The wide range of QuickBooks products helps make it the most popular accounting software among small businesses. There are four QuickBooks Desktop products: QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Premier, QuickBooks Enterprise, and QuickBooks Accountant. This QuickBooks Desktop comparison guide compares the cost, features, and support options to determine which QuickBooks Desktop program is right for you.
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Which QuickBooks Version Is Right for You?
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QuickBooks Pro vs Premier vs Enterprise vs Accountant
- QuickBooks Pro: Best for businesses with up to three users and minimal inventory
- QuickBooks Premier: Best for nonprofit, manufacturing and wholesale, professional services, construction, or retail businesses with five or fewer users
- QuickBooks Enterprise: Best for small to medium-sized retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers with advanced inventory needs
- QuickBooks Accountant: Best for bookkeepers and accountants that provide bookkeeping or payroll services to multiple businesses
When to Use QuickBooks Online
Business owners with multiple locations might want to consider QuickBooks Online as an alternative to the desktop version. As a cloud-based solution, QuickBooks Online lets you access your data from any smartphone or computer that’s connected to the internet. If you think QuickBooks Online might be best for your business, you can learn more at QuickBooks Online vs Desktop.
Tip: The only QuickBooks desktop software available for Macintosh users is QuickBooks for Mac, which has similar features to QuickBooks Pro. Macintosh users looking for additional features should consider QuickBooks Online, which will run on either Windows or Macintosh computers.
QuickBooks Desktop Comparison: Chart of Pricing and Features
QuickBooks Pro | QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Enterprise | QuickBooks Accountant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
License Fee | $399.99 per user with no discount for multiple users | $649.99 for one user $999 for two users $1,399 for three users $1,749 for four users $2,099 for five users | N/A | N/A |
Plus Subscription 2021 ($/Year) | $299.99 for one user $499.99 for two users $699.99 for three users | $499.99 for one user $799.99 for two users $1,099.99 for three users $1,399.99 for four users $1,699.99 for five users | $1,275 for one user $2,037 for two users $2,547 for three users $3,057 for four users $3,566 for 40 users | Accountant Desktop: $449 for each ProAdvisor Enterprise Accountant: $799 for each ProAdvisor |
Maximum Users | 3 | 5 | 40 | Accountant Desktop: 5 Enterprise Accountant: 30 |
Export Accountant’s Copy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | N/A |
Import Accountant’s Copy | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✔ |
Manage Sales Tax | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Manage Inventory | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Account for Multiple Currencies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Track Unpaid Bills | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare Actual to Estimated Costs by Job | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Prepare, Print & E-file Form 1099s | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Track & Bill Time by Customer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Create Sales Orders | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Create Bill of Materials | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Create Inventory Assemblies | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Access Inventory Center | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Use Advanced Pricing Rules | N/A | N/A | ✔ | Enterprise Accountant |
Access Accountant Center | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✔ |
Toggle to Pro, Premium & Industry Editions | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✔ |
Void & Delete Transactions in Batches | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✔ |
Manage Fixed Assets | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✔ |
Print Detailed Reports | 100+ | 150+ | 150+ | 150+ |
QuickBooks Desktop Pricing
QuickBooks Desktop software requires a separate license for each concurrent user. One license allows you to set up an unlimited number of users within a company file and install QuickBooks on two computers. However, if you want two or more users to open QuickBooks at the same time, you will need a license for each user.
QuickBooks Desktop Purchase vs Plus Subscription
In addition to deciding on a QuickBooks edition, you need to decide whether to purchase the program or enter an annual subscription, called Plus. QuickBooks Enterprise and QuickBooks Accountant don’t have a purchase option, so you must subscribe to an annual subscription.
QuickBooks Desktop Purchase | QuickBooks Desktop Plus Annual Subscription | |
|---|---|---|
QuickBooks Pro | $399.99 per user | $299.99 for one user |
QuickBooks Premier | $649.99 for one user | $499.99 for one user |
QuickBooks Enterprise | N/A | $1,275 for one user $2,037 for two users $2,547 for three users $3,057 for four users $3,566 for 40 users |
QuickBooks Accountant Desktop | N/A | $449 |
QuickBooks Enterprise Accountant | N/A | $799 |
Unlimited Customer Support via Telephone (After 30 Days) | $299.99 per year | ✔ |
Online Data Backups | $99.95 per year | ✔ |
Annual Free Product Upgrade | Upgrades to new editions require a new license at full price | ✔ |
Maintenance Updates | Three years | ✔ |
Customer support without the Plus subscription is expensive. If you know you’ll need to call QuickBooks with questions, then you want to buy the Plus subscription, which includes unlimited customer support. However, if you have QuickBooks experience and are confident you can answer your own questions using their publicly available online resources, then you can save money with the one-time purchase.
QuickBooks Pro vs Premier
QuickBooks Pro is a comprehensive bookkeeping program, and it contains the core accounting features needed by most small and midsize businesses (SMBs) like importing bank transactions, tracking unpaid bills, invoicing clients, and printing detailed reports. It is our best ag accounting software for farmers with independent bookkeepers or tax preparers.
However, QuickBooks Premier offers additional options for managing inventory, plus five industry-specific editions―retailing, nonprofit, contractors, manufacturing and wholesaling, and professional services. Other features of QuickBooks Premier not present in QuickBooks Pro include back orders, sales orders, and tracking of currently available inventory.
