Our verdict · 8.0/10 Excellent
A sensible budget choice for US businesses that want simple cash-basis books and US-based support. It lacks the app ecosystem and advanced features of QuickBooks or Xero.
Key takeaways
- Best for: US sole traders and small firms on a budget.
- Strongest area: Value for money (9.0/10). Weakest: Integrations & ecosystem (6.5/10).
- Price: From $20 / month (Basic) — free trial available.
- Watch out for: US-only.
What is Patriot Accounting?
Patriot Accounting covers invoicing, expenses, bank feeds and standard reports for US small businesses at a lower price than most rivals. The Premium plan adds accrual accounting, purchase orders and more automation. It is designed to sit alongside Patriot's payroll product.
Patriot Accounting is made by Patriot Software and is reviewed here as a accounting tool. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 8.0 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Patriot Accounting if
- US sole traders and small firms on a budget
- Businesses that also want low-cost payroll
- Owners who prefer US-based phone support
Not for you if
- Businesses outside the US
- Companies needing inventory or many app integrations
Key features
Customer invoices with online payments and reminders.
Import and categorise bank transactions automatically.
Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow reports.
Available on the Premium plan.
- Patriot Payroll
- Bank feeds
- Stripe
Pros & cons
What we like
- Low monthly price with unlimited users
- Free US-based support
- Simple setup for non-accountants
- Integrates with Patriot Payroll
Watch out for
- US-only
- Small integration catalogue
- No inventory management
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | ≈ $20 / mo | Cash-basis accounting |
| Premium | ≈ $30 / mo | Adds accrual accounting and more automation |
Pricing watch-out: 30-day free trial; introductory discounts are often offered.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked November 5, 2026 (source). Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 7.2 | 1.80 | |
| Ease of use | 20% | 8.6 | 1.70 | |
| Value for money | 20% | 9.0 | 1.80 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 8.6 | 0.90 | |
| Security & privacy | 10% | 8.0 | 0.80 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 6.5 | 1.00 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for business software products | 8.0 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Patriot Accounting against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Patriot Software’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any accounting tool
Check Patriot Accounting against the same list we use for every accounting tool — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Supported bank feeds for your accounts
- Invoicing with online payments
- Sales tax / VAT handling for your regions
- Accountant or bookkeeper access
- Reports: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow
See every ranked option in Accounting Software.
Patriot Accounting alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Zoho Books≈ $15/mo vs $20/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Has a free planZoho BooksPatriot Accounting has no free plan; Zoho Books does
- Better integrations
QuickBooks OnlineIntegrations score 9.4 vs 6.5 - Stronger on security
Sage IntacctSecurity & privacy score 9.0 vs 8.0 - Higher overall scoreQuickBooks OnlineOverall 8.5 vs 8.0
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Patriot Accounting. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Free invoicing and accounting for freelancers and very small businesses.
The accounting platform most US accountants already know.
One-plan online accounting with unlimited users and invoices.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Patriot Accounting FAQ
Is Patriot Accounting only for US businesses?
Yes. It is built around US tax and bank workflows.
What is the difference between Basic and Premium?
Basic covers cash-basis bookkeeping; Premium adds accrual accounting and extra features such as purchase orders.
Does Patriot Accounting have a free plan?
No, Patriot Accounting does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at From $20 / month (Basic) (indicative).
Who is Patriot Accounting best for?
Patriot Accounting is best for: US sole traders and small firms on a budget; businesses that also want low-cost payroll; owners who prefer US-based phone support.
How is the Patriot Accounting score calculated?
The 8.0/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for software products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Patriot Accounting?
Popular alternatives include Wave, QuickBooks Online, Kashoo. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.