Home > Accounting Software > ZipBooks > ZipBooks vs Patriot Accounting

ZipBooks vs Patriot Accounting

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared ZipBooks vs Patriot Accounting based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

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Product Basics

ZipBooks is a cloud-based accounting and invoicing platform designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It works independently or with certified accountants who will prepare monthly financial statements for a user's business.

It's also available as an iOS app with credit card processing, chart of accounts, business listings, machine learning, time tracking, team management and other capabilities that are specifically designed for the app.

Patriot Accounting is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and their accountants. It offers a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features for managing finances, including income and expense tracking, invoicing, bill pay, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting. Patriot caters to businesses with basic to moderate accounting needs, making it suitable for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small business owners who lack accounting expertise. Its key strengths lie in its affordability, ease of use, and customer support. Users praise its intuitive interface, clear navigation, and helpful tutorials, making it easy to learn and navigate even for accounting novices. Additionally, Patriot boasts excellent customer support, readily available to assist users with any questions or concerns. Popular features include customizable invoices, automatic bank feeds, inventory management, and payroll integration (with an additional fee). Compared to similar products, Patriot stands out for its emphasis on user-friendliness, affordability, and exceptional customer service. While it may lack some advanced features found in competitor software, its core functionalities and ease of use make it a compelling choice for many small businesses. Pricing starts at $20 per month for the basic plan, offering essential accounting features. The premium plan, at $30 per month, adds unlimited users, advanced features, and payroll integration. Both plans come with a free 30-day trial, allowing users to test the software before committing.

Pros

Easy to use and navigate
Affordable pricing
Excellent customer support
Automatic bank feeds
Inventory management (paid add-on)

Cons

Limited features compared to competitors
No mobile app
Payroll integration requires additional fee
Not ideal for complex accounting needs
Limited customization options

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Product Insights

User-Friendly Interface: Users don't require a master's degree in accounting to operate ZipBooks because its features and interface are intuitive, making it easy to use no matter the level of experience.
Affordable: ZipBooks offers four payment options with distinct features such as free, smarter, sophisticated and the accountant plan offers adjustable pricing. This makes it a viable option for anyone with a small budget, such as small businesses or freelancers trying to get their careers off the ground.
Knowledgeable Experts: ZipBooks' certified bookkeepers can provide users with financial advice and recommendations when assisting with accounting practices.
Record and Document Tasks: Keeping track of every task, project and file can be cumbersome. Thanks to ZipBooks, users can create and allocate responsibilities to specific projects so everything is chronicled and accessible in one place.

Streamlined accounting processes: Patriot Accounting simplifies and automates many accounting tasks, such as invoicing, bill payment, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting. This saves time, reduces errors, and helps you stay on top of your finances effortlessly.
Improved financial visibility: The software provides real-time insights into your business's financial health through clear dashboards and reports. This allows you to track income and expenses, monitor cash flow, analyze profitability, and make informed financial decisions.
Enhanced organization and control: Patriot Accounting helps you organize your financial data, maintain accurate records, and easily access information whenever needed. This promotes better financial management and compliance with tax regulations.
Simplified tax preparation: The software generates tax-ready reports that streamline the tax filing process, saving you time and effort. It also integrates with popular tax software, further simplifying tax preparation.
Accessibility and collaboration: Patriot Accounting's cloud-based platform allows you to access your financial data from anywhere with an internet connection. It also enables collaboration with your accountant or bookkeeper, promoting efficient financial management and timely financial advice.
Enhanced decision-making: The financial insights and reports provided by Patriot Accounting empower you to make data-driven decisions about your business's finances. This can lead to improved profitability, cost savings, and overall financial growth.
Peace of mind and confidence: Knowing that your accounting is organized and accurate can reduce stress and provide peace of mind. You can focus on running your business, confident that your financial data is secure and accessible.
Scalability for growth: Patriot Accounting can grow with your business, accommodating increased transactions and complexity as your business expands. This ensures you have the support you need to manage your finances effectively, even as your operations grow.

