Patriot Software vs. Sage Accounting

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Patriot Software
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
Patriot Software headquartered in Canton, Ohio offers Patriot PAY, their benefits administration and payroll software.
$17
per month
Sage Accounting
Score 7.9 out of 10
N/A
Sage Accounting is online accounting software made to simplify life for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers by providing the functions needed to take care of daily business to-dos. Users can create and send professional quotes and invoices, track income and expenses and know where the business' financials stand. Every Sage Business Cloud Accounting subscription includes unlimited access to support as well as automatic backups and product updates.
$10
per month
Pricing
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Editions & Modules
Basic Payroll
$17/mo + $4 per employee/contractor
Accounting Basic
$20/mo (unlimited use)
Accounting Premium
$30/mo (unlimited use)
Full Service Payroll
$37/mo + $4 per employee/contractor
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPatriot Software has two payroll options to choose from: Basic Payroll, and Full Service payroll software. Both start with a simple three-step payroll process. With the Full Service Payroll, Patriot will collect, deposit, and file federal, state, and local payroll taxes on the customer's behalf; end-of-the-year payroll tax filing is included at no extra charge. Print W2s on 8 x 1/2 x 11 plain white office paper to hand to employees, or post to the free employee portal. Also, Patriot Software offers free direct deposit.Versions and pricing listed are for US products. Versions available and pricing may vary by country.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Considered Both Products
Patriot Software
Chose Patriot Software
I found Patriot Software to offer the best price and service package for me to be able to process payroll for a number of my smaller clients while still allowing me to make a profit on the added revenue.
Sage Accounting

No answer on this topic

Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
8.3
15 Ratings
0% above category average
Sage Accounting
9.1
14 Ratings
20% above category average
Pay calculation9.515 Ratings9.212 Ratings
Support for external payroll vendors10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Off-cycle/On-Demand payment8.75 Ratings00 Ratings
Benefit plan administration6.03 Ratings9.18 Ratings
Direct deposit files9.211 Ratings9.19 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management8.213 Ratings9.18 Ratings
Reimbursement management6.36 Ratings9.19 Ratings
Customization
Comparison of Customization features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
8.3
18 Ratings
16% above category average
API for custom integration00 Ratings9.815 Ratings
Plug-ins00 Ratings6.813 Ratings
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
9.0
36 Ratings
12% above category average
Single sign-on capability00 Ratings8.725 Ratings
Role-based user permissions00 Ratings9.333 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
6.5
38 Ratings
15% below category average
Dashboards00 Ratings2.135 Ratings
Standard reports00 Ratings8.838 Ratings
Custom reports00 Ratings8.729 Ratings
General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
7.9
41 Ratings
6% above category average
Accounts payable00 Ratings9.437 Ratings
Accounts receivable00 Ratings9.439 Ratings
Cash management00 Ratings9.332 Ratings
Bank reconciliation00 Ratings9.338 Ratings
Expense management00 Ratings9.830 Ratings
Time tracking00 Ratings6.89 Ratings
Fixed asset management00 Ratings2.523 Ratings
Multi-currency support00 Ratings7.214 Ratings
Multi-division support00 Ratings4.514 Ratings
Regulations compliance00 Ratings8.423 Ratings
Electronic tax filing00 Ratings8.819 Ratings
Self-service portal00 Ratings8.622 Ratings
Global Financial Support00 Ratings8.27 Ratings
Primary and Secondary Ledgers00 Ratings8.211 Ratings
Intercompany Accounting00 Ratings7.39 Ratings
Localizations00 Ratings7.87 Ratings
Journals and Reconciliations00 Ratings8.527 Ratings
Enterprise Accounting00 Ratings8.39 Ratings
Configurable Accounting00 Ratings8.013 Ratings
Centralized Rules Framework00 Ratings7.66 Ratings
Standardized Processes00 Ratings8.214 Ratings
Inventory Management
Comparison of Inventory Management features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
8.2
15 Ratings
15% above category average
Inventory tracking00 Ratings6.615 Ratings
Automatic reordering00 Ratings9.15 Ratings
Location management00 Ratings8.26 Ratings
Manufacturing module00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
Order Management
Comparison of Order Management features of Product A and Product B
Patriot Software
-
Ratings
Sage Accounting
6.8
24 Ratings
8% below category average
Pricing00 Ratings8.814 Ratings
Order entry00 Ratings8.211 Ratings
Credit card processing00 Ratings8.015 Ratings
Cost of goods sold00 Ratings6.817 Ratings
Order Orchestration00 Ratings4.14 Ratings
End-to-end order visibility00 Ratings7.05 Ratings
Order exception Resolution00 Ratings5.04 Ratings
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User Ratings
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Likelihood to Recommend
9.7
(20 ratings)
9.6
(47 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(1 ratings)
9.4
(4 ratings)
Usability
9.3
(10 ratings)
9.4
(16 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
8.4
(2 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
8.8
(10 ratings)
9.4
(17 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.4
(3 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(2 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
7.2
(2 ratings)
Professional Services
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.6
(2 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.6
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
Patriot SoftwareSage Accounting
Likelihood to Recommend
Patriot Software
Patriot PAY is well-suited to a company that has a 10-day window between the end of the pay period and the payday. The company size makes very little difference and it is easy to use for any company. It is also very progressive in development and improvement. If a company has a small window for turn-around, but fairly consistent payroll amounts (such as a lot of salary workers), Patriot PAY might also be a good fit for them.

