Another Happy QuickBooks user LOL.

The big question - has anyone found an alternative to QuickBooks that does not force us to use a password on our own desktop computers and does not make us log in (or nag us about it)?  I also have been a longtime QB user (15+ years) and would drop it in a heartbeat if a competitor arose that treated customers better.  The dismissive replies on this forum from QB employees make it even worse.

@frustratedUser18 

Which QB Desktop year version do you have?

@4Gal  I have QB Desktop 2021

@frustratedUser18 

You use a non-subscription license and don't have to bother converting your data to another program to access your historical data. You can check manage.io. This is a free program, support Windows & Mac and has good reviews.

@4Gal  thank you very much.  I am looking at it now.  It's actually manager.io (with an r in manager)... the other link goes somewhere else.

Are you affiliated with manager.io?  Do you use the desktop version of this?  How do you like it?

@frustratedUser18 

Thanks for the correction. I am not affiliated with them. We always mention this program since last year to our 2019 and 2020 QBD clients when they decided not to switch to any cloud-based accounting app. If you only need the core features to manage your books (no online service), this program will be enough. You will need a workaround to access your historical data if you are using a QBD subscription license (i.e. 2022-2024)

You can also use another free third-party app to manage your bills and pay them for free with ACH.

https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/pricing

You can get $100 cashback to pay your first bill.

https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/cashback

@4Gal, thank you for the great tips. Hopefully others will benefit as well.

That doesn't work m I have the disc 14 18 20 21. Even with.a disvmc it forces it ibdobtvuse any of the QB online stuff but it forces it is ridiculous. Ibwould and havelooked for a program as well I'm writing own just to dump this stuff. I dontvwant my company info online at all. I bought the disc it is mine let me use it without being involved . What's worse od my version is no longer supported and I still can't do anything without logging in 

Try GnuCash. It's free and entirely desktop. The graphis may not be as developed as QB but it works.

Its funny to me how this got marked "Solved" at some point.

No, I DO NOT NEED/WANT to use QB online (please don't suggest it again)

No I DO NOT NEED any security patches from intuit (at this point they are just trojans trying to interfere with my use of the software)
Yes I fully PAID the software I have the right to use it BUT:

Its funny to me how Intuit literally made this software ARTIFICIALLY obsolete.

Obviously they saw the opportunity to capitalize on their monopoly and they did of course. It's just so unethical and CHEAP to force small businesses like ours to pay double the price every year until 2022 and then a good 20% after that. They must be starving to try to extort money like that.

I paid for the software in 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023. I own it. I DO NOT need their services and they made their software unusable unless I pay an unjust amount EVERY STINKING YEAR!!!!

And cherry on the cake you cannot convert the company file back. WOW!

Thanks Intuit.

My solution:
I had an original 2018 copy with license. Installed and turned off any updates and online services and 'et voila'. Im using my 7 years old software without Intuit forcefully sticking their nose in what is mine.

Sorry for the rant.

I'm a very small business and this comes after 3 years of hoping for a more fair position on Intuit's part.

Best,

another exasperated small business owner

@petergio 

I paid for the software in 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023

You can use the trial version of QB Desktop 2022 and 2023 to access your data for good if required.

@4Gal It's a work around and it costs money

@petergio 

It's a work around and it costs money

Yes. But it is only one time.

I am there with you.  I've been using QB since the 90's.  I am sick of having to be forced to upgrade when the product we are using is perfectly fine.  It's nothing more than money grabbing. 

Same here, I have been using QuickBooks Pro since 1997. I have survived recent changes by making sure the QB computer is not connected to the net when I start, and only connect when I print to the network printer.

My firewall blockings of traffic to QB seems to keep me safe from the Intuit Intrusion for now.... 

I am living in Sweden and all accounting programs here are required by law to have a standard interchange import/export function. 
Trapping you into one service is not only mean, it is unethical.

So great that there is a law like that in Sweden.  Sure wish we had it here. 

I work for a small business besides my own, and our QB desktop version will lose its bank feeds this coming May.  I have told the owner, but she doesn't seem to understand the additional expense she will have to absorb.  So hard to explain to owners who have never done their own bookkeeping.  

We will have to soldier on, until QB can be replaced.  

i just updated my payroll and it says as of 2/10/24 i need to update my payment it is not due till april

Thanks for joining the thread, jej.
 

I'd like to ask for further details to provide better assistance. May I kindly inquire about the specific details of the payment? It would also greatly help if you could provide a screenshot of what QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) prompts you after you update your payroll.
 

Keep us posted if you have updates on the issue you've experienced after you've updated your payroll in QBDT. We're committed to offering ongoing support. Take care.

I've been on several calls and no longer want to waste my time with this terrible program. I was on this phone  this morning because my merchant service account decided not to authorize me. Something I did not need in the middle of tax season. I am also very tired of the constant pop up and advertising. Someone make it stop. But of course even with all the problems you keep raising the prices. What a rip off. 

Jejmccoy, 

Is the credit or debit card you have saved in payment methods due to expire or has already expired? I've had that happen and I updated it as it was time to process the payment and it was a NIGHTMARE.  My advice is to update it ONLY IF the card is or will be expired by the renewal date.  They won't charge you early, that's one thing that they actually DO correctly, is not charge until the renewal date, at least in my 15+ years experience.  I agree, it's tedious the amount of time and clicks it takes to get TO the payment method; it used to be far simpler.   

I agree, the program has become ODIOUS in some respects.  I am not at ALL thrilled with the phasing out of the desktop version.  I loathe and despise QBO.  The accountant tools compared to the ones in the desktop version are virtually nonexistent.  I'm going to have a fair number of angry clients when I tell them.