- OfficePortal vs Patriot Software in one line: Patriot Software is affordable US payroll; OfficePortal is an HR system that covers attendance, shifts, leave, reviews and payroll for teams anywhere.
- Patriot's Basic Payroll starts at $17 a month plus about $4 per worker. Full Service Payroll, which files your taxes, starts at $37 a month plus a per-worker fee.
- Time tracking and HR tools are paid add-ons on Patriot.
- OfficePortal Premium costs $4 per user per month billed yearly, with no base fee, and includes attendance with biometric check-in, shift scheduling, leave and performance reviews.
- Patriot is US only and files US payroll taxes on Full Service. OfficePortal works in any location but doesn't file US payroll taxes.
What is Patriot Software?
Patriot Software is a US company founded in 2002 and based in Canton, Ohio, selling online payroll and accounting software to small businesses. It has two payroll plans. On Basic, Patriot calculates pay and you file and deposit the taxes yourself. On Full Service, Patriot files and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes for you. Time and attendance and HR tools are sold as add-ons, and new customers get a 30-day free trial.
Is Patriot Software good for small businesses?
For a small US business that mainly needs to pay people correctly, yes. It's inexpensive and simple, and reviewers often praise its US-based support. It gets stretched when you also need to plan shifts, track attendance closely, run performance reviews or manage people outside the US.
Why choose OfficePortal over Patriot Software?
- One plan, no base fee: attendance, shifts, leave, reviews and payroll on Premium, priced per user. Check our pricing.
- Attendance with proof: biometric check-in plus GPS and selfie add-ons through attendance tracking.
- Shift rosters built in: shift scheduling with automatic overtime.
- Performance reviews included: performance management with review cycles and goals, which Patriot doesn't offer.
- Leave that follows local rules: leave policies, holidays and calendars set per location.
- Free to start: the Standard plan is free for up to five users, with no time limit.
How much does Patriot Software cost?
Independent reviews put Basic Payroll at $17 a month plus about $4 per worker, and Full Service Payroll at $37 a month plus $4 to $5 per worker, with time and HR add-ons from about $6 a month each. For ten workers on Full Service, that's roughly $77 a month before add-ons. OfficePortal Premium costs $40 for the same team, with attendance, shifts, leave and reviews included.
The gap narrows as you grow: at 200 people it's about $837 against $800. Patriot's price includes US tax filing, which ours doesn't, so weigh that if it matters to you.
Patriot Software disadvantages: why do businesses switch?
- Base fee plus per-worker fees, with time and HR tools priced separately.
- No performance management. There's no module for reviews or goals.
- US only. It can't pay or manage employees in other countries.
- Slower direct deposit. Independent reviews say standard direct deposit takes four business days, longer than many payroll services.
- Reporting and integrations. Some reviewers find reports clunky and integrations limited.
- Occasional glitches, which some reviewers mention alongside otherwise positive feedback.
What does Patriot Software do well?
It's one of the more affordable full-service US payroll options, it's easy to learn, and its US-based support gets consistently good reviews. If you also use Patriot's accounting software, the two fit together. That's worth weighing honestly.
Does OfficePortal file US payroll taxes?
No. If you need a provider to file and deposit US federal, state and local payroll taxes, Patriot's Full Service plan does that and OfficePortal doesn't. Some teams keep a US payroll provider and run attendance, shifts, leave and reviews in OfficePortal.
Who should choose which?
- Patriot Software: small US businesses that want cheap, simple payroll with tax filing, and little else.
- OfficePortal: growing teams that need attendance, shifts, leave and reviews in the same system as payroll, or that work outside the US.
How do you switch from Patriot Software to OfficePortal?
- Export employee details, pay history, deductions and time-off balances.
- Book a demo. Our onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training.
- Set attendance rules and shifts, then switch at the start of a pay period.
Comparing other US payroll tools? See OfficePortal vs OnPay, OfficePortal vs Gusto or the full list of HR software alternatives.