gusto vs patriot.avif

The importance of implementing human resource (HR) software that aligns with your company’s requirements can never be overstated. It acts as a hub for managing all aspects of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to performance management and beyond.

That said, the real challenge is finding the right HR platform , as there are many options available with each claiming to be the best one. To help you with this, we have selected two prominent names in the HR space: Gusto and Patriot. Both platforms are widely recognized for their robust feature set and ease of use.

Find out which among them better fits your business’s needs in this comprehensive Gusto Vs Patriot comparison guide.

Gusto Vs Patriot: At A Glance

Feature

Gusto

Patriot

Payroll

Unlimited runs, next-day deposit, global payroll

3-step process, full-service payroll, 4-day deposit

Time And Attendance

Integrated with payroll, lacks hardware clock

Add-on, multi-device clock-in/out, real-time tracking

Compliance

Alerts, HR support, policy resources

Dashboard, auto alerts, resource library

Reporting

Custom reports, workforce insights

20+ built-in reports, data sorting/filtering

Pricing

$40-$180 base + $6-$22/employee, add-ons available

$17-$37 base + $4-$5/employee, discounted for 3 months

What Is Gusto?

gusto - HR.avif

Gusto is a cloud-based platform that streamlines payroll, benefits, and human resource management for small and expanding businesses . The platform offers features such as automated payroll processing, employee onboarding, health insurance administration, and compliance assistance, all designed to simplify complex administrative tasks for employers.

One of Gusto's standout features is its user-friendly interface, which allows businesses to run payroll in just a few clicks. The platform automatically files taxes, assists with compliance, and identifies potential tax credits, helping businesses save money.

Unique Features Of Gusto

  • Employee Benefits: This feature enables businesses to offer a comprehensive range of health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
  • Hiring And Onboarding: Gusto offers advanced hiring and onboarding tools for creating offer letters, managing new hire paperwork, and setting up software access, ensuring a seamless transition for new hires.
  • Talent Management: It offers performance review tools and development resources to help businesses manage employee growth and performance effectively.

Who Are The Main Users Of Gusto?

Gusto is a suitable option for small and mid-sized businesses operating in the following industries and sectors:

  • Retail
  • Real estate
  • Manufacturing
  • Construction
  • Healthcare

Additionally, it caters to single users and businesses dealing with contractors only.

Pros And Cons Of Gusto

Pros

  • Supports electronic onboarding, making it easier for new hires to integrate into the system
  • Presents a clear breakdown of all expenses, such as taxes, billable hours, etc. , ensuring transparency
  • Helps businesses stay compliant with local, state, and federal regulations

Cons

  • The reporting feature offers limited functionality
  • Does not cater to organizations with complex requirements

What Is Patriot?

patriot - findhr.avif

Patriot is comprehensive accounting and payroll software that simplifies financial management for small and mid-sized businesses. It offers an intuitive interface to handle tasks like bookkeeping, payroll processing, tax filing, and financial reporting.

The software is widely recognized for its payroll capabilities, enabling businesses to manage employee compensation, tax calculations, and deductions with ease. It also offers optional add-ons such as time and attendance tracking and HR software, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to manage several aspects of business operations efficiently.

Unique Features Of Patriot

  • HR Assessment: It provides a comprehensive questionnaire for businesses to identify potential compliance risks and areas for improvement within their human resource (HR) practices
  • Smart Employee Handbook: This feature enables businesses to effortlessly create, manage, and update a compliant employee handbook using customizable templates
  • Learning Management System (LMS): Patriot offers an LMS that allows HR teams and management to upload in-house training management and assign, track, and schedule employee training within a centralized platform

Who Are The Main Users Of Patriot?

Patriot payroll software caters to small businesses across various industries and sectors, including:

  • Information technology (IT)
  • Construction
  • Entertainment
  • Software
  • Real estate

Pros And Cons Of Patriot

Pros

  • Has the capability to automatically manage and process local, state, and federal payroll taxes
  • Offers free webinars for users to provide valuable insights and keep them updated on industry trends
  • Requires minimal efforts from users to set up and process payroll

Cons

  • Payroll processing can take up to four business days
  • Managing employee advances and repayments can be challenging and is often prone to errors

Gusto Vs Patriot – Key Features Comparison

Payroll

With features like unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filings, and direct deposit capabilities, Gusto makes payroll processing easy and quick. It also stands out for its global payroll capabilities, helping businesses with international employees and contractors.

The platform also handles deductions and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations. This reduces administrative burdens and minimizes errors.

Patriot’s payroll feature offers a user-friendly interface that processes payroll in just three simple steps. Whether you need to pay salaried employees, hourly workers, or freelancers, the platform supports various pay structures, including direct deposit or printed checks. Additionally, it handles tax calculations and filing, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.

Patriot also offers full-service payroll functionality that includes built-in tax filing services. This guarantees accurate filing of payroll taxes. That said, it can take up to four days for the amount to be deposited in employees’ accounts, which can be considered a drawback compared to the next-day deposit functionality of Gusto.