Companies with tight turn-around times or payrolls that vary significantly in direct deposit amounts might have difficulty using Patriot PAY.
Read full review
Sage
VAT returns are so simple to do. Just a click of a button and it produces a report for the period in concern. Submitting the return is then just a single click. The only thing I wish it would do is remind me when my VAT submissions are coming up so that I can avoid penalties.
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Pros
Patriot Software
  • It is simple, intuitive and straightforward in its design. Someone with little experience with roles in human resources roles, bookkeeping or payroll can quickly learn how to set-up the software and run payroll regularly by reading through the support portion of the site, or by contacting the helpful staff at Patriot. Patriot staff have walked me through issues or guided me on the phone as I learned how to use a function of the software.
  • Patriot provides comprehensive quarterly tax filing records, including 941s, state unemployment compensation tax payments, state employer's tax and local employer's tax filings. You can also generate payroll or tax deposit reports over a specific time period or per employee.
  • The support and FAQ pages available on Patriot are very practical and written in an easy to understand manner. Using the information provided there, I was able to properly set up new employees according to local and state filing requirements.
Read full review
Sage
  • Traceability - where you are spending. I started with a spreadsheet which had a column for 'electronics & computing' this captured everything from monthly software subscriptions to hardware and from light bulbs to dash cams. Sage has helped me streamline the spending.
  • MTD - I am MTD compliant, although I do not need to be as my accountant is and they complete my HMRC submissions. It does mean that I have a contingency plan if I have to change this service.
  • Debtor's - It is easy to be a busy fool and not realise that accounts are overdue. For a small business, the restriction in cash flow due to late paying clients is a killer. The dashboard feature helps with this.
Read full review
Cons
Patriot Software
  • Connecting with outside software - we have an issue of Patriot not recognizing donors when connected to other websites when all the information is the same minus a middle initial
  • Giving an error page when something small is off. Instead of giving an easy to fix error notification, Patriot brings the user to an error page and they have to reenter everything.
  • Fixing dates easily. If a date is entered incorrectly, 8/13/21 instead of 2021, an error pop up appears but the user has to click enter/okay many times or refresh the page in order to fix this issue.
  • Enter vs Tab key - Patriot loves the tab key but if the user clicks enter instead, many times it brings them to the home page.
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Sage
  • I find it difficult to record journals in cloud accounting. Maybe I just don’t have the knowledge.
  • It’s important to export all unrecorded sync bank transactions to Excel to send to clients to explain the payment receipts before being posted. This function is not available on the cloud and makes life harder, having to call out the transactions to clients over the phone.
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Likelihood to Renew
Patriot Software
It works well because it is cheap for us.
Read full review
Sage
I could not live without Sage Accounting, it has become an integral part of my everyday. The more I have used Sage Accounting the more I have fallen in love with it. I am excited to be part of this ever-evolving accounting system that has grown from strength to strength, making life easier is something Sage does so well.
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Usability
Patriot Software
I think it is great once things are setup as for general user looking to look for simple things like a copy of a paystub or a current pay rate for an employee. However, to find specialized things like a state withholding number or payroll integration settings those do require a bit more digging to find or possibly a call to customer service for help.
Read full review
Sage
Sage Accounting is built for the business owner/user and not the accountant, it therefore guides the user and thus detailed accounting knowledge and experience is not a necessarily a prerequisite . It offers a monthly price and therefore no significant up front spend and it tailorable to your business with useful dashboards that again you can tailor to instantly see what's important to you.
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Reliability and Availability
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
Sage Accounting availability is generally very good. They post messages which appear on users screen time to time, highlighting where functionality in a particular area is undergoing maintenance. More often than not, maintenance is completed in a timescale quicker than initially estimated by Sage. Where significant maintenance is required, Sage usually perform it overnight.
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Performance
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
Sage Accounting work quickly and performs well, I have never had an issue with it running slow. It integrates with other software swiftly, so no waiting for the screen to load. Error messages are only something I have had when I have done something wrong.
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Support Rating
