If you want a happy medium, QuickBooks Mac Plus might be a good balance since its UI is easier to use without sacrificing advanced and customizable features. On the other hand, if you’re an accountant or someone with a great deal of accounting experience, you may like QuickBooks desktop options that use traditional accounting practices. If you don’t know much about accounting, you’ll probably want to shy away from QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or Enterprise, unless you’re willing to put in the time to learn. Take a look at this chart to see which product suits your business’s size.
Key Features of QuickBooks Online:
QuickBooks Online is cloud-based software, so it offers more mobility. This table takes a deep look into each program’s features, so you’ll know exactly what each version of QuickBooks is capable of. Each QuickBooks product varies based on price, features, and usability. The software supports up to three users, although additional users incur an extra fee. In terms of features, QuickBooks Enterprise is about as close as you can get to an ERP without making the switch to full-on business management software.
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QuickBooks was born out of the success of the popular financial management program Quicken, the first product Scott Cook and Tom Proulx created when they founded Intuit in 1983. QuickBooks Online is ideal for businesses and accountants who value accessibility, real-time collaboration, and scalability. QuickBooks Desktop is a locally installed software available for Windows and Mac. It’s designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and is particularly popular among accountants and CPAs who need to collaborate with clients remotely. Experience blazing-fast performance, 24/7 expert support, and seamless QuickBooks Enterprise hosting—all at the best price. Experience blazing-fast performance, 24/7 expert support, and seamless Thomson Reuters hosting—all at the best price.
QuickBooks Enterprise
The most comprehensive version of QBO for advanced reporting and support. The most basic version of QBO for small businesses, including the ability to send invoices. We’ll discuss QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop, including the difference in features, benefits, and pricing structure, so you can decide which version is best for your business.
Can I use QuickBooks Desktop on multiple computers?
Additionally, QuickBooks Premier supports up to five users, whereas QuickBooks Pro only supports a maximum of three. QuickBooks Pro only supports up to three users, and you have to pay per user. Another big difference to note is the number of supported users. If you’re new to accounting software, it’s important that you have the time to commit to learning the software.
What Are QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop?
Quickbooks Solopreneur is an easy-to-use, cloud-based software with strong mobile apps. The software covers all the accounting bases as well as invoicing, expense tracking, accounts payable, contact management, project management, inventory, budgeting, and more. There are six QuickBooks versions that allow business owners to manage their accounting and finances. If you are a stationery business needing more features and more control, Desktop is probably the better path.
When to Use QuickBooks Online
If you are a small business owner, it will come back to the decision between cloud-based and locally-installed software to determine which software is right for you. Most small businesses prefer cloud-based software as it is more affordable, easier to use, and keeps up with our society’s mobile lifestyle. On the other hand, QuickBooks Enterprise is designed for larger businesses that want access to more users and more features without fully upgrading to ERP software. QuickBooks Solopreneur 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. The downside of QuickBooks Online is that customer support is a bit lacking, and the subscription fee can be a bit expensive for smaller businesses in need of advanced features.
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Users in specific industries can access unique features and industry-specific reporting. QuickBooks Solopreneur offers basic features at a cost-effective price. If not, QuickBooks Online is much more user-friendly, even for accounting newbies. But what QuickBooks Pro Plus sacrifices in mobility, it more than makes up for in its features, which are more developed than what you’ll find in QuickBooks Online. This QuickBooks comparison explains the differences between each version. Like other QuickBooks Desktop products, pricing is no longer disclosed online.
By understanding the industry-specific strengths and limitations between QuickBooks Online vs QuickBooks Desktop , you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business needs. According to Intuit’s 2022 report, over 70% of new QuickBooks users choose QuickBooks Online. We’ll also address common challenges, provide key facts and figures, and answer frequently asked questions. In fact, Intuit provides a built-in migration tool to simplify the process.
