Patriot Accounting Review (2023): Features, Pricing, and More

Patriot provides accounting software program with a deal with ease and affordability. Whereas it isn’t the most cost effective choice on the market, it provides limitless invoicing and limitless customers ― two issues different software program usually cost extra for. That, mixed with its top-notch buyer help, could make Patriot a good worth for some companies.

Nonetheless, Patriot doesn’t have any showstopping accounting instruments, and yow will discover cheaper software program that gives extra options. So if standout customer support doesn’t sound like one thing you want, chances are you’ll need to think about some options to Patriot as an alternative.

Soar to:

​

Patriot Accounting plans and pricing

Patriot has simply two plan choices. Each plans offer you limitless customers and limitless invoicing, however the Premium plan provides you extra options general.

You may get a free 30-day trial of Patriot accounting software program ― excellent for testing out all of the options on both plan.

Accounting Fundamental

The Accounting Fundamental plan prices $20 per 30 days. It provides you important accounting instruments, like double-entry accounting, invoicing, bank card funds and gross sales tax monitoring.

That stated, this plan is lacking a few of the options we’d anticipate ― like checking account reconciliation and even fundamental bill customization.

It’s additionally value noting that the $20 value level makes Patriot’s beginning plan comparatively costly, particularly contemplating the lacking options. Many of the greatest accounting software program begins effectively beneath $20 and offers you instruments like account reconciliation. With that in thoughts, it’s exhausting to justify the price of this plan.

If you wish to use Patriot accounting software program, we advocate the Premium plan over the Fundamental plan.

Accounting Premium

Patriot’s Premium plan prices $30 per 30 days. That’s a decrease value than premium plans for a lot of rivals ― however keep in mind that Patriot’s Premium plan has extra in frequent with beginning plans from different software program. In different phrases, Patriot pricing isn’t fairly as aggressive as it’d look.

Nonetheless, the Premium plan does offer you extra instruments to work with than the Fundamental plan. Together with checking account reconciliation and bill customization, you additionally get options like subaccounts, consumer permissions, estimate creation, recurring invoices and receipt administration.

Be aware that the Premium plan nonetheless doesn’t embody time or attendance. That’s an additional $6 per 30 days, plus $2 per worker.

Key options of Patriot Accounting

Invoicing

Each Patriot accounting software program plans include invoicing ― and limitless invoices to limitless prospects, no much less. That’s a pleasant contact, provided that some accounting software program (like Freshbooks) limits what number of purchasers you possibly can bill per 30 days.

Determine A

And Patriot makes it straightforward to create and handle invoices. You may even add contacts in CSV format to make invoicing quicker. With the Premium plan, you possibly can convert accepted estimates to invoices with only a couple clicks. Plus, you possibly can settle for bank card funds via CardConnect.

That stated, Patriot’s invoicing has some large limitations ― principally in terms of customization. Solely Premium customers can customise invoices in any respect. Even then, it’s a must to select from simply three very fundamental templates, and you may solely replace the brand and accent shade.

Determine B

Most accounting software program permits you to make these sorts of adjustments on even their most simple plans. A lot of them offer you extra bill template selections too.

In different phrases, Patriot’s limitless invoicing can attraction to companies that bill a whole lot of purchasers every month ― however you’ll must accept fundamental, utilitarian templates.

Consumer entry

Each Patriot plans allow you to add limitless customers to your accounting software program at no additional value. Whereas yow will discover different accounting software program that provides you limitless customers (like Wave), widespread options like QuickBooks and FreshBooks cost you extra for extra customers. So we admire that Patriot permits you to add each staff member, your accountant and anybody else you need.

If you wish to management what customers see and do together with your accounting software program, although, you’ll want Patriot’s Premium plan. That plan provides consumer permissions, letting you tailor everybody’s entry as you see match.

Determine C

For example, you need to preserve most customers from viewing payroll studies which have non-public figuring out data. Or chances are you’ll need to let your accountant see all of your receipts, paperwork and studies with out having the ability to change your financial institution information or add new customers.

