They can provide a complete business solution based on your needs, wants, and organizational goals. QuickBooks Desktop is preferable for companies wanting to manage their books without an internet connection. It’s also a better option for businesses requiring complex inventory accounting features. These versions provide custom-tailored features and reports based on the unique needs of their industry. Industry-specific versions are available in Premier and Enterprise but not Pro. This is the least expensive version of QuickBooks, starting at just $7.50 per month.

• QuickBooks Desktop is an industry leader in accounting software.
• Remember, software companies like Intuit will always allow you to upgrade your services in the future.
• You are not required to physically return the product to Intuit in order to obtain a refund of your purchase price.
• QuickBooks desktop’s home screen features the well-known flowchart style, which depicts how various transactions flow through the accounting system.
• With two software solutions that are very alike, it’s best to focus on the differences between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop that are most important to potential adopters.
• Go to the Settings gear icon and click “Export Data.” Then, select your reason for leaving.

Two key Buy Quickbooks 2021 Desktop And Online are QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed . When signing up for QuickBooks Online, it only gives options for paying monthly. However, once you’ve signed up, navigate to your account settings and you can switch to annual billing to save 10%.

Which Version of QuickBooks Should You Use?

Its highest-tiered plan is the Advanced option, which costs $100 per month for the first three months, then $200 per month after that. QuickBooks Online is better for business owners who want easy-to-use cloud-based accounting that includes anywhere online access, mobile apps, and tons of integrations with other business apps. QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus and Enterprise plans have industry-specific reports for manufacturing and wholesale, retail, nonprofit, general contractor and professional service businesses, too. 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.

• QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that you can access anytime and anywhere from any internet-enabled device while QuickBooks Desktop must be installed on your computer.
• Assisted migration results may vary based on business complexity and file size.
• However, it is recommended to get the latest version of the accounting software to avoid any issues.
• It’s ideal for businesses that can’t afford expensive annual subscriptions.

For small and growing businesses, QuickBooks Online can give you a way to manage your business today and grow along with your business tomorrow. QuickBooks Desktop offers more than 100 standard reports that can be customized as needed. QuickBooks Online wins this one, offering easy system navigation from the user dashboard. Users can access features via the vertical menu to the left of the screen or by using the drop-down menu bar at the top, and the My Shortcuts option allows you to add a shortcut to frequently used features. If the default screen is too crowded for your taste, you can hide the vertical menu, only displaying it when you wish.

QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop: Features

Whether you choose QuickBooks Online or Desktop, it’s essential that you familiarize yourself with QuickBooks and how it benefits small businesses. To help you get the most out of QuickBooks, check out our top-recommended QuickBooks training courses. Find more to love about QuickBooks Desktop by checking out our reviews of QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Premier, and QuickBooks Enterprise.

Despite the popularity of its cloud-based services, QuickBooks continues to update and support QuickBooks Pro, its desktop solution. We haven’t covered the desktop software in this guide because QuickBooks Online is the obvious choice for businesses of all sizes. QuickBooks Desktop for Mac is back, and better than ever, with more ease and productivity on the platform you love. QuickBooks for Mac helps small businesses get organized to save time while managing their finances.

How Does the QuickBooks Desktop Differ From the Online Version

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. If most of your accounting duties are done remotely, QuickBooks Online is the right choice. However, if you want the ability to manage your books without an internet connection or need industry-specific features, choose QuickBooks Desktop.

The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service. Our cloud-based subscription services makes accounting easier with the freedom to work from any device – anytime, anywhere. QuickBooks Online is generally easier to use than QuickBooks Desktop as it has a more streamlined user interface. QuickBooks Online files are also easier to share because you only need to invite a ProAdvisor to your company file, and they’ll have 24/7 access to your books. QuickBooks Online is superior for all business types because it is less expensive and has more features than QuickBooks Pro, the program’s desktop version. Unless your business or industry has stringent security and compliance requirements necessitating local data storage, choosing QuickBooks Online over QuickBooks Pro is a no-brainer.

Each Desktop plan comes with one user; additional licenses cost extra. Small to midsize businesses that want a desktop solution or need advanced inventory and industry-specific features. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise includes two completely integrated payroll options, depending which version of the product you choose. There’s no separate software to buy, no new user interface to learn—it’s all right in QuickBooks. Not surprisingly, the installation process was seamless and the dashboard is so much more attractive than before with multiple features at my fingertips!

Go to the Settings gear icon and click “Export Data.” Then, select your reason for leaving. You can then click on a link that says, “Moving to QuickBooks Desktop? Learn More.” This will guide you through exporting your data and creating a backup company file. QuickBooks Online has a cheaper monthly cost and is more affordable if you have a lot of employees who will be using the software. QuickBooks Desktop Pro may be cheaper if you do not need additional users or add-ons such as payroll.