Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Pricing, Features & What’s Best
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.
Eric is a staff writer at Fit Small Business and CPA focusing on accounting content. He spends most of his time researching and studying to give the best answer to everyone.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online both offer cloud-based accounting software solutions to businesses. Both have invoicing, expense tracking, banking, and reporting features. The main difference is that Sage Business Cloud Accounting isn’t as comprehensive as QuickBooks Online, especially in inventory accounting and time tracking. However, Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s most popular plan is $25 per month while QuickBooks Online’s regular price is $85.
When to Use Sage Business Cloud Accounting
Sage Business Cloud Accounting (originally called Sage One) is a cloud-based alternative to QuickBooks that was designed specifically with small businesses and freelancers in mind. It’s an affordable and effective accounting solution that offers solid features. Sage Business Cloud Accounting could work well for those looking for a less expensive alternative to QuickBooks.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Is Better for
- Simple bookkeeping: Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers a relatively straightforward accounting system, making it much simpler than Quickbooks Online. We recommend Sage Business Cloud Accounting if your needs are limited to tracking expenses, issuing invoices, and printing a profit or loss statement.
- Companies looking for an affordable QuickBooks alternative: Sage Business Cloud Accounting is more affordable than QuickBooks Online. Sage’s highest plan is only $25, while QuickBooks lowest-priced plan is $30.
- Mobile app accounting: You can do basic accounting tasks in Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s mobile app. Users can capture receipts, receive payments, and manage invoices.
Visit Sage Business Cloud Accounting
When to Use QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks is our pick for overall best small business accounting software because of its flexible features. With its affordable pricing, intuitive user interface, and customizable features, it makes staying on top of your finances much less daunting. It’s also well suited to a wide range of business types and sizes and scalable so that it can grow with your business.
QuickBooks Online Is Better for
- Tracking time, billing customers, and assigning project costs: If you want to accurately bill customers for billable hours, QuickBooks Online can help you track hours worked and bill them to customer invoices. Moreover, you can also track time and assign them to projects.
- Inventory tracking: QuickBooks Online offers great inventory tracking and accounting features for retailers. It computes the cost of goods sold, tracks inventory levels, and determines the cost of ending inventory.
- Seeking assistance from an independent bookkeeper: In QuickBooks Online, you can access CPAs and bookkeepers to assist you in keeping the books organized. You can hire a QuickBooks ProAdvisor to assist in bookkeeping or provide guidance in DIY bookkeeping.
When to Use an Alternative
Though Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online offer many great features, these two software options aren’t the best choices for the following uses:
- Manufacturing concern: Both Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online fall short in manufacturing entities. In a manufacturing concern, the accounting system needs to be streamlined in a way that it can compute the journey of products from raw materials assembly to finished goods post-processing. We instead recommend QuickBooks Desktop Pro because of its comprehensive inventory tracking for manufacturing companies.
- Tracking multiple fixed assets: If you manage a significant number of fixed assets, using Sage or QuickBooks Online can be tedious. Neither of these software services has fixed asset management that computes depreciation and tracks fixed asset details automatically. Xero is an accounting software service that offers a dedicated fixed asset manager.
- Multiple companies: If you need to manage several companies and consolidate them, QuickBooks Online and Sage Business Cloud Accounting aren’t your best option. A subscription to either product can only be used to keep the books of one company. We instead recommend checking our list of the best multi-company accounting software.
Fit Small Business Case Study
To help us fully understand the capabilities of Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online, we compared the two accounting software programs using our internally developed case study. We devised 11 key areas that should be present in small business accounting software. If you’d like to read our in-depth analysis for each software, you can check out our Sage Business Cloud Accounting review and QuickBooks Online review.
