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.

Just know what is the difference between assets and liabilities that doing so waives your option to get 50% off your QuickBooks Online subscription for your first three months. QuickBooks Online has been part of the Intuit accounting software family for a few decades now. Since QuickBooks Online is browser-based, not desktop-based, you can log on to your Quickbooks Online account from any web-enabled device with a sturdy internet connection. This gives you direct control, but also makes you responsible for backups and security.

As you hire more employees or bring on more customers, you can scale up your software to match. And if you manage your business from multiple locations, you’ll want QuickBooks Online over Desktop. Only QuickBooks Online includes free access to a comprehensive version of the QuickBooks mobile accounting app, which is one of the best apps in the accounting sphere. QuickBooks Online excels in supporting remote the importance of analyzing accounts receivable teams with its cloud-based accessibility and real-time collaboration features.

Is QuickBooks Desktop being replaced?

You can send a copy of your company file to your accountant and import their changes. You can send email invites to your accountant from within the software. Find help articles, video tutorials, and connect with other businesses in our online community.

1. Both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online share similar functionality to help fulfill your business’ needs.
2. Perhaps the biggest area where QuickBooks Desktop falls short is that its Pro and Premier versions will soon be discontinued for new users.
3. If you’re looking for ways to optimize your spending, check out FinOptimal’s Managed Accounting Services.
4. Chances are your team will be happier sticking with QuickBooks Online.
5. However, if you own a big business, prefer locally stored software, or want industry-specific reports, QuickBooks Desktop could be a better fit for your business.

Like its desktop counterpart, there are multiple editions of QuickBooks Online aimed at serving different purposes. Unlike QuickBooks Desktop, QBO is only available in a subscription-based format regardless of the edition you choose. As a result, access to the software and its information is only possible if you’re physically using the computer it was installed on.

Pushing the Boundaries of Finance: How Pushkin Industries Revolutionized Their Accounting with FinOptimal

The company has updated its help centers to be more user-friendly, but there’s still no email support. Both options, however, are working to reduce long hold times on the phone by now offering a callback feature. Both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Pro offer a good number of helpful integrations and add-on products. However, QuickBooks Online offers over 750 integrations to QuickBooks Pro’s 260+ integrations.

This section breaks down the key factors to consider so you can make the best choice for your business. Connecting QuickBooks with other software can significantly improve your workflows. But how each version—Online and Desktop—handles integrations is a selling general and administrative expense sganda definition key difference. Understanding the pricing structures of both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is crucial for making the right decision for your business. Some accountants dislike QuickBooks Online’s limited functionality, limited report customization, and dependency on the internet. QuickBooks Online is optimized to be as user-friendly as possible and very easy to navigate.

Choose QuickBooks Desktop If…

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. 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. With four plans, robust features and a user-friendly interface, QuickBooks Online is the ideal choice for most small businesses. Personalized setup is limited to a 1-hour session with a customer success product expert. Intuit reserves the right to limit the number of sessions and the length and scope of each session.

If you have a larger team or anticipate significant growth, Desktop’s higher user limit offers more flexibility. However, as Fit Small Business notes, QuickBooks Online can be more cost-effective for smaller teams requiring multiple users, as its pricing scales with user access. Evaluate your current and future team size to determine which version better suits your needs.

As Forbes notes, QuickBooks Desktop works well for businesses comfortable managing their own accounting and IT, including regular backups and security software updates. However, relying solely on local storage can create risks, like data loss from a hardware malfunction or physical theft. QuickBooks Online allows multiple users to access and work on the same company file simultaneously, simplifying teamwork and streamlining workflows.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. By leveraging the right version of QuickBooks, you can enhance your business’s financial management and drive growth. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each version, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and financial management needs. Join me in GoSkills’ beginner-friendly QuickBooks Online course to gain the confidence you need to handle your business’ books, boost your accounting efficiency, and enhance your bookkeeping skills. On the flip side, you can access QBO from any location in the world, with the sole requirement of connecting to the internet.

Optional QuickBooks Online add-ons

You don’t need an internet connection to use QuickBooks Desktop, which is helpful for businesses in areas with unreliable internet or those who prefer to work offline. This also means your data is stored locally, giving you direct control over its security. Finally, QuickBooks Desktop suits businesses comfortable with accounting and who don’t need real-time collaboration. If your team is already familiar with desktop accounting software, the transition will likely be smooth. For businesses looking what is a contra asset account for assistance with their accounting processes, consider exploring FinOptimal’s managed accounting services. While QuickBooks Desktop may not have the same vast library of direct integrations as its online counterpart, it offers a different approach to extensibility.

Pushing the Boundaries of Finance: How Pushkin Industries Revolutionized Their Accounting with FinOptimal

1. 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.
2. Compared to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop offers more advanced accounting.
3. One is sleek and modern, and the other seems to have been designed for a cubicle.
4. Zapier notes that the accessibility and real-time collaboration offered by QuickBooks Online add value beyond the direct cost.
5. QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is installed locally on your computer.

When subscribing to a QuickBooks Online plan, you can elect to purchase add-on services and enhancements to better suit your needs, found at The software-only QBDT versions are fully functional and useful at the time you purchase them. However features present in editions older than three years are subject to planned obsolescence, removal, and discontinuation to “incentivize” you to purchase a new release. These versions are further differentiated by how you purchase the product. QuickBooks Desktop is, as its name implies, the desktop version of the software. QBDT is installed locally on your PC in much the same way other software is, like your internet browser.

For example, Xero and FreshBooks are cloud-based platforms what is an option put and call option explained with extensive features for small and medium-sized businesses, while Quicken is a desktop option for self-employed individuals. Upon opening QuickBooks Desktop, we found that the general layout didn’t differ too much from that of QuickBooks Online. For instance, there were tabs for inventory tracking, job costing and industry-specific reporting.

Cloud Security vs Local Data Safety

Another myth is that the two versions differ significantly in core functionality. Both Online and Desktop excel at organizing your accounting processes and automating data entry (Zapier), freeing you to what is the cost principle and why is it important focus on more strategic tasks. Finally, some believe Desktop is only for accounting experts, while Online suits businesses needing real-time collaboration.

While QuickBooks Online does offer security features like multi-factor authorization and encrypted data storage, it’s accessible by anyone with employee login credentials and an internet connection. If you go with QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier, a payroll add-on is available for an additional monthly fee. While these products will still be available to existing users, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll for Pro and Premier will no longer be available for new users to purchase starting on September 31, 2024. For small business owners new to the accounting scene, this service may bring much-needed peace of mind when managing your books and filing small business taxes. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop operate on true double-entry accounting principles 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.

One big drawback of QuickBooks Pro in the past was that it didn’t have mobile apps. Fortunately, a mobile app is now available with the introduction of QuickBooks Desktop 2022. However, the QuickBooks Desktop app is a very pared-down version of the desktop and is poorly rated. If your business needs sales orders, QuickBooks Desktop is your only option. Although Intuit has talked about adding sales orders to QuickBooks Online, this feature is only available with QuickBooks Desktop products at this time.

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Innovative Solutions for Business and Personal Use

Products such as Office 365 and the Azure platform have revolutionized the way both businesses and individuals operate. Microsoft’s mobile solutions provide seamless access to essential tools, ensuring productivity and connectivity on the go.

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Security remains a top priority for Microsoft. Regular updates and advanced protection technologies guarantee that users’ data stays secure, whether they’re managing business tasks or accessing personal information.

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Committed to making technology accessible for everyone, Microsoft continues to innovate and grow. To explore the latest developments and learn more about their diverse range of products, visit the official website at Microsoft.

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