ADP
Patriot Software
| Feature | ADP | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $79/mo | From $17/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, mid-market-companies, enterprises, multi-state-employers | us-small-businesses, startups, solopreneurs, small-employers |
| Founded | 1949 | 2002 |
| Payroll Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits Administration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Attendance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hr Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Talent Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accounting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✓ |
| Invoicing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Direct Deposit | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ ADP Pros
- Industry leader with 70+ years of payroll expertise
- Scalable from 1 employee to 100,000+
- Automatic tax filing and compliance updates
- Comprehensive benefits and retirement administration
✗ ADP Cons
- Pricing requires custom quote (not transparent)
- Interface feels dated compared to modern HR tools
- Customer service quality varies by region
✓ Patriot Software Pros
- Very affordable pricing
- US-based phone support
- Easy to use interface
- Combined accounting and payroll
✗ Patriot Software Cons
- US-only
- Limited integrations
- Basic reporting compared to competitors
The Verdict
ADP is built for small businesses and mid market companies, with a focus on payroll-processing and tax-filing. Patriot Software targets us small businesses and startups and leads with accounting and payroll.
On pricing, Patriot Software is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $17/mo compared to $79/mo for ADP. That $62/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Patriot Software edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, ADP offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Patriot Software takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Patriot Software has a slight overall edge — but if industry leader with 70+ years of payroll expertise matters most to you, ADP may still be the right call.