FSB Case Study Comparative Results
In our case study, we found out that Sage Business Cloud Accounting is below or on par with QuickBooks Online in all key areas. Even though Sage doesn’t outperform QuickBooks Online in any key area, we still recognize Sage Business Cloud’s usability and applicability in small business accounting due to its very low price. However, QuickBooks Online is a go-to choice and a safe pick for small business owners who aren’t well-versed in accounting software products and can afford the price.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online at a Glance
| | |
Who It’s Best For | Freelancers or small businesses with simple or minimal bookkeeping needs, not including inventory or time tracking | Most small businesses looking for well-rounded accounting software with bookkeeping assistance |
Pricing Plans | $10 for one user to $25 per month for unlimited users | $30 for one user to $200 per month for 25 users |
Maximum Users | Unlimited | One to 25 |
Send Estimates | ✓ | ✓ |
Send Invoices & Track Collections | ✓ | ✓ |
Connect Bank & Credit Card Accounts | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Sales Tax Collections & Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
File Sales Tax Returns | ✓ | |
Calculate Sales Tax Rate | ✓ | |
Manage Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Inventory | ✓ | ✓ |
Calculate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Automatically | ✓ | |
Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
Assign Time & Costs to Projects | ✓ | |
Capture & Organize Receipts | ✓ | ✓ |
Track 1099 Payments | ✓ | |
Print 1099s | ✓ | |
Multiple Currencies | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Activity by Class & Location | ✓ | |
Track Hours Billed to Customers | ✓ | |
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Pricing
While Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers a choice of two subscription plans, QuickBooks has five different subscription plans to choose from. Sage plans are priced from $10 to $25 per month, and prices for QuickBooks plans range from $30 to $200 per month (nondiscount) pricing.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Pricing
Sage Business Cloud Accounting currently offers two pricing plans: Accounting Start and Accounting. While Accounting Start is quite limited in its features, the larger plan has many more features and is still competitively priced. The plan is billed monthly and you can cancel your subscription at any time. If you’d like to try the software first, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial with no credit card required.
- Accounting Start: $10 per month for one user
- Accounting: $25 per month for unlimited users
QuickBooks Online Pricing
QuickBooks Online is available in five subscription plans that range in price from $30 to $200 per month. At $85 per month, Plus is their most popular plan for small businesses. For an additional fee, you can add integrated payroll. A free 30-day trial is also available.
- Simple Start: $30 per month for one user
- Essentials: $55 per month for up to three users
- Plus: $85 per month for up to five users
- Advanced: $200 per month for up to 25 users
Takeaway: Sage Business Cloud Accounting is a clear winner here because its highest plan is only $25 per month for unlimited users, while the price equivalent in QuickBooks Online is the most basic plan for one user. However, QuickBooks Online is well worth the extra money if you need a feature not available in Sage or you want assistance through QuickBooks’ huge network of ProAdvisors.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Features
Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online both offer accounting solutions for small businesses. However, QuickBooks Online is an all-around accounting program, while Sage Business Cloud Accounting caters more to simple and straightforward bookkeeping with no inventory or time tracking.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Features Table
Accounting Start | Accounting | |
|---|---|---|
Users Included | 1 | Unlimited |
Connect & Reconcile Bank Accounts | ✓ | ✓ |
Scan & Upload Expense Receipts | ✓ | ✓ |
Invoice Customers | ✓ | ✓ |
Contact Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage Sales Tax | ✓ | |
Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Contact Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage Inventory | ✓ | |
Send Quotes & Estimates | ✓ | |
Account Support via Online Support & Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
Real-time Reports | ✓ | |
Multicurrency support | ✓ |
QuickBooks Online Features Table
Simple Start | Essentials | Plus | Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Users Included | 1 | 3 | 5 | 25 |
Connect & Reconcile Bank Accounts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Scan & Upload Expense Receipts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Invoices, Track Payments & Send Automatic Reminders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage & File Sales Tax Returns | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Integrated Payroll (Fee) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Prepare 1099s for Contractors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Assign Time & Expenses to Jobs | ✓ | |||
Manage Inventory & Calculate COGS Using First-in, First-out (FIFO) Accounting | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Create Purchase Orders (POs) & Convert to Bills | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Track Profitability by Class & Location | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Attach Custom Tags to Transactions | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Account Support via Phone, Online Support & Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced Reports | ✓ | ✓ |
Takeaway: While Sage Business Cloud Accounting gives QuickBooks a run for its money when it comes to features like bank reconciliation and invoice customization, there are still a few areas where the software could improve. Small businesses that require time tracking, inventory accounting, project management, and integrated payroll won’t find these features with Sage Business Cloud Accounting. Our overall winner for features is clearly QuickBooks Online.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: General Features
Both Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online follow a long series of setup steps that take a long time. However, while time-consuming, setting them up isn’t hard. The major difference is that you can’t import beginning balances and the chart of accounts on Sage Business Cloud Accounting. If you’re transferring from an accounting program to Sage, you’ll have to manually input specific accounts not present in the default list generated upon setup. In QuickBooks, you can import the chart of accounts but not beginning balances. You’ll have to create a journal entry first to enter beginning balances in the ledger.