Patriot Software
Generally speaking it is pretty good that when I need to call somebody up for a payroll question I can generally within five minutes get somebody on the phone and they can help me resolve the problem or specify where specifically I need to go or contact to find my answers. However, that being said, for my specific situation as a partner my assigned contact has not always been very responsive.
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Sage
The support is world class - never ever during 30 plus years in business I have received such helpful, knowledgeable and genuine support as I have from Sage. At Sage people matter and i can chat to someone safe in the knowledge that they will actually listen and assist. This also backed up by huge online portfolio of help and resources
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In-Person Training
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
Staff are always friendly, and patient, always work at a speed that suits you. You are never rushed, and In only a short time they seem to be able to help you make great strides. It has been a pleasure not a chore, learning how SAGE Accounting works and benefits me and the company.
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Online Training
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
I find the online training was very informative and they answered all my questions. I am also certified in Sage One and provided online training in the program which I have set up several people on and they love how it keeps them organized.
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Implementation Rating
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
The clients' business owner worked with Sage on implementation before I began working for them. After consultation with them it is clear the process was quickly performed and without complication. The key takeaway was that Sage is seen as a partner to the business. That said, it was always necessary to engage with an accountant such as myself to extract the best out of the software.
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Alternatives Considered
Patriot Software
I briefly used Intuit Online Payroll, and it was expensive, had no support, and was very frustrating to use. I also used 3 local tax companies for payroll - they were extremely expensive and messed up all of the time. Their employee turnover was very annoying (and it seemed to happen every other month) and each employee did things differently. When I let one of my employees go, the last company paid them after termination (2 weeks of salary), and had to get into a legal battle because the employee would not give the money back.
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Sage
Sage Accounting is a simpler, more streamlined version of the more complex Sage 50cloud Accounting. For a small, simpler company Sage Accounting is a much more cost-effective option. There are a few features that Sage 50cloud Accounting has that Sage Accounting does not have (such as making e-payments and a few reports are unavailable) but it is still a very good product.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
The pricing structure is fair and offers good value for money. The billing is done through their online system and you can access your bills at any time. Most contacts only require 30 days' notice, so no need to feel tied in, although I can't imagine why you would want to leave Sage.
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Scalability
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
I do not consider Sage Accounting to be Sage's best product for scaling up business as its functionality for doing so is limited. Sage 50 Accounts or Sage Intaact are far more suited for this. I would evaluate very carefully the possible need in the future for scalability in the first instance before selecting software.
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Professional Services
Patriot Software
No answers on this topic
Sage
Sage has always been extremely professional, and they continue to be professional in their dealings with me.
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Return on Investment
Patriot Software
  • It boosts my time available for client-facing activities by not having to spend as much time processing payroll.
  • It helps me deliver accurate reports to my CPA at tax time regarding employee wages and employer taxes.
  • Through the online portal, I can easily track year-to-date taxes my company has paid.
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Sage
  • Sage One has allowed us to provided better customer service to all our clients. It has allowed us to provide a reasonable price accounting product to our customer who typically just have handwritten invoices, or Excel spreadsheets.
  • Sage One has reduced the manual data entry that my team does on a monthly basis, which in turn allows us to have more time for our customers.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Patriot Software Screenshots

Screenshot of the 3-step process to carry out payrollScreenshot of the Payroll interface, which can be used run payroll on any device with internet or data connection. There is no need to download and maintain a separate payroll app.Screenshot of a payroll report, to sort by work location, employee, and date range.

Sage Accounting Screenshots

Screenshot of The financial dashboard, with business insightsScreenshot of View of paid and unpaid invoicesScreenshot of Invoice designer, to add a logo, company info, and terms