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

Last Updated on October 2, 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

Quick 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.

Verdict:

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.

Verdict (Ease of use):

4. Core Features

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Patriot Software

Provides essential accounting features like income and expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and simple financial reporting.

Its focus is on keeping bookkeeping straightforward for small U.S. businesses.

QuickBooks Online

Offers comprehensive accounting tools, including invoicing, expense tracking, bank feeds, inventory management, multi-currency support, and advanced financial reporting.

Verdict (Accounting):

Payroll

Patriot Software

Payroll is one of its standout features, including automated tax calculations, direct deposit, and compliance with U.S. regulations.

It’s particularly strong for small business owners handling payroll in-house.

QuickBooks Online:

Provides integrated payroll through its QuickBooks Payroll add-on, with similar automated tax and compliance features, plus additional integration with accounting and reporting tools.

Verdict (Payroll):

Invoicing & Payments

Patriot Software

Basic invoicing functionality with recurring invoices and reminders.

Payment integrations are limited.

QuickBooks Online

Advanced invoicing options, recurring billing, automated reminders, and multiple payment gateway integrations.

Verdict (Invoicing):

Reporting & Analytics

Patriot Software

Provides basic profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

QuickBooks Online

Advanced, customizable reporting with real-time insights, dashboards, and forecasting tools for business growth.

Verdict (Reporting):

Final Verdict (Core Features Overall):

5. Pricing & Value

Plan	QuickBooks Online	Patriot Software
Entry-Level	$30/month (Simple Start) – invoicing, expense tracking, bank connections, basic reports	$20/month – basic bookkeeping, income/expense tracking, bank reconciliation
Mid-Tier / Premium	$60–$90/month (Essentials & Plus) – multiple users, bill management, time tracking, inventory, advanced reports	$30/month – adds recurring invoices, payment reminders, advanced reconciliation
Payroll	Add-on or included depending on plan – integrated payroll with tax filing, direct deposit, compliance	$17/month + $4/employee – automated tax filing, direct deposit
Free Trial	30 days	30 days
Best For	Growing small to mid-sized businesses that need scalability, advanced features, and integrations	Small U.S.-based businesses and startups seeking affordable accounting and payroll

Takeaway

• Patriot Software: Best for small businesses on a budget that need simple accounting and reliable payroll tools.

• QuickBooks Online: Ideal for businesses seeking feature-rich, scalable solutions with robust reporting, automation, and a broad ecosystem of integrations.

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

Best For: Small business owners who prioritize ease of use over a broad app ecosystem

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

Best For: Growing businesses that require advanced integrations and automation to manage complex operations

Verdict (Integrations & add-ons):

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

Verdict (Support & reliability):

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

Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re aiming for growth, scalability, and advanced accounting automation, QuickBooks Online clearly wins.

With its comprehensive reporting, 750+ integrations, and strong ecosystem of accountants and bookkeepers, it remains the go-to choice for businesses that want to save time, stay compliant, and scale confidently.

However, if your business is just starting out, runs on a tight budget, and primarily needs simple bookkeeping with strong U.S. payroll support, Patriot Software is a solid option.

It’s cost-effective, easy to learn, and helps small teams stay compliant without overwhelming features.

My recommendation:

• Choose Patriot Software if you’re a very small business or startup that only needs basic accounting + payroll.

• Choose QuickBooks Online if you want a robust, all-in-one solution that will support your business as it grows.

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