Takeaway: Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online are similar in terms of setting up the accounting software, but Sage will take a longer time to set up since it cannot import the chart of accounts like QuickBooks Online. For ease of setup, we recommend Xero as an alternative.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Banking and Cash Management
Creating bank feeds in Sage Business Cloud and QuickBooks Online is easy (including importing bank transactions). Moreover, both of these products allow the reconciliation of bank accounts even if you don’t connect your bank or credit card to the software. In terms of ease of use during bank reconciliation, QuickBooks Online offers a more intuitive and easy-to-understand interface than Sage Business Cloud Accounting. However, the process of reconciling is the same for both software products:
QuickBooks Online Bank Reconciliation Interface
Sage Business Cloud Bank Reconciliation Interface
Takeaway: We prefer QuickBooks Online if you need to process a lot of bank transactions in the books. QuickBooks Online is more comfortable to use for voluminous transactions, while Sage Business Cloud Accounting is flexible enough to handle lesser bank transactions.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Ease of Use
Both Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online have an excellent user interface. Both are easy to use and navigate around. Moreover, Sage Business Cloud is far better than Sage’s desktop product, Sage 50cloud.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Ease of Use
Sage Business Cloud Accounting is easy to use even for non-accountants. However, we see some process flow flaws that might affect productivity in encoding transactions. For example, users cannot record expense payments unless they create a bill first. We find this counterproductive and inefficient. Moreover, Sage Business Cloud doesn’t record the cost of goods sold after every sales invoice. Though you can still record COGS manually, that’s very inefficient given that Sage has all the information necessary to make the calculation for you. Other accounting software products, including QuickBooks Online, account for COGS in every invoice automatically.
QuickBooks Online Ease of Use
QuickBooks Online offers a slightly more complicated interface design than Sage Business Cloud but we think that this is only minimal. While it may be overwhelming at first use, things get easier faster than expected if you continually use QuickBooks Online. In terms of process flow, we don’t see any major process flaws that significantly impact the bookkeeping process.
Takeaway: QuickBooks Online is our choice here if you process a lot of transactions every day, especially inventory. However, Sage Business Cloud Accounting can be an affordable alternative if you don’t account for inventory or track time.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Integrations
While there are many more integrations available for QuickBooks, Sage Business Cloud Accounting does offer an extensive list as well. In both cases, these applications will enhance your company’s efficiency and productivity.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Integrations
Perhaps one of the largest benefits to using Sage Business Cloud Accounting is the access to other Sage applications as well as access to the robust Sage Marketplace, which includes more than 100 apps in a variety of categories designed to increase the functionality of your core application. Here are a few available integrations for Sage Business Cloud Accounting:
- Customer management: SalesSeek and HarmonyPSA
- Time tracking: BigTime Time and Billing
- Manage expenses: Itemize, Expensify, ExpensePoint, and ExpenseIn
- Payment management: Entryless and Stripe
QuickBooks Integrations
QuickBooks Online has more than 450 apps available, which includes both in-app integrations and also third-party apps that will integrate with the software. Whether it’s point-of-sale, e-commerce, or inventory management, you can sync other business apps with QuickBooks. Here are a few available integrations for QuickBooks Online:
- Customer management: HubSpot, Insightly CRM, Aero Workflow, and Capsule CRM
- Time tracking: QuickBooks Time (in-app), Time Tracker by eBillity, and Hour Timesheet
- Manage expenses: Expensify, Transaction Pro, Veryfi, and Dext Prepare
- Process payroll: QuickBooks Payroll (in-app) and RUN powered by ADP, Gusto
- Payment management: QuickBooks Payments (in-app), Freedom Merchants, Melio, Veem, and Chaser
Takeaway: QuickBooks has more integrations available than Sage Business Cloud Accounting, but both provide the primary integrations you’ll need to manage your business.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Mobile App
Both Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s and QuickBooks Online’s mobile apps deliver the same features and perform as intended. Though their apps aren’t as good as Zoho Books, they can still work for very basic tasks, especially if you need to immediately upload receipts and receive payments through your smartphone.
