The Patriot Accounting Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Patriot Accounting in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Patriot Accounting
The Insider’s Guide
Low-cost US small business accounting that pairs with Patriot Payroll
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from Patriot Accounting’s own pages.
Made by Patriot Software · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Patriot Accounting’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Patriot Accounting’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 0 of the 17 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
Patriot Accounting is online bookkeeping software for US small businesses from Patriot Software, which also sells payroll. Both plans include unlimited invoices, customers, vendors and users, bank imports, reconciliation, 1099s and Stripe payments, with Premium adding estimates, recurring invoices, reminders and document storage. Payroll is a separate subscription that posts its entries to the books.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Patriot Accounting, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There are bank and card accounts to connect and statements to reconcile each month before the books look after themselves.
- 1
Best for low-cost US books with payroll from the same company
Payroll from the same company posts straight into the books.
- 2
Paid plans start at $10 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $20 per month, billed monthly, after $10 a month for the first 3 months.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Invoices and online payments
Unlimited invoices to unlimited customers. Through Stripe, customers pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or ACH.
- 6
Bank imports and reconciliation
Connect bank and card accounts so activity flows in, or upload a file instead, then reconcile against monthly statements.
- 7
Cash and accrual side by side
A dual ledger lets you and your accountant switch between cash and accrual views without converting the books.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 0 of 17
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Patriot Accounting you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Patriot Accounting at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $20 per month, billed monthly, after $10 a month for the first 3 months
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Patriot Software
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for low-cost US books with payroll from the same company
Patriot Accounting is simple US bookkeeping at a fair price: Basic is $20 a month, half that for the first 3 months, with unlimited users, invoices and bank imports. Payroll from the same company posts straight into the books. It's web only, though, with no phone app, and estimates and recurring invoices need Premium at $30.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Basic is $20 a month once the 3 months at $10 are over, between the cheaper quarter of accounting tools at $15 and the middle at $23. Users and invoices are unlimited, but estimates and recurring invoices take you to Premium at $30. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day free trial, and the listing doesn't say whether it needs a card. There's no free plan, and the 3 months at half price after it is a discount, not more free time. |
| Features | C | Invoices paid by card, Apple Pay or ACH, bank imports and reconciliation, cash and accrual views side by side, checks, 1099s and payroll that posts itself. But estimates and repeat invoices need Premium, and the listing shows no time tracking, projects or inventory. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and no app. There are bank and card accounts to connect and statements to reconcile each month before the books look after themselves. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only: Patriot says its site is built to work in a phone browser instead of an app. Stripe is the only outside connection on the listing, beside bank imports and its own payroll. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Patriot Accounting is for
- Great if you're a US small business that pays contractors and files 1099s
- Handy when you want payroll and books from one company, with the entries posted for you
- Good for owners whose accountant wants cash and accrual views of the same books
Who it is not for
- Not for you if your business is outside the US, as its tax features are American ones
- Skip it if you want a phone app, since Patriot offers its site in a phone browser instead
- Tight if you send estimates or repeat invoices, which need Premium at $30 a month
Good to know
Good for
- US small businesses that want low-cost books with phone support
- Owners who pay contractors and need 1099s
- Businesses that want accounting and payroll from one company
Worth knowing
- The advertised prices are 50% off for 3 months after the trial; plans then renew at $20 or $30 a month.
- Payroll costs extra: Basic Payroll is $17 a month plus $4 per worker paid, Full Service $37 plus $5, with $12 a month per added state.
- There is no mobile app: Patriot says the site is built to work in a phone browser instead.
- Its tax features are US ones, from 1099s to payroll filing; a bookkeeping service is sold apart from $100 a month plus an onboarding fee.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10
A month to start
Patriot Accounting is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $20 per month, billed monthly, after $10 a month for the first 3 months.
Accounting Basic
$20
per month, billed monthly
Advertised at $10 a month for the first 3 months. Unlimited customers, invoices and vendors, bank imports, reconciliation, reports and card payments.
Accounting Premium
$30
per month, billed monthly
Advertised at $15 a month for the first 3 months. Adds estimates, recurring invoices, payment reminders, user permissions, subaccounts and receipts.
Trying it first
30-day free trial
Read from patriotsoftware.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
30 days free, then 50% off for 3 months
New accounts get a 30-day free trial and then pay half price for 3 months: $10 a month for Basic and $15 for Premium. The bookkeeping service is excluded.
