Patriot Software vs Wave — Accounting Comparison (2026)

Wave

Free accounting for small businesses

Compare Patriot Software and Wave side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.

The bottom line

Patriot Software and Wave are both strong contenders in the accounting space, but they serve different needs. Wave edges ahead with an overall score of 72/100 compared to Patriot Software's 64/100. Wave is easier to get started with (9/10 for ease of use vs 8/10). On pricing, Wave offers a free tier while Patriot Software requires a paid plan from $20/mo. Wave rates higher for value for money (9/10 vs 8/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.

At a glance

	Patriot Software	Wave
Our score	64/100	72/100
Starting price	$20/mo	Free
Free tier	No	Yes
Best for	Affordable accounting and payroll	Free accounting for small businesses

Pricing comparison

Patriot Software

No free tier

Accounting Basic$20/mo

Accounting Premium$30/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

Wave

Free tier available

FreeFree

Pro$19/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

Calculate your cost

Patriot Software plan

Wave plan

Patriot SoftwareAccounting Basic

$17/mo

$204/yr

WaveFree

Free/mo

Free/yr

Cheaper— save $204/yr

Visit Patriot Software →Try Wave free →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	Patriot Software	Wave
Invoicing	Yes	Yes
Expense tracking	Yes	Yes
Bank reconciliation	Yes	Yes
Financial reports	Yes	Yes

advanced

Feature	Patriot Software	Wave
Payroll	Add-on ($17-37/mo + $4/employee)	Add-on ($40+/mo)
Inventory	No	No
Multi-currency	No	No
Tax filing	Payroll add-on	No

integrations

Feature	Patriot Software	Wave
Stripe	No	No
PayPal	No	Yes
Shopify	No	No
Zapier	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

Patriot Software

Ease of use

8/10

Value for money

8/10

Features

5/10

Support

7/10

Wave

Ease of use

9/10

Value for money

9/10

Features

6/10

Support

5/10

Choose Patriot Software if...

You're ready to invest from $20/mo
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
Getting strong value for money is a priority

Visit Patriot Software →

Choose Wave if...

You want a free tier to get started
You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
Getting strong value for money is a priority

Try Wave free →

Frequently asked questions

Is Patriot Software or Wave better?

Wave scores 72/100 compared to Patriot Software's 64/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Patriot Software excels at ease of use (8/10) while Wave scores 9/10.

How much does Patriot Software cost compared to Wave?

Patriot Software starts at $20/mo. Wave starts at free (free tier available). Wave is the more affordable option.

Does Patriot Software or Wave have a free plan?

Wave offers a free tier. Patriot Software does not — its cheapest plan starts at $20/mo.

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