Patriot Software vs. ADP RUN: 2026 Payroll Compare

Patriot Software publishes its pricing: Full Service Payroll is $37/month + $5 per worker paid, and Basic Payroll is $17/month + $4 per worker paid. ADP does not publish pricing for ADP RUN; you must contact sales for a custom quote.

Based on publicly reported information, ADP RUN customers commonly pay extra for year-end W-2 and 1099 filing, implementation and setup, paying contractors in payroll, time tracking, and multi-state filings. ADP RUN does not offer unlimited payrolls, so employers pay per payroll run (i.e., running weekly payroll can cost twice as much as biweekly payrolls). Patriot Software includes setup assistance, year-end filings, and unlimited payroll runs at no extra cost, with published pricing.

Per-payroll-run pricing is commonly reported with ADP RUN, meaning businesses that pay weekly or run off-cycle bonus payrolls pay more. Patriot Software includes unlimited payrolls at no extra fee on every plan, so you can pay employees weekly, biweekly, or off-cycle without changing your bill.

Patriot Software includes year-end filings (W-2s and 1099s) with Full Service Payroll at no additional cost. ADP RUN charges an additional fee for year-end filing.

No, ADP RUN does not offer native accounting software, but it does offer third-party integrations. Patriot Software includes native accounting starting at $20/month, making it the better fit for small businesses that want payroll and accounting in one place.

Yes, both Patriot Software and ADP RUN offer time tracking add-ons. Patriot's time tracking is $6/month + $2 per worker paid with published pricing. ADP's time and attendance add-on pricing depends on your quote.

Patriot Software offers a Basic Payroll plan starting at $17/month + $4 per worker paid that lets you self-file payroll taxes and save money. ADP RUN does not offer a self-filing option.

Patriot offers a 30-day free trial plus 50% off for the first three months. ADP does not offer a standard free trial, though it periodically runs promotions such as free months for new customers.

Yes. Patriot charges a published $12/month per additional state with Full Service Payroll. ADP RUN supports multi-state payroll with fees, depending on your quote.

Patriot offers up to 30% wholesale discounts for all accountants, starting with the first client, with published rates. ADP offers an accountant partner program, but does not publish its wholesale pricing, so firms must negotiate. Accountants can benefit from Patriot's transparent wholesale discount program, which makes it easy to calculate margins upfront.

ADP RUN is built for businesses with 1 - 49 employees and offers a clear upgrade path to ADP Workforce Now for larger organizations, along with advanced HR compliance tools. For businesses planning to scale rapidly past 50 employees or needing enterprise-grade HR infrastructure, ADP may be a fit. For most small businesses with up to 500 employees, however, Patriot Software's transparent pricing, free setup assistance, and included year-end filings make it a top choice.

Patriot Software is often considered the best choice for small businesses due to its transparent pricing, affordability, included year-end filings, and highly rated customer support.

Patriot Software may be the better choice for small businesses that want transparent pricing they can verify before talking to sales, free setup assistance, year-end W-2 and 1099 filings included free, unlimited payroll runs with no per-run fees, and native accounting software. Patriot also offers a Basic Payroll option for self-filers, publishes its accountant discounts, and carries a far higher Trustpilot rating (4.7 vs. 1.2). The best payroll software for small business depends on your specific needs, but Patriot's combination of published pricing, included fees, and highly rated support makes it a strong option for most small businesses.