QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop comparison
Let’s see how these two platforms compare in features, pricing, and reviews to help you decide on QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop in 2023. Below you’ll find a QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop comparison chart showing the main differences between the platforms.
| QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible from | A cloud-based solution, accessible from anywhere | Locally installed, only accessible via the computer it’s installed on |
| Design | Intuitive and user-friendly design | Steep learning curve |
| Cost | $30/month – $200/month ($360/year – $2400/year) | $549/year – $1340/year |
| Users | Up to 25 | Up to 30* |
| Apps/Integrations | 650+ | 240+ |
| Invoices | Modern designs | More customizable |
| Sales orders | No | Yes |
| Inventory management | Basic features | Better features |
| Industry-specific features | No | Yes |
*$299/year per additional user
QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop features
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. This means that accessing your data with QuickBooks Online is easier and more convenient as all you need is a device with an internet connection.
To access QuickBooks Desktop, on the other hand, you need to use the PC where you have the software installed. It’s worth noting that QuickBooks Desktop is only available on Windows.
When comparing the platforms, the first thing you notice is the design. QuickBooks Online boasts a user-friendly, intuitive design, while QuickBooks Desktop looks quite antiquated and summons memories from the mid 2000s.
Both platforms come with the basic features needed to manage your accounts, but there are certain differences between QuickBooks Desktop and Online.
For one, QuickBooks Desktop offers advanced features for more complex accounting. It also lets you create sales orders, has better reporting, and provides industry-specific features to:
- Contractors
- Manufacturers
- Wholesalers and distributors
- Retailers
- Nonprofits
- Professional services
- Accountants
QuickBooks Online, on the other hand, offers almost three times more integrations and has better invoicing features, including:
- More modern and professional designs
- Automatically translate invoices to six different languages
- Auto-scheduling of invoices
- Payment reminders
- Batch and progress invoicing
- And much more
For an additional monthly fee, QuickBooks Online offers a virtual bookkeeping solution, which can be used to get help with setting up and managing your accounts.
Now that we’ve gone over the main differences in features, let’s see the cost of QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop.
