Talking about Quickbooks vs Quickbooks Online, both are Intuit products and excellent accounting software for small businesses. Both offer automated closing entries as well as double-entry accounting. The major dividing factor between Online vs. Desktop is that QuickBooks Online does not need any installation on a system as it is a web-based software. On the other hand, Quickbooks Desktop is a locally installed platform.
If you are thinking about switching to QuickBooks Online or from Desktop to QuickBooks Online, then you first have to go through a detailed comparison between both.
While both offer incredible features, tools, and functionalities, only you can decide the best between the two. Further, let’s compare both the accounting solutions in detail to help you decide the best from features to pricing.
Quickbooks Online vs Desktop: Key Features
It is important to understand where Quickbooks Desktop and Online differ and excel. Let’s find out.
Features of QuickBooks Online
Since Quickbooks desktop came first, it obviously includes more features. However, integration with third-party apps as well as software in QBO fills those gaps. Let’s learn more features that are available in QB online but not in Desktop:
- Attach images, documents signatures, and transactions via mobile & desktop.
- You can automatically schedule as well as send transactions.
- Track by location.
- Use audit logs to track changes and review actions.
- Automatic bank transaction nightly sync with an option of undo.
- Seven extra-label options to relabel your customers.
- Feature of auto-add bank rule.
- Custom banking rules feature by dollar value, class, percentage, and location.
- Users with unlimited reports.
- Unlimited time tracking.
- Also, journal entries are possible with numerous AR/AP lines.
- Delayed credits and charges can be scheduled for future transactions.
- Management reports.
- Multiple budgets as per fiscal year.
Features of QuickBooks Desktop
Normally speaking, QuickBooks Desktop has the capability to beat QBO in handling job costing by managing huge amounts of inventory. This makes it a great accounting solution for retail stores.
Also Quickbooks Desktop offers some features that you cannot find in QBO. If you can’t survive without the features mentioned below, you should only go for QB desktop.
Data Entry Features
- Billing rate levels
- Create batch invoices
- Enter batch timesheets
- Enter batch transactions
- Pay vendors online via ACH
Job Costing Features
- Reports of estimate as well as actual job costing
- Job costing module
- Payroll job costing
- Mileage tracking
- Change orders as per estimates
- Labor burden costing
- Markup column
Reporting Features
- Multiple vendor ship-to addresses
- Industry-specific reporting
- Business planner by class
- Forecasting by class
- Balance sheet by class
- Better report header and footer customization
Inventory Features
- Set and handle inventory reorder
- Valuation method for average cost inventory
- Sales order
- Getting partially on purchase orders
- Build assembles
- Manufacturing features
- Availability to promise
- Unit of measure
Accounting
- Condense file
- Backup as well as restore feature
- Tools for client data review
- Period copy
- Undeposited funds related to clean-up
- 1099 feature
- Fix unapplied credits as well as payments
- QuickBooks statement writer
- Fix sales tax
- Post to AR/AP accounts
Quickbooks Online vs Enterprise: Pricing
Pricing is the deciding factor in choosing between Quickbooks vs Quickbooks online. Both have different pricing plans. QuickBooks Online is accessible via monthly subscription, whereas you have to pay an annual cost for QuickBooks Desktop.
What QBO Offers
- Simple Start: Subscription Plan $25 for a month (For One user). This plan is ideal for independent contractors and sole proprietors.
- Essentials: Subscription Plan $40 for a month (For Three users).
- Plus: Cost- Subscription $70 for a month (For Five users).
- Advanced: Subscription Cost- $150 for a month ( For 25 users).
Also, you get a 30-day free trial, where you can use QBO without paying anything. This can help you decide if it suits your business type or not.
What QB Desktop Offers
The QB desktop pricing depends on the plan you take. However, here all the plans are on an annual subscription which makes it extra affordable than QBO.
The plans of QuickBooks Desktop are:
- Pro: (Ideal for smaller businesses looking for a beginning-level accounting solution. The QB Pro supports three users and is capable of tracking both expenses and income, invoicing customers, and managing inventory.
- Premier: QB Premier supports five users. It offers features for niche businesses like Manufacturing and Wholesale, General Contractor, Retail, and Nonprofit. If you want to report functionality and industry-related accounting then Premier is best.
- Enterprise: It is ideal for growing businesses. Quickbooks Enterprise supports 30 users and offers each feature available in Pro and Premier. Its additional features are enhanced pick, mobile barcode scanning, pack, and ship making it suitable for retail businesses.
QuickBooks Product and Annual Cost
- Online Essentials 3- User – $420
- Online Plus 5-User- $735
- And Online Advanced 25-User- $1,575
- Desktop Pro3-User- $299
- Desktop Premier5- User- $499
- And Desktop Enterprise30- User- $1,213
Costs: QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop Comparison Chart
| QUICKBOOKS ONLINE | QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP |
| Simple Start: $25 monthly | Pro: $399.99 (Single-time fee); And Pro Plus $299.99 annually |
| Essentials: $40 monthly | Premier: $649.99 (Single-time fee); Premier Plus $499.99 annually |
| Plus: $70 monthly | *Enterprise, local-only: For Gold plan: $1,577 annually The Platinum Plan: $1,940 annually And Diamond Plan: $3,825 annually |
| Advanced: $150 monthly | *Enterprise, with hosting: For Gold plan: $175 monthly The Platinum plan: $206 monthly And Diamond Plan: $363.79 monthly |
Quickbooks Enterprise vs Online: Customer Reviews
QuickBooks Desktop is hosted locally whereas QBO Online is normally web-hosted. QBO offers more accessibility, is extra mobile-friendly, has excellent features, and Desktop is advanced in managing inventory, data, reporting capabilities and job costing.
