QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, and Enterprise)
QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, and Plus)
As I work primarily with QuickBooks, I do want to mention that every year QuickBooks Online continues to improve, and I now recommend clients use this software instead of using one of the QuickBooks Desktop applications. Most of my clients can use the least expensive online version of QuickBooks, which is called QuickBooks Online Simple Start, and costs $30 a month. But for clients with a more complicated business, they will need to use QuickBooks Online Essentials, which costs $60 a month, or QuickBooks Online Plus, which costs $90 a month. The Pro Desktop version of QuickBooks costs $649, and the Premier Desktop version of QuickBooks costs $949 to purchase. You now need to renew your subscription every year so that you are able to continue downloading transactions into QuickBooks from your bank and credit card accounts.
Some of my clients, who have been using QuickBooks for years, are still using the desktop version. They haven’t wanted to convert to the online version because it was more expensive, and they would have to learn how to use the Online version, which is quite different from the Desktop version. Now that QuickBooks requires you to update the Desktop version yearly so that you are able to continue downloading transactions, the cost of updating the Desktop version is more than the cost of the Simple Start online subscription. Most of my Desktop clients have been converting to an Online version because the cost for the Desktop versions have gone up so much, and the Online versions are now more efficient than the Desktop versions.
Below is a comparison chart that compares QuickBooks Desktop with QuickBooks Online
| QuickBooks Desktop | QuickBooks Online |
| Costs $649 per year for Pro, and $949 per year for Premier | Costs $30, $60, or $90 a month, depending on the version |
| Can have multiple companies in separate files | Only one company per subscription |
| Easier to move from one window to another | Can open additional webpages, but refreshing is needed |
| Can track inventory, and use classes and budgeting | Only Plus can track inventory, and has classes and budgeting |
| Updates once a year with new purchase | Updates throughout the year |
| Easier to move around including icon shortcuts | A little harder to locate the pages you need |
| Unless networked, only access from one computer | Access from anywhere there is internet access |
| More options regarding modifying forms and reports | Limited modifications of forms and reports |
| Works with many less apps | Works with hundreds of apps and has phone app access |
| Older bookkeepers and accountants prefer Desktop | New bookkeepers and accountants prefer Online |
| Not as flexible regarding sending invoices and charging credit cards | Automatically send invoices and charge credit card |
| Downloading requires you to log into the bank each time you download | Logs into the bank automatically, and downloads frequently |
| Rules for downloaded transactions are limited | You can create more effective Rules |
| Your accountant and bookkeeper can only access at your computer | Your accountant and bookkeeper can access from their computers |
