Quicken desktop vs online, this has been a very common topic amongst the Quicken user base for quite some time. There are a few purists who prefer the Quicken desktop because of its proven record. However, the online version of Quicken also has a fanbase of its own. In this blog, we provide our insight on the topic for a clearer overview. Let us start the battle and see whether we get a clear winner, or have to settle for a draw.
Why do the Two Versions Exist?
The Quicken desktop is the OG financial manager. It has arguably all features that are possible in an application of its kind. The software has an excellent reputation and maintains it with regular updates. In recent times, many new features have been introduced to keep up with the current trends.
Quicken Online on the other hand is a free counterpart of the application. The developer. Intuit, brought up this version to meet a variety of wide personal finance needs. It is fully free and provides all basic features, and it does that perfectly.
Quicken Desktop vs Online - List of Features
In this section, we provide a list of features that are present in both versions. This shall be helpful to choose the right version as per needs.
Features of Quicken Desktop
It comes equipped with features like bill pay, drill-down on investment, financial management for both home and business;
The desktop version offers the rental property management tool;
It also comes with many in-depth financing instruments as well as high-level reporting options;
Quicken Desktop helps users with comprehensive tax preparation as well as the reduction of maximizing tools;
Users can also track savings against goals and optimize the profits tools;
Finally, it hosts an environment perfect for understanding financial goals and status.
Features of Quicken Online
It is free of cost, and offers all personal finance solutions that work effectively;
The online version is great at handling money at a primary level;
Quicken Online provides an option to view balances, what’s left among paychecks, and maintain cash flow;
The accounts have access to balance and have seamless links with mobile devices. It can also generate alerts via email and messages;
There are options to set bill reminders and also large expense transaction alerts;
Data in Quicken Online refreshes automatically every night and allows the user to monitor finances effortlessly. There is no need to manually track each expense.
Head On Comparison Between the Two Versions
Now that you have a basic idea about the Desktop and Online versions, we can proceed to the direct comparison.
The online version of Quicken is great for handling primary tasks. However, it misses out on advanced reporting features. For those, one has to opt for Quicken Desktop;
Quicken Online is easier to learn and use. But the Quicken Desktop version has a steep learning curve. However, there is a huge difference in features so it is justified;
Quicken Online refreshes the account information every day, automatically. But the Desktop version allows tracking against goals and also customizes the saving tools;
The Online version includes only data on financial institutions. The Quicken Desktop version provides a complete personal finance solution.
The Verdict -
As it is clear, there is no definite way to define a clear winner in the Quicken desktop vs online debate. But the better news is, it is not even a direct comparison. Both versions have their own advantages and complement each other perfectly. Rather, the free online version provides a great platform for learning Quicken and also starting with financial managers. Whereas Quicken Desktop is the more advanced counterpart loaded with a large number of features that provide a holistic financial management experience.
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