His blogs cover key trends in QuickBooks accounts payable accounting coach hosting, Thomson Reuters hosting, and cybersecurity for accounting firms—making him a trusted voice in the cloud hosting industry. On the other hand, QuickBooks Desktop is better suited for businesses with complex accounting needs or those who prefer offline access. QuickBooks Online is cloud-based and accessible from anywhere, while QuickBooks Desktop is installed locally on a computer. Contact OneUp Networks today for a customized cloud hosting solution tailored to your accounting needs! Additionally, each plan supports multiple users and includes cloud backups.
You also can open a Cash Account offered by Atomic Brokerage which allows you to earn interest on your cash through a cash sweep program. Brokerage services for Atomic are provided by Atomic Brokerage LLC (« Atomic Brokerage »), member of FINRA/SIPC and an affiliate of Atomic, which creates a conflict of interest. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.
QuickBooks Online and Desktop – Pros & Cons
- By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
- QuickBooks Desktop Premier is the step up from QuickBooks Pro and is best for medium-sized businesses.
- In contrast, QuickBooks Pro is a Desktop-based edition with a one-time purchase model.
- QuickBooks Desktop Pro is the software that put QuickBooks on the map.
- Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services.
Choosing the right accounting software is a critical decision for businesses, accountants, and CPAs. While many businesses lean toward QuickBooks Desktop for its advanced capabilities, they simultaneously demand the flexibility of cloud access. QuickBooks Pro, Premier, Enterprise, and Mac are how to set up direct deposit for employees the best for users with existing accounting experience or who want a locally-installed option. The number of users you need will also help determine which software is best for your business. Larger businesses will be looking at QuickBooks Premier, QuickBooks Enterprise, or the QuickBooks Online Advanced plan, depending on the number of users they need.
QuickBooks Enterprise Features
First, let’s look at a general comparison of versions, and then we’ll break down key feature differences that help you determine which version is right for you. Gold, Platinum, and Diamond plans are also available for Enterprise, based on a company’s needs. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise can be shared by up to 40 users. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is the most powerful version of QuickBooks Desktop. QuickBooks Desktop Premier can be shared by up to five users. All versions of QuickBooks Desktop include the option to generate payroll for your employees and 1099 contract workers.
QuickBooks Premier Features
We’ll break down the pros, cons, pricing, and other details for each product to help you make the most informed purchasing decision. Choosing between QuickBooks products can be intimidating. Existing QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Mac, or Enhanced Payroll users will not be impacted. 1-800Accountant is a full accounting service designed to handle everything for you — from monthly bookkeeping and payroll to year-round tax strategy and filing. 💳 Save money on credit card processing with one of our top 5 picks for 2025 If ease of use and on-the-go accounting access is the most important thing to you, Online is the way to go.
- It allows users to access their books from any device with an internet connection—laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
- With strong accounting capabilities, impressive features, 750+ integrations, and fully-featured mobile apps, it’s no wonder QuickBooks Online is one of our top accounting recommendations.
- This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research.
- In terms of accounting, QuickBooks Pro is one of the most developed solutions available, boasting a chart of accounts, journal entries, bank reconciliation, 130+ reports, and more.
- Brokerage services for Atomic are provided by Atomic Brokerage LLC (« Atomic Brokerage »), member of FINRA/SIPC and an affiliate of Atomic, which creates a conflict of interest.
QuickBooks Mac Plus has the usability of QBO matched with the advanced features and accounting of the other QuickBooks Desktop products. QuickBooks Mac Plus — also known as QuickBooks for Mac — is locally-installed accounting software designed specifically for Mac users. QuickBooks Premier is best for small to medium business with five users or fewer that need strong accounting and industry-specific accounting features. QuickBooks Pro is locally-installed software with highly developed features like contact and lead management, expense tracking, project management, accounts payable, invoicing, and more. It’s known for its robust features and is often preferred by businesses with complex accounting needs or those who don’t want to rely on internet connectivity.
How UltraTax CS Reduces Workload for Accountants and CPAs
QuickBooks Enterprise is best for large businesses with up to 40 users looking for advanced accounting software. QuickBooks Desktop Pro is best for small to medium-sized businesses with three users or fewer looking for strong accounting or locally-installed software. QBO is best for small businesses looking for easy-to-use, cloud-based accounting software and strong mobile apps. QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that allows users to access their financial data from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Solopreneur are the best for businesses wanting cloud-based software with mobile apps.
If you’re still unsure, take advantage of free trials to test both versions. Before making a decision between comparison QuickBooks Online vs QuickBooks Desktop, evaluate your business requirements, budget, and long-term goals. You can export your data, but you’ll lose access to the software. QuickBooks Online is preferred for its real-time collaboration features.
QuickBooks Premier Pricing
QuickBooks Online is completely cloud-based, accessed through the user’s browser. There are multiple tiers of QuickBooks Desktop that allow you to sync to the cloud, but this is accessed solely from the computer(s) where Desktop is installed. QuickBooks Online support is not as extensive as QuickBooks Enterprise, encouraging users to find their own answers using the online knowledgebase before contacting a human.
QuickBooks Self-Employed
The customer support offered for Online and Desktop versions of QuickBooks follows two distinct models. This includes the volume of data it can manage and the advanced reporting options enterprise-level organizations seek. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is the most feature-rich financial software in its price range. QuickBooks Desktop is perfect for small companies that conduct business from a centralized location and handle all their financial data in-house. Intuit has continued to lead the market in financial software solutions with QuickBooks.
Accounting Software
Security updates and product updates will still be released for all users who purchase a QuickBooks Desktop Plus or QuickBooks Desktop Payroll subscription before the cutoff date. With both Online and Desktop versions of QuickBooks, you can add to the basic features in your chosen tier to make sure you have exactly what serves you best. There are a few distinct differences between Online and Desktop Quickbook versions with security and protection against data loss. Having strong security protections against hacks and cyberattacks is essential since you are entering and storing sensitive financial data and personally identifiable information. This is designed to provide day-to-day financial data but is not as in-depth as the reporting found in Enterprise.
In contrast, QuickBooks Pro is a Desktop-based edition with a one-time purchase model. QuickBooks Desktop is available in several editions, including Pro, Premier, and Enterprise, each tailored to different business needs. It allows users to access their books from any device with an internet connection—laptop, tablet, or smartphone. At OneUp Networks, we work with clients across the U.S. to help them choose the best accounting tools for their needs.
This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. In your experience, is this because the online version sucks or is it just different and people don’t enjoy change?
Pricing varies based on the number of users and the level of customer support you need, and if you need to add QuickBooks Desktop Payroll. Apart from being expensive, the other thing with QuickBooks Enterprise is that cannabis accounting services cannabis bookkeeping it really isn’t an enterprise solution — it’s best for large businesses. The software includes certain features Pro lacks, including business plans, inventory assemblies, and sales forecasting. These editions offer advanced features and reporting specific to your business’s industry. QuickBooks Premier is robust, locally-installed software with plenty of features and 200+ integrations.
However, QuickBooks Pro’s features do come at a price, as this software has a steep learning curve. Additionally, QuickBooks Mac Plus never seems to get the same amount of attention as other QuickBooks products in terms of new features and updates. The software is incredibly expensive, and for the price you’re paying, certain features are fairly limited. QuickBooks Enterprise has highly developed features to meet the needs of nearly any large business.








