QuickBooks Online vs Quickbooks Desktop: Which is best? 2024
The side menu categorizes features for easy access, for example, aggregating sections for employees, their taxes, and compliance details under the Payroll category. It takes a bit of time to click around and understand where everything is, but a quick run-through is more than enough to familiarize yourself with what QuickBooks Online can do. As I was testing them out, I found QuickBooks Online a lot sleeker, more modern, and easier to navigate than QuickBooks Desktop. Every step was prefaced with a tutorial, guiding me in setting up my company’s profile by prompting me to provide specific information.
Just know what is the difference between assets and liabilities that doing so waives your option to get 50% off your QuickBooks Online subscription for your first three months. QuickBooks Online has been part of the Intuit accounting software family for a few decades now. Since QuickBooks Online is browser-based, not desktop-based, you can log on to your Quickbooks Online account from any web-enabled device with a sturdy internet connection. This gives you direct control, but also makes you responsible for backups and security.
As you hire more employees or bring on more customers, you can scale up your software to match. And if you manage your business from multiple locations, you’ll want QuickBooks Online over Desktop. Only QuickBooks Online includes free access to a comprehensive version of the QuickBooks mobile accounting app, which is one of the best apps in the accounting sphere. QuickBooks Online excels in supporting remote the importance of analyzing accounts receivable teams with its cloud-based accessibility and real-time collaboration features.
Is QuickBooks Desktop being replaced?
You can send a copy of your company file to your accountant and import their changes. You can send email invites to your accountant from within the software. Find help articles, video tutorials, and connect with other businesses in our online community.
- Both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online share similar functionality to help fulfill your business’ needs.
- Perhaps the biggest area where QuickBooks Desktop falls short is that its Pro and Premier versions will soon be discontinued for new users.
- If you’re looking for ways to optimize your spending, check out FinOptimal’s Managed Accounting Services.
- Chances are your team will be happier sticking with QuickBooks Online.
- 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.
Like its desktop counterpart, there are multiple editions of QuickBooks Online aimed at serving different purposes. Unlike QuickBooks Desktop, QBO is only available in a subscription-based format regardless of the edition you choose. As a result, access to the software and its information is only possible if you’re physically using the computer it was installed on.
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The company has updated its help centers to be more user-friendly, but there’s still no email support. Both options, however, are working to reduce long hold times on the phone by now offering a callback feature. Both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Pro offer a good number of helpful integrations and add-on products. However, QuickBooks Online offers over 750 integrations to QuickBooks Pro’s 260+ integrations.
This section breaks down the key factors to consider so you can make the best choice for your business. Connecting QuickBooks with other software can significantly improve your workflows. But how each version—Online and Desktop—handles integrations is a selling general and administrative expense sganda definition key difference. Understanding the pricing structures of both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is crucial for making the right decision for your business. Some accountants dislike QuickBooks Online’s limited functionality, limited report customization, and dependency on the internet. QuickBooks Online is optimized to be as user-friendly as possible and very easy to navigate.
Choose QuickBooks Desktop If…
For example, nonprofits can use the desktop products to run donor contribution summary reports while manufacturing, wholesale and retail businesses have the ability to forecast product sales. Contractors and professional service businesses can use the software to compare revenue by city, customer and job type. 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. 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.
If you have a larger team or anticipate significant growth, Desktop’s higher user limit offers more flexibility. However, as Fit Small Business notes, QuickBooks Online can be more cost-effective for smaller teams requiring multiple users, as its pricing scales with user access. Evaluate your current and future team size to determine which version better suits your needs.
