Compare QuickBooks Online vs QuickBooks Desktop

Standard accounting tools, including invoicing and payments, income and expense tracking, bill management and basic reporting. To use many features of QuickBooks Online on your mobile device, sign in from your web browser and download the QuickBooks app. Multiple users can be signed in at the same time without any complicated network setup or expensive hosting service. QuickBooks Online Plus is not a good fit for businesses with more than 250 active accounts, more than 40 classes and locations, and the need to manage more than five users. If these needs apply to your business, consider subscribing to Advanced.

1. It is incredibly user-friendly and easy to navigate, so if you are a sole proprietor looking for basic accounting software, FreshBooks will meet your needs at a relatively low cost.
2. Because the Plus plan enables users to view and track projects, including project expenses and labor costs, users can accurately track a project’s profitability and generate relevant reports on project progress.
3. You can easily upgrade from QuickBooks Money to a subscription-based QuickBooks Online plan.
4. Essentials is not a good fit for those who need to buy, sell, and track inventory, create purchase orders, mark expenses billable, track projects for job costing, or create budgets.
5. The QuickBooks Plus plan costs $49.50 per month — $99 per month after the first three months — supports five users, and includes several advanced features compared to the Essentials plan.

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Integrations are third-party add-ons that give you additional features and capabilities. QuickBooks Online has over 750 integrations to choose from, including common software programs, such as Shopify, Gusto, and Mailchimp. This service gives you access to a QuickBooks debit card, cash flow forecasting, and QuickBooks Envelopes, which is a place to set aside savings. Depending on which product you choose, you will have to make weekly payments plus APR or other fees. There are other QuickBooks Online charges in addition to the monthly subscription fee.

QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping

Desktop Premier and Enterprise, meanwhile, allow up to five and 30 users, respectively. QuickBooks Online has a monthly pricing structure — you pick the right plan and then pay every month for the service. QuickBooks Desktop, however, has a three-year license, or you can pay levered vs unlevered cash flow in real estate for yearly updates. The Premium and Elite plans also support automatic filings for state new hire paperwork. It’s one of the most popular accounting software options in the world, and our researchers ranked it the highest overall, meaning that it’s the top pick for the average business, small or large.

QuickBooks also offers a 30% discount on its Essentials, Plus, and Advanced plans for your first year. What’s more is that QuickBooks Enterprise offers industry-specific features unique to your business sector. All Gold features, plus advanced inventory, advanced pricing rules and workflow approvals. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Users must apply for both QuickBooks Payments and QuickBooks Checking bank reconciliation out of balance accounts when bundled. Banking services provided by our partner, Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC.

QuickBooks Payments account subject to credit and application approval. Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Personalized setup is limited to a 1-hour session with a customer success product expert. Intuit what is negative goodwill and its accounting treatment reserves the right to limit the number of sessions and the length and scope of each session. Terms and conditions, features, support, pricing, and service options subject to change without notice. Simple Start is for one user, but you can invite up to two accounting firms to review your books at no additional cost.

How much does QuickBooks Enterprise cost?

These prices rose in early 2024, when this plan cost just $30 per month. QuickBooks Online offers accessible and easy-to-use accounting solutions. It simplifies basic accounting processes, from income tracking to report generation.

QuickBooks Enterprise is great at providing advanced functionality for large and midsize businesses. It also offers QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping for real-time bookkeeping support and financial advice. All Platinum features, plus Assisted Payroll to handle federal and state payroll taxes filings for $1/employee each pay period. Users can also add a Salesforce CRM connector for $150/month and QuickBooks Time Elite for $5/employee each month.

QuickBooks is the platform most used by professional accountants so if you plan to work with an accountant, they will likely be very familiar with the platform, its features and capabilities. Live Expert Assisted doesn’t include cleanup of your books or a dedicated bookkeeper reconciling your accounts and maintaining your books for you. Live Expert Assisted also doesn’t include any financial advisory services, tax advice, facilitating the filing of income or sales tax returns, creating or sending 1099s, or management of payroll. QuickBooks Online is one of the preeminent cloud-based accounting software platforms on the market. With four plans available, there are several options from which to choose, depending on your needs.