OnPay vs Patriot Payroll: HR & Payroll Comparison (2026)
OnPay and Patriot Payroll both offer payroll and HR features. OnPay provides a wider range of integrations and HR functionalities like health insurance and 401(k) retirement plans, while Patriot Payroll focuses on core payroll features with a lower starting price and a free tier.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask hr & payroll questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓Direct deposit
- ✓Hiring and onboarding
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓Built-in reporting
- ✓PTO management
- ✓401(k) retirement
- ✓Mobile friendly
- ✓Employee self-service
- ✓Unlimited payrolls
- ✓Free direct deposit
- ✓Auto payroll
- ✓Robust payroll reports
- ✓Pay contractors in payroll
- ✓Free employee portal
- ✓All pay frequencies
- ✓Tax filing reliability guaranteed
When to choose OnPay
OnPay is suitable for businesses that require comprehensive HR features beyond basic payroll, including health insurance and 401(k) management, and a broader range of integrations for their tech stack.
When to choose Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll is a better fit for businesses primarily looking for a cost-effective solution for payroll processing with unlimited payrolls, free direct deposit, and a free employee portal, especially if they value a free tier option.