FreshBooks vs Patriot Software
- ✦ Time Tracking
- ✦ Project Management
- ✦ Estimates & Proposals
- ✦ Accounting
- ✦ Payroll
- ✦ Bank Imports
FreshBooks and Patriot Software are both Accounting tools. FreshBooks starts at $23/mo, Patriot Software at $6/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose FreshBooks vs Patriot Software
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Time Tracking logs hours per project and auto-populates invoice line items at configured rates, with records attached to each bill to reduce client disputes.
Estimates & Proposals convert to invoices in one click - preserving line items, rates, and client details - cutting the proposal-to-payment cycle by up to 40%.
Teams with remote staff across multiple states use Patriot's Direct Deposit feature to eliminate check printing and manual distribution delays. The setup process captures employee.
Small manufacturers and service contractors use Payroll Tax Filing to submit quarterly 941s and state unemployment returns directly from Patriot, bypassing the 2-3 week.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified May 30, 2026
FreshBooks Plans
Paid plans only
Lite
$23/moBest for: This plan is ideal for freelancers or very small businesses needing basic invoicing and expense tracking
- ✓Send invoices to 5 clients
- ✓Track expenses in real time
- ✓Create and send estimates
- ✓Generate tax summaries
- ✓Generate expense reports
Plus
$43/moBest for: Suited for growing businesses with multiple clients, this plan adds double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, and client retainers
- ✓Send invoices to 50 clients
- ✓Track expenses in real time
- ✓Create and send estimates, proposals
- ✓Project tracking
- ✓Accounting reports
Premium
$70/moBest for: established businesses managing numerous clients and projects, this plan includes advanced reporting and project profitability tracking
- ✓Send invoices to unlimited clients
- ✓Track expenses in real time
- ✓Create estimates, proposals, and client retainers
- ✓Automated late payment reminders
- ✓Multi-user access
Select
Contact SalesBest for: Designed for larger businesses or those with specific needs, this custom plan offers personalized features and dedicated account management
- ✓Customized pricing
- ✓Dedicated account manager
- ✓Lower credit card transaction fees
- ✓Capped bank transfer (ACH) fees
- ✓Assisted data migration
Patriot Software Plans
Paid plans only
Time And Attendance (Add-on)
$6/mo (+ $2/employee)- ✓Time and attendance management
HR Software (Add-on)
$6/mo (+ $2/employee)- ✓HR functions
- ✓Handbook creation
- ✓Policy creation
Basic Payroll
$17/mo (+ $4/worker)Best for: $17/mo + $4/worker
- ✓Run payroll
- ✓Handle own taxes
- ✓Free direct deposit
- ✓Free employee portal
- ✓Unlimited payrolls
Accounting Basic
$20/moBest for: $20/mo covers unlimited invoicing, bank imports, expense tracking, and financial reporting
- ✓Manage unlimited invoices
- ✓Manage unlimited contractors
- ✓Manage unlimited customers
- ✓Automate bank imports
- ✓Track expenses
Accounting Premium
$30/moBest for: $30/mo adds estimates, recurring invoices, user-based permissions, receipt management, and subaccounts
- ✓All Basic features
- ✓Set user-based permissions
- ✓Get invoice alerts and reminders
- ✓Manage documents
- ✓Create and send estimates
Full-Service Payroll
$37/mo (+ $5/worker)- ✓All Basic Payroll features
- ✓Federal tax filings & deposits
- ✓State tax filings & deposits
- ✓Local tax filings & deposits
- ✓Year-end payroll tax filings
Bookkeeping Service (Add-on)
$100/mo- ✓Patriot experts manage books end-to-end
Capability Breakdown
5 differences found across 16 standardized features
- •Invoicing
- •Expense Tracking
- •Time Tracking
- •Project Management
- •Estimates & Proposals
- •Online Payments
- •Bank Reconciliation
- •Double-entry Accounting
- •Financial Reports
- •Receipt Capture
- •Automated Late Reminders
- •Client Portal
- •Mobile App
- •200+ Integrations
- •Multi-currency
- •Customizable Invoice Templates
- •Sales Tax Calculations
- •Automated Billing Schedules
- •Credit Note Management
- •Inventory Tracking System
- •Vendor Management Tools
- •Budgeting and Forecasting
- •Cash Flow Analysis
- •Audit Trail Logs
- •User Permission Controls
- •Recurring Invoice Options
- •Transaction Matching
- •Accounting
- •Payroll
- •Invoicing
- •Expense Tracking
- •Bank Imports
- •Financial Reports
- •Payroll Tax Filing
- •Direct Deposit
- •1099 Filing
- •Time & Attendance
- •HR Software
- •Employee Portal
- •Multi-state Payroll
- •W-2 Filing
- •US-focused Compliance
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
- +Excellent time tracking integrated directly into invoices
- +Professional, customizable invoice templates are easy to create
- +Client portal allows customers to view and pay invoices online
- +Strong project profitability tracking features for service businesses
- +Simple, intuitive interface designed for non-accountants
- −Limited inventory management, not suitable for product-based businesses
- −No built-in payroll; requires integration with Gusto (US only)
- −Lower-tier plans have restrictive client limits (5 on Lite plan)
- −Mobile app has fewer features than the desktop version
- −Lacks advanced accounting features like accounts payable aging
- +Dual-entry accounting and cash-basis reporting in one system
- +Full-service payroll includes year-end W-2/W-3 filing
- +No per-state fees for multi-state payroll processing
- +Free US-based expert support via phone, chat, or email
- +Transparent, low-cost pricing with no hidden setup fees
- −No mobile app for on-the-go accounting or payroll management
- −Limited third-party integrations beyond QuickBooks and Plaid
- −Does not support contractor-only payroll (requires at least one W-2 employee)
- −Lacks advanced features like inventory tracking or project costing
- −No international payroll or multi-currency support
At a Glance
Recent Price History
FreshBooks raised "Lite" from $19/mo to $23/mo (+21%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
FreshBooks raised "Premium" from $60/mo to $70/mo (+17%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
FreshBooks raised "Plus" from $33/mo to $43/mo (+30%)
Price change · May 30, 2026
Patriot Software added a new "Bookkeeping Service (Add-on)" plan at $100/mo
Plan added · May 28, 2026
Patriot Software added a new "HR Software (Add-on)" plan at $6/mo
Plan added · May 28, 2026
Patriot Software removed the "Full Service Payroll" plan
Plan removed · May 28, 2026
Patriot Software added a new "Full-Service Payroll" plan at $37/mo
Plan added · May 28, 2026
Patriot Software added a new "Time And Attendance (Add-on)" plan at $6/mo
Plan added · May 28, 2026
FreshBooks lowered "Premium" from $76 to $60/mo (21%)
Price change · May 21, 2026
FreshBooks lowered "Plus" from $40 to $33/mo (18%)
Price change · May 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Data Trail · Patriot Software
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