Takeaway: Both providers have mediocre apps that can be flexible enough based on your needs. However, our winner for the best mobile app is Zoho Books.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Assisted Bookkeeping Options
Assisted bookkeeping is an option for small business owners who want help with account set-up and ensuring that transactions are properly categorized as well as reviewing reports and preparing their books for month-end close. While Sage Business Cloud Accounting lacks in this department, QuickBooks offers its QuickBooks Live service, which, for a fee, will match you with a dedicated virtual bookkeeper.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Assisted Bookkeeping
Sage Business Cloud Accounting doesn’t have its own online bookkeeping service that supports the software like QuickBooks does. You can likely find a local bookkeeper to assist you, but it won’t be as easy as with QuickBooks Online. It’s important to search for a bookkeeper who has experience with Sage products to ensure that they are a good fit for your business. You may also be able to find someone to work with virtually. In either case, it’s recommended that you verify their experience with Sage Business Cloud Accounting versus Sage 50 because the programs are significantly different.
QuickBooks Live
QuickBooks Live allows small business owners to outsource their bookkeeping tasks, which can include categorizing transactions, reconciling bank accounts, reviewing your financials, and closing your books. When you sign up, you’ll be matched with your own dedicated bookkeeper who is backed by a support team. You’ll be able to schedule live video chats in which you can go over financial reports, troubleshoot issues, and request guidance on how to perform certain tasks. You’ll also be able to review your bookkeeper’s progress in real-time. Prices range from $200 to $600 per month, depending on your company’s volume of expenses. It’s also easy to find an independent QuickBooks ProAdvisor to help you with QuickBooks Online.
Takeaway: When it comes to assisted bookkeeping services, QuickBooks is the clear winner. With QuickBooks Live, you can rely on the support of an experienced and knowledgeable finance professional who’ll assist you with staying on top of your finances. For other great options, see our choices for the best online bookkeeping services.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting vs QuickBooks Online: Customer Support
If you’re a small business owner who wants to leverage the power of your accounting software to help you manage your business, the availability of customer support options should be a major consideration.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting Customer Support.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting doesn’t offer phone or email support, so you can only contact them through a live chat person or a chatbot. The company’s website also hosts a knowledge base, a blog, how-to videos, and training courses through Sage University.
QuickBooks Customer Support
QuickBooks offers a variety of customer support options depending on your level of urgency. They offer in-software help via live AI chat, a help center, videos, a resource center, and a blog. Although you’re not able to call them directly, you can make a request from within QuickBooks for them to call you back. The only feature not available is email support.
Takeaway: QuickBooks Online is slightly better than Sage Business Cloud Accounting in terms of customer support because QuickBooks Online has phone support. However, it could’ve been better if users could call customer support directly. If you can’t sacrifice customer support, we recommend FreshBooks because it has all the customer support options offered in QuickBooks Online and Sage combined.
Bottom Line
While both Sage Business Cloud Accounting and QuickBooks Online are solid options, if your business involves significant levels of inventory or time tracking and can afford it, we strongly recommend choosing QuickBooks Online over Sage Business Cloud Accounting. However, Sage Business Cloud Accounting is good for simple bookkeeping.
