Church Windows vs Patriot Payroll
Church Windows
churchwindows.comPatriot Payroll
patriotsoftware.comSide by side
| Figure | Church Windows | Patriot Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $17.08/mo | $6/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 20 | 4 |
| Spec score · Church Payroll Software | 9.0 (#2) | 8.6 (#5) |
| Company size | LinkedIn lists Computer Helper Publishing as privately held with 11–50 employees and founded in 1987. | LinkedIn lists Patriot Software as privately held with 51–200 employees. |
| Documentation | Documentation includes searchable context-sensitive help, module help files, a Resource Center, webinars, workbooks and a free Getting Started course. | Patriot’s help center lists 348 payroll articles covering setup, tax settings, direct deposit, reports, deductions and integrations. |
| Founded | 1987 | The company says founder Mike Kappel started the first Patriot company in 1986. |
| Integrations | The company lists Vanco contribution imports, Notebird pastoral care, Aatrix e-filing, Constant Contact email and surveys, and KidCheck child safety among its partners. | Listed integrations include SimplyInsured health benefits, Vestwell 401(k), ERGO NEXT workers compensation, QuickBooks, Stripe, Bluevine, CorpNet, payroll-tax registration and Stride. |
| Licence | The EULA grants a non-exclusive limited proprietary licence and prohibits modification, copying, sublicensing and redistribution except for backup. | Terms grant a limited, nonexclusive hosted object-code subscription and prohibit copying, modification and reverse engineering, indicating proprietary software. |
| Rating on G2 | 3.3 out of 5 from 10 reviews. | 4.8 out of 5 from 630 reviews |
| Rating on GetApp | 4.3 out of 5 from 912 reviews. | 4.8 out of 5 from 3,966 verified reviews |
| Rating on Software Advice | 4.3 out of 5 from 912 reviews. | 4.8 out of 5 from the Top-Rated Payroll Tools listing |
| Support | Support tiers provide resource materials, help files, webinars, software updates, phone and email support, with higher tiers adding training and consulting. | U.S.-based phone, email and chat support is offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, with free setup assistance. |
| System requirements | Web requires at least 5 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, Windows 11 or macOS 12+, a current browser, quad-core processor, 4 GB RAM and 1 GB free disk. | The product is hosted online and requires no software download; it is intended for companies whose employees work in the United States. |
| What it does | Church Windows is church management software covering membership, scheduling, donations, accounting and payroll. | Patriot Payroll is browser-based payroll software for U.S. businesses, covering employee and contractor pay, calculations, tax work and reporting. |
Plans
Church Windows
- 1 module · Standard · Desktop$19 a month
- 1 module · Deluxe · Desktop$29 a month
- 2 modules · Standard · Desktop$39 a month
- 3 modules · Standard · Desktop$49 a month
- 1 module · Elite · Desktop$59 a month
- 1 module · Standard · Web$69 a month
- 1 module · Deluxe · Web$79 a month
- 2 modules · Standard · Web$89 a month
- 3 modules · Standard · Web$99 a month
- 1 module · Elite · Web$109 a month
Patriot Payroll
- HR Software add-on$6 a month
- Time & Attendance add-on$6 a month
- Basic Payroll$17 a month
- Full Service Payroll$37 a month
In their own words
Church Windows
Church Windows provides church-management modules for membership, scheduling, donations, accounting, and payroll. Membership stores family records and involvement; Scheduler organizes calendars, locations, equipment, and event duties. Donations tracks pledges and giving, while Accounting uses fund accounting with reporting, exports, and direct imports from Donations and Payroll. Payroll generates checks, reports, and tax forms, updates federal and state tax tables and forms, and supports electronic filing through Aatrix. Web and Desktop editions have identical features: Web uses secure remote desktop access, while Desktop is installed locally. Desktop requires a 64-bit Windows computer. Web pricing includes one shareable seat with one user at a time; each additional concurrent seat costs $50 per month. Plans start at $19 a month for one Desktop module with Standard support on a 12-month contract. A free working trial is available, with Windows download access; Mac or Web trial access requires calling the company.
Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll is an online payroll service for businesses with employees working in the United States. Employers can enter hours, review payroll calculations, and approve payment by check or direct deposit. Auto Payroll can automate recurring runs and sends advance notifications before scheduled payroll. Basic Payroll costs $8.50 a month and includes unlimited payrolls, employee and contractor pay, and direct deposit. Full Service Payroll adds federal, state, and most local tax filings and deposits, with year-end filings included. Employees can use a portal for pay stubs and tax forms, while contractors have a portal for contact and payment information. The service is designed for companies with 1–500 employees, and Full Service Payroll files in all 50 states. Each additional state after the first costs $12 monthly. The software runs online without a desktop download; employees can use Android or iOS apps. Patriot offers a 30-day trial, free setup assistance, and USA-based support by phone, email, and chat. Listed integrations cover health benefits, retirement plans, workers’ compensation, and QuickBooks accounting entries.