Accountant Access: Users can easily share information with accountants and financial experts with ZipBooks' accounting accessory. This tool enables users to effortlessly track routine transactions and extend completely accurate data for filing taxes, preparing financial reports and asking for sound financial advice to their accountants. The accounts receivable feature enables users to monitor invoices and payments so the money they make and amounts they owe will promptly update in their accounts receivable reports. Users can also review what their clients have already paid, outstanding amounts and the normal amount of time it takes them to pay. Transactions made outside of ZipBooks can be added manually for full accuracy.
Oversee Accounts Receivable: The accounts receivable tool enables users to review their accounts receivable history while also providing smart insights on which particular accounts are paying in a rational timeline. This module also extends an elaborate list of customers who make late payments so users can establish more payment reminders. Users can also create a snapshot of general payment trends in a given year for proper budgeting.
Perform Accurate Bank Reconciliations: Users can employ the bank reconciliation extension in the accounting tool to automatically transfer transaction information into their ZipBooks account so they can always see the most current account balance. This function also allows users to sort and study transactions by placing a checkmark on each transaction that appears on users' bank statements. ZipBooks will even monitor transactions that aren't verified so users will always stay in the know about their finances. Other extensions included within the accounting tool include bank connecting, auto-categorization, chart of accounts, project accounting and tagging. This tool is also supplied with several reports such as aging, balance sheet, general ledger, income statement, taxes invoiced and trial balance.
Regulate Billing Processes: ZipBooks' billing management accessory allows users to choose regular or subscription-based invoicing for constant billing to fit their needs. Users can personalize their invoices with logos, particular colors and contact information. This tool can also trace customer payments, invoice history, overdue balances and collected taxes and alert users when an invoice has been paid. The credit card processing extension enables users to accept payments from every major credit company from approximately 22 various countries. Users can also take digital payments from Square and PayPal.
Initiate Concurrent Bills: Thanks to the recurring billing function, users can set up future payments and never worry about them getting to the right customer again. There are dynamic features users can adjust to instantly autofill invoices with precise customer information. This function can immediately bill customer credit cards on a monthly basis and securely store credit card information. Other functions that come with the billing module include estimates, invoices, customer management, mobile access, multi-currency, reminders, saved items, team management and time tracking.
Machine Learning Insights: ZipBooks' machine learning function of the intelligence module is similar to adding a supercomputer to a user's team because it blends work with research to immediately pick a category for each transaction. The more users work with the machine learning tool, the more it can learn about the way they chronicle and sort their transactions until it can auto-categorize. If there's a classifying error, users can make the correction and the extension will learn from its mistakes. The machine learning function will also categorize every bank transaction that a user imports and provide a confidence score based on their accounting knowledge and history.
Thorough Business Wellness Check: Users can implement the business health score extension to check and finetune the health of their business that will aid in making better business decisions. This function can search for concurrent clients, punctual payments, sales growth and repeating revenue. Other helpful functions within the intelligence accessory include invoice quality score, recommendations and smart search.
Manage Billable Expenses: To get reimbursed for expenses users' business accrue for customers such as paint supplies needed to paint a house or parts to fix a car, users can develop a transaction, mark it as billable and add the name of the client to be billed with the billable expenses function in the expense management tool. The expense will be added to the customer's invoice. The vendor management extension enables users to view expense histories, keep vendor contact information updated, and review payments owed. When users attach a bill or expense to a vendor's name, ZipBooks will instantly pinpoint general contacts as vendors. If users no longer use someone as a vendor but want to keep their contact information handy, they can easily change the name back to contact. Other functions included in the expense management module include receipt saving and split categories.
Deliver Review Invitations: ZipBooks' growth accessory's reviews extension enables users to automatically or manually send invitations via email or text message to clients to review their business online. Users can employ ZipBooks' widget component to share customer reviews onto their website. This extension also allows users to reply to customer reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp and other platforms.
Locate and Manage Search Ranks: The ranking function in the growth module permits users to see where their business ranks in search results based on specific keywords customers may use when searching for a business, service or product on maps, computers or mobile search apps. Users can accordingly add keywords for more insight and install parameters to identify searches within particular target areas. This function also allows users to track the progress of their rankings such as rising, falling or consistencies. Other extensions within the growth accessory include widgets and business listings.

Income and expense tracking: Record and categorize income and expenses to monitor cash flow and profitability.
Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices, track payments, and send reminders to customers.
Bill pay: Pay bills and track expenses easily, ensuring timely payments and organized records.
Bank reconciliation: Match bank transactions with your records to ensure accuracy and prevent discrepancies.
Financial reporting: Generate various reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and tax reports.
Customizable chart of accounts: Create a chart of accounts that aligns with your business's unique needs and structure.
Automatic bank feeds: Import bank transactions automatically, saving time and reducing manual data entry.
Inventory management (paid add-on): Track inventory levels, manage stock, and generate purchase orders (available for an additional fee).
Payroll integration (paid add-on): Integrate with Patriot's payroll software to streamline payroll processing and tax filings (available for an additional fee).
User-friendly interface: Navigate the software easily with intuitive menus, clear labels, and helpful tutorials.
Excellent customer support: Access free US-based customer support via phone, email, and live chat.
Cloud-based platform: Access your data from anywhere with an internet connection, ensuring flexibility and security.
Mobile-friendly access: View your account and manage basic tasks from a mobile device.
Secure data storage: Rest assured that your financial data is protected with bank-level security measures.
Free 30-day trial: Try the software for free before committing to a subscription.

