| QuickBooks Desktop | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
Starting Price | $549.99 per year | $30 per month ($15 per month for the first three months during the current promotion) |
Mobile App | Limited access | Yes |
Number of App Integrations | More than 200 | More than 650 |
Cloud Access | For an additional fee per user, up to 40 users | Yes, for up to 25 users |
Invoice and Accept Payments | Yes | Yes |
Automatically Sync Bank Transactions | Bank fees may apply | Yes |
Payroll | Starts at $50, plus $2 per employee, per month | $45 per month ($22.50 per month for the first three months during the current promotion) |
The most notable difference, aside from price, between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is the Online version is cloud-based. There are pros and cons to accessing QuickBooks on the go. 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.
When working with the Desktop version, it’s downloaded right to your computer. This means the data operates as fast as your computer, all without needing to worry about a connection issue. This introduces another notable issue with the Desktop software. You must pay an additional fee for every user who wants to access the account simultaneously, whereas Online lets multiple users access the account at the same time.
When signing up for QuickBooks Online, it only gives options for paying monthly. However, once you’ve signed up, navigate to your account settings, and you can switch to annual billing to save 10%. All Online plans include receipt capture, QuickBooks support and more than 650 app integrations with apps such as PayPal, Square and Shopify.
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QuickBooks Desktop is an annual subscription, starting at $549.99 per year, which may be cost-prohibitive for small businesses or cash-strapped startups. While the Desktop version has app integrations, it doesn’t have near as many as the Online version. There are over 200 options instead of the 650-plus to its cloud counterpart.
Access your account via the cloud for up to 25 users with the Online version, and pay an additional fee per user, up to 40 users, for cloud access with Desktop. What used to be a huge bulk of QuickBooks business is no longer so—it focuses mostly on its cloud version and actively encourages users to make the switch from Desktop to Online. This may signal future abandonment of its Desktop version as more people move to the cloud. If you make the switch from Desktop to Online, you can import your data and access your original company file at any time.
Both versions offer automatic syncing with your bank so you can categorize transactions. However, bank fees may apply for the Desktop variety. Add payroll to QuickBooks Online starting at $45 per month, or to Desktop starting at $50, plus $2 per employee, per month.
Another notable difference is QuickBooks Online offers a Self-Employed version for $15 per month, which is not available with QuickBooks Desktop.
