Businesses that want to succeed need to have accounting software, whether they have a real accountant. Accounting software allows you to track expenses, purchases, income, and more.
In the world of accounting software, there are few products that can match the industry staple QuickBooks. QuickBooks is well known overall, but there are two different versions of software to try out, online and desktop.
What is QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is a brand of accounting software manufactured by Intuit. Very popular with both small businesses and large businesses, QuickBooks also has an “online” version, which previously required the purchase and installation of a desktop version of the software for each computer or account you want to use. Both versions offer many of the same accounting features, but there are some important differences to consider before deciding which one to buy for your business.
Both the online and desktop versions of QuickBooks offer great features, but there are some differences. In general, the desktop version of the software is a bit more sophisticated and complete. This makes many businesses who are already using the online version of QuickBooks to Convert QuickBooks Online to Desktop for a more complex and seamless accounting process.
Overview of QuickBooks Online vs Desktop:
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software launched in the year 2004. Over the last decade, QuickBooks Online has remarkably enhanced its core version and is now in direct competition with QuickBooks Desktop which is Intuit’s flagship product.
QuickBooks Online is a software mainly for small businesses or business owners who do their own bookkeeping. If you purchase the upgraded plan, the software is somewhat scalable and suitable for new businesses with significant growth potential in the future. QuickBooks Online allows its users to work from anywhere on their cloud Windows Desktop. You just require an Internet connection, and you are good to go. But you must pay regularly to access the software as it has monthly subscription-based plans.
QuickBooks Desktop is a core version of the software, introduced in 1992. Updated several times over the decades that followed, there are three versions: Pro, Premier, and Enterprise (ideal for much larger businesses).
Each of these versions has the following core accounting features and controls like Expense tracking, budgeting, and job costing. The QuickBooks desktop is only available on Windows computers, but there are other versions of QuickBooks for the Mac product.
Let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different versions:
QuickBooks Online
Advantages:
- Accessibility from any place with just the internet connection.
- Easy to use
- Monthly Subscription structure
- Regular addition of useful core features
Disadvantages:
- Minimal customer support
- Doesn’t have core features as compared to the Desktop version.
- Restricts sales orders by default
QuickBooks Desktop
Advantages:
- Excellent core features
- Permits for classic accounting
- Comparatively more secure
Disadvantages:
- Lacks adequate customer support
- Impossible remote access
- Solely available for Windows
- Can be costly as you target the more advanced subscription.
Integrating QuickBooks with the help of third-party providers such as Apps4rent who also provides complete cloud solutions with migration services like Exchange Online Migration delivers multiple benefits for end-users. Moreover, you can also enjoy auto-update, data entry automation, remote access, multiple user access, etc.