Product Ranking

#33

among all
Accounting Software

#369

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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User Sentiment Summary

92%

of users recommend this product

ZipBooks has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 300 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Free Plan: ZipBooks offers a free plan that includes unlimited invoices, the ability to accept digital payments, and basic reporting features, making it a cost-effective solution for freelancers and small businesses with basic accounting needs.

User-Friendly Interface: The platform is known for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, allowing users to quickly create professional invoices, track expenses, and manage their finances without extensive accounting knowledge.

Time Tracking: ZipBooks includes time-tracking tools that enable users to accurately record billable hours for projects and clients, simplifying the process of generating invoices based on actual time spent.

Integrations: ZipBooks integrates with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Square, as well as other business tools such as Slack and Google Calendar, streamlining workflows and reducing manual data entry.

User-friendly interface: Patriot Accounting is known for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it suitable for users with varying levels of accounting experience.

Affordable pricing: Patriot Accounting offers competitive pricing plans, making it an attractive option for small businesses and freelancers on a budget.

Strong customer support: Patriot Accounting provides responsive and helpful customer support through multiple channels, including phone, email, and live chat.

Basic accounting features: Patriot Accounting covers essential accounting tasks like invoicing, bill pay, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting.

Integration with popular payment processors: Patriot Accounting integrates with popular payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, streamlining payment collection.

Mobile app availability: Patriot Accounting offers a mobile app for managing finances on the go.

Limited Integrations: ZipBooks may not integrate with all the applications a business uses, potentially leading to manual data entry and reduced efficiency.

Scalability Concerns: Some users have expressed concerns about ZipBooks' ability to handle the needs of larger businesses or those with more complex accounting requirements as they grow.

Customer Support: While ZipBooks offers support, some users have reported challenges in obtaining timely or comprehensive assistance for their inquiries.

Limited inventory management: Lacks advanced features like barcode scanning, serial number tracking, and purchase order management, making it unsuitable for businesses with complex inventory needs.

No multi-currency support: Only supports transactions in a single currency, which can be limiting for businesses operating internationally.

Limited reporting capabilities: May not provide the level of customization and detail needed by some businesses, especially those with complex reporting requirements.

Scalability limitations: May not be suitable for large businesses with a high volume of transactions or complex accounting needs, as its features and capabilities may not scale effectively.

Integration limitations: Integrates with a limited number of third-party applications, which may restrict users who rely on specific software or require extensive integrations with other business systems.

ZipBooks: Accounting made easy. ZipBooks is a cloud-based accounting software that helps small businesses manage their finances, but how does it stack up against the competition? Users appreciate its ease of use and affordability, making it a great choice for those who are new to accounting software or have a limited budget. The platform offers features like invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting, which are essential for many small businesses. However, some users have noted that ZipBooks lacks more advanced features found in other accounting software, such as inventory management and in-depth financial reporting. Additionally, customer support has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it helpful while others have experienced challenges. One of ZipBooks' unique features is its integration with popular business apps like QuickBooks, Google Drive, and Salesforce, allowing for seamless data transfer and increased efficiency. The software also includes project management tools, which can be beneficial for businesses that need to track time and tasks. ZipBooks offers a free starter plan, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses. Paid plans provide additional features, such as payroll integration and reputation management. Overall, ZipBooks is a solid choice for freelancers and small businesses that prioritize ease of use and affordability. However, businesses with more complex accounting needs or those requiring extensive customer support may want to explore other options like QuickBooks Online or Xero.

Patriot Accounting carves a niche among accounting software with its user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and strong customer support. Users with basic accounting needs, like freelancers and small businesses, praise its intuitive design and straightforward features for invoicing, bill pay, and bank reconciliation. The mobile app and integrations with popular payment processors like Stripe further enhance its convenience. However, Patriot Accounting's limitations become apparent as businesses grow or require more complex functionalities. Users often cite its lack of advanced inventory management, multi-currency support, and in-depth reporting as dealbreakers. Compared to competitors like QuickBooks, which offers a wider range of features and integrations, Patriot Accounting might feel restrictive. Businesses with international operations or intricate inventory systems may find themselves needing to upgrade to a more robust solution. Ultimately, Patriot Accounting's suitability hinges on a user's specific needs and priorities. For those seeking a beginner-friendly and budget-conscious accounting solution, it stands out with its ease of use and affordability. However, businesses with more intricate accounting requirements or aspirations for future growth might find themselves needing a software that can scale alongside their ambitions.

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FAQ

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