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

The QuickBooks product line contains a variety of solutions that may be used by anybody, from a freelancer to a small business. QuickBooks is an all-in-one software and offers what is historical cost 2 core products – QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. In terms of budget and other factors, deciding which product is better for your organization is crucial.

QuickBooks Online (QBO) is the cloud-based, online version of accounting software provided through a monthly subscription pricing plan. Small business plans include Simple Start, Plus, and Advanced. QuickBooks Online offers upgrade options and integrates with many add-on third-party apps to increase functionality. The assisted migration offer is eligible to Desktop customers that are migrating their data and setting up QuickBooks Online. Personalized setup is limited to a 1-hour session with a customer success product expert. Intuit reserves the right to limit the number of sessions and the length and scope of each session.

QuickBooks Online vs Desktop: Pricing

Our internal case study compares the four QuickBooks Online versions across major accounting categories and functions to help you decide which one fits your needs. QuickBooks Self-Employed is not included in the case study because it is not a full double-entry bookkeeping system. With QuickBooks Online your clients can work from a PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet at any time. Access important files when travelling or at an appointment, all you need is a secure internet connection. Download QuickBooks app on Google Play and the App Store today.

While the Desktop version has app integrations, it doesn’t have near as many as the Online version. There are over 200 options instead of the 650-plus to its cloud counterpart. The most notable difference, aside from price, between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is the Online version is cloud-based. The mobile app for Online is robust, and Desktop’s mobile app is so limited, that it essentially functions as a receipt uploader. Working from the cloud means you need an internet connection, so a poor signal or an intermittent connection can be an issue.

QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop: Pricing

If you’re interested in getting started with QBD, head over to their website and pick the plan that’s most appropriate for your business. QBD includes an assortment of inventory management tools whereas QuickBooks Online only supports one method. Unlike QuickBooks Desktop, which exists on a physical computer, QuickBooks Online lives in the cloud, allowing your account to be accessed from any device with an internet connection. The ability to send invoices and manage and track unpaid bills is important for small business and freelancers.

• It in-turns helps confidently making a better business decision.
• Other helpful features in Plus are budgets, classes, customer types, locations, and unlimited report-only users.
• At the time of this writing, QuickBooks has noted that it has no plans on sunsetting the QuickBooks Desktop software.

The QuickBooks Online is easier to learn and user-friendly than QuickBooks Desktop. QuickBooks Online can work anywhere with an internet connection. Moreover, there are mobile apps that help in better business management.

Optional QuickBooks Desktop add-ons

Back then, you couldn’t pull industry-specific reports and could only access mildly customized reports within the system. Ease of use consists of customer support, support network of bookkeepers, and user reviews. Intuit generally offers the same customer support options on all its QuickBooks Online products, but Advanced gives you access to a dedicated support manager for more personalized bookkeeping assistance. QuickBooks Online offers a streamlined cash flow management process, which means your clients will be able to get an accurate snapshot of the financial health of their company.

• Other businesses should consider whether tracking P&L by class and location is worth the extra $30 per month.
• In other words, if you buy one license for QuickBooks Desktop, only one specific person at your company can access the app and file.
• This may signal future abandonment of its Desktop version as more people move to the cloud.
• Our bookkeepers empower clients with valuable financial information about their own businesses.

Expert advice and resources for today’s accounting professionals. Find out more about the best apps to integrate with your client’s QuickBooks Online software. Click on Reports at the top of the screen, then click on company and financial and finally over to either the profit and loss or the balance sheet report.

Compare Features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro VS QuickBooks Online:

Its highest-tiered plan is the Advanced option, which costs $100 per month for the first three months, then $200 per month after that. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop provide an array of features. They both share the same options; however, more developed features are available in QuickBooks Desktop except invoicing. The QuickBooks Online has primary options including international invoicing, mobile apps, and lending international invoicing. Below jotted down options is a breakdown of the specific features advantageous for you in comparing QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop worth to the business.