Square Payroll vs Patriot Payroll 2026: Costs Compared

For a US business paying 10 workers in one state, Patriot Full Service costs $87 per month, compared with $95 for Square Payroll, at the published regular rates checked October 28, 2026. Square costs less for one worker; the two are equal for two. Patriot Basic is cheaper but leaves payroll tax filing to the employer.

The comparison assumes all 10 people are paid during the month, one state and no add-ons, payroll taxes or promotional discounts. Read Square's payroll pricing and Patriot's payroll cost guide for current terms. A payroll decision also depends on the filing work, direct deposit deadlines and how the team tracks hours.

Toolradar data: The payroll category on Toolradar, the directory we run, displayed 77 tools evaluated on October 28, 2026. That count describes the category, not the number of services in this comparison. The Square company profile and Patriot Software profile offer a broader directory context.

Costs at a glance

The table and scenarios use regular fees and do not include introductory offers. Square's page describes unlimited monthly pay runs on both plans. Patriot also lists unlimited payrolls; in both cases, unlimited runs are not the same as unlimited workers at no charge.

Compare a month at the same headcount

These calculations compare recurring software fees for people paid in the month. Patriot Full Service assumes only one state filing, with no optional products. Square full service is the employee plan, not the contractor-only option. Taxes, benefit premiums and one-time costs are excluded.

At 10 workers, Square is $35 + (10 × $6) = $95. Patriot Full Service is $37 + (10 × $5) = $87. The difference is $8 a month, or $96 over 12 identical months. This is a list-price illustration; actual staffing, promotions, taxes and add-ons change the invoice.

The crossover follows from the price structure. Square has a base fee $2 lower but charges $1 more for each paid person. With one paid worker the Square calculation is lower by $1. At two it is equal; above two, Patriot's single-state Full Service list price is lower in this narrow model. Basic cannot be treated as an equal-service winner because the employer has to manage tax filings and deposits.

The small-business payroll cost guide explains the other budget lines. For a wider selection, see the payroll software guide and small-business payroll shortlist.

Tax filings are the first decision

Square describes full-service payroll with automated tax filings. Its multi-jurisdiction help page says it supports payroll tax calculations and filings across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its documented exclusions include one employee working in multiple tax jurisdictions and tax filing for multiple EINs under one Square Payroll account. A company with either condition should get the specific workflow confirmed before switching.

Patriot Full Service handles federal, state and applicable local tax filings and deposits after tax filing setup. Its price includes the first state; each additional state filing adds $12 a month. Applying that rule to 10 workers and two states gives an estimated $37 + (10 × $5) + $12 = $99 per month before optional products and discounts. However, Patriot's help guide illustrates two states using two extra-state fees, which conflicts with its written rule that the first state is included. Treat this as an estimate and obtain a written quote for the actual filing states; confirm the corresponding Square quote and eligibility too. The per-worker fee is charged for each person paid in a month, not for every payroll run.

Patriot Basic calculates payroll but leaves the filing and deposit work with the employer. Its lower subscription is useful only if someone can carry that responsibility. Include the time and any outside professional's fees in a real budget. Our guide to running payroll yourself covers the work that remains with the employer.

What if everyone is a contractor?

Square lists a contractor-only option at $6 per person paid per month, with no base charge stated on its pricing page. For five contractors paid that month, that is $30. The employee plan costs $65 for five people. The contractor-only plan is appropriate only where the workers and required filings fit that plan; it is not a way to avoid employee payroll obligations.

Patriot lists contractors alongside employees in its per-worker payroll pricing. At five paid workers, Basic is $37 and Full Service is $62 before the promotion or add-ons. The service descriptions and tax work differ from Square's contractor-only plan. Patriot says Full Service includes 1099 e-filing while Basic has a filing fee; the employer must initiate the filing. Verify the required contractor forms and any e-filing fees with each provider before deciding.

If you already use Square for clocking in, compare the time workflow as well as the worker fee. Square says it can import timecards into payroll, while Patriot lists Time & Attendance as an optional product. The time clock guide helps identify the separate record the payroll system needs: approved hours, not only a scheduled shift.

