CharlieHR vs Patriot Software Pricing (2026)

How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.

CharlieHR Patriot Software
Starts at $20/mo $17/mo
Number of plans 1 4
Free plan
Free trial
Pricing model per-seat hybrid

charlie

Popular
$20/mo
  • Onboarding
  • Time off
  • Performance reviews
  • Employee engagement
  • Perks & benefits
  • Docs & employee data

Accounting Basic

$20/mo
  • Unlimited customers & invoices
  • Unlimited vendors, contractors, & payments
  • Automatic bank imports
  • Income & expense tracking
  • Accept credit card payments
  • Robust financial reporting
  • Account reconciliation

Accounting Premium

Popular
$30/mo
  • Create & send estimates
  • Users-based permissions
  • Recurring invoices
  • Send invoice payment reminders
  • Manage receipts & documents
  • Add subaccounts

Basic Payroll

$17/mo
  • Free direct deposit
  • Free employee portal
  • Unlimited payrolls
  • Auto payroll
  • Pay contractors in payroll
  • Free health benefit integration
  • Robust payroll reports

Full Service Payroll

$37/mo
  • Federal tax filings & deposits
  • State tax filings & deposits
  • Local tax filings & deposits
  • Year-end payroll tax filings at no additional fee
  • Tax filing reliability guaranteed

CharlieHR vs Patriot Software FAQ

Which one is cheaper?
Patriot Software is the cheaper option, starting at $17/mo vs $20/mo for CharlieHR.
Can I use either one for free?
Neither has a free plan. But CharlieHR and Patriot Software offer a free trial.
How do they charge?
Different approach here. CharlieHR uses per-seat pricing, while Patriot Software goes with hybrid. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
Which one is a better deal?
Depends on what you need. CharlieHR: The headline £5/month rate is a loss-leader hook for very small teams, but that's a 75%-off promo for the first six months only — real pricing (£20 and up) puts them mid-market among UK HR platforms, not a budget play once the discount expires. Patriot Software: Patriot undercuts Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll on headline price, clearly chasing small businesses and solopreneurs who find those platforms overbuilt and overpriced. The per-worker fee keeps it cheap at low headcount but it's not built to be the budget option once a company scales past a handful of employees.

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