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QuickBooks Desktop Transition: Discover QuickBooks Online

Published on September 3, 2025

As part of our initiative to provide our customers with the best and safest solutions, new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop products are no longer available. This step demonstrates our focus on innovation and supporting businesses with the very best tools.

While existing QuickBooks Desktop customers are able to maintain their subscriptions active and current, QuickBooks Online offers the opportunity of simplifying your accounting and taking advantage of the flexibility and power of the cloud.

QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop

Comparison of features for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop
Feature	QuickBooks Online	QuickBooks Desktop
Accessibility	Cloud-based access on any device	Tied to a single computer
Updates	Automatic and included	Manual downloads
Collaboration	Real-time and secure	Requires manual file transfers
Security & Backups	Automatic cloud backups	Manual backups
Pricing	Flexible monthly subscription	No longer available for new subscriptions
Mobile Access	Dedicated mobile app	No dedicated app

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- - QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time. See our Terms of Service for further information.
  - Discount: For new QuickBooks customers, receive a discount off the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 3 months of service, starting from date of enrolment. From month 4 from the date of enrolment, the price will change to the then current monthly price. See current prices here. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until you cancel. You may cancel at any time. There is no limit on the number of subscriptions ordered under this offer. This offer cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online promotion or offers.
  - Trial: First thirty (30) days of subscription to QuickBooks Online, starting from the date of enrolment, is free. During the free trial. To continue using QuickBooks after your 30-day trial, you'll be asked to present a valid credit card for authorisation and you'll be charged monthly at the then-current fee for the service(s) you've selected.
  - Devices: QuickBooks Online requires a computer with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari 6 and an Internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. QuickBooks Online is accessible on mobile browsers on iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Devices sold separately; data plan required. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.
  - Cloud storage: Data access is subject to Internet or cellular provider network availability and occasional downtime due to events beyond our control.
  - Annual Billing: You may pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis to enjoy a discount on the current fees. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12 month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.
  - Our Terms of Service apply to all QuickBooks Online subscriptions. Please review them carefully.
  - Saasant Managed Migration: Offer is limited to the first 250 small businesses or Accountants who purchase any QuickBooks Online subscription from 5 March 2024, and within 14 days of their purchase date, sign up for a SaasAnt Managed Accounting Migration at https://www.saasant.com/quickbooks-migration/. Offer not available in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. Data migration is provided by SaasAnt Inc and you acknowledge that to the maximum extent permitted by law, Intuit disclaims all responsibility and any liability for services provided by third parties, including migration services provided by SaasAnt Inc.. The terms of SaaSant Inc govern the use of its services and you agree to review, and be subject to those terms. Offer is for a one-off migration of data from Excel to QuickBooks. All migrations are to be completed within 3 months from the date of acceptance of your QuickBooks subscription purchase, or by 5 July 2024, whichever is earlier. Any entitlement to a free migration not completed within this time will expire.

30% 24 Month Bulk SMB Offer Terms and Conditions
- Eligibility: Starting 15 Apr 2024 and for a limited time, eligible customers will be entitled to a 30% discount for the first 24 months on QuickBooks Online Simple Start, Essentials, and Plus (“QBO”) when they sign up for a minimum of two (2) QBO subscriptions using a single email account. This offer is eligible for new and trial QBO customers only. Excluding customers based in the US, UK, Canada & Australia. Customers must purchase two (2) or more subscriptions. To take advantage of this offer you must call one of the phone numbers below, sign up through the assigned sales account manager, and/or or chat with an expert at: quickbooks.intuit.com/global/.
  - - South Africa +27 800 990 331
  - - Hong Kong +852 800 903 418
  - - UAE +971 8000 35703102
  - - Philippines +63 2271 1565 (PLDT Smart) or 1800 8902 0401 (Globe)
  - - Singapore +65 8001 204 517
  - - Malaysia 1800 818 232
  - - Ireland 1800 80 71 32
  Pricing: Eligible customers will be entitled to apply 30% off the monthly price for QBO for the first 24 months of the service starting from the date of enrollment, followed by the then-current list price for the service as long as two (2) or more QBO subscriptions are purchased. Sales tax may be applied where applicable. List price subject to change at any time at Intuit’s sole discretion. If you add or remove services, your service fees will be adjusted accordingly.
  
  Term of Offer: All QBO subscriptions must be activated within 180 days. If the subscriptions are not activated within the time period, the price will change to the then-current list price. Offer is non-transferable and non-refundable. The discount is valid only for the QBO customer that registered the QBO subscriptions and cannot be transferred to another client, individual, or company. The promotion requires active subscriptions for the entire duration of the 24 month discount period. This offer can't be combined with any other QuickBooks offers. Offer ends 31 July 2026.
  
