OnPay vs Patriot Software

Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026). Last verified May 31, 2026.

The short answer

OnPay ranks higher on Top 11 (#4 vs #7) for Small business owners running payroll without in-house HR. Offers a single, transparently priced plan with great support and features for niche industries.

At a glance

OnPayPatriot Software
Top 11 rank#4 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)#7 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)
Score (out of 9.4)8.68
Best forNiche industry featuresBest value for money
Pricing$ ($46+/mo)$ ($14+/mo)
HQAtlanta, USACanton, USA
Founded20072002

OnPay

Offers a single, transparently priced plan with great support and features for niche industries.

onpay.com

See full entry in The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)

Patriot Software

A highly affordable and straightforward payroll solution perfect for businesses on a tight budget.

www.patriotsoftware.com

See full entry in The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)

Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.