If you are still unable to decide among Quickbooks online vs Desktop 2020. Then checking customer reviews can be beneficial in understanding what others have to say about both the accounting solutions.
QBO Customer Reviews
Well, QBO is highly rated across the Internet by customers. On huge review-related sites, QBO receives an average rating of 4.1 stars or above. Most reviews of QuickBooks Online are positive and bear some criticism also. But the positive side immediately overshadows it.
All in all, here are some pros and cons of QBO after reviewing the online reviews.
| Pros | Cons |
| Accounting professionals trust it. | Upgrades are needed for more users. |
| Scalable. | Subscription is not affordable. |
| Integration with various applications. | Syncing trouble during payments through cards. |
| Mobile app | Industry and business-related features can’t be found. |
| Cloud accounting. | Instability as the system crashes. |
| Amazing business accounting services. | Limited users. |
| Easy interface. | File size problems. |
| Efficient payroll support. | Limited transactions. |
| Contacts records also. | Less invoicing tools. |
| Cash flow pages. | Prone to errors. |
| Easily customizable reports. | Software lags sometimes. |
| Cloud-based. | Limited plans. |
QB Desktop Customer Reviews
When it comes to customer reviews of both Quickbooks Online vs Desktop 2020, both have variations. The customer reviews are on its three versions: Pro, Premier, or Enterprise.
Just like QBO, the desktop also has average ratings of four stars or above on popular review sites. And most of them are positive. Let’s explore its advantages and disadvantages.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent, customizable features | Can be expensive |
| Manage all payroll, accounting, banking, etc easily. | Customer service is unhelpful and low |
| Simple to set up and usage | Can’t log in remotely to your account |
| Job costing and reporting features are noteworthy | It can be glitchy during annual updates |
| Manages Inventory | Less automation than Quickbooks Online |
| Sales Order | Windows only |
| Easy interface. | File size problems. |
| Efficient payroll support. | Limited transactions. |
| Contacts records also. | Less invoicing tools. |
| Cash flow pages. | Prone to errors. |
| Easily customizable reports. | Software lags sometimes. |
| Cloud-based. | Limited plans. |
QuickBooks vs QuickBooks Online Integrations
Both QuickBooks vs Quickbooks Online offers a huge range of integrations as well as add-on products. QuickBooks Online gives you integrations with over 650 platforms making it the best accounting software. On the other hand, QuickBooks Desktop offers 200+ integrations.
QuickBooks Online wins here as its integration covers additional business needs when it comes to having extra integrations. Its integrations also include various options for multiple payments. On the other hand, Quickbooks desktop hardly gives any payment gateways. It makes users face complications for modern merchants to approve online invoice payments.
Choosing the Right Version from Quickbooks vs Quickbooks Online
Let’s explore how you can choose the best among these two accounting solutions:
QB Desktop is an Ideal Choice For:
- Those businesses have a fixed location.
- Businesses that require access to fewer people.
- If you have difficult accounting.
- Those companies that want to save monthly charges.
- Businesses who don’t want online access to their books.
- Those businesses need customized features such as monitoring budget and spending.
QuickBooks Online is an Ideal Choice For:
- Businesses that need remote access to their books and international invoicing.
- In a business where many people need to access the books.
- Businesses that have no issues with a monthly charge along with the additional support.
- Those businesses want their data to be stored online in cloud computing.
- Businesses that are comfortable in exploring automation.
| QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP | QUICKBOOKS ONLINE | |
| What We Like | Price is affordable Various plans offer simple scalability Inbuilt system navigation |
Plans are there for up to 25 users Incredible reporting capability Inbuilt design |
| Could Be Better | The interface needs to be streamlined Access to support could be better Low integration with third-party apps |
Few tools hidden on navigation screen Program response is slow at peak times Support is available within the application |
| Key Features | Bills as well as accounts payable Invoicing Track income, expenses |
Accounting Banking Expenses |
| Pricing | Pro: $399.99 Premier: $649.99 Enterprise: $1,213 |
Simple Start: $25 Essentials: $40 Plus: $70 Advanced: $150 |
| Support | Chat On-demand webinars Video tutorials |
In-product help Product training Phone |
| Ease of Use | Menu having flowchart style Shortcuts for features frequently used Customizable user interface |
Intuitive user interface Mobile app Import files tool |
The Final Take
Well, both QuickBooks vs QuickBooks Online is highly capable programs along with powerful accounting features. Each accounting solution has some highs and lows. You can go through this detailed comparison between the two. It includes features, integrations, ease of use, pricing, and expert opinion.
However, the deciding factors will depend on your company type, size, and needs. Whichever you select, our detailed comparison will help you make a wise decision. If you have decided to go with any of these accounting solutions, feel free to tell us down below. Good Luck!