Patriot Accounting vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Patriot Accounting and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Patriot Accounting
5.9/10
Low-cost, browser-based double-entry accounting software for US small businesses and sole proprietors, with invoicing, bank import, 1099 filing and optional Patriot Payroll.
Starling
6.6/10
A UK digital bank business account with built-in invoicing, bookkeeping, and Making Tax Digital tax tools for sole traders and small limited companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.9/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $20/mo Accounting Basic | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $20/mo Accounting Basic | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Patriot Accounting vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Patriot Accounting | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $20/moAccounting Basic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | $20/moAccounting Basic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | $20/moAccounting Basic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | $20/moAccounting Basic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | $20/moAccounting Basic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Patriot Accounting
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Patriot Accounting does not)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Patriot Accounting
Pros
- The flat monthly price includes unlimited users, which undercuts QuickBooks Online and Xero in PCMag's comparison.
- The clean interface is approachable for non-accountants.
- Phone, chat and email support from US-based staff on both plans.
- Built-in 1099 e-filing and contractor portals.
- Month-to-month billing with no long-term contract, and free use for accounting firms with six or more active clients.
Cons
- No inventory management, time tracking or electronic bill pay.
- No native mobile app; access is through a mobile-friendly website only.
- Few third-party integrations and no public API.
- Limited report and invoice customization.
- Recurring invoices, estimates and user permissions require the Premium plan.
Starling
Pros
- The business account has no monthly fee, and UK transfers, invoicing, and up to five expense cards are free.
- The free Essentials tier includes MTD for Income Tax submissions, which helps sole traders and landlords facing the April 2026 rules.
- VAT returns can be filed to HMRC from inside the banking app for £7 a month until April 2027.
- Bank feeds connect to Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.
- UK-based support is available 24/7 in the app, and Finder ranked it highly for customer satisfaction in 2026.
Cons
- It is not a full accounting system: there is no general ledger, payroll, or multi-entity support.
- Accountants only get view-only access.
- Only GBP and EUR accounts are available, and new USD account applications are paused.
- Eligibility is strict: directors and people with significant control must be UK residents.
- Overdrafts and loans are not available to new business customers, and there are no branches.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 5.9/10 for Patriot Accounting. The largest gap is in Integration: 3/10 for Patriot Accounting and 6/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Patriot Accounting does not list one.
