Compare QuickBooks Online to Desktop

Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information about Intuit Payments' money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

Guarantee

Accuracy Guaranteed available with QuickBooks Online Payroll Core, Premium, & Elite: We assume responsibility for federal and state payroll filings and payments directly from your account(s) based on the data you supply. As long as the information you provide us is correct and on time, and you have sufficient funds in your account, we’ll file your tax forms and payments accurately and on time or we’ll pay the resulting payroll tax penalties. Guarantee terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice.

Offer terms*

Free personalized setup from QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Mac, or Plus (“Desktop”) to QuickBooks Online Simple Start, Essentials, Plus or Advanced (“QuickBooks Online”), or QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, Payments, or Time to QuickBooks Online Payroll, Payments, or Time is available to small business users who sign up by July 17, 2024, and is subject to capacity. Customers must initiate a setup meeting by July 31, 2024. The Assisted Setup offer is eligible to Desktop customers that are migrating their data, as well as those customers who elect not to migrate their data, who are starting new QuickBooks Online accounts, and setting up QuickBooks Online. Personalized Setup is limited to a 1-hour session with a customer success product expert. Intuit reserves the right to limit the number of sessions and the length and scope of each session. Terms and conditions, features, support, pricing, and service options subject to change without notice.

QuickBooks Online Features**

Work where you want: QuickBooks Online requires a computer with a supported browser (see System Requirements for a list of supported browsers) and an Internet connection (high-speed recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. Devices sold separately; data plan required. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.

Collaborate with your accountant: You can connect up to the following for each product: 1 billable user and 2 accounting firms for QuickBooks Online Simple Start, 3 billable users and 2 accounting firms for QuickBooks Online Essentials, 5 billable users and 2 accounting firms for QuickBooks Online Plus, 25 billable users and 3 accounting firms for QuickBooks Online Advanced. Accounting firms must connect using QuickBooks Online Accountant.

Protecting your data / Security done for you: QuickBooks Online uses technical and administrative security measures such as, but not limited to, firewalls, encryption techniques, and authentication procedures, among others, to work to maintain the security of your online session and information.

QuickBooks online services: Online services vary by participating financial institutions or other parties and may be subject to application approval, additional terms, conditions, and fees.

Security done for you: QuickBooks Online uses technical and administrative security measures such as, but not limited to, firewalls, encryption techniques, and authentication procedures, among others, to work to maintain the security of your online session and information.

Syncing bank and cards: Online services vary by participating financial institutions or other parties and may be subject to application approval, additional terms, conditions, and fees.

Third party apps: Apps may require a third-party subscription. Third party applications available on apps.com. Subject to additional terms, conditions, and fees.

Product information**

QuickBooks Live Assisted Bookkeeping: This is a monthly subscription services that offers limited guidance by QuickBooks Live Bookkeepers to help you manage your books while you maintain full ownership and control of your books. Intuit will provide you with virtual access to a team of Live Bookkeepers, including but not limited to: the ability to schedule appointments during normal business hours subject to the Live Bookkeeper's availability, and the ability to collaborate and share required documents with the Live Bookkeepers. The Live Bookkeepers can provide guidance on topics including: bookkeeping automation, categorization, financial reports and dashboards, reconciliation, and workflow creation and management. They can also answer specific questions related to your books and your business. Some basic bookkeeping services may not be included and will be determined by your Live Bookkeeper. The Live Bookkeeper will provide help based on the information you provide.

QuickBooks Online system requirements: QuickBooks Online requires a persistent internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended) and computer with a supported Internet browser or a mobile phone with a supported operating system (see System Requirements) and an Internet connection. Network fees may apply.

QuickBooks Online app: The QuickBooks Online app for Windows and Mac (“app”) requires a Windows PC or Mac computer with a supported browser (see System Requirements for a list of supported browsers) and an Internet connection (high-speed recommended). The app is available for QuickBooks Desktop migrators with an active QuickBooks Online Simple Start, Essentials, Plus or Advanced subscription. Multiple company tabs allow for simultaneous sign in across multiple company files. Access to each company file sold separately. Terms and conditions, features, support, and services options subject to change without notice.

QuickBooks Online mobile app: QuickBooks Online mobile companion app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. Devices sold separately; data plan required. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.

QuickBooks Online usage limits: QuickBooks Online Advanced includes unlimited Chart of Account entry. Simple Start, Essentials and Plus allow up to 250 accounts. QuickBooks Online Advanced includes unlimited Tracked Classes and Locations. QuickBooks Plus includes up to 40 combined tracked classes and tracked locations. Tracked Classes and Locations are not available in Simple Start and Essentials.

