Patriot Software vs QuickBooks Online. Which One Is The Best?

Last Updated on December 5, 2025

QuickBooks Online, built by Intuit (a Fortune 500 company with decades of experience in financial technology), is one of the most recognized accounting solutions worldwide.

It’s trusted by over 7 million users and is known for its robust features, scalability, and extensive integrations that support businesses as they grow.

Patriot Software, based in Ohio, USA, has a much more niche focus.

Founded in 1986, it carved out its reputation as a provider of affordable accounting and payroll solutions for small businesses.

Patriot emphasizes simplicity, transparent pricing, and U.S., specific compliance features, making it appealing to entrepreneurs and startups looking for a cost-effective tool.

In this guide, we’ll compare Patriot Software vs QuickBooks Online across usability, features, pricing, integrations, and support.

By weighing the pros and cons of each, you’ll gain clarity on which solution fits your business best.

1. Comparison Table: Patriot Software vs QuickBooks Online

Feature	QuickBooks Online	Patriot Software
Ease of Use	Intuitive dashboard, but more complex due to advanced features	Simple, beginner-friendly, tailored for U.S. small businesses
Core Features	Comprehensive accounting (invoicing, expenses, inventory, payroll, tax, multi-currency, reporting)	Basic accounting (income, expenses, bank reconciliation) + strong payroll focus
Integrations	750+ third-party apps (CRM, e-commerce, time tracking, payroll, project management)	Limited (mostly payroll and banking-related)
Automation	Robust automation (bank feeds, recurring invoices, expense categorization, tax calculations)	Limited automation for accounting tasks
Pricing	Higher pricing: Plans start at $30/month up to $200/month	Affordable: Accounting starts at $20/month; Payroll add-ons available
Support	24/7 support via chat/phone, extensive knowledge base, large community	U.S.-based phone, chat, and email support during business hours
Best For	Small to mid-sized businesses needing scalability, integrations, and advanced reporting	U.S. startups, solopreneurs, and small businesses needing low-cost payroll + simple accounting

Takeaway:

• If you want budget-friendly accounting with strong payroll for U.S.-based small businesses, Patriot Software is a good fit.

• However, if you need scalability, integrations, and advanced features, QuickBooks Online is the clear winner.

2. Company Background & Market Fit

Patriot Software

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Canton, Ohio, Patriot Software began as a payroll service before expanding into accounting.

• Its mission has always been clear: provide affordable, easy-to-use financial tools for small U.S. businesses.

• Target Market: Small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs in the United States.

• Strengths: Transparent pricing, strong payroll functionality, compliance with U.S. tax requirements.

• Limitations: Less suitable for businesses with complex needs, international operations, or heavy reliance on third-party integrations.

Patriot thrives in environments where simplicity and payroll compliance matter more than advanced reporting or global scalability.

QuickBooks Online

Developed by Intuit, a Fortune 500 company with over 40 years of experience in financial software, QuickBooks Online is a global leader in cloud accounting.

Today, it supports over 7 million users worldwide, ranging from freelancers to mid-sized companies.

• Target Market: Freelancers, small businesses, and growing companies worldwide.

• Strengths: Robust accounting features, scalability, global tax support, 750+ integrations.

• Limitations: Higher pricing, a learning curve for beginners, and feature overkill for very small businesses.

QuickBooks Online is built for businesses that expect to scale operations and need an ecosystem of integrations and advanced financial management tools.

3. Ease of Use & User Experience

Patriot Software

Patriot Software is built with simplicity in mind, making it ideal for small business owners who don’t have accounting expertise.

The interface is clean, with step-by-step workflows that make payroll processing and expense tracking easy to follow.

• User Feedback: Many users appreciate how quickly they can set up and run payroll without needing advanced training.

• Limitations: While easy to navigate, it lacks the depth of features larger businesses may require, which can limit its usefulness as your company grows.

• Best for: Entrepreneurs and small U.S.-based teams who need straightforward payroll + basic accounting.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online offers a polished, intuitive dashboard designed for small to mid-sized businesses.

While it comes with a learning curve, once mastered, it provides a powerful platform to manage all aspects of accounting.

• User Feedback: Business owners often highlight its real-time financial insights and customizable dashboard.

• Limitations: Beginners may find the wide range of features overwhelming at first, especially compared to Patriot’s simplicity.

• Best for: Businesses that want an all-in-one accounting solution and are comfortable investing time to learn the system.

Takeaway:

• Patriot Software is straightforward and beginner-friendly, making it easy for small business owners to manage payroll and basic accounting.

• QuickBooks Online offers more advanced features and flexibility, but has a steeper learning curve, better suited for businesses that need depth and scalability.

4. Core Features

Patriot Software

Patriot focuses on simplicity and ease for small U.S. businesses:

• Accounting & Bookkeeping: Tracks income and expenses, performs bank reconciliation, and provides simple financial reporting — keeping bookkeeping straightforward.

• Payroll: Automated tax calculations, direct deposit, and compliance with U.S. regulations — ideal for small business owners handling payroll in-house.

• Invoicing & Payments: Basic invoicing with recurring invoices and reminders; limited payment gateway integrations.

