In addition, the Premier and Enterprise plans offer more than 150 reports, with industry-specific reporting options available. To expedite product setup, you can choose to use the default chart of accounts that is included in the application. You also have the option to import products and services into the application to avoid having to re-enter the data.

• The higher your plan tier, the more reports and users you can add, although it’s important to understand concurrent users are each sold separately.
• QuickBooks Online has four plans with a monthly subscription, and the total number of users depends on your plan.
• As the name suggests, the QuickBooks Desktop Pro is locally installed.
• QuickBooks Self-Employed offers basic features at a cost-effective price.

We have already talked about how the QuickBooks Online version offers various multi-user packages. With the online version, you do not need to stress about adding new users over time. Also, at any given point, you cannot add more than three users to the system. Given the dynamic nature of the business environment, it would be wiser to opt for QuickBooks Online in this case. Both the products, offered by the same company, are highly competent and will get the job done. However, in this article, we will attempt to understand the key differences between them so that you can choose the best invoicing software.

QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop table of contents

It is pretty easier moving from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online. You can simply locate the Company tab in the top option and choose a button named Export file to QuickBooks Online. It is recommended to save a company file backup of QuickBooks Desktop if there encounter any errors. The disadvantages are the lack of lead management, sales order, and other complications that loyal Desktop users may lack (including customization built-in calendar, letter templates, and spell checker). Every QuickBooks Enterprise user will have a dedicated Customer Service Manager who will be your point-person at Intuit for support concerns. If you have a number of users, or are a quickly growing company, you will be promoted to the Priority Circle which gives an even better level of support.

• While the QuickBooks Pro has awesome accounting tools and features to its credit, including but not limited to expense tracking and management, budgeting and forecasting and job costing.
• These reports focus on the Dashboard view and gauging your day-to-day financials.
• Here’s a quick way to tell which version of QuickBooks is right for your business.
• While this means you’d be subject to certain service discontinuations on a rolling three-year basis, you’d be saving money on the annual subscription.
• Unlike QuickBooks Online, Desktop Pro includes built-in inventory management.
• They both are based on the standard double-entry accounting principles.

It offers four scalable plans and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for most businesses. QuickBooks Desktop offers the same support options found in QuickBooks Online including video tutorials, on-demand webinars, and various training options. Both applications also include an easy setup process, so you can be up and running in little time.

However, businesses that require multiple users or want more accounting features will benefit more from using QuickBooks Online. Businesses with multiple users or that need more advanced features won’t find what comparative financial statements they’re looking for here. QuickBooks Self-Employed is more tax software than accounting software, lacking many of the features you’d find with full-fledged cloud-based accounting software like QuickBooks Online.

What’s The Difference Between QuickBooks Online VS Desktop?

Receipt management in QuickBooks Desktop requires more manual attention, requiring you to upload, sort, match, and edit receipts on your own. The first — and probably most significant — difference refers to how you actually access QuickBooks. The licensing agreement specifies when and how you are able to use the software, as well as who is allowed access to it. If your office computer is a Mac, you can still use QuickBooks Desktop on your Mac. I do this using Parallels, software which allows you to run Windows applications on your Mac.

Features

So it really comes down to which features your business values most. The QuickBooks Online plans vary in terms of the number of reports you can create and the ability to run customized reports. The QuickBooks Online plans are rated based on their affordability, with Self-Employed and Simple Start being the most affordable and Advanced the least affordable. Nonetheless, Plus has an advanced job costing capability, which is helpful for construction and contracting firms.

Sales Orders:

This is true for a single user who doesn’t need many bells and whistles. Because QuickBooks Online is a SaaS product, that means you have access anywhere, any time, including on your phone. You don’t need to install any software, and updates are automatic with no need to download a package. This means you download and install the product and can host it locally on your own servers.

QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed are the best for businesses wanting cloud-based software with mobile apps. QuickBooks Self-Employed is specifically for freelancers, while QuickBooks Online is a good fit for nearly any size business. Each QuickBooks product varies based on price, features, and usability. QuickBooks Online is easier to use than the desktop versions, but QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise have stronger features and accounting. This QuickBooks comparison explains the differences between each version. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise has the same great accounting capabilities as Pro and Premier but allows access for up to 40 users and much more storage space.

QuickBooks Desktop Pro is low-priced if you do not require additional users. In case if you plan for using the program up to three years before upgrades. The monthly subscriptions for the QuickBooks online may be simpler for some small businesses suitable to a financial situation.

QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop: Which Is Right for Your Business?

If you can’t decide between two programs, here’s how they stack up head-to-head to help you determine which version of QuickBooks is the best accounting solution for your business. This table takes a deep look into each program’s features, so you’ll know exactly what each version of QuickBooks is capable of. Comparing QuickBooks features is one of the best ways to decide which version of the software is the best fit for your business. The main downside of QuickBooks Mac Plus is that the software doesn’t have a single integration.

QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop FAQ

Cloud-based software operates entirely in the cloud (on the internet), whereas locally-installed software is downloaded and installed on a single, on-premise computer. If you read the overview of each QuickBooks product, you may already have an idea of which version of QuickBooks is best for your small business. These five questions will help you narrow down your search and find what you’re looking for.