QuickBooks Online can be a more cost-efficient option for businesses with multiple users that don’t want to navigate the steep learning curve of QuickBooks Desktop. However, QuickBooks Desktop may be the better value for businesses that want a locally installed software option with enhanced accounting features. QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly known as QuickBooks Self-Employed) costs $20/month or $120 for the first year.
If you checked the overview of each QuickBooks Online product, you may already have an idea of which version of QuickBooks is best for your business. These five questions will help you narrow down your search and find what you’re looking for. But QuickBooks Online definitely has its shortcomings, most notably its high price and low customer service ratings. Our review can help you decide if QuickBooks is right for you, or if your business needs a cheaper QuickBooks alternative instead.
You can track unpaid bills, select the ones to pay, and process them easily through QuickBooks Bill Pay—a service included with your Simple Start subscription. With hands-on experience in accounting software since 2014, I bring a deep understanding of accounting and bookkeeping to my writing. A Live bookkeeper cannot begin cleaning up your past books until they receive the required supporting documentation, which your bookkeeper will request from you after your first meeting. Once your bookkeeper receives all the necessary documentation, they’ll typically complete your cleanup within 30 days. In some cases, your cleanup may take longer depending on timeliness of documentation and the complexity of your books.
It has only basic bookkeeping features (including minimal reporting), doesn’t help with more complex business taxes, and accommodates just one user. QuickBooks offers native integrations with over 750 popular business apps, boosting functionality and connectivity. It also provides an API for custom integrations, letting you tailor solutions to your needs. QuickBooks works with third-party tools like Zapier, allowing you to automate tasks and link QuickBooks with thousands of other apps without coding.
QuickBooks Mac Plus has the usability of QBO matched with the advanced features and accounting of the other QuickBooks Desktop products. The software supports up to three users, although additional users incur an extra fee. QuickBooks Online offers an incredible number of features and automations. The software covers all the accounting bases as well as invoicing, expense tracking, accounts payable, contact management, project management, inventory, budgeting, and more.
Methodology: How We Tested Accounting Software
Intuit created QuickBooks, a complete accounting software suite, to assist companies of all sizes to manage their accounts accurately and effectively. You can add QuickBooks Payroll to your existing QuickBooks Online plan. Pricing starts at $37.50 a month plus an additional $5 per paid employee per month. All of QuickBooks’ payroll plans include full-service payroll, which means QuickBooks calculates and files payroll taxes for you. QuickBooks Payroll is one of our favorite payroll companies, so if you’re already using QuickBooks and just hired your first employee, we recommend looking into QuickBooks Payroll.
- It covers the essentials like invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reports.
- Though there are occasional navigation difficulties, QBO is incredibly easy to use overall.
- The software includes certain features Pro lacks, including business plans, inventory assemblies, and sales forecasting.
- There are situations where alternative accounting software might be a better fit.
- Of all our top accounting software picks, it has one of the highest-rated mobile accounting apps.
- As of 2023, you can still purchase QuickBooks Pro Plus, but only if you reach out directly to QuickBooks’ sales team.
Microsoft Dynamics Partners providing comparisons and opinions for the Dynamics ERP software selection process. Compare QuickBooks Online to other leading financial solutions and spreadsheets. Drew currently works as the Financial Controller for Black & White Zebra, leading the finance department for the company. He received his undergraduate degree at the Ivey Business School in Canada and MBA from Oxford University.
QuickBooks Essentials Plan
- If you can’t decide between two programs, here’s how they stack up head-to-head to help you determine which version of QuickBooks is the best accounting solution for your business.
- Zoho Books has a free plan, while QuickBooks does not, and both Zoho Books and QuickBooks offer a large range of features on their higher-priced plans.
- Features like time tracking, inventory management, and project profitability tracking can be incredibly valuable for certain industries.
- QuickBooks Online provides a range of four distinct versions tailored for businesses.
- QuickBooks includes plenty of customization options, from the previously mentioned reports to invoice templates that can include your own business logos, branding, terms, and details.
Upload receipts in bulk, assign them to the correct accounts, and submit them for approval, simplifying expense management. Our internal case study compares the four standard QuickBooks Online plans for small businesses across major accounting categories and functions compare quickbooks online plans to help you decide which one fits your needs. We excluded QuickBooks Solopreneur because it’s not a double-entry accounting system.
An Insight into Xero Accounting Software Vs QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online (QBO) offers several different plans, and finding the perfect fit can be tricky. This guide provides a clear qbo comparison so you can confidently choose the best plan for your needs. We’ll break down the features, pricing, and benefits of each QBO version, making it easy to compare QBO plans and simplify your financial management. QuickBooks is an accounting software that offers multiple pricing tiers and plans, all on a subscription basis. Accounting professionals and bookkeepers use QuickBooks to manage finances, track expenses, and generate reports efficiently. QuickBooks provides a flexible pricing structure that offers good value compared to its competitors.
This flexibility helps your team streamline workflows and keep accurate financial records. This option is best for large businesses that could benefit from the extra support features, like a dedicated manager or virtual training classes. It also increases your user allotment to as many as 25 users, so larger teams with more accountants will require this plan.
QuickBooks Desktop, however, has a three-year license, or you can pay for yearly updates. Notably, as of January 2025, there is only one QuickBooks Desktop plan – Desktop Enterprise, which features built-in accounting and payroll and allows for up to 40 users. QuickBooks Advanced is best for enterprise businesses with support for extra users and new features which help businesses operate more efficiently at scale. For example, it brings a dedicated account manager, priority customer support, customer user permissions, and online training courses.
Accessibility and Mobility
It’s helpful to have a function to easily record the remittance of the sales tax by jurisdiction. The very best tool will also help determine which jurisdictions sales are taxable to based on the address of the customer or delivery. With batch expensing, you can record and categorize multiple expenses simultaneously, such as travel, office supplies, or equipment purchases.
In addition to the basics of issuing invoices and collecting customer payments, we evaluated the software’s ability to create customized invoices. We also assessed whether it could handle non-routine transactions like short payments, credit memos, and the refund of credit balances in customer accounts. Advanced users enjoy Priority Circle membership, which includes access to a dedicated customer success manager and priority support with shorter wait times for chat and phone assistance. The Projects tool in Plus enables you to track income, expenses, and wages by project.
Helpful Features & Benefits of QBO
QBO and FreshBooks both target small businesses, but their strengths lie in different areas. FreshBooks excels in invoicing and time tracking, making it a popular choice for freelancers and service-based businesses. Its intuitive design and focus on client management make it easy to handle projects and get paid quickly. QBO, while also offering invoicing, provides a broader range of accounting tools, including advanced reporting and payroll features. If you need a more comprehensive accounting solution that goes beyond invoicing, QBO is the stronger choice.
Expenses related to contractors can be categorized, and the plan helps you generate and print 1099 forms. QuickBooks Simple Start is perfect for small businesses needing a double-entry accounting system or payroll integration through QuickBooks Payroll. If you invoke the guarantee, QuickBooks will conduct a full n evaluation of the Live bookkeeper’s work.
However, there are a series of other changes which are worth considering. For instance, with QuickBooks Online, your security is handled by QuickBooks. However, as QuickBooks Desktop is locally installed, you’ll be responsible for your own data security.
