Is QuickBooks Online Better than QuickBooks Enterprise? Part 2: Feature Comparison
In this installment, we’ll take a look at a comparison of features between QuickBooks Online (QBO) and QuickBooks Enterprise (QBE).
Note: Be sure to check out part 1, where we took a look at the cost and 24/7 access differences between QBO and QBE.
FEATURE COMPARISON – QUICKBOOKS ONLINE VS. QUICKBOOKS ENTERPRISE
Rather than list out a side by side comparison of what both products have in common, I thought it would be helpful to identify those key features that exist in one or the other, but not both.
The lists below are not designed to be all-inclusive, as Intuit tweaks QuickBooks regularly. These are focused on what typical end users would need, not special features that accountants may use in QB.
Features in QBE but not QBO:
- Sales orders
- Industry specific reporting (contractor, mfg/wholesale, etc.)
- Multi-location inventory tracking, lot/serial tracking, barcoding (these are only available in the Platinum subscription level of QBE)
- Available to promise inventory
- Assemblies and bills of material
- Change orders on estimates
- Fixed asset manager
- Batch enter transactions
Features in QBO but not QBE:
- Schedule and send transactions
- Bank feeds can be set up to run automatically every night
- Multiple budgets per fiscal year
- Journal entries can have multiple AR or AP entries in them
- Delayed charges (set up now, but record later)
- 24/7 access, since it is web based
Note: Woody Adams from Intuit (@adams_woody) put together a great comparison of QBO and QBE on the @StacyKidal blog. Be sure to check it out for more details!
As you can see, the list of differences in QBO and QBE has closed pretty significantly in the last few years. The gap used to be FAR wider!
Keep in mind, that for those key differences relating to inventory, there are a number of inventory add-ons for QBO that can backfill any needed functionality.
THE “EYEBALL ADJUSTMENT FACTOR”
When it comes to comparing QBE and QBO, they both handle core accounting transactions well.
One of the perceived differences between the versions is what I call the “eyeball adjustment factor” that tends to shift perceptions one direction or the other.
EXAMPLE -> CREATING INVOICES
Both QBO and QBE create invoices without a problem. They post to the correct ledger accounts.
However, the “create invoice” screen looks VERY different between them.
The “Create Invoice” screen in QBE:
The “Create Invoice” screen in QBO:
Same function, yet “looks different”, right?
For those that have never worked in QBO before, this is a non-factor.
For those that have spent days working in QBE, this can be perceived as a big factor.
But is it really?
I’ll leave that up to you to decide…
UP NEXT…
In the final installment of this series, we’ll explore the “ecosystem” of add-ons for QBE and QBO.
As I hope you’re starting to see, the choice of QBE or QBO is really a unique discussion for each business – there is no “one size fits all” answer when asked which is better.
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?
Do you have an opinion on the feature differences between QBE and QBO? Our community would love to hear about your experience with either or both, so please drop your comments below…
