Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online 2023 Comparison
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
Danielle is a writer for the Finance division of Fit Small Business. She has owned a bookkeeping and payroll service that specializes in small business, for over twenty years.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
Sage 50cloud and QuickBooks Online have many similar features, such as banking, invoicing, and inventory management. However, we found some significant differences worth noting. For instance, Sage 50cloud is more difficult to use than QuickBooks Online, making it more suitable for businesses working with experienced bookkeepers. Meanwhile, QuickBooks Online is ideal for business owners managing their own books. Our comparison of Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online provides more information about which software is best for your business.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online at a Glance
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
Overall FSB Score | 3.34 out of 5 | 4.40 out of 5 |
Monthly Pricing | $57.17 to $152.42 for one user | $30 to $200 |
Users Included | 1 (all plans) | 1 to 25 |
Maximum Number of Users | 40 | 25 |
Support Network of Independent Bookkeepers | Very limited | Outstanding |
Mobile App Accessibility | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
Send Estimates | ✓ | ✓ |
Issue Invoices & Track Collections | ✓ | ✓ |
Calculate Sales Tax Rate Based Automatically on Address | ✕ | ✓ |
Manage Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage & Track Inventory | ✓ | ✓ |
Print Checks | ✓ | ✓ |
Capture & Organize Receipts | ✓ | ✓ |
GPS Mileage Tracker | ✕ | ✓ |
Track 1099 Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Activity by Class and Location | ✓ | ✓ |
Compare Actual Project Costs to Estimates | ✓ | ✕ |
Multicompany Support | ✓ | ✕ |
Overall Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
When To Use
Alternatives To Sage 50cloud & QuickBooks Online
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Best for: Businesses seeking a free accounting solution with a decent feature set | Best for: Companies that want access to outstanding customer support | Best for: Businesses with large accounting teams |
Starts at: $0 per month | Starts at: $17 per month | Starts at: $13 per month |
If you need additional recommendations, check out our roundup of the best QuickBooks alternatives. We include both free and paid solutions.
Fit Small Business Case Study
We created an internal case study to help us assess the performance of Sage 50cloud and QuickBooks Online across 11 key areas of accounting. The graph below sums up the results.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online FSB Case Study
Touch the graph above to interact Click on the graphs above to interact
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SAGE 50CLOUD STARTING AT $57.17/month; $92 as tested
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QUICKBOOKS ONLINE QUICKBOOKS ONLINE: STARTING AT $30/MONTH; $85 AS TESTED
FSB case study comparing Sage 50cloud and QuickBooks Online
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Pricing
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
FSB Score | 1.00 out of 5 | 3.00 out of 5 |
Monthly Pricing* |
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Number of Users Included |
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Maximum Users Allowed |
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Free Demo | ✓ | ✕ |
Free Trial | ✕ | ✓ |
*All users are included in the price of each QuickBooks Online plan while only one user is included in the base price of each Sage 50cloud tier—and you have to pay an additional fee for each seat. For instance, Premium Accounting costs $92 for one user, $115.58 for two, and $211.67 for five.
QuickBooks Online is more affordable than Sage 50cloud, especially if you require multiple users to work on your accounting files. If you require access for up to five users, then you’ll only pay $80 per month with QuickBooks Online Plus, whereas with Sage 50cloud, you’ll have to pay more than $200 per month for five users with Premium Accounting.
Tip:
To help you decide which QuickBooks Online product to purchase, check out our comparison of QuickBooks Online versions.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Features
Banking & Cash Management
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
FSB Score | 4.10 out of 5 | 5.00 out of 5 |
Connect to Bank & Credit Card Accounts | ✓ | ✓ |
Upload Bank Statements | ✓ | ✓ |
Reconcile Bank Statements With Bank Feeds | ✓ | ✓ |
Reconcile Bank Statements Without Bank Feeds | ✓ | ✓ |
Print Checks | ✓ | ✓ |
Group Multiple Checks Into a Single Deposit | ✕ | ✓ |
Enter Monthly Service Fee During Reconciliation | ✕ | ✓ |
Accounts Receivable (A/R) Module Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
Sage 50cloud and QuickBooks Online both have the essential bank reconciliation features we look for, but QuickBooks Online is much easier to use. QuickBooks Online allows you to group multiple customer checks into a single deposit slip. This is a great feature as it makes it easy for you to trace and match transactions in your check register to your bank statement.