QuickBooks Payments: QuickBooks Payments account subject to eligibility criteria, credit, and application approval. Subscription to QuickBooks Online required. Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services For more information about Intuit Payments' money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

QuickBooks Card Reader: Data access subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance. Product registration and QuickBooks Payments account required. Terms, conditions, and features subject to change.

Apple Pay: Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Google Pay: Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC.

PayPal and Venmo: Not currently available on invoicing through QuickBooks Online Advanced subscription.

Venmo is available only in the US.

QuickBooks Online Payroll: Requires a separate QuickBooks Online Payroll subscription. Additional fees will apply. Learn more about QuickBooks Online Payroll at https://quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/.

Auto Payroll: Available if setup for the company is complete. At least one employee has completed setup and has consistent payroll that qualifies for automation (i.e. salaried or hourly with default). Company must complete bank verification if Employee has direct deposit as the payment method, and the first payroll must run successfully. The account must not have a hold.

Automated tax payments and filings: Automated tax payments and filing available for state and federal taxes. Enrollment in e-services is required for tax payments and filings only. Automated tax payments and filings for local taxes available in QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium and Elite only.

Full-service payroll: Automated tax payments and filing available for state and federal taxes in all QuickBooks Online Payroll subscriptions in all 50 states. Full-service payroll services limited to QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond subscriptions and existing QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll subscriptions only, not available for Desktop customers in Indiana or Wyoming.

For U.S. Payroll & Contractor Payments: Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services, subject to eligibility criteria, credit and application approval. For more information about Intuit Payments Inc.'s money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

HR services: HR support is provided by experts at Mineral, Inc. Requires acceptance of Mineral’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. HR support center is available only to QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium and Elite subscriptions. HR advisor support is only available in QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite. HR support is not available to accountants who are calling on behalf of their clients.

401(k) plan: 401(k) offerings are available with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll and QuickBooks Online Payroll — fees apply. 401(k) offerings are provided and administered by Guideline, an independent third party and not provided by Intuit. Intuit is not a 401(k) plan administrator, fiduciary, or other provider. Requires acceptance of Guideline’s Client Relationship Summary and Privacy Policy. Additional 401(k) plan fees will apply. Employees may manage their contributions directly with Guideline. Admin and payroll access required to sign up for a 401(k) plan with Guideline. Guideline live US-based support is available Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT.

Health benefits: Health Insurance information is provided to you by Intuit Insurance Services Inc., (IISI) a licensed insurance broker. IISI is an authorized broker and is partnered with SimplyInsured and Allstate Health Solutions. Intuit Insurance Services is owned and operated by Intuit Inc. and is paid a percentage fee of insurance policy premiums by SimplyInsured and Allstate Health Solutions in connection with the services described on this website. Health benefits powered by SimplyInsured require acceptance of SimplyInsured's privacy policy and Terms of Service. Additional fees will apply. SimplyInsured does not offer insurance in HI, VT, and DC. Insurance coverage eligibility is not guaranteed, and dependently solely on the rules of the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier has sole and final discretion as to the eligibility for health insurance products.

Workers’ comp administration: Benefits are powered by NEXT Insurance and require acceptance of NEXT Insurance's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Additional fees will apply. There is a monthly fee (currently, $5 per month) for QuickBooks Online Payroll Core users for the QuickBooks Workers' Comp Payment Service. This non-refundable fee will be automatically added to each monthly Intuit invoice at the then-current price until you cancel. The fee is separate from any workers’ comp insurance policy premium by NEXT Insurance. Workers’ Compensation Service requires an active and paid QuickBooks payroll subscription.

QuickBooks Time integration: Additional fees may apply. Time tracking included in the QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium and Elite subscription services. Features vary. The QuickBooks Time mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. Devices sold separately; data plan required. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Time access is included with your QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium and Elite subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.

Cancellation policy: There’s no contract or commitment. You’re free to switch plans or cancel any time.

Customer support: For hours of support and how to contact support, click here.

Testimonials

All respondents received remuneration.

Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.

#Claims

1. Based on Intuit data consisting of unique businesses that moved from a QuickBooks Desktop product to a QuickBooks Online product. Data collected from 2015 to 2023.
2. Based on Intuit survey November 2023, amongst remunerated QuickBooks Online users who expressed an opinion, when they compared QuickBooks Online to their prior QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Pro Plus, Premier, Premier Plus or Mac Plus products. Survey did not include Enterprise customers.