Bench
Patriot Software
| Feature | Bench | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $299/mo | From $17/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | small-business-owners, freelancers, startups, busy-entrepreneurs | us-small-businesses, startups, solopreneurs, small-employers |
| Founded | 2012 | 2002 |
| Monthly Bookkeeping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Financial Statements | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Preparation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expense Categorization | ✓ | ✗ |
| Year End Reporting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated Team | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accounting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✓ |
| Invoicing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Direct Deposit | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Bench Pros
- Dedicated bookkeeping team
- Year-end tax-ready financials
- Simple to use platform
- No bookkeeping knowledge needed
✗ Bench Cons
- Expensive for basic needs
- Limited real-time access
- Less control over process
✓ Patriot Software Pros
- Very affordable pricing
- US-based phone support
- Easy to use interface
- Combined accounting and payroll
✗ Patriot Software Cons
- US-only
- Limited integrations
- Basic reporting compared to competitors
The Verdict
Bench is built for small business owners and freelancers, with a focus on monthly-bookkeeping and financial-statements. Patriot Software targets us small businesses and startups and leads with accounting and payroll.
On pricing, Patriot Software is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $17/mo compared to $299/mo for Bench. That $282/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Patriot Software edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Both tools are a solid fit for startups — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Patriot Software has a slight overall edge — but if dedicated bookkeeping team matters most to you, Bench may still be the right call.