OnPay vs Patriot Payroll 2026: Costs Compared

Patriot Full Service is cheaper for a single-state payroll: $37 per month plus $5 per worker, against OnPay Payroll Essentials at $49 plus $6. OnPay is the more straightforward choice when staff work across several states: multi-state payroll is included, while Patriot charges $12 per additional state. Both offer full-service payroll, but HR and time features change the comparison.

We verified prices in October 2026 on Patriot's pricing page and OnPay's pricing page (October 28). Our estimates use US list prices, assume every named worker is paid that month, and exclude tax, promotions and optional services. They are calculations, not quotes.

Toolradar data: The Toolradar HR and recruiting directory reports 534 tools evaluated as of October 28, 2026. That is a broad HR category, not a count of payroll providers; this comparison narrows the choice to two US payroll products.

At a glance

Patriot also sells Basic Payroll at $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid. It is a payroll calculation and payment product, rather than the same tax-filing service as its Full Service plan. Compare the Patriot Payroll review and OnPay review if you want the fuller picture of either product.

What 10 and 25 workers cost

Start with tax filing included on both sides. The table shows recurring prices after introductory offers, assuming one state and no optional add-ons.

The per-worker fee makes the gap grow with headcount. For 10 workers in one state, the difference is $264 over 12 months if the same people are paid each month and list prices remain constant. Actual bills can differ with worker counts, other products and tax.

This is a comparison of recurring software fees, not an estimate of payroll taxes, wages, benefit premiums or the cost of making a late filing. For another payroll comparison, see Gusto vs OnPay and our payroll software overview. Ask the vendors for a written quote that matches your workforce before choosing.

What happens when employees cross state lines?

OnPay lists multi-state payroll in its Essentials package. Patriot lists a $12 monthly charge for every additional state on Full Service Payroll. A 10-worker company paying staff in two states would therefore estimate $99 per month with Patriot Full Service, versus $109 with OnPay Essentials, assuming the additional-state rule applies and no other fees apply.

At three states, the same Patriot estimate becomes $111 and the OnPay example remains unchanged. At that point the price gap is small, so compare the included workflow and request a quote. At 25 workers, three additional states would add $36 to Patriot and nearly erase its one-state advantage.

This calculation assumes one included state on Patriot and one extra-state charge for each other state. Confirm the vendor's treatment of your specific tax registrations, employees and pay periods before budgeting. For a wider look at HR operations, see our small-business HR software guide.

Tax filing and payroll responsibilities

Patriot's pricing page lists federal, state, local and year-end payroll tax filing and deposits in Full Service. OnPay lists full-service payroll and unlimited pay runs in Essentials. Neither statement removes the employer's responsibility to provide correct payroll data, approve pay runs and check notices. The service agreement and implementation checklist determine who handles a particular exception.

Patriot Basic costs less and leaves tax deposits and filings with the employer. A team that wants the vendor to handle those filings should compare Full Service instead. For five paid workers, Basic's base and worker fees total $37, compared with $62 on Full Service, before promotions and any extra services.

Ask each provider how it handles historical payroll data, filing registrations in a new state, amendments and agency notices. These practical handoffs matter when changing providers midyear. A low recurring fee will not settle which provider can migrate your records in time for the next payroll.

HR and time tracking

OnPay includes basic hiring and onboarding in Essentials and prices its expanded HR product separately at $15 base plus $2 per worker a month. Patriot offers HR Software and Time & Attendance as separately priced add-ons. Each Patriot add-on has a regular $6 monthly base plus $2 per employee, according to its pricing page. For 10 eligible employees on both add-ons, that is $52 per month in add-on fees, before any introductory discount.

Add-ons change the single-state comparison. The illustrated Patriot Full Service bill of $87 becomes $139 with both add-ons for 10 employees. OnPay's $109 Essentials example excludes time tracking, listed separately at $15 plus $4 per worker. These are not equivalent bundles: compare features and eligibility, and ask for a combined quote because OnPay also advertises bundles.

If scheduling and time capture are more important than the payroll interface, evaluate those workflows separately with our Homebase pricing guide and Deputy pricing guide. Check integrations and how approved hours reach payroll before signing a second contract.

Payments, contractors and changes in headcount

Both pricing pages list unlimited payrolls. Patriot's Basic features include contractor payments within payroll; OnPay lists pay for W-2 employees and 1099 workers. That makes either worth evaluating for a company with a mixed workforce, but do not assume the same year-end filing fees or treatment of an unpaid contractor from the shared worker label.

Patriot says it charges per worker paid during the month. Its support page explains that the payroll base still applies in months without payroll. OnPay describes its charge as per worker per month. Before modelling a seasonal workforce, ask OnPay how it counts inactive workers and ask Patriot about any optional product fees that continue when payroll is paused. The relevant Patriot billing explanation gives worked examples.

If you pay a contractor outside your regular employee run, confirm the monthly worker charge and any separate year-end e-filing fee. Patriot says nominal 1099 e-filing fees can apply to Basic customers. Read the current contract for the plan you actually select.

Which should an HR team choose?

Choose Patriot Full Service for a mostly single-state workforce when you want the vendor to file payroll taxes and have budgeted for any HR and time add-ons. Its published base and worker rates are lower than OnPay Essentials. If you already use separate HR and scheduling tools, the payroll-only estimate is a useful starting point.

Choose OnPay Essentials when multi-state coverage and its hiring and onboarding tools fit your operating model. Included states avoid the extra-state charge in this comparison. Price any separate time product and benefits arrangement before setting the employer budget.

Neither product is a substitute for a global employment platform. If the next hire lives outside the US, check our Deel pricing guide and Deel vs Remote comparison for a different employment model. The payroll software guide provides more US options. Toolradar also lists OnPay and Patriot Software.

How we compared

We read both vendors' publicly available pricing pages on October 28, 2026, and used Patriot's own billing help for the paid-worker example. We compared published US payroll fees and named features, then calculated scenarios without tax or promotions. We did not install either product or test payroll runs. Pricing and inclusions can change; check the current offer and the contract before purchasing.

FAQ

Is OnPay or Patriot cheaper for 10 employees?

For 10 paid workers in one state, the listed recurring payroll prices yield $87 per month for Patriot Full Service and $109 for OnPay Essentials, before optional services, tax and promotions. This does not make their HR packages identical.

Does Patriot charge extra for a second state?

Its pricing page lists $12 per month for each additional state on Full Service. Confirm exactly how your registrations and payroll locations are counted in a quote.

Does OnPay include multi-state payroll?

Yes. OnPay lists multi-state payroll among the features in its Payroll Essentials base plan. Confirm any specific registration and implementation requirements for your workforce with the provider.

Can Patriot Basic file my payroll taxes?

Patriot describes federal, state and local filings and deposits as Full Service features. Basic is the lower-priced option for employers handling those tax responsibilities themselves; ask the vendor about your exact filing requirements.

Are time tracking and HR included in Patriot payroll?

Patriot prices Time & Attendance and HR Software separately. Each has a regular base charge and a per-employee fee, so calculate them using the number of people who will use each service.

Does OnPay charge per payroll run?

OnPay lists unlimited pay runs in Essentials rather than an extra charge for each run. Its base and per-worker fees still apply, and optional products should be priced separately.

Cite this: HRpresso, "OnPay vs Patriot Payroll 2026: Costs Compared", October 2026.

Some offers on this page may be paid placements or contain affiliate links.