, payroll tax filing and realtime benefits administration. The Justworks app is a simple way for teams to bill their hours directly from their iPhone or Android devices. This mobile solution provides employees with a transparent ...

Read more about Justworks
Free TrialTry Free →

8.8

SpotScore

Square Payroll - Payroll Software

Square Payroll

Streamline your payroll with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

15 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Square Payroll?

Square Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and sole proprietors, particularly those already running payments or point-of-sale through Square's ecosystem. It automates pay runs, tax filings, and direct deposit, and pulls time tracking data directly from Square tools to eliminate ...

Read more about Square Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

8.7

SpotScore

Microkeeper - Payroll Software

Microkeeper

Efficiency meets affordability - simplify your payroll process.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

90 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Microkeeper?

Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll processing has never been easier or more affordable. Microkeeper gives you simplicity and convenience in ...

Read more about Microkeeper
Free TrialTry Free →

8.2

SpotScore

CheckMark Payroll - Payroll Software

CheckMark Payroll

Streamline payroll processing with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.2

6 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is CheckMark Payroll?

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll application for small business owners who want to run payroll in-house without outsourcing. It handles check printing, W-2 generation, and federal tax reports directly from the user's printer, removing the need for a payroll service bureau. The software ...

Read more about CheckMark Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →

Who competes with Patriot Payroll?

Across Payroll Software, 7 products compete directly with Patriot Payroll. The strongest overlap is with Zenefits, OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll. Each is compared against Patriot Payroll on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Patriot Payroll?

Searches for "sites like Patriot Payroll" and "apps like Patriot Payroll" land on the same shortlist as "Patriot Payroll alternatives" — the 7 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why we picked these Patriot Payroll alternatives

Zenefits9.5Best for small & mid-size businesses

Handles onboarding, offboarding, payroll, and benefits administration in one workflow, reducing paperwork.

Watch for: Customer support response times are slow, with limited availability during urgent situations.

OnPay9.4Best for teams of all sizes

OnPay stands out for its intuitive design, making it easy for supervisors, managers, and payroll specialists to navigate and execute payroll tasks efficiently

Watch for: While great for SMBs, larger companies might find customization options less robust for complex payroll needs.

QuickBooks Payroll9.2Best for small businesses

Automates tax filing, paycheck generation, and sends real-time notifications to reduce manual effort.

Watch for: Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.

Justworks9.2Best for teams of all sizes

International payroll capabilities

Watch for: Higher cost for small businesses

Square Payroll8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Square Payroll integrates effortlessly with existing payroll providers, making it an ideal plug-and-play solution without the need for major system overhauls.

Watch for: While great for small businesses, it may lack some of the advanced reporting, analytics, or customization features needed by larger enterprises.

Microkeeper8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Consolidates payroll, rosters, timesheets, and HR tasks into one platform.

Watch for: Occasional app or feature downtime causes minor disruptions.

CheckMark Payroll8.2Best for teams of all sizes

Offers multiple check printing formats so businesses can customize how employee paychecks are printed.

Watch for: The product focuses primarily on check printing and payroll processing, and may not include broader HR functionalities like onboarding, time tracking, or benefits administration.

Why teams look for a Patriot Payroll alternative

The decision to move off Patriot Payroll usually rests on a few known weak spots:

  • Occasional learning curve during setup or for newcomers, though consistently offset by good support.
  • Limited advanced features for larger businesses or those seeking higher customization.
  • Minor issues reported, but rare and swiftly resolved.
  • Some users initially find learning payroll software intimidating without prior experience.

The factors that matter in a Patriot Payroll alternative

Here's how the 7 free alternatives compare at a factual level: 7 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2.25–$449, with Microkeeper the cheapest entry point; and Square Payroll is the highest rated at 5★ across 15 reviews.

How the ranking holds up.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Patriot Payroll are Square Payroll (5.0★), OnPay (5.0★), Microkeeper (4.7★). Compare all 7 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Patriot Payroll, prioritize: Wage Garnishment, W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Self Service Portal, Direct Deposit, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Patriot Payroll starts from $14 /Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Patriot Payroll is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to match a Patriot Payroll alternative to your team

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Square Payroll has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Zenefits has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.5) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Your migration plan from Patriot Payroll

Switching from Patriot Payroll doesn't have to be painful. Begin with a data export and verify the new tool imports it. Confirm feature parity, pilot the change on a trial, and keep Patriot Payroll running in parallel until you're sure. Many tools above let you test for free first.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].