Some of my clients ask me which is better: QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop. You’ll pay much more for QuickBooks Online with the main advantage being access to your file and no need to backup data. The online version has some differences in where some functions are located which is confusing for long-time desktop users or accountants, but has a newer feel. The main benefit of QuickBooks online is integration with other online applications, but when comparing $160 to $1,080 over a three year period, it’s hard to justify the expense for most small businesses and sole proprietors.
[one_half]QuickBooks Desktop (QuickBooks Pro and Premiere)~$160 every three years for QuickBooks Pro (single user)
need to back up manually
have to transfer file to accountant, sending it back and forth and each time
the Mac version is a little wonky and needs improvement
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QuickBooks Online
~$360/year
requires no backup, although you can back it up on your computer if you like
you can easily give access to your account online so there is no back and forth transfers of files
does not matter what computer or version of the software that you have, you just need the internet
requires extra money to upgrade to the plus version to get functions like class tracking
there is NO support for average cost inventory valuation (instead the online version supports FIFO).