QuickBooks Online can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection, and because it’s web-based, you can work with your accountant in real time. The QuickBooks mobile app is also available for free and lets you manage your account on the go. In addition, the Premier and Enterprise plans offer more than 150 reports, with industry-specific reporting options available. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a QuickBooks Online product for contractors and freelancers, specifically for those who do not have separate business and personal financial accounts. It starts at $30 a month and includes basic features only, such as mileage tracking and invoicing.

The most notable difference, aside from price, between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is the Online version is cloud-based. The mobile app for Online is robust, and Desktop’s mobile app is so limited, that it essentially functions as a receipt uploader. Working from the cloud means you need an internet connection, so a poor signal or an intermittent connection can be an issue. While QuickBooks Desktop has been many business’s accounting software of choice dating all the way back to the late 1990s, in the modern era, the online version of the tool can be a far better way to go.

  • There’s also an option for an annual subscription which includes updates and upgrades.
  • If you need personalized customer support, you can upgrade to QuickBooks Online Advanced or QuickBooks Enterprise.
  • QuickBooks Desktop versions are Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Enterprise, which are sold as yearly editions with an annual price that varies by the number of users.

You can easily access all QuickBooks Online features from the dashboard, where you’ll find a vertical menu bar to the left of the screen. While the dashboard is a bit cluttered, you can easily customize it to only display the information you wish. Those interested in trying out QuickBooks Online can access a free 30-day demo with sample data that allows you to easily explore system features and functions without spending a lot of time entering data.

Comparison of QuickBooks Online Products

Launched in 1983, it was originally aimed at individuals looking to manage their money better. If you made a one-time software purchase of QuickBooks Desktop, support for the 2021 edition will end in May 2024. For 2020 copies, support ends in May 2023, and for 2019 copies support has already ended, according to QuickBooks. Unlike QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Online is not as suitable for recording complex transactions. While convenient for small businesses and businesses with lower capital, QuickBooks Online definitely has its limitations.

QBD has evolved substantially over time and now includes solutions for specific types of businesses. QBD includes an assortment of inventory management tools whereas QuickBooks Online only supports one method. QuickBooks Desktop requires a one-time upfront payment, making it more cost-effective in the long run for users who don’t require regular upgrades. There’s also an option for an annual subscription which includes updates and upgrades. The main difference between QuickBooks Desktop and Online is that QuickBooks Desktop is desktop-based, while QuickBooks Online, you guessed it,  is a cloud-based software.

What Is QuickBooks Pro?

Or should you supply them yourself and pay a toll for the manufacturing services? QuickBooks has confirmed that they will discontinue support for QuickBooks Desktop 2020 on the 31st of May 2023 as they focus on their online platform. This means that from June 1st, 2023, you won’t have access to any add-on services, nor will you receive any updates.

Do QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop Have Mobile Apps?

Instead of showing clear images of your cash balance, outstanding invoices, and upcoming bills like the QuickBooks Online dash, the desktop version’s dash is a flowing series of connected folders and files. Unless you’re an accountant, the learning curve will likely be a little higher for you than it would with QuickBooks Online. We also don’t recommend QuickBooks Desktop to Mac users, since there’s just one desktop-based plan for Mac users. This plan, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, has the same features as QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, the most basic desktop-based plan. In other words, Mac users can’t scale up their software from one plan to the next as they add software users.

QuickBooks Online vs Desktop: User Reviews

Terms and conditions, features, support, pricing, and service options are subject to change without notice. QuickBooks Online (QBO) is the cloud-based, online version of accounting how to deal with work in process in cost accounting software provided through a monthly subscription pricing plan. QuickBooks Online offers upgrade options and integrates with many add-on third-party apps to increase functionality.

From ForEx trading to compliance to mobile engineering to demolition, he’s definitely not afraid to test out new things. Both platforms offer a free 30-day trial that you can use to get familiar with the software before paying. Now that we’ve gone over the main differences in features, let’s see the cost of QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop. QuickBooks Online boasts a user-friendly, intuitive design, while QuickBooks Desktop looks quite antiquated and summons memories from the mid 2000s. To access QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, you need to use the PC where you have the software installed. That makes QuickBooks Online a good alternative for businesses that aren’t quite ready for QuickBooks Enterprise yet.

While the cloud-based convenience of QuickBooks Online certainly has its appeal, it seems that when functionality takes center stage, QuickBooks Desktop often steals the limelight. QuickBooks Desktop is like the traditional superhero – reliable, strong, and has been saving the day for years. QuickBooks Online excels at security due to automatic data backups, encryption, and regular security audits.