Accounts Payable
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
FSB Score | 4.50 out of 5 | 4.90 out of 5 |
Manage & Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Capture Expense Receipts | ✓ | ✓ |
Generate Transactions From Uploaded Receipts | ✕ | ✓ |
Set Up Recurring Expenses | ✓ | ✓ |
Enter Purchase Orders (POs) | ✓ | ✓ |
Enter a Vendor Credit | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Payments to Independent Contractors | ✓ | ✓ |
Short-pay an Invoice | ✓ | ✓ |
Accounts Payable (A/P) Module Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
QuickBooks Online is better than Sage 50cloud as it can read an uploaded receipt and match the receipt to a transaction automatically. However, this isn’t a big deal for many businesses. A huge factor to consider is the ease of use—Sage 50cloud’s A/P module interface is crowded with too many features, making it overwhelming for users with no or little knowledge of accounting software and accounting principles.
Accounts Receivable
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
FSB Score | 3.90 out of 5 | 4.90 out of 5 |
Create & Issue Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Customize Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Email & Print Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
View Outstanding Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Recurring Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Accept Short Payments From Customers | ✓ | ✓ |
Calculates Sales Tax Rate Based on Customer Address | ✕ | ✓ |
Issue a Refund Check | ✕ | ✓ |
Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
QuickBooks Online is slightly better in terms of A/R because of its ability to issue checks for customers with credit balances. Another advantage is that it calculates the total tax rate for each sale automatically based on the customers’ address, which is useful if you sell products or services out of your state.
Inventory Management
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
FSB Score | 4.40 out of 5 | 4.90 out of 5 |
Create an Inventory Item | ✓ | ✓ |
Track the Cost of Goods Available | ✓ | ✓ |
View Inventory Available | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Total Units & Costs | ✓ | ✓ |
Adjust the Cost & Quantity of Inventory | ✓ | ✓ |
View Inventory on PO | ✓ | ✓ |
Record Inventory Returned Back Into Inventory | ✓ | ✓ |
View Total Cost of Inventory on Hand | ✓ | ✓ |
Add Inventory to an Invoice | ✓ | ✓ |
Inventory Module Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
Sage 50cloud nearly has the same inventory capabilities as QuickBooks Online, but some of its features are limited. For instance, it can be difficult to enter a partial receipt of inventory on purchase orders. However, despite the minor weaknesses, Sage 50cloud has the important features we want to see, such as the ability to track the cost of goods sold (COGS) and calculate ending inventories. QuickBooks Online is slightly better, as its inventory module is easier to use than Sage 50cloud’s.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Ease of Use
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
Accessibility | On-premise (remote access through cloud hosting) | Cloud |
Shortcut buttons | ✓ | ✓ |
Ease of Setup | Moderate | Easy |
Intuitive dashboard | ✕ | ✓ |
Customer Support | Fair | Extensive |
Overall Ease of Use | Difficult | Moderate |
One of QuickBooks Online’s biggest trump cards against Sage 50cloud is the ease of use. As a complete cloud-based accounting software, it’s easier for you and your accountant to access your files. Sage 50cloud offers remote data access—through cloud hosting—but for an additional price.
QuickBooks Online also has a more streamlined user interface than Sage 50cloud. Sage 50cloud is crowded with too many buttons and drop-down menus, which makes it difficult to navigate the program.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Integrations
Sage 50cloud has fewer than 100 integrations available, as compared to 825 for QuickBooks Online. While Sage 50’s are mainly focused on the apps associated with Microsoft 365, QuickBooks offers a wide range, including Shopify, Service Trade, and Fathom.
Sage 50cloud
Sage 50cloud leverages the power of Microsoft 365 to make your data accessible via the cloud and a range of integrated apps. It integrates with Microsoft 365 Business Standard and the full Microsoft Small Business Productivity Suite, which will save time and money while boosting productivity.
