Wave Accounting vs Patriot Software. Which Is Right For You?

Last Updated on December 5, 2025

Choosing between Wave Accounting and Patriot Software comes down to deciding whether you want a free, beginner-friendly platform or a simple yet paid solution with payroll and compliance features.

Both are cloud-based, but they target different types of small businesses.

Wave Accounting is ideal for freelancers, solopreneurs, and very small businesses seeking free, straightforward bookkeeping.

It handles invoicing, expenses, and basic reports without any cost, making it perfect for businesses just starting out or operating on a tight budget.

Patriot Software, on the other hand, provides affordable paid accounting and payroll solutions.

It targets small businesses that want easy-to-use accounting tools combined with payroll processing and tax compliance, offering a more complete solution for employers.

This comparison examines ease of use, core features, integrations, automation, pricing, support, and overall value to help you choose the best fit for your business.

1. Comparison Table: Wave Accounting vs Patriot Software

Feature	Wave Accounting	Patriot Software
Ease of Use	Extremely simple and intuitive, ideal for beginners	User-friendly interface with guided workflows; slightly more complex than Wave
Core Features	Invoicing, basic bookkeeping, expense tracking, receipt management	Accounting, invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, tax compliance
Integrations	Limited (Stripe, PayPal, bank feeds, Zapier)	Basic integrations for payroll and bank connections
Automation	Minimal automation for bookkeeping	Automated payroll, recurring invoices, and tax calculations
Pricing	Free core accounting; optional paid add-ons	Paid subscription starting at an affordable monthly rate
Support	Email support, knowledge base, community forum	Email, phone, and online resources; responsive for payroll/accounting queries
Best For	Freelancers, solopreneurs, microbusinesses	Small businesses needing accounting plus payroll and compliance

Takeaway:

• Wave is best for free, lightweight bookkeeping.
• Patriot Software is better for small businesses needing payroll and compliance tools alongside accounting.

2. Company Background & Market Fit

Wave Accounting

Wave was created to provide free, easy-to-use accounting software for freelancers, solopreneurs, and microbusinesses.

Its mission is to remove the financial barrier to reliable bookkeeping, offering a simple, cloud-based solution with millions of users worldwide.

Wave is perfect for businesses with straightforward financial needs and limited budgets.

Patriot Software

Patriot Software is a cloud-based accounting and payroll platform aimed at small businesses that want affordable, compliant solutions.

It emphasizes simplicity, helping businesses manage accounting and payroll without needing advanced accounting expertise.

Patriot is ideal for small business owners who are employers and need payroll alongside bookkeeping.

Takeaway:

• Wave is best for freelancers and microbusinesses seeking simplicity and zero cost.
• Patriot Software is suited for small businesses requiring integrated payroll and accounting tools.

3. Ease of Use & User Experience

Wave Accounting

Wave is designed for non-accountants.

Its interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. Users can quickly send invoices, track expenses, and manage basic bookkeeping without any prior accounting knowledge.

The simplicity comes at the cost of advanced features, but for microbusinesses, this trade-off works well.

Patriot Software

Patriot Software also offers a user-friendly interface, with guided workflows that make accounting and payroll processes straightforward.

While slightly more complex than Wave due to additional payroll and tax features, it remains accessible for small business owners without deep accounting expertise.

Takeaway:

• Wave is ideal if you want the simplest, fastest accounting setup.
• Patriot Software is best if you need ease of use plus payroll and compliance features.

4. Core Features

Wave Accounting

Wave focuses on basic accounting essentials suitable for freelancers and microbusinesses:

• Invoicing and estimates

• Expense and income tracking

• Receipt scanning

• Payment processing (optional paid service)

• Basic financial reports (profit & loss, cash flow)

Wave does not include payroll, tax compliance, or inventory management.