Winner: Gusto takes the lead in payroll due to its faster processing speed, next-day direct deposit compared, and its international payroll capabilities.

Time And Attendance

Gusto's Time and Attendance feature enables employees to log their work hours directly within the platform. This integration ensures accurate payroll processing, as recorded hours, including overtime and paid time off (PTO), automatically sync with payroll calculations.

Additionally, managers can approve timesheets before payroll submission, reducing errors and administrative workload.

Patriot offers time and attendance modules as an add-on. It automatically records work hours and overtime, ensuring accurate payroll processing and compliance with labor laws.

The software allows employees to clock in and out via multiple devices, including desktop, mobile, or a dedicated time clock app. Using this feature, managers can view employee cards, customize overtime rules, and access employees’ timecard history reports.

Winner: Patriot wins in this category because of its flexible clock-in/out options and multi-device compatibility, including desktop, mobile, and a dedicated time clock app. While Gusto’s time-tracking feature is well-integrated with payroll, it lacks the hardware clock option and real-time tracking flexibility offered by Patriot.

Compliance

The compliance tools in Gusto assist businesses in adhering to federal, state, and local labor laws. The platform provides proactive compliance alerts, notifying employers of relevant legal changes that may impact their operations.

Furthermore, Gusto offers resources and access to certified HR professionals to help establish and maintain compliant policies, such as setting up PTO and sick leave policies that align with state labor laws.

Patriot places a strong emphasis on compliance, offering tools that help small businesses adhere to labor laws and tax regulations. It offers a comprehensive compliance dashboard, providing HR managers with a personalized summary of current and upcoming state and federal compliance obligations.

The software sends automatic law alerts through emails, helping businesses stay in the loop with crucial legal updates. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive compliance library containing valuable resources like actionable checklists, essential government forms, etc. , helping businesses stay compliant.

Winner: It’s a tie. Gusto stands out by offering access to certified HR professionals and proactive compliance alerts. On the other hand, Patriot is known for its compliance dashboard and comprehensive library of resources.

Reporting And Analytics

The reporting capabilities in Gusto provide businesses with valuable insights into their operations. Using this feature, employers can generate customizable reports, such as payroll journals and employee summaries, to analyze crucial data and make informed decisions.

The platform also offers features like survey trend analysis and workforce cost reporting, helping businesses understand their team's dynamics and allocate resources effectively.

With more than 20 built-in reports, Patriot's reporting feature helps small business owners track key metrics, including payroll summaries, time-off balances, employee wages, and tax liabilities. These reports are presented in a straightforward, easy-to-read format, helping users quickly assess their labor costs and overall financial health.

Additionally, Patriot offers customization options, allowing users to sort and filter data to suit specific business needs.

Winner: While Patriot offers a solid range of over 20 built-in reports and customization options, Gusto’s more advanced analytics capabilities—such as workforce insights and resource allocation tools—provide deeper insights for strategic decision-making.

Pricing

Gusto offers three different pricing plans catering to companies with diverse needs. Each plan has a fixed base price with an additional amount for every employee.

  • Simple - $40/month plus $6/employee/month
  • Plus - $80/month plus $12/employee/month
  • Premium - $180/month plus $22/employee/month

The subscribers of the Simple and Plus plans can choose from the following add-ons to further enhance the platform’s functionality:

  • Time And Attendance Plus - $6/employee (free trial available)
  • Next-Day Direct Deposit - $15/month plus $3/employee/month

There’s also a ‘contractor-only’ plan for businesses without W-2 employees. It is available for only $6/person/month for the first six months. After this period, a base price of $35/month is charged.

Patriot offers two pricing plans for its payroll module. These plans are available at a 50% discount for the first three months and a 30-day free trial.

  • Basic Payroll - $17/month plus $4/employee (discounted price for first three months: $8. 50/month plus $2/employee)
  • Full-Service Payroll - $37/month plus $5/employee (discounted price for first three months: $18. 50/month plus $2. 50/employee)

Users can also benefit from the following add-ons:

  • Time And Attendance - $6/month plus $2/employee (discounted price: $3/month plus $1/employee)
  • HR Software - $6/month plus $2/employee (discounted price: $3/month plus $1/employee)

Disclaimer:It should be noted that all prices are subject to change.

Winner: This section sends with a tie as Gusto's comprehensive feature set justifies its higher cost, whereas SurePayroll provides a more budget-friendly solution for businesses with straightforward payroll requirements.

Gusto Vs Patriot – Which Software Is Better For Your Business?

gusto vs patriot .avif

On the whole, Gusto is a better option if you are looking for a full-service HR platform with global payroll and advanced reporting capabilities. Patriot, on the other hand, is a better choice if local payroll, compliance, and affordability are your main concerns. Ultimately, it all boils down to your company’s individual requirements.