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. However, if you don’t need extra features, the industry editions, or the extra users, QuickBooks Premier could be needlessly expensive. QuickBooks Desktop Premier is the step up from QuickBooks Pro and is best for how do i account for a line of credit medium-sized businesses.
Our experts recommend Xero’s accounting software for small businesses. Check out our picks for the best accounting software for small businesses. 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. The first major deciding factor is whether or not you want cloud-based or locally-installed software. Mac users that want a locally-installed accounting solution will find that QuickBooks Mac Plus offers a pretty good set of features and is optimized for use on Mac. However, businesses with three or fewer users that plan to use only the standard version of QuickBooks Premier are better off saving their time (and money!) by signing up for QuickBooks Pro.
QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly QuickBooks Self-Employed) isn’t profitability index calculator quite accounting software. Each plan varies in terms of features and the number of users allowed. With strong accounting capabilities, impressive features, 750+ integrations, and fully-featured mobile apps, it’s no wonder QuickBooks Online is one of our top accounting recommendations. Each QuickBooks product varies in price, features, usability, and target audience. If you can’t decide if QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or another QuickBooks version is right for your business, this guide is for you.
Industries Best Suited for Each Version:
It provides more flexibility, bin and serial number tracking, barcode scanning, and other advanced features. It is the best version of Desktop for medium to large businesses. Pro is the most federal tax laws economical version of the desktop programs.
QuickBooks Desktop is a traditional, locally installed software suite for Windows and Mac. Choosing between QuickBooks Online and Desktop can be a big step for any business, accountant, or finance professional. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
- QBO offers up to 25 full-fledged users total and an unlimited number of time-tracking-only users.
- QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that allows users to access their financial data from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection.
- QuickBooks Online provides strong security to protect your data with encryption and server-side security audits.
- If you can’t decide if QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or another QuickBooks version is right for your business, this guide is for you.
QBO Advanced allows up to 25 users without additional costs. Includes all Simple Start features plus bill management and time tracking. Made for freelancers, contractors, and sole proprietors to track income and expenses and estimate quarterly taxes. We’ll look at the main differences between QuickBooks Desktop and Online, along with the breakdown of features in each tier. QuickBooks Online and Desktop both have multiple tiers and add-on features that make it easy to tailor them to your needs. Due to Quicken’s widespread success, Intuit continued to expand and developed the first version of QuickBooks in 1998.
Oliver Westwood is a certified cloud architect and technology writer at OneUp Networks, specializing in cloud hosting for accountants and CPAs. However, additional fees may apply for payroll, support, and hosting. In addition, our 24/7 expert support and transparent pricing ensure a stress-free hosting experience. However, for businesses seeking long-term cost savings, Pro could be a viable alternative. The advanced inventory and job costing features help track materials and finished goods across multiple sites. It offers advanced features, robust reporting, and industry-specific tools.
- Mac users that want a locally-installed accounting solution will find that QuickBooks Mac Plus offers a pretty good set of features and is optimized for use on Mac.
- The main downside of QuickBooks Mac Plus is that the software doesn’t have a single integration.
- However, if you don’t need extra features, the industry editions, or the extra users, QuickBooks Premier could be needlessly expensive.
- QuickBooks Online is preferred for its real-time collaboration features.
- All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty.
Enterprise
Consequently, accounting professionals across the USA continue to choose OneUp Networks as their trusted QuickBooks hosting partner. Not only does our cloud hosting enable remote access, but it also supports real-time collaboration and ensures automatic backups. It is especially ideal for large businesses with complex financial needs. By hosting the software on OneUp Networks’ cloud servers, the team enjoys remote access and enhanced security. The cloud-based platform allows real-time collaboration, secure data sharing, and easy integration with tax software.
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. Comparing QuickBooks features is one of the best ways to decide which version of the software is the best fit for your business. QuickBooks Online is easier to use than the desktop versions, but QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise have stronger features and accounting. QuickBooks Mac Plus is best for small to medium-sized businesses looking for locally-installed software compatible with Macs.