Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Run payroll on any device with taxes, compliance & reporting built-in. Granted, you don’t have to be an accountant to learn QuickBooks Desktop either, but if you are new to accounting, you will need a lot of time to learn the program.
Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses of 2024
However, if your inventory needs are relatively simple, QuickBooks Online might suffice. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop operate on true double-entry accounting principles depreciable asset definition and have both accrual and cash-basis accounting. Each offers a detailed chart of accounts, journal entries, bank reconciliation, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and the basic reports needed to run a company. However, QuickBooks Desktop offers better reporting and supports more complex accounting. Not only is QuickBooks Online easier to use, but it offers additional support — for a fee.
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. I’ve deduced that it comes down to a stubborn user base—one that refuses to let go of QuickBooks Desktop in favor of its cloud-based successor.
- QuickBooks might encourage its users to switch from QuickBooks Desktop to Online, but it hasn’t issued any statements about discontinuing Desktop entirely.
- Its robust reporting capabilities offer deeper insights into your financial data.
- Yes, you can, but the process is a bit tedious, as you need to export your files from QuickBooks Online to Desktop manually.
- QuickBooks Pro and Premiere will also discontinue sales to new users on July 31, 2024.
- QuickBooks Desktop generally offers more robust inventory management features than QuickBooks Online.
- This offers more control but limits access to that specific machine.
Software type
Both QuickBooks Online and Desktop offer security measures, but they approach it differently. Online relies on cloud security, with data stored on secure servers and protected by encryption. Desktop stores data locally, giving you direct control but also making you responsible for backups and security. The “safer” option depends on your comfort level with cloud-based security versus managing your own data protection.
Performance, Scalability, and User Experience: Which QuickBooks Version Comes Out on Top?
This section breaks down the core feature differences to help you make the right choice for your business. You can send email invites to your accountant from within the software. Discover BusinessLoans.com’s lender network offering up to $3M in funding, no minimum credit score required. Accountants often find QuickBooks Pro and Premier to be more traditional, but you don’t have to be an accountant or professional bookkeeper to learn QuickBooks Online.
The A/P section focuses on vendor management, bill management, bill payments, and other payable-related transactions. A/P features include creating vendors and bills, recording purchase orders and converting them to bills, creating service items, and recording full or partial bill payments. QuickBooks Online is generally easier to use than QuickBooks Desktop as it has a more streamlined navigation menu. QuickBooks Online files are also easier to share because you only need to invite an accountant to your company file, and they’ll have 24/7 access to your books. While both QuickBooks Online and Desktop are supported by a large network of independent ProAdvisors, it’s much easier to share your books with your ProAdvisor using QuickBooks Online.
If you’re unsure which version best suits your business, FinOptimal can help. Do you need access to your financial data from anywhere, at any time? If real-time collaboration and accessibility are top priorities, QuickBooks Online is likely a better fit. It’s cloud-based, meaning you can access your data from any device with an internet connection, as explained in this QuickBooks comparison. QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is installed locally on your computer. This offers more control but limits access to that specific machine.
Another notable difference between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is their integration capabilities. QuickBooks Online integrates with over 750 third-party apps, and we highlighted the most notable integrations in our guide to the best QuickBooks Online integrations for small businesses. Meanwhile, QuickBooks Desktop has two payroll options with what is a credit card cash advance and the associated fees prices that start at $50 per month plus $6 per employee. If you can file taxes confidently on your own, Enhanced Payroll might be suitable. If you want QuickBooks to file your taxes for you, then you must upgrade to QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll. Check out our QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced vs Assisted comparison for more information.
You can send a beginner’s guide to financial statements copy of your company file to your accountant and import their changes. The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation. By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features. Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