Here’s a sample of the integrations that are currently available for Sage 50cloud:
- Microsoft apps: Microsoft 365, Microsoft OneDrive, MileIQ, One Drive, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook Customer Manager
- Time tracking: Sage Timeslips and Journyx
- Manage expenses: SnapAP
- Process payroll: PayClock
- Ecommerce and brick-and-mortar stores: ProShop and Shopfront
- Payment management: Sage Payment Solutions, Credit Hound, Stripe, and PayPal
QuickBooks Online
For businesses with employees or that need to track time, you can access QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time directly through QuickBooks. There are also many third-party apps that integrate with the software.
- QuickBooks Payroll: Click on QuickBooks Payroll from within QuickBooks and access full payroll functionality.
- QuickBooks Time: Use the mobile app to track time and then bill customers or use it for payroll within QuickBooks Online. Time has many advanced features, which include GPS tracking of employees and timeclock terminals with facial recognition.
- QuickBooks Payments: This built-in payment processor lets QuickBooks Online users accept in-person, check, cash, and credit card payments.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Mobile App Functionality
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
Accessibility | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
Create & Send Invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
Accept Payments Online | ✕ | ✓ |
Capture Expense Receipt | ✓ | ✓ |
Categorize Expenses From Bank Feeds | ✕ | ✓ |
View Reports | ✕ | ✓ |
Enter Bills & Bill Payments | ✕ | ✕ |
Record Time Worked | ✕ | ✕ |
Assign Time Worked to a Customer or Project | ✕ | ✕ |
Track Business Mileage | ✕ | ✓ |
Sage 50cloud has an iOS and Android mobile app called Sage Capture. However, it’s limited to capturing receipts and posting associated transactions. With the QuickBooks Online mobile app, all of your financial data is at your fingertips. You can use your device to accept payments online, track business mileage, and view reports, which are things you can’t do with the Sage 50cloud mobile app.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online: Assisted Bookkeeping
QuickBooks Online beats Sage 50cloud in assisted bookkeeping. QuickBooks offers assisted bookkeeping services in the form of QuickBooks Live, where you’ll be assigned a dedicated bookkeeper who’ll work with you to clean up your books and maintain them on a monthly basis.
In addition, you can find a local independent QuickBooks ProAdvisor easily to assist you with your bookkeeping. Meanwhile, Sage 50cloud users can seek bookkeeping support in the form of Sage-certified accountants, which can be difficult to find in the US.
Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks: Customer Support
Sage 50cloud | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
Live Chat Support | ✓ | ✓ |
Chatbot | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Support | ✓ | ✓ |
Self-help Resources | ✓ | ✓ |
Phone Support | ✕ | ✓ |
While Sage 50cloud and QuickBooks have various options for customers seeking support, you’ll prefer QuickBooks Online if you value telephone support. While it isn’t possible to call support directly, you can submit a request online and wait for an agent to call you. This is useful if you encounter more complicated issues that need personalized answers and solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Sage 50cloud is better if your company has multiple business divisions or units that require completely separate bookkeeping, you prefer locally installed software, and you need enhanced project accounting features, including the ability to compare estimated and actual costs.
If you want something that’s easier to use and a program that you can access remotely, choose QuickBooks Online. Many small businesses also prefer QuickBooks Online because of the assisted bookkeeping add-on, QuickBooks Live, and the availability of QuickBooks ProAdvisors to support their bookkeeping needs.
No, both are paid accounting software. If you need a free alternative to support your basic accounting needs, check out our guide to the best free accounting software for small businesses.
QuickBooks Online offers four subscription levels that range from $30 to $200 per month, depending on the number of users needed.
Sage 50cloud’s mobile app is called Sage Capture, and it has very limited features. You can only use it to capture receipts and post associated transactions. In comparison, QuickBooks Online lets you accept payments online, track mileage, and view reports, among other activities.
Bottom Line
Our comparison of Sage 50cloud vs QuickBooks Online shows that both are great accounting software programs packed with outstanding features. However, Sage 50cloud is more difficult to use, so we recommend it for businesses with internal accounting departments. QuickBooks Online is more user-friendly and is a great option for small and medium-sized businesses managing their books on their own.
