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Patriot Payroll vs QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared Patriot Payroll vs QuickBooks Desktop Payroll based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Payroll Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Overview Pricing Benefits & Features Analyst Ratings Comparison Charts User Ratings Analyst Summary Screenshots

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Product Basics

Patriot Payroll is a full-service accounting and payroll software that offers a variety of integrative add-ons to users. The system’s core functions assist with core payroll tasks, while the add-on features enable the system to function as a full HR suite. This web-based payroll solution processes the payment, calculates taxes, creates reports, runs time and attendance and manages invoices.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is a subscription-based labor management solution that offers robust functionalities, including tax penalty protection, automated payrolls, expert support, direct deposits and detailed reports.

The product covers essential aspects of workforce regulation like payroll deductions and approvals, tax liabilities, workers' contributions, holiday tracking and more. It offers group health benefits, scalable subscription plans, smart integrations and support resources for an enhanced user experience. Same-day direct deposits save time and notifications help stay up-to-date with business processes.

$21 Monthly

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$61 Monthly

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Tailored to your specific needs

Small

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Large

Small

Medium

Large

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Mac

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Android

Chromebook

Windows

Mac

Linux

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Cloud

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Mobile

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Product Assistance

Documentation

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Live Online

Videos

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Documentation

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Videos

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Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

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Product Insights

Accuracy: Define tax settings during the setup process. Calculate taxes automatically along with standard payroll processing, eliminating the chance of human error. Get the system tested and audited regularly.
User-Friendly: Guide users through the payroll process, making it easy to use. Take advantage of the free trial to see if it’s a good fit. Adopt it quickly to cut down on lost revenue due to training.
Easy-to-Customize: Customize payroll settings and choose from a variety of payment methods. Accommodate many types of business and specific payment structures.
Scalability: Adjust pricing and other capabilities to meet the needs of businesses of any size. Users can also cancel any month with a penalty. Allow a company room for growth while ensuring it’s not too expensive.
Better Security: Use encryption and systems that are bonded and audited to keep data safe. Ensure data integrity.

Manageable: Tack contributions for insurance, retirements, time-off and bonuses to ensure smooth administration through a software wizard.
Automated Compliance: Ensure timely tax payments, regulatory compliance and error-free calculations with automated compliance services.
Time-Saving: Give employees access to personal information to save time and fast-track key payroll processes without third-party intervention.
Real-Time Tracking: Calculate and track company benefits such as contributions towards paid leaves, retirement and insurance, and process payments using an in-built wizard.

Payroll Processing: Use payroll with three steps and local, state and federal taxes. Create invoices, see the payment history, pay bills, print records and add employees. Accept payments from credit cards, make and send out estimates, import bank interactions, reconcile accounts and manage documents and receipts. Manage garnishments, PTO and print W-2s.
Invoice Management: Create and store invoices as well as setting up recurring invoices, reminders and more.
Tax Calculation: Calculate, file and pay taxes. Use the basic subscription package to assist with tax calculations; however, it can’t help filing or paying taxes.
Time-Off Tracking: Track time-off balances and activity through the employee portal.
Year-End Reports: Generate printable W-2, 940 and 941 documents. File W-2’s and W-3’s electronic.
Time and Attendance: Add-on time and attendance services for an additional fee that will enable the system to assist with clock-in and clock-out functionality and allow users to access time cards electronically.
Core HR: Add core HR functions to the payroll solution for an additional fee. This add-on allows users to track employment history, census data and share documents with employees.
Accounting: Operate cash-based and or accrual accounting. Help accountants with their tasks.
Reporting: Download reports in PDF or CSV format in a year-to-date format. Filter by checks, employee, location or totals. See contributions, deductions, earnings, employer payments, hours and withheld taxes. Understand potential issues with a tax liability report.
Multiple Devices: Use the program on a variety of devices, including mobile and tablets.

