QuickBooks Online vs Desktop: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Think CRM platforms for managing customer relationships, inventory management tools for tracking stock, and e-commerce platforms for selling online. As Forbes points out, QuickBooks Online boasts over 650 app integrations, simplifying and automating many accounting tasks (source). This extensive network of integrations streamlines processes, reduces manual data entry, and provides a more holistic view of your business operations. Plus, QuickBooks Online is accessible from any device with an internet connection, giving you the flexibility to manage your finances from anywhere, as highlighted by Zapier (source). This accessibility promotes real-time collaboration and ensures your cost of capital definition financial data is always up-to-date.
QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop at a glance
Getting assistance with your Desktop bookkeeping is calculating the cash balance bplans blog difficult since you must save an Accountant’s Copy of your company file and send it to your ProAdvisor. 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. 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. QuickBooks Payroll allows you to pay your employees by checks or direct deposits, e-file and e-pay taxes, print and e-file W-2 Forms at year-end, and more.
- I was impressed with how you could do batch invoicing, something QuickBooks Online doesn’t offer.
- While we’re on the topic of invoicing, QuickBooks Online has the superior product, offering six invoice templates and multilingual invoicing in six languages.
- However, if your inventory needs are relatively simple, QuickBooks Online might suffice.
- Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.
- This subscription-based pricing can be attractive to startups and small businesses wanting predictable monthly expenses.
Answer a few questions about what’s important to your business and we’ll recommend the right fit. Everything from the installation screen to the lagging UI gave me what is the effective interest method of amortization flashbacks to the 1998 dial-up tone on my family’s Pentium III computer. There were also fewer prompts of the tutorial variety, but I was pleasantly surprised by the number of features packed into it.
Where QuickBooks Online Wins
Weigh the pros and cons carefully to make the right choice for your business. If real-time collaboration and access from anywhere are top priorities, Online is a strong contender. Imagine updating your books from your phone while on your commute—QuickBooks Online makes that possible. As Zapier points out, it’s accessible from any device with an internet connection, a significant advantage over Desktop’s local installation. This cloud-based approach simplifies things for businesses that need access to financial data on the go or have teams working remotely. Some advanced features found in the Desktop version are simplified or unavailable in Online.
You can download a 30-day trial version of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise only—both the Premier Plus and Pro Plus plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, but no free trial. Alternatively, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial with QuickBooks Online. Just know that doing so waives your option to get 50% off your QuickBooks Online subscription for your first three months.
Which Is Best For My Business?
However, QuickBooks Online is the better choice for most companies, especially those with remote accountants and multiple employees. Compared to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop offers more advanced accounting. QuickBooks Desktop also offers different versions of its software for certain types of businesses (construction, nonprofits, manufacturing, etc.). These versions offer industry-specific reports, in addition to 50 more reports than you’ll find on QuickBooks Online. QuickBooks Online uses the security infrastructure of cloud technology. Your data is stored on secure servers, protected by encryption and other safeguards.
I find myself leaning toward the futuristic solution, which makes QuickBooks Online my preferred choice of accounting software (my Ralph Macchio). Plus, it’s the only one that integrates with Zapier, enabling you to seamlessly link your accounting management to the rest of your business’s tools. Seeing as it’s a program installed on your local system, it relies on the device’s processing power and resources.
Each user has their own login credentials, which can be customized to limit access to sensitive information. There’s also a feature that facilitates inviting your accountant to the platform, so they can have direct access to your data. The two iterations of QuickBooks’ accounting software shine in different areas. Whereas one is completely online and cloud-based, the other operates locally on your computer. One is sleek and modern, and the other seems to have been designed for a cubicle. However, if you own a big business, prefer locally stored software, or want industry-specific reports, QuickBooks Desktop could be a better fit for your business.