When do employees get paid?

The lowest payroll fee may not help if the team regularly misses its funding cutoff. Square's small-business payroll page describes next-business-day payroll with a Square balance or checking account. Ask Square which funding method and deadlines apply to your account; that option is not a promise for every bank account.

Patriot's direct deposit timing guide says customers start with four-day ACH timing. Two-day ACH is available to eligible customers on request after a history of successful collections. Its prefund option can allow payroll to be processed as little as one day before payday when funds are available in advance. Holidays and the actual funding arrangement matter, so put the selected cutoff on the payroll calendar.

Ask each provider a practical question: when must the employer submit an approved run, where must the funds sit, and when will employees receive them? A rate table does not answer those questions. The Patriot review adds more context on that product, while Gusto pricing and ADP pricing offer other payroll starting points.

Other costs and trade-offs

Time and attendance. Patriot lists its add-on at $6 per month plus $2 per employee, at regular rates. For 10 employees who use the product, that adds $26 to the monthly calculation. Square's timecard workflow can matter for a business already using its point-of-sale ecosystem, but the right comparison is the exact Square tools and subscription the employer needs.

Benefits. Square lists health insurance and retirement benefits as add-ons on its payroll page. Patriot describes benefit integrations on its pricing page. An integration does not mean the underlying insurance or retirement benefit is free; request the provider's charges and confirm who administers the plan.

The number of states. Patriot's additional-state fee is a separate line on Full Service. Square's published support description has multi-jurisdiction limitations, including one person working across multiple jurisdictions. Draw the company, EIN, home and work locations before asking either vendor for a quote.

Promotion and renewal. The regular-rate examples above are easier to budget beyond an introductory offer. Check whether any offer applies to your account and when the charge changes. A payroll migration includes employee records, tax information and a cutover date, so compare the full year as well as the first few months.

If the company is considering a broader employment arrangement, see how much a PEO costs. For the HR system around payroll, the BambooHR pricing guide covers a different purchase. A head-to-head alternative is Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll.

Which should you choose?

Choose Patriot Full Service if the single-state recurring price and its tax filing service fit the company. At 10 paid workers the stated fee is $8 less a month than Square, before add-ons. Ask about any second-state filing and the direct deposit schedule before signing.

Choose Square when its contractor-only plan or connection to Square timecards fits the way your team works, or when the company has one paid employee and its listed full-service rate applies. Confirm payroll geography and eligibility first. Patriot Basic is a third option for an employer that knowingly retains the filing work; it should not be priced as if that labor disappears.

Frequently asked questions

Which costs less for 10 employees?

For 10 people paid in one state, the published regular monthly formulas produce $87 for Patriot Full Service and $95 for Square full service. The result excludes taxes, promotions and optional products.

Does Patriot Basic file payroll taxes?

No. Patriot describes Basic as a payroll calculation service where the employer handles tax filings. Full Service adds filing and deposits for federal, state and local payroll taxes.

Does Square have a contractor-only plan?

Yes. Square lists contractor-only payroll at $6 per person paid per month. Check the available year-end forms and whether the plan fits the workers you pay.

Does Patriot charge extra for another state?

Yes. Patriot's Full Service pricing states $12 a month for each additional state filing beyond the first. Confirm which states must be filed for the business before budgeting.

Does Square support multiple state payroll?

Square says its full-service payroll supports calculations and filings in all 50 states and DC. Its support page lists restrictions, including one employee working across multiple tax jurisdictions, so confirm the specific arrangement.

Can Patriot pay employees by direct deposit?

Yes. Patriot says new direct deposit customers start on a four-day ACH schedule, while qualifying customers can request two-day timing. Its prefund option has separate requirements.

Methodology: We compared the providers' public US pricing and product documentation read October 28, 2026. Examples use the regular plan prices, people paid in the month, one state unless stated otherwise, and no additional products. We did not test either service or verify individual account eligibility. Prices and terms can change.

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

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