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QuickBooks Desktop for Mac vs. QuickBooks Online

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QuickBooks Desktop for Mac

124 Reviews and Ratings

QuickBooks Online

1,990 Reviews and Ratings

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac

    Score8 out of 10
    		N/AQuickbooks Desktop for Mac is an accounting software designed for Mac users. It is designed to integrate with Apple iCloud. It provides core accounting features in line with the rest of the Quickbooks Desktop product line.N/A

    QuickBooks Online

    Score8.3 out of 10
    		N/AQuickBooks Online is a SaaS version of the QuickBooks product. It contains all of the features found in the local version. Higher-priced plans include greater automation, payment management, inventory and time tracking, and analytics features.

    $38

    per month

    Pricing
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Simple Start
    $38
    per month
    Essentials
    $75
    per month
    Plus
    $115
    per month
    Advanced
    $275
    per month
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Considered Both Products
    Intuit
    Daniel Shatzkes CEO Entrepreneur, Manufacturer, Musician
    Owner/Producer/Audio Engineer/Musician/Entrepreneur at Harmony Studios Inc. (Music, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    I tried switching to QBO (QuickBooks Online) a couple of times. And in both cases it was disastrous. The software is buggy and the workflow is not at all like what I was used to in Desktop and so I felt like there was a brand new learning curve. You would think that they would …
    Incentivized
    Verified User
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    QuickBooks for Mac is great because it has an offline version and cloud storage capabilities. QuickBooks Online is a cheaper alternative but in the event of needing to access the database without internet access, it's nice to have it backed up when you need it. Plus QuickBooks …
    Incentivized
    Verified User
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    Functionality: they are very similar. I do like how QBO is more user-friendly and has a sleeker design.
    Incentivized
    Verified User
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    Xero has tried copying what Quickbooks offers but it is missing a lot of features and it is not as easy to navigate through.
    Incentivized
    Shelby Bowden
    Graduate Research Assistant in Research & Development at Western Kentucky University (Higher Education, 1001-5000 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    QuickBooks for Mac definitely outshines other competitors mainly due to its ability to sync seamlessly with all mac products, which other programs have continual problems with. Although the Mac version isn't quite as powerful as the Microsoft counterpart, it is still one of the …
    Incentivized
    Andrew Newman CPA
    Owner at Newman Associates (Accounting, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    I feel that the online (QBO)version is the platform of the future. With third party companies building solid apps and plugins that integrate with QBO seamlessly, the desktop versions are becoming limited.
    Incentivized
    Andreas Jones - LSSGB, CPP, CSCS
    Global Procurement and Sourcing Manager in Finance and Accounting at Sterling Talent Solutions (Human Resources, 1001-5000 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    QuickBooks Mac really is incredible. As a mac user for 10 years, I found this software easy to use and understand. It has a beautiful layout without sacrificing any of the ample features that made me fall in love with QuickBooks Pro.

    • Scheduled Reports: The ability to automate …
    Incentivized
    Shelly Robbins
    Intuit Accounting Professionals Trainer/Writer specializing in QuickBooks for Mac, Meetup Groups Organizer/Founder, Adjunct Instructor at Bellevue College at The QuickSource (Accounting, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    QuickBooks for Mac 2015 has been updated consistently over the last 3 years and continues to provide for the bookkeeping needs of small companies using Macs in their offices. However, it has limited job costing functionality. Outside of that limitation, it is similar in …
    Incentivized
    Brent Blackburn
    Owner in Finance and Accounting at Keeping Books & Computing Consulting LLC (Accounting, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    QuickBooks for Mac is roughly equivalent in functionality to QuickBooks Pro for Windows. It has better job costing than QuickBooks Online with roughly equivalent inventory functionality. QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Wave offer anytime, anywhere functionality for multiple users …
    Incentivized
    Robyn Smithson, CB
    Owner in Finance and Accounting at Smithson Bookkeeping & Business Services (Accounting, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    I did not select the Mac version for my own business. I don't use a Mac but I have access to one. I do know how to use and support the Mac version. I use all of the various QB versions as necessary to support my clients on a regular basis. I still feel that QB for Mac is not …
    Incentivized
    Ann Shallcross
    President in Finance and Accounting at Forrest & Blake Marketing Advertising (Marketing and Advertising, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    I originally reviewed 2 programs back in 1994 and chose QuickBooks. I have been upgrading my QuickBook versions since that time and haven't evaluated any other accounting software programs
    Intuit
    Jeff Henkel
    Consultant in Finance and Accounting at Jeff Henkel (Accounting, 1-10 employees)
    Chose QuickBooks Online
    I chose QuickBooks Online primarily because I had the most experience with it. Although the desktop versions will generally have more robust reporting and some areas of versatility, QuickBooks Online has the best immediate access when it comes to support and it's online …
    Incentivized
    Verified User
    Chose QuickBooks Online
    Ultimately, QuickBooks/Intuit has the most market share when it comes to accounting software. The benefit of so many people using this software is that there's always an answer to a problem that you may be having when it comes to using the software. Intuit has provided a …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    TrustRadius Insights
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Highlights

    TrustRadius
    Research Team Insight
    Published

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online are both accounting software designed to handle financial data, invoicing, and reporting. Both solutions are popular with small businesses, though QuickBooks online is also used by many mid-sized companies.