  Billing & Cancellation: The QBO account will be automatically charged on a monthly basis. To cancel your subscription at any time go to Account & Settings in QBO and select “Cancel.” Your cancellation will become effective at the end of the monthly billing period. You will not receive a prorated refund; your access and subscription benefits will continue for the remainder of the billing period. Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.

30% 12 Month Bulk SMB Offer - QBO Advanced Terms and Conditions
- Eligibility: Starting 11 Nov 2024 and for a limited time, eligible customers will be entitled to a 30% discount for the first 12 months on QuickBooks Advanced (“QBO Advanced”) when they sign up for a minimum of two (2) QBO Advanced subscriptions using a single email account. This offer is eligible for new and trial QBO Advanced customers only. Excluding customers based in the US, UK, Canada & Australia. Customers must purchase two (2) or more subscriptions. To take advantage of this offer you must call one of the phone numbers below, sign up through the assigned sales account manager, and/or or chat with an expert at: quickbooks.intuit.com/global/.
  - - South Africa +27 800 990 331
  - - Hong Kong +852 800 903 418
  - - UAE +971 8000 35703102
  - - Philippines +63 2271 1565 (PLDT Smart) or 1800 8902 0401 (Globe)
  - - Singapore +65 8001 204 517
  - - Malaysia 1800 818 232
  - - Ireland 1800 80 71 32
  Pricing: Eligible customers will be entitled to apply 30% off the monthly price for QBO for the first 12 months of the service starting from the date of enrollment, followed by the then-current list price for the service as long as two (2) or more QBO subscriptions are purchased. Sales tax may be applied where applicable. List price subject to change at any time at Intuit’s sole discretion. If you add or remove services, your service fees will be adjusted accordingly.
  
  Term of Offer: All QBO subscriptions must be activated within 180 days. If the subscriptions are not activated within the time period, the price will change to the then-current list price. Offer is non-transferable and non-refundable. The discount is valid only for the QBO customer that registered the QBO subscriptions and cannot be transferred to another client, individual, or company. The promotion requires active subscriptions for the entire duration of the 12 month discount period. This offer can't be combined with any other QuickBooks offers. Offer ends 31 Dec 2025.
  
  Billing & Cancellation: The QBO account will be automatically charged on a monthly basis. To cancel your subscription at any time go to Account & Settings in QBO and select “Cancel.” Your cancellation will become effective at the end of the monthly billing period. You will not receive a prorated refund; your access and subscription benefits will continue for the remainder of the billing period. Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.

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QuickBooks Online Features

Simple expense tracking

Keeping abreast of the stream of bills and receipts can become tedious work. You can rapidly capture and keep track of expenses with QuickBooks Online.

Snap a picture of a receipt with the Smartphone app, and the software will sort the transaction automatically into its proper category. It simplifies keeping detailed records and rapidly determining how much your business has spent and has on hand for cash flow and provides a better overall picture. Learn how QuickBooks Online can assist with tracking expenses.

Seamless invoicing and payments

Getting paid on time counts for any business. QuickBooks Online simplifies the entire process. You'll have your professional invoices completed in a matter of minutes and send them straight to your customers right away. They also have simple online payment processes wherein customers will be able to settle your payment with only one click.

That further reduces payment lag, hastens your cash flow, and reclaims your time so that you'll be focused on growing your company. Check out payment and invoicing with QuickBooks Online.

Robust reporting and insights

To make informed business decisions, you're going to need access to up-to-the minute information. QuickBooks Online comes equipped with an ample selection of fully editable reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts. You'll have anywhere, at any time, access to these reports, and obtain a clear view of your firm's current finances. Take a look at the power of QuickBooks Online reports.

Safe and convenient from any location

Whereas desktop software will leave you tied to one machine, QuickBooks Online is cloud software. That means your data gets stored safely and always at your fingertips from any machine—your desktop, your tablet, or your smartphone. That level of flexibility is priceless for businesses with home workers or with on-the-road finances. You'll have the ability to collaborate with your accountant or staff members in real-time without the hassle of swapping files or loss of data.

A final thought for your business' future

Moving to a digital financial solution is an intelligent strategy that can free your business to work more effectively, safely, and with long-term vision. Adopting a current, cloud-powered platform like QuickBooks Online will enable you to streamline your accounting, get a clearer view of your business, and focus on your strengths.

Ready for your next move? Explore QuickBooks’ plans and pricing.