Time Management: Build employee schedules, track work hours, assign job functions, regulate shifts, create invoices, edit timesheets, oversee projects, change job codes and more on a fully-integrated system.
Reporting: Review business finances and analyze employee performance using insightful reports based on company data. Review taxes, track loans, calculate payments, summarise earnings, understand costs and more.
Benefits Management: Track vacations, sick leaves, paid time offs, medical insurance, retirement plans, cash advances and more for employees on a single platform. Use the pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation service to process total payments on payday automatically.
Direct Deposits: Process payments into U.S. bank accounts or edit employees’ banking information before the paycheck date to save time and effort spent in making in-person bank visits.
Integrations: Leverage powerful integrations to automatically complete key payroll processes without manual entries or technical work hassles.
Compliance: Reduce the hassle of tax penalties with automated compliance services for changing government regulations and federal, state and local laws. Perform accurate calculations and file tax returns to avoid errors and missed deadlines.

Product Ranking

#17

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#90

among all
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Analyst Rating Summary

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Patriot Payroll

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

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User Sentiment Summary

96%

of users recommend this product

Patriot Payroll has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 96% when considering 1898 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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5.0 (14)

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4.8 (358)

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4.8 (1513)

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4.3 (13)

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Awards

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Excellent Customer Service: Over 90% of users that discussed the support loved the customer service.

Useful Features: Users said the system had good functionality in over 90% of comments that discussed it.

Simple UI: More than 80% of reviewers who talked about the navigation said the solution was easy to use.

Affordable: Commenters felt the price was appropriate in over 80% of the comments that mentioned it.

Fluid Implementation: Over 80% of reviewers that discussed setup felt the implementation process was smooth.

Tax Forms: Users found the tax forms easy to find and fill out in more than 80% of comments that discussed it.

Accurate Calculations: Users praise QuickBooks Desktop Payroll for its precise tax calculations, ensuring compliance and reducing errors.

Direct Deposit: The direct deposit feature streamlines payroll processing, making it convenient for both employers and employees.

Reporting Capabilities: QuickBooks Desktop Payroll offers comprehensive reporting options, providing valuable insights into payroll expenses and employee data.

Long Lead Time Direct Deposit Issues: Over 70% of users who talked about direct deposit complained about the long lead time.

Outdated Interface: Many users find the interface clunky and outdated compared to modern cloud-based payroll solutions.

Limited Mobile Functionality: Users seeking robust mobile access for tasks like approving time-off requests or running payroll on-the-go may find the mobile app lacking.

Technical Issues: Some users report encountering technical glitches and errors, leading to frustration and wasted time.

Patriot Payroll is a straightforward payroll app with some HR core functionality mixed in. Users like its ease of use and felt the support was responsive, understood the problem well and gave them enough resources. The features were well-reviewed, especially the insurance forms and tax filing abilities, making it administratively advantageous. The users loved the implementation process, which they said went smoothly, guided by the knowledgeable support team. Overall, reviewers felt it was within an appropriate price range for its functionality. On the downside, users didn’t like that the direct deposit required four days of lead time for regular ACH funding. This software may be a good option for small businesses looking to bring their payroll online.

Is QuickBooks Desktop Payroll truly a "quick" book to payroll mastery, or does it leave users feeling like they're stuck in a rut? User reviews from the last year suggest that QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is a powerful and reliable tool for managing payroll, but it may not be the best fit for every business. Users praise its ease of use, particularly for those already familiar with QuickBooks Desktop, and its affordability compared to other payroll software like Gusto or ADP. However, some users have reported that the software can be slow and clunky, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. A key differentiating factor for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is its tight integration with other Intuit products, such as QuickBooks Desktop accounting software. This integration allows for seamless data transfer and eliminates the need for manual data entry, saving businesses time and reducing errors. However, this integration can also be a drawback for businesses that don't use other Intuit products, as it can limit flexibility and make it difficult to switch to other software in the future. Overall, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that are already using QuickBooks Desktop for their accounting needs and are looking for a reliable and affordable payroll solution. Businesses with complex payroll needs or those looking for a more modern and user-friendly interface may want to consider other options.

Screenshots

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Head-to-Head Comparison

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FAQ

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