Question

What are the benefits of quickbooks online vs quickbooks desktops?

Answer 1

The differences in the two versions of QuickBooks are evident when accessing the software, creating reports, processing invoices and more. Here are a few of the key differences:

Initial Fee – Online offers a free 30-day trial so there is no initial fee to try it. Desktop requires the purchase of the software up front.

Monthly Fee – Pro Desktop 2015 is a one-time payment or you can get Pro Plus for an annual payment. On the other hand, QuickBooks Online requires a monthly subscription.

Internet Connection – Because it is cloud-based, an Internet connection is required to use QBO. QuickBooks Desktop can only be accessed from the computer it is installed on regardless of Internet connection.

Automation Functions – With Desktop, transactions (invoice, receipt, reports, etc.) must be processed manually. QBO has several automated features for things such as customer billing, email reports and downloading bank transactions.

Remote Access – Since QuickBooks Online is cloud-based, users can access QuickBooks reports wherever they have Internet access and from multiple devices. The QuickBooks Desktop version is linked to the computer it is installed on and therefore can only be accessed on-site.

Customized Features – The QuickBooks Desktop version has several features that are not available in the online version. This includes the ability to prepare 1099s, budget and track mileage and expenses. In general, the desktop version allows more freedom to customize forms than QuickBooks Online.

Support – The basic QuickBooks Desktop version does not come with support although you can pay for support by getting the Pro Plus edition. QuickBooks Online comes with free support.