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.
You can access and sync data across all your devices – computer, tablet and smartphone. Your data is securely backed up and you have instant access to the latest product and feature updates. Additionally, you can connect QuickBooks Online to over 300 apps you already use, and save even more time.
Once they were done, they compiled all category scores for each brand into a single 5-point score. This allows us to rank each software in comparison to the rest while tracking each and every feature. Once the dust had cleared, the winner was QuickBooks with a top score of 4.7 points overall.
QuickBooks Desktop vs. Online: At a Glance
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features. Discover BusinessLoans.com’s lender network offering up to $3M in funding, no minimum credit score required. Live Bookkeepers aren’t responsible for errors resulting from incorrect information that you provide, or if you re-open the books by overriding closure after a Live Bookkeeper completes the month-end closure.
QuickBooks support
- QuickBooks Online, which you’ll need to process payments through QuickBooks Payments, allows you to sign up for a free 30-day trial period.
- In this guide, we’ll break down QuickBooks Online pricing, including plans, key features, and alternative platform costs so you can decide which option is best for you.
- QuickBooks Desktop also has a more dated and harder-to-navigate UI than QuickBooks Online.
- Add payroll to QuickBooks Online starting at $45 per month, or to Desktop starting at $50, plus $2 per employee, per month.
All of these small costs can add up, making your end bill higher than the predictable $35-$235/month fee. QuickBooks is a well-established accounting software that is widely used by businesses from a variety understanding current assets on the balance sheet of industries. With five plans, each at different price points, users can choose the plan that best meets their business needs without paying for additional features that they don’t want. As a business grows, users can easily upgrade to a more advanced plan with additional features seamlessly.
Xero’s plans cost $13, $37, and $70 per month, compared to the QuickBooks $17.50, $32.50, and $49.50 per month plans. However, the “Secure” brand of checks offer in-depth fraud protection measures that may justify the price, provided you anticipate security risks at your business. Also available from the service is a lending program called QuickBooks Capital. Those with QuickBooks Online accounts are potentially eligible, though they’ll still need to qualify on the strength of their accounting history.
QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping
The mobile apps rank highly with Android users (3.9/5 stars) and iOS users (4.7/5 stars). As far as the quality of customer support, QuickBooks Online users are split. Some users state that they received the help they needed quickly and without any issues. Many users, however, have voiced complaints of not receiving the answers they were seeking or getting cut off during phone calls or live chats. While the software is easier to use than its locally-installed counterparts, you may face occasional navigational difficulties.
Accounting Software Review Methodology
QuickBooks Payments lets you accept payments for your business and is a particularly convenient way to keep all payments and accounting in one place for QuickBooks customers. The software offers an impressive number of integrations and also has a few unique features you won’t find elsewhere, such as QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping service and QuickBooks Capital built-in lending. With an overall rating of 4.3/5, QuickBooks Online makes our list of the best accounting software for small businesses. Although many customers like QuickBooks Online, there are a few significant shortcomings to the software.