• Reporting & Analytics: Provides essential reports including profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online delivers comprehensive accounting and scalable features for growing businesses:

• Accounting & Bookkeeping: Advanced tools including invoicing, expense tracking, bank feeds, inventory management, multi-currency support, and detailed financial reporting.

• Payroll: Integrated payroll (via QuickBooks Payroll add-on) with automated tax calculations, compliance, and full integration with accounting and reporting tools.

• Invoicing & Payments: Advanced invoicing options, recurring billing, automated reminders, and multiple payment gateway integrations.

• Reporting & Analytics: Customizable reports, real-time dashboards, forecasting tools, and analytics for data-driven business decisions.

Takeaway:

• Patriot Software is ideal for very small U.S. businesses that want simple accounting and reliable payroll.
• QuickBooks Online is suited for growing businesses that need advanced accounting, invoicing, and reporting features, plus fully integrated payroll and scalability.

5. Pricing & Value

Patriot Software

Patriot offers affordable plans designed for small U.S. businesses:

• Accounting $17/month (Basic), $25/month (Full-Service): Tracks income/expenses, bank reconciliation, and basic reporting.

• Payroll $10/month + $4/employee (Basic), $30/month + $4/employee (Full-Service): Automated payroll, taxes, and compliance.

• Free Trial: 30 days to explore features.

Patriot’s pricing is straightforward and cost-effective, making it ideal for small teams that need simple accounting and payroll without extra bells and whistles.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online offers tiered plans to support growing businesses:

• Simple Start $30/month: Basic bookkeeping, invoicing, and expense tracking.

• Essentials $60/month: Adds bill management and up to three users.

• Plus $90/month: Includes inventory, project tracking, and up to five users.

• Advanced $200/month: Custom reporting, dashboards, priority support, and scalability features.

• Free Trial: 30 days to explore all features.

QuickBooks pricing reflects its robust features, automation, and scalability, providing strong value for businesses planning to grow.

Takeaway:

• Patriot Software provides affordable, simple accounting and payroll for very small businesses.

• QuickBooks Online offers more advanced features and scalability, making it a better fit for growing businesses that need automation, reporting, and integrated payroll.

6. Integrations & Add-Ons

Patriot Software

Patriot Software focuses on simplicity, so its integration options are limited.

Most integrations relate to banking and payroll, which covers the core needs of small U.S.-based businesses.

Examples are bank feeds, direct deposit services, basic payment gateways

While functional for basic operations, Patriot lacks the extensive third-party integrations that larger businesses may require.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online supports over 750 third-party integrations, including tools for CRM, e-commerce, time tracking, project management, and payroll.

This flexibility allows businesses to customize workflows, automate processes, and scale efficiently.

Examples are Shopify, PayPal, Stripe, Salesforce, Gusto, TSheets

Takeaway:

• QuickBooks Online offers extensive integrations with hundreds of apps, including e-commerce, CRM, and payment platforms, supporting growing businesses and complex workflows.

• Patriot Software provides basic integrations, keeping it simple and manageable for very small teams focused on essential accounting and payroll.

7. Customer Support & Reliability

Patriot Software

Patriot Software provides U.S.-based support via phone, email, and chat during standard business hours.

Its focus on small businesses means support is personal and attentive, particularly for payroll and basic accounting questions.

Pros: Responsive support, clear documentation, helpful for payroll compliance

Cons: No 24/7 support; limited online community

Patriot is reliable for small business operations, but businesses needing round-the-clock support may find it limited.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online offers 24/7 phone and chat support, an extensive knowledge base, webinars, and a large community of accountants and business users.

Updates are frequent, and uptime is consistently strong.

Pros: Around-the-clock support, robust reliability, strong reputation backed by Intuit

Cons: Beginners may find navigating support options slightly complex due to the range of features

Takeaway:

• QuickBooks Online provides 24/7 support, an extensive knowledge base, and reliable uptime, making it ideal for growing businesses that need consistent assistance.
• Patriot Software offers responsive support during business hours, which is sufficient for very small teams and startups managing simpler accounting needs.

8. Pros & Cons

Patriot Software

• Affordable pricing with transparent plans

• Simple and easy-to-use interface for beginners

• Strong U.S. payroll functionality and compliance

• Quick setup for small business accounting

• Limited integrations and add-ons

• Basic reporting, not ideal for scaling businesses

• No 24/7 customer support

• Minimal automation features

QuickBooks Online

• Comprehensive accounting and reporting features

• 750+ integrations and add-ons for automation

• Scalable for small to mid-sized businesses

• 24/7 support with a large accountant community

• Multi-currency, inventory, and payroll management

• Higher pricing compared to Patriot Software

• Steeper learning curve for beginners

• Some features may be overkill for very small businesses

9. Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

When deciding between Patriot Software and QuickBooks Online, it comes down to the size of your business and your accounting needs.

Patriot Software is best for very small U.S. businesses or startups seeking simple, affordable accounting and reliable payroll.

QuickBooks Online is ideal for growing businesses that require advanced accounting features, automation, integrated payroll, and scalability to support expansion and more complex financial management.

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