Stated on patriotsoftware.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Low-cost US small business accounting that pairs with Patriot Payroll. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: invoicing, reports, bookkeeping, expense tracking, payroll.
But estimates and repeat invoices need Premium, and the listing shows no time tracking, projects or inventory.
- Invoices and online payments
- Unlimited invoices to unlimited customers. Through Stripe, customers pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or ACH.
- Bank imports and reconciliation
- Connect bank and card accounts so activity flows in, or upload a file instead, then reconcile against monthly statements.
- Cash and accrual side by side
- A dual ledger lets you and your accountant switch between cash and accrual views without converting the books.
- Vendors, contractors and 1099s
- Unlimited vendor payments, printed checks, Forms 1099 and 1096, optional 1099 e-filing and a free portal for contractors.
- Unlimited users
- Invite your team and accountant at no extra cost. User-based permissions need Accounting Premium.
- Patriot Payroll
- Payroll from the same company records its journal entries in the books automatically, sold as a separate subscription.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
- Patriot Payroll
Patriot Accounting is made by Patriot Software.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/17
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
Patriot Accounting's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 17 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade.
Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 3 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Patriot Accounting’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 17
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 17
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 17
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 17
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 17
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 18 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Patriot Accounting is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Patriot Accounting you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 17 of the 17 other accounting and invoicing tools grade higher. It costs $120 a year.
What you could make
- Invoicing, expense tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Patriot Accounting’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
QuickBooks Online, Wave, Zoho Books, Xero and Kashoo
The 5 tools Patriot Accounting is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
QuickBooks Online
Free plan · from $38/mo
Cloud accounting from Intuit, from a free plan to 25-user Advanced.
- QuickBooks Online has a free plan. Patriot Accounting does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only QuickBooks Online lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
Wave
Free plan · from $19/mo
Free invoicing and bookkeeping for US and Canadian small businesses.
- Wave has a free plan. Patriot Accounting does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Wave lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.4GPA
Zoho Books
Free plan · from $15/mo
Online accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers.
- Zoho Books has a free plan. Patriot Accounting does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho Books lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Patriot Accounting also covers payroll.
- 2.6GPA
Xero
Free trial · from $27/mo
Cloud accounting for small businesses, with unlimited users.
- Only Xero lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
Kashoo
Free trial · from $30/mo
One-plan online accounting with unlimited users and bank feeds.
- Only Kashoo lists iOS and Android apps.
- Patriot Accounting also covers payroll.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Patriot Accounting free?
No, Patriot Accounting is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial.
How much does Patriot Accounting cost?
Patriot Accounting lists 2 plans. Accounting Basic: $20 per month, billed monthly.
What platforms does Patriot Accounting work on?
Patriot Accounting is available on Web.
Does Patriot Accounting offer any discounts?
Patriot Accounting publicly lists the following: 30 days free, then 50% off for 3 months.
Does Patriot Accounting have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Patriot Accounting is listed for Web.
Does Patriot Accounting have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Patriot Accounting is listed for Web.
Is Patriot Accounting open source?
Patriot Accounting is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does Patriot Accounting integrate with?
Patriot Accounting's listing names Stripe and Patriot Payroll. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Patriot Accounting?
Patriot Accounting is made by Patriot Software.
What are the alternatives to Patriot Accounting?
The closest alternatives to Patriot Accounting in our directory are QuickBooks Online, Wave, Zoho Books, Xero and Kashoo.
How does Patriot Accounting compare with other accounting and invoicing tools?
Patriot Accounting's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 17 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade.
Is Patriot Accounting good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Patriot Accounting C for value for money. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of Patriot Accounting?
To replace Patriot Accounting you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Patriot Accounting’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Patriot Software's own pages on 17 October 2026. Its pricing page would not load for us when this card was written, so the prices are as the listing has them. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Patriot Software. Prices change, so check patriotsoftware.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Patriot Accounting, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/patriot-accounting
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Patriot Accounting: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/patriot-accounting
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/patriot-accounting/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after Patriot Accounting, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Accounting & Invoicing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 18 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Invoice Insider's GuideFree invoicing app from Zoho for freelancers and small businesses3.6 GPA
- Zoho Books Insider's GuideOnline accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers3.4 GPA
- Odoo Insider's GuideBusiness app suite whose Accounting app is free when used on its own3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Patriot Accounting’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Patriot Accounting is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Patriot Software. Prices and plans change: check patriotsoftware.com before you buy.