Xero vs Patriot Accounting
Patriot Accounting comes out ahead of Xero on 5 of the 8 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Patriot Accounting takes it, 5–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Patriot Accounting takes 5 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Xero if…
- • You want Xero's edge on tracking stock and snapping receipts into your books
Choose Patriot Accounting if…
- • You want Patriot Accounting's edge on what it costs to start and who picks up when you are stuck
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startPatriot Accounting winsXero5/10
$27
Early plan, per month at list price (introductory $5.40 for three months)
- $27, against $20
Source: xero.com ↗
Patriot Accounting wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Who picks up when you are stuckPatriot Accounting winsXero5/10
24/7 online support, callback on request
no support phone line, but they will call you
- 24/7 online support, callback on request, against Free US phone, chat and email
Source: xero.com ↗
Patriot Accounting8/10Free US phone, chat and email
US-based support 9am to 7pm Eastern, Monday to Friday, on every tier
Source: patriotsoftware.com ↗
Patriot Accounting wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3Who runs your payrollPatriot Accounting winsXero5/10
Optional add-on via Gusto
payroll is handed to a partner
- Optional add-on via Gusto, against Own payroll product
Source: xero.com ↗
Patriot Accounting8/10Own payroll product
Patriot sells its own payroll alongside the accounting
Source: patriotsoftware.com ↗
Patriot Accounting wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 4Tracking stockXero winsXero8/10
Built-in to Xero's core accounting software
Inventory management
- inventory comes from integrations rather than the core plan
Source: xero.com ↗
Patriot Accounting5/10Not stated
No official page states inventory tracking exists or is absent. Checked https://www.patriotsoftware.com/accounting/ (full feature lists for both plans — no inventory mention) and the pricing Accountin
- No inventory tracking, against Through connected apps
Source: patriotsoftware.com ↗
Xero wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 5What customers say on TrustpilotPatriot Accounting winsXero5/10
4.1 out of 5
TrustScore from 11,355 reviews on Trustpilot
- 4.1 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Patriot Accounting8/104.7 out of 5
TrustScore from 3,445 reviews on Trustpilot
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Patriot Accounting wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6Trying it before you payTiePatriot Accounting7/10
30-day free trial
a free trial, then 50% off for three months
Source: patriotsoftware.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 7How many invoices you can sendPatriot Accounting wins
Patriot Accounting wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 8Snapping receipts into your booksXero winsPatriot Accounting5/10
Receipt management is Premium
Accounting Basic
- Receipt management is Premium, against Smart Document Capture
Source: patriotsoftware.com ↗
Xero wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- inventory comes from integrations rather than the core plan
- 24/7 online support, callback on request, against Phone support included
- Optional add-on via Gusto, against Own payroll product
- 20 invoices a month, against Unlimited invoices
- $27, against $23
- No inventory tracking, against Plus and Advanced only
- Receipt management is Premium, against Receipt capture included
- No inventory tracking, against Through connected apps
- Receipt management is Premium, against Smart Document Capture