QuickBooks can be distinguished into two major categories i.e. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Both play a vital role for the business in managing their account effectively and efficiently, and they both have their features, pros & cons. If you are a QuickBooks user, you always have in your mind that is QuickBooks online better than a desktop. Here we will clear all the confusion regarding QuickBooks desktop vs Online. Read the blog till last to know about QB desktop vs QB online in detail.
Basic Introduction of Quickbooks Desktop Vs Online
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based software with a monthly subscription that can be easily accessed anywhere with a strong internet connection. It can be used by businesses in various ways like managing accounts, payroll, record keeping, invoicing, cash flow management, etc for the smooth functioning of the business.
QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is desktop-based where you need a PC with the software installed. It’s not user-friendly and requires a lot of effort and time to manage. It can be cost-effective for organizations in the long run.
Quickbooks Desktop Vs Online: Key features
| Features | QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Desktop |
| Pricing | $30/month – $200/ month | $549/year – $1346/year |
| Free Trial | Yes, for 30 days only | N/A |
| No. of users | 1-25 | 30 & above |
| Accessibility | It is a cloud-based software which can be accessible from anywhere | It is desktop-based and only accessible on the computer it’s installed it |
| User-friendly | Yes | No, It may require additional training |
| Discount | It provides a 50% discount for the first 3 months | N/A |
| Scalability | It is suitable for small to medium size businesses | It is suitable for small to large size businesses |
| Version Update | It requires manual upgrades or updates | It requires a manual upgrades or updates |
| Data Storage | It stored the data in the cloud | It is desktop-based and only accessible on the computer it’s installed on it |
| Industry-Specific tools | Offers industry-specific versions: Retail, Nonprofit | Offers industry-specific versions: Contractor, Manufacturing |
| Integration | It offers extensive integrations with third-party apps | It offers limited integrations with third-party apps |
| Remote Access | Allow access on Web browser or Mobile app | Allow access on a Web browser or Mobile app |
| Backups | It requires manual backups | It requires manually backups |
| Customization | Limited Customization | Customized with Advanced features |
| Support Options | Community forums, chat, and Online support, | Online support, Community forums, and chat |
| Sales order | No | Yes |
QuickBooks Desktop Vs Online: Pros
Quickbooks desktop vs Online both have their pros which are discussed below:
- Quickbooks Online restores the data files of the business whereas Desktop doesn’t store them manually.
- Quickbooks Online provides free services for their customers whereas Desktop charges money for providing some extra service.
- QuickBooks Online includes automated updates whereas Desktop charges for using the new version.
- QuickBooks Online includes multiple users whereas Desktop includes price per user.
- Quickbooks Online can easily be accessed with the internet from anywhere but on a desktop.
- In Quickbooks Online you have multiple-user access means you and your entire team can access the data at the same time whereas on a desktop, it provides the facility of a one-time purchase which means you can use it without a monthly subscription.
Quickbooks Desktop Vs Online: Cons
Online & Desktop both also have their cons which are discussed below:
- Quickbooks Online can’t run without an internet connection like a desktop.
- Lack of specific characteristics of the company in QuickBooks Online.
- Face difficulty in desktop because it is expensive.
- In QuickBooks desktop, sharing valuable data with an external is difficult because it results in loss.
- Quickbooks Online includes monthly subscriptions which sometimes might not be ideal for some businesses like e-commerce businesses and multi-user businesses.
- In Quickbooks Desktop updates are not automatic, we have to update the version from time to time to use the better one.
Quickbooks Desktop Vs Online: Plans
Plans are ever-changing so you must be aware of all QuickBooks plans and Desktop plans:
Quickbooks Online Plans
- Simple: $30/ month for a single user
- Essential: $60/ month for 3 users
- Plus: $55/ month for 5 users
- Advanced: $200/ month up to 25 users
(QuickBooks Online provides the first 30 days free trial and also a 50% discount for the first 3 months.)
QuickBooks Desktop Plans
- Pro: $549/ year for a single user
- Premier: $799/year for 5 users
- Enterprise: $1206/ year for up to 40 users
(QuickBooks Desktop guarantees to provide the money back after 60 days of purchase. )
QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop: Which one do you choose for your business?
Every organization has different needs and perspectives and it requires different tools at every stage of business to achieve the organizational objective and target. We have to keep in mind the requirements of business while selecting the best tool that suits and also helps in healthy flow.
Quickbooks Online is Suitable for:
- Multi-users business
- Cloud-based accounting
- Invoicing
- E-commerce business
- Bookkeeping
- Sales tax management
- Budgeting
QuickBooks desktop is Suitable for:
- Accounting
- Specialized industry etc…
Conclusion
Here I conclude about Quickbooks desktop vs Online, both are necessary for managing an accounting system. They play a vital role in providing the software to the business which further helps in achieving the one’s objective.QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based software whereas QuickBooks Desktop is Desktop-based where you need a PC with the software installed init. Both software have different plans and changing time to time.
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