The two versions are independent of each other, which means the data you enter on Desktop doesn’t sync to the Online version and vice-versa. Your business size and structure will determine which QuickBooks Online plan is best. If you’re a single freelancer, you won’t need to manage any other employees, and you won’t need to track many sales (if any) – so the Self-Employed Plan is best for you. We’ve ranked the best self-employed accounting software, and QuickBooks is at the top.
QuickBooks Online Solopreneur plan
QuickBooks Desktop also has a more dated and harder-to-navigate UI than QuickBooks Online. However, the QuickBooks Desktop Pro requires you to pay $299 for every additional user, up to a maximum of three. automatic data processing Desktop Premier and Enterprise, meanwhile, allow up to five and 30 users, respectively.
Working from the cloud means you need an internet connection, so a poor signal or an intermittent connection can be an issue. To accurately compare top accounting software, the Tech.co research team picked out the eight core categories to divide their efforts along, from help and support to accounts payable tools. If you’re a small business looking for accounting software, you might want the Simple Start Plan, which allows you to create and manage invoices, estimates, bills, and sales taxes. QuickBooks also offers connections to a variety of online payment processing services.
- Large businesses that need access for up to 25 users will probably want to go with QuickBooks Advanced.
- Today’s leading accounting platforms offer standard security features like data encryption, secure credential tokenization and more.
- Through Live Bookkeeping, you’ll get a single one-on-one session that can clear up any questions and start your accounting software subscription off on the right foot.
- QuickBooks Enterprise is one of Intuit’s most robust business accounting products and offers a host of additional services, like access to more than 200 report templates and priority 24/7 customer support.
- QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is locally installed with a license pricing model.
QuickBooks Online Pricing Plans
If you’re a freelancer, stick with its Self-Employed plan, which is $15 per month 9after the three-month discount at $7.50). Features include mileage tracking, basic reporting, income and expense tracking, capture and organize receipts and estimation of quarterly taxes. For $1,922 per year, get the Enterprise plan with advanced pricing, reporting and inventory. The higher your plan tier, the more reports and users you can add, although it’s important to understand concurrent users are each sold separately. This option is best for large businesses that could benefit from the extra support features, like a dedicated manager or virtual training classes. QuickBooks Online has a monthly pricing structure — you pick the right plan and then pay every month for the service.
QuickBooks Online VS QuickBooks Desktop: 2024 Comparison
If you invoke the guarantee, QuickBooks will conduct a full n evaluation of the Live Bookkeeper’s work. Cassie is a former deputy editor who collaborated with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
At the most basic level, QuickBooks Online is the cloud-based version of QuickBooks. All your data is stored in QuickBooks’ cloud and you’ll be able to access it anywhere on any device. QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, is locally installed with a license pricing model. Before we dive into the details of each QuickBooks plan and its value, here’s a look at the latest accounting software deals and discounts from the biggest and best QuickBooks alternatives on the market.
Most integrations come with monthly subscription fees, so be sure to account for these extra costs when calculating your total costs for QBO. QuickBooks Online Advanced costs $235/month and supports up to 25 users. The QuickBooks Online Essentials plan costs $65/month and includes three users and more features. To manage payroll through QuickBooks Payroll, you’ll need to pay a fee for this add-on service, with plans ranging from $45 to $125 per month, plus an additional $5 to $10 per employee per month. Although you can track expenses, QuickBooks Simple Start doesn’t enable users to pay bills. QuickBooks Online is a subscription-based product that gives you the freedom to work on the go.
The Essentials plan is a great fit for growing small businesses that have an increased number of suppliers, employees, and clients. QuickBooks Online comes with a wide breadth of features and has the complex accounting capabilities that small business owners need. If you want better customer support or potentially lower pricing, Xero or FreshBooks may be a better fit. Take a look at our comparisons to see how each program stacks up against the others. One major drawback of QuickBooks Online is that there is no email support. However, QuickBooks Online offers phone support from 6 AM to 6 PM PST, Monday through Friday; Saturday hours are 6 AM to 3 PM PST.