Patriot Software

Patriot offers a more comprehensive feature set for small businesses:

• Accounting: invoicing, expenses, and reporting

• Payroll: automated calculations, direct deposit, and tax filings

• Tax compliance: federal and state tax support

• Recurring invoices and payment reminders

• Simple reporting for financial and payroll data

Wave handles essential bookkeeping only, while Patriot integrates accounting with payroll and compliance.

Takeaway:

• Use Wave for basic bookkeeping and invoicing.
• Use Patriot Software if you need accounting plus payroll and tax compliance features.

5. Pricing & Value

Wave Accounting

Wave’s core accounting tools are completely free, making it an ideal solution for freelancers, solopreneurs, and microbusinesses.

You only pay for optional services such as payment processing or payroll add-ons.

This provides excellent value for businesses that need essential bookkeeping without upfront costs.

Patriot Software

Patriot Software is a paid platform, with subscription plans starting at an affordable monthly rate.

The pricing covers both accounting and payroll services, including tax compliance features.

While not free, it offers strong value for small businesses that need integrated accounting and payroll without investing in multiple separate tools.

Takeaway:

• Wave is perfect for free, lightweight accounting.
• Patriot Software is ideal for small businesses that need accounting plus payroll and tax compliance.

6. Integrations & Add-Ons

Wave Accounting

Wave offers a limited set of integrations, mainly targeting small businesses and freelancers:

• Bank and credit card connections for transaction imports

• Payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal

• Zapier for connecting to other apps

Wave does not support inventory management, advanced CRM, or complex workflow integrations, keeping the ecosystem simple and manageable.

Patriot Software

Patriot provides basic but practical integrations designed to support payroll and accounting needs:

• Bank feeds for automated transaction imports

• Payment processing for employee payroll

• Tax filing support via federal and state systems

Patriot’s focus is on internal functionality rather than extensive third-party app integration, simplifying the experience for small business owners.

Takeaway:

• Wave works if you need basic bank and payment integrations.
• Patriot Software is better if you want integrated payroll and tax functionality alongside accounting.

7. Customer Support & Reliability

Wave Accounting

Wave offers basic support options:

• Email support for accounting queries

• Help center with guides and tutorials

• Community forum for peer support

While responsive for general bookkeeping questions, Wave lacks live chat or phone support for most free users.

The platform itself is stable and reliable for small-scale bookkeeping tasks.

Patriot Software

Patriot Software provides more comprehensive support options:

• Email and phone support

• Detailed online resources and guides

• Responsive assistance for both accounting and payroll inquiries

The platform is reliable and consistent, particularly for payroll and compliance-related functions, making it suitable for businesses that cannot afford downtime or errors.

Takeaway:

• Wave offers adequate support for simple, free accounting needs.
• Patriot Software delivers stronger support and reliability, especially for payroll and compliance tasks.

8. Pros & Cons

Wave Accounting

• Completely free for core accounting and invoicing

• Extremely easy to use and beginner-friendly

• Cloud-based, accessible anywhere

• Reliable for freelancers and microbusinesses

• Clean and simple interface

• No payroll or tax compliance features

• Limited automation

• Few integrations outside banking and payments

• Not suitable for growing businesses with complex workflows

Patriot Software

• Affordable accounting with integrated payroll

• Automated tax calculations and compliance

• Simple, user-friendly interface

• Reliable customer support via email and phone

• Good value for small businesses needing payroll functionality

• Paid subscription required

• Limited third-party integrations

• Less suitable for businesses that do not need payroll

9. Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between Wave Accounting and Patriot Software depends on the size of your business, your payroll needs, and your budget.

Wave Accounting is perfect for freelancers, solopreneurs, and very small businesses that want free, straightforward accounting.

It handles invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting without any cost, making it an excellent choice for businesses with simple financial needs.

Patriot Software is ideal for small businesses that need accounting combined with payroll and tax compliance.

While it requires a paid subscription, it offers an all-in-one solution that simplifies payroll, automates tax calculations, and keeps your business compliant.

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