However between Patriot’s limitless customers and the flexibility to customise permissions, you don’t must be stingy with entry to your accounting software program, which may help you stop bottlenecks in your staff’s workflow.

Customer support

There’s one factor most Patriot account software program evaluations agree on: Patriot has nice customer support. It earns glowing reward for its customer support ― a pleasant distinction to complaints about firms like Intuit. And whereas some accounting software program (like Wave) limits you to e-mail or chat help, Patriot provides telephone help too.

Patriot evaluations from prospects report that its customer support staff has fast response instances, that means you by no means have to attend too lengthy for assist. Plus, reviewers say Patriot’s staff is definitely useful. Reps have the experience to reply questions and clear up issues.

Sadly, Patriot doesn’t supply 24/7 help. It does have prolonged weekday hours, although, with availability till 7 p.m. EST. So you possibly can deal with points that pop up within the late afternoon, no drawback.

Whereas not each enterprise wants tons of assist, its strong help staff is definitely considered one of our favourite Patriot options: For groups that do want help, Patriot’s help can prevent tons of time and frustration ― and assist preserve your accounting correct.

Oh, and if you happen to occur to choose a extra self-guided method, Patriot nonetheless has you coated. Patriot has an in depth coaching library with every kind of guides to its software program. A lot of these guides embody movies, so you possibly can see precisely easy methods to use Patriot accounting software program.

Patriot professionals

• Very optimistic buyer evaluations.
• Stories of wonderful customer support.
• Free skilled setup.
• Limitless customers with all plans.
• Clear, usable interface.
• Free 30-day trial and simply accessed demo.
• Integration with Patriot payroll software program.

Patriot cons

• No money move report or different money move monitoring.
• No software program integrations (besides Patriot Payroll).
• Restricted scalability with simply two plans.
• No mileage monitoring.
• Separate product (and payment) for time monitoring.
• No cellular app.
• Lack of frequent instruments on fundamental plan.

If Patriot Accounting isn’t supreme for you, try these options

Whereas Patriot software program may match effectively for companies that want a easy, user-friendly expertise, many companies will do higher with a special accounting software program. In spite of everything, Patriot doesn’t have many standout options, and it isn’t notably competitively priced. So chances are you’ll choose considered one of these extra reasonably priced, extra scalable or extra highly effective options.

Pricing and product particulars updated as of 8/30/2023.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks provides a greater invoicing expertise than Patriot at an reasonably priced value. Whereas some FreshBooks plans do restrict what number of purchasers you possibly can bill per 30 days, its premium plans offer you limitless purchasers (like Patriot). And all FreshBooks plans offer you extra bill customization than Patriot does. Plus, FreshBooks consists of time monitoring (whereas Patriot makes you pay additional), and you may sync your time information together with your invoices. A consumer portal for estimates, invoices and funds is the cherry on high.

Intuit QuickBooks

Should you’ve received a rising enterprise, you possible need an accounting software program that may develop with you. Intuit QuickBooks may be very scalable, with cheaper choices for small companies all the best way as much as enterprise accounting software program. So you can begin off with fundamental accounting instruments, then you will get superior options like discipline service administration, forecasting and extra. Merely put, your enterprise can preserve utilizing QuickBooks lengthy after it might have outgrown Patriot.

Wave

Wave provides fully free accounting and invoicing software program, making it a way more reasonably priced various to Patriot. Whereas Wave doesn’t have probably the most feature-rich software program on the market, it nonetheless provides loads of accounting instruments, like expense monitoring, financial institution connections and accounting studies. Plus, like Patriot, Wave provides you limitless customers. Be aware that Wave does have paid add-ons for receipt seize, payroll and bank card funds. Even so, you’ll possible pay lower than you’ll with Patriot.

Overview methodology

Earlier than we started to evaluation Patriot, we spent a very long time studying in regards to the software program and its options. We had some hands-on time with Patriot via each a demo and a free trial. Then we scored Patriot on all the things from its pricing to its accounting instruments to its ease of use. Lastly, we used our information and scores to see how Patriot compares to different widespread accounting software program.