QuickBooks Pro vs Premier at a Glance
Feature | QuickBooks Pro | QuickBooks Premier |
|---|---|---|
License Fee | $399.99 per user | $649.99 for one user $999 for two users $1,399 for three users $1,749 for four users $2,099 for five users |
Plus Subscription | $299.99 for one user $499.99 for two users $699.99 for three users | $499.99 for one user $799.99 for two users $1,099.99 for three users $1,399.99 for four users $1,699.99 for five users |
Maximum Users | 3 | 5 |
Connect Bank Accounts & Reconcile Easily | ✔ | ✔ |
Create Invoices & Email or Print | ✔ | ✔ |
Input & Track Unpaid Bills | ✔ | ✔ |
Track Inventory Costs Using the Average Cost Method | ✔ | ✔ |
Pay Employees With Integrated Payroll System | Additional fee | Additional fee |
Assemble New Inventory From Existing Inventory, Labor & Supplies | N/A | ✔ |
View Available Inventory | N/A | ✔ |
Record Sales Orders That Reduce Available Inventory | N/A | ✔ |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | N/A | ✔ |
Takeaway: QuickBooks Pro is suitable for most businesses that don’t require more than three simultaneous users. However, QuickBooks Premier is worth the additional price if your business deals extensively in inventory or operates in one of the five industry-specific editions of Premier. The industry-specific editions provide both additional reporting options and workflows customized for your industry. For more information, you can read our expert reviews of QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Premier.
QuickBooks Premier vs Enterprise
QuickBooks Enterprise is the most powerful of all QuickBooks products, scaling up the functionality provided by Premier by allowing up to 40 users (Diamond). Enterprise comes in a general business edition plus the same five industry-specific editions as QuickBooks Premier. It has all the features of Premier, plus the ability to track inventory at multiple locations and using bar codes, create advanced reports, pay employees with QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll (Platinum only), track inventory with more detail and efficiency, and implement advanced pricing (Platinum and Diamond). However, unlike QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premium, there is no option to purchase QuickBooks Enterprise for a one-time fee. The advanced features also come at a steep price, as Enterprise is more than twice the cost of Premier.
QuickBooks Premier vs Enterprise at a Glance
Feature | QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
License Fee | $649.99 for one user $999 for two users $1,399 for three users $1,749 for four users $2,099 for five users | N/A |
Plus Subscription ($/Year) | $499.99 for one user $799.99 for two users $1,099.99 for three users $1,399.99 for four users $1,699.99 for five users | $1,275 for one user $2,037 for two users $2,547 for three users $3,057 for four users $3,566 for 40 users |
Maximum Users | 5 | 40 |
Maximum Products & Services | 10,000 | 1 million |
Maximum Employees, Customers, Jobs & Vendors | 14,500 | 1 million |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | ✔ | ✔ |
Create Charts With Advanced Reporting | N/A | ✔ |
Set Complex Pricing Rules With Advanced Pricing | N/A | ✔ |
Calculate Inventory Cost Using the First-in, First-out (FIFO) Method | N/A | Requires Platinum |
Track Inventory With Bar Code Scanning | N/A | Requires Platinum |
Track Inventory by Location & Bin | N/A | Requires Platinum |
Manage Fixed Assets | N/A | ✔ |
Takeaway: Because of the high price, most businesses will probably wait to upgrade from Premier to Enterprise until they require more than five concurrent users. However, if your business spends a lot of time dealing with inventory in multiple locations, Enterprise might be worth the additional cost.
QuickBooks Premier vs Accountant
QuickBooks Accountant Desktop has all the features of QuickBooks Premier but has special tools and capabilities designed to help professional bookkeepers work with many different clients. For instance, QuickBooks Accountant Desktop can toggle between all the industry-specific versions of Premier as well as Pro. It can also access QuickBooks Desktop files that are from prior-year versions without updating the file. This is important so that clients with older versions of QuickBooks Desktop can still open the file when it is returned. Additionally, QuickBooks Accountant Desktop has features that help professional bookkeepers import, review, adjust, and communicate changes with their clients.
QuickBooks Premier vs Accountant at a Glance
Feature | QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Accountant Desktop |
|---|---|---|
License Fee | $649.99 for one user $999 for two users $1,399 for three users $1,749 for four users $2,099 for five users | N/A |
Plus Subscription per Year | $499.99 for one user $799.99 for two users $1,099.99 for three users $1,399.99 for four users $1,699.99 for five users | $449 for each ProAdvisor |
Maximum Users | 5 | 5 |
Requires QuickBooks ProAdvisor Membership | N/A | Included in subscription |
Transfer Accountant’s Copy File | Export only | Import only |
Access Industry-specific Editions | Select one | Toggle between all |
Batch Process Transactions | N/A | ✔ |
Review & Adjust Client Data With Special Tools | N/A | ✔ |
Manage Fixed Assets | N/A | ✔ |
Send Journal Entries to Client | N/A | ✔ |
Takeaway: If you are a bookkeeper or accountant looking to provide accounting services to clients that use QuickBooks Pro or Premier, you need QuickBooks Accountant Desktop. However, the license requires a current ProAdvisor membership. You can purchase and access the program immediately but are required to complete about 20 hours of training and pass an exam to become a ProAdvisor.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right QuickBooks Desktop edition depends on the size of your organization and the specific features and functionality you need. If you are a large business that needs sophisticated inventory tools, then go with QuickBooks Enterprise. If you don’t need these inventory features and have less than five users, go with either Pro or Premier. If you are an independent bookkeeper with many clients, then QuickBooks Accountant Desktop is your best choice.
QuickBooks offers a variety of powerful software to fit almost any need. Whichever QuickBooks edition you choose for your business, it can be downloaded immediately and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