    QuickBooks Online is a popular choice for businesses looking for a cloud-based accounting solution. In contrast, organizations wanting to use a desktop application prefer QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

    Features

    Both QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online provide essential accounting features such, but both solutions also have some standout features.

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac includes a simple user interface that is familiar for Mac users and simple to learn for Windows users. Additionally, data is easy to convert from windows accounting software to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. Almost all features available on QuickBooks Windows software is also available on the Mac version.

    QuickBooks online offers robust remote access features, allowing accounting teams to access records and data easily. Additionally, QuickBooks Online includes flexible administration tools that enable simple setup for user roles and permissions. Lastly, QuickBooks online can update and generate reports on the fly as data is added, ensuring that reports are always up to date.

    Limitations

    Though QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online both offer robust accounting features, there are a few areas where they have limitations as well.

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac can have some difficulties migrating data from other tools or apps. Similarly, some users have noted that when restoring data to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, small user errors can result in loss of data. Lastly, users familiar with QuickBooks for Windows may notice a few missing features.

    QuickBooks Online users report occasional data loss when transitioning from desktop apps to the cloud. Additionally, QuickBooks Online reporting lacks some features available on the desktop version. Reporting on QuickBooks Online is also a little slower than other cloud-based accounting software.

    Pricing

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac costs $299.95 for up to three users and includes all reporting features.

    Free trials are available for the software for thirty days. QuickBooks Online offers three pricing tiers. The Simple Start package includes essential features for a single user at $12.00 per month. The essentials tier is priced at $20.00 per month and supports up to three users with added invoicing features. Lastly, the Plus tier supports up to five users for $35.00 per month and includes inventory tracking features.

    Features
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    8.9
    13 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    8.5
    81 Ratings
    Pay calculation8.411 Ratings7.872 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration7.98 Ratings7.033 Ratings
    Direct deposit files10.010 Ratings9.067 Ratings
    Salary revision and increment management8.47 Ratings9.046 Ratings
    Reimbursement management10.09 Ratings9.548 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.5
    12 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    8.3
    71 Ratings
    API for custom integration7.08 Ratings8.757 Ratings
    Plug-ins8.011 Ratings8.058 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    10.0
    22 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    9.7
    112 Ratings
    Single sign-on capability10.022 Ratings9.684 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions10.019 Ratings9.7106 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    6.7
    24 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    8.1
    136 Ratings
    Dashboards5.121 Ratings8.6128 Ratings
    Standard reports7.924 Ratings8.1132 Ratings
    Custom reports7.024 Ratings7.5120 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.6
    26 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    8.5
    147 Ratings
    Accounts payable8.126 Ratings9.1125 Ratings
    Accounts receivable7.725 Ratings9.4135 Ratings
    Cash management5.520 Ratings8.7123 Ratings
    Bank reconciliation9.526 Ratings9.1141 Ratings
    Expense management8.622 Ratings8.7125 Ratings
    Time tracking7.514 Ratings6.957 Ratings
    Fixed asset management7.016 Ratings8.155 Ratings
    Multi-currency support5.011 Ratings7.024 Ratings
    Multi-division support6.012 Ratings9.145 Ratings
    Regulations compliance10.011 Ratings9.241 Ratings
    Electronic tax filing10.017 Ratings9.368 Ratings
    Self-service portal7.715 Ratings8.869 Ratings
    Global Financial Support5.08 Ratings8.118 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers8.615 Ratings8.737 Ratings
    Intercompany Accounting8.116 Ratings8.731 Ratings
    Localizations8.07 Ratings8.123 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations9.519 Ratings9.376 Ratings
    Enterprise Accounting8.67 Ratings8.127 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting6.511 Ratings7.740 Ratings
    Centralized Rules Framework6.511 Ratings8.426 Ratings
    Standardized Processes6.915 Ratings8.552 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.4
    17 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    7.5
    49 Ratings
    Inventory tracking9.516 Ratings8.046 Ratings
    Automatic reordering6.512 Ratings7.023 Ratings
    Location management6.911 Ratings8.123 Ratings
    Manufacturing module6.510 Ratings7.018 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    9.1
    20 Ratings
    QuickBooks Online
    8.4
    90 Ratings
    Pricing9.019 Ratings8.056 Ratings
    Order entry9.518 Ratings8.054 Ratings
    Credit card processing9.119 Ratings8.566 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold9.118 Ratings9.370 Ratings
    Order Orchestration9.07 Ratings8.022 Ratings
    End-to-end order visibility9.19 Ratings9.021 Ratings
    Order exception Resolution9.18 Ratings8.019 Ratings
    User Ratings
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacQuickBooks Online
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.1
    (34 ratings)
    8.8
    (165 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (9 ratings)
    1.9
    (24 ratings)
    Usability
    6.1
    (8 ratings)
    8.8
    (80 ratings)
    Availability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    2.0
    (5 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (4 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.0
    (4 ratings)
    1.1
    (68 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    3.0
    (6 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    CPA Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.4
    (18 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.3
    (2 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (2 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (2 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (2 ratings)