QuickBooks Online VS Desktop Comparison 2023

QuickBooks Online boasts a user-friendly, intuitive design, while QuickBooks Desktop looks quite antiquated and summons memories from the mid 2000s. To access QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, you need to use the PC where you have the software installed. It’s worth noting that QuickBooks Desktop is only available on Windows.

• Both QuickBooks Online Advanced and QuickBooks Enterprise are intended to be used by small businesses with complex needs (such as manufacturers or distributors) who also require advanced inventory.
• For both cases, I strongly encourage you to find or buy a migration checklist.
• QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop are both excellent small business accounting software applications, both offering complete double-entry accounting as well as automatic processing of closing entries.
• Hence, in this article you will learn some of the critical differentiators between QuickBooks Online vs Desktop, to help you make the right decision.

However, if you still need help or simply want to outsource your bookkeeping to an expert, you can also find a bookkeeping professional in the ProAdvisor directory. In contrast to Pro and Premier, at the time of writing the software-only version of QBDT Enterprise is an annual purchase of $1,213 for its Silver, or most basic, level of functionality. QuickBooks Desktop is, as its name implies, the desktop version of the software. QBDT is installed locally on your PC in much the same way other software is, like your internet browser. Hevo Data is a No-Code Data Pipeline that offers a faster way to move data from 100+ Data Sources including 40+ Free Sources, into your Data Warehouse to be visualized in a BI tool.

QuickBooks Online is generally easier to use than QuickBooks Desktop as it has a more streamlined user interface. QuickBooks Online files are also easier to share because you only need to invite a ProAdvisor to your company file, and they’ll have 24/7 access to your books. If you have employees, you can add QuickBooks Payroll to your QuickBooks Online account for as little as $45 per month plus $5 per employee.

No-Code Data Pipeline For QuickBooks

Tax1099 provides a comprehensive suite of features including year-round eFiling, prior year eFiling, corrected forms, and more, making eFiling an easy and efficient process. Tax1099.com simplifies the eFiling experience, ensuring that managing tax forms has never been more convenient. In this guide, we’ll help you understand what each version is capable of, what type of business is best for each version of QuickBooks, and the main differences between these products. QuickBooks Desktop has a lot of integration possibilities, with 200+ third-party apps, making it one of the more interconnected desktop software solutions. However, it pales in comparison to QuickBooks Online’s more than 500 connectors. Hevo Data, a No-code Data Pipeline, helps load data from any data source such as Databases, SaaS applications, Cloud Storage, SDK,s, and Streaming Services and simplifies the ETL process.

• In both QuickBooks Online and Desktop, you can assign costs to your inventory items and track the quantities sold to calculate the cost of goods sold (COGS).
• If you’re searching for accounting software that’s user-friendly, full of smart features, and scales with your business, Quickbooks is a great option.
• Read our full QuickBooks OnlineandQuickBooks Pro reviews for a more in-depth look at each software’s features, pricing, and use cases.
• This is by saving them to other locations on your PC, other sorts of media (such as flash drives), or uploading them to the cloud (using apps like Dropbox or Drive).
• QuickBooks Online is easier to learn and use on a daily basis with the accessibility of offers across multiple devices and the number of available automations and applications.

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 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. For small business owners new to the accounting scene, this service may bring much-needed peace of mind when managing your books and filing small business taxes.

You can upgrade to any version of QuickBooks Desktop as your needs change. However, converting your data from one desktop solution to another can be a complex process. Small to midsize businesses that want a desktop solution or need advanced inventory and industry-specific features. Add payroll to QuickBooks grant application and other forms Online starting at $45 per month, or to Desktop starting at $50, plus $2 per employee, per month. For $27.50 per month for the first three months, then $55 per month after that, get up to three users, manage and pay bills and track time with its Essentials plan, which is its most popular plan.

In contrast, QuickBooks Desktop tends to have a steeper learning curve, offers fewer integrations, and has had its previous versions discontinued by QuickBooks. Keep in mind these are for concurrent users, or users that require access at the same time. It is completely possible (and even encouraged) to have users share the same logins in order to save on software expenses. This is for the “Self-Employed” version that is intended for use by freelancers.

Pros of QuickBooks Desktop:

If you want to perform bookkeeping from anywhere, we strongly recommend QuickBooks Online’s mobile app. Offers four plans to accommodate a range of businesses with different needs; each plan limits the number of users, though. If you’re a freelancer, stick with its Self-Employed plan, which is $15 per month 9after the three-month discount at $7.50).

Compare QuickBooks Online to Desktop

Both versions offer automatic syncing with your bank so you can categorize transactions. Add payroll to Online starting at $45 per month, or to Desktop starting at $50, plus $2 per employee, per month. The main difference between QuickBooks Desktop and Online is that QuickBooks Desktop is desktop-based, while QuickBooks Online, you guessed it,  is a cloud-based software. This means that accessing your data with QuickBooks Online is easier and more convenient as all you need is a device with an internet connection. The specific QuickBooks version and edition you buy dictates how many users are allowed access to your business’ individual account.

Is QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop cheaper?

QuickBooks Online offers a large selection of reports, but they aren’t industry-specific. With four plans, robust features and a user-friendly interface, QuickBooks Online is the ideal choice for most small businesses. QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is a good option for businesses that prefer desktop software, need its advanced inventory tracking and reporting tools, or are looking for an industry-specific solution. QuickBooks Online is better for business owners who want easy-to-use cloud-based accounting that includes anywhere online access, mobile apps, and tons of integrations with other business apps.

For instance, QuickBooks Online Plus only costs $85 per month for up to five users as opposed to Desktop’s Premier, which costs around $2,000 per year for five users. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop both earned decent user ratings, although QuickBooks Desktop’s mobile app received low scores. In addition to third-party integrations, QuickBooks Online integrates with native products, such as QuickBooks Payments, QuickBooks Payroll, and QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets). QuickBooks Desktop can be integrated with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll and QuickBooks Time. QuickBooks Online allows you to track your activity, such as income and expenses, by class and location.

Who is QuickBooks Desktop for?

Hosting for QuickBooks Enterprise is provided via Right Networks, who also perform all data backups on a nightly basis. The cloud-hosted version of QuickBooks Enterprise operates as you would expect most remote desktop services. Its highest-tiered plan is the Advanced option, which costs $100 per month for the first three months, then $200 per month after that. Introduced in 2004, QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software utilized by more than two million users. Access your account via the cloud for up to 25 users with the Online version, and pay an additional fee per user, up to 40 users, for cloud access with Desktop.