A cloud-based accounting tool plays a vital role in a company’s daily operations. It provides a clear and organized overview of your financial activities, helps you optimize tax preparation, and payroll, and even helps you manage projects and track time effectively. For years, QuickBooks Online, Sage Intacct, and Xero have been dominant players in their respective markets, each presenting its own set of features.
If you’re in search of top-notch accounting software or interested in understanding the distinctions between QuickBooks Online, Sage Intacct, and Xero, this article will provide you with valuable insights.
What is Accounting Software used for?
Accounting SaaS tools provide finance teams with a single hub for managing financial data, extracting valuable insights, and producing reports. These tools streamline various tasks, including automating bookkeeping, invoicing, tax calculations, customer management, bank account reconciliation, performance tracking, and data collection from sources like CRM systems and payroll automation software.
Now that we’ve discussed what accounting SaaS tools do and why they matter, let’s compare three powerful accounting solutions.
QuickBooks Online Accounting Software:
QuickBooks is a user-friendly accounting software with a rich set of features, including invoicing, expense management, vendor tracking, and billing, making it an excellent choice for small businesses.
QuickBooks claims on its website that 98% of its customers feel their software makes running their businesses easier, and it’s no surprise given QuickBooks Online’s excellent reputation.
QuickBooks Online, created by Intuit, is a versatile cloud-based accounting software designed to cater to businesses of various sizes, providing features for accounting, online payments, bill management, and more.
Discover how QuickBooks Online differs from QuickBooks Desktop.
| Features | QuickBooks Online Accounting Software |
| Suitable for | Small businesses and accounting professionals |
| Core Functionalities | Financial management, inventory tracking, invoicing |
| Strengths | Tracks income and expenses by class and location Offers a robust mobile app Provides strong project accounting features Cost-effective with various pricing options |
| Integration Capabilities | Quick integration with multiple apps for real-time updates on financial data like Square, Shopify, PayPal, Stripe, and more |
| Learning Curve | Low, especially for those familiar with Excel or other spreadsheet applications |
Learn which version of QuickBooks is right for you.
Sage Intacct Accounting Software:
Sage Intacct offers versatile features for businesses with diverse needs. It provides an intuitive dashboard for holding companies to monitor metrics across multiple entities and customize department-specific or role-specific dashboards, ensuring seamless information flow. For mid-sized nonprofits with finance teams, Sage Intacct’s comprehensive accounting program streamlines fund accounting, activity-based budgeting, and real-time data access. Venture capitalists also find it handy because it can quickly put together data from many different companies, especially if they work with different currencies and subsidiaries.
| Features | Sage Intacct Accounting Software |
| Suitable for | Small businesses |
| Core Functionalities | Financial management, invoicing, payments, expenses tracking |
| Strengths | Provides an informative dashboard Offers a customized workflow for different types of customers and vendors Has accounts payable automation |
| Integration Capabilities | Integration with Dropbox, Google Drive, QuickBooks, and other systems |
| Learning Curve | Low, particularly with user-friendly installation and comprehensive tutorials |
Xero Accounting Software:
Xero is an online accounting software primarily aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, though it can be useful for larger ones too. It helps in expense tracking, invoice management, automated payments, and inventory control. Additionally, it offers access to various add-on apps from partners and third-party developers, such as payroll, customer relationship management, and point-of-sale solutions.
| Features | Xero Accounting Software |
| Suitable for | Small and medium businesses, sole proprietors’ traders |
| Core Functionalities | Invoicing, bank reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable, reporting, analytics |
| Strengths | – Customizable dashboard – Bank reconciliation – Expense claims management – Project tracking – Contact management – All-inclusive with a single low monthly price |
| Integration Capabilities | Seamless integration with various tools like invoice apps, accounting software, etc. |
| Learning Curve | Low, with an intuitive interface and comprehensive features |
Tax1099 Integration with Xero, Sage Intacct & QuickBooks Online
Whether you opt for Xero, Sage Intacct, or QuickBooks Online, Tax1099 seamlessly integrates with all three accounting software systems. With a single click, effortlessly sync your 1099 vendors from Sage Intacct, Xero and QuickBooks Online to Tax1099, streamlining your tax preparation process.
Tax1099 provides a comprehensive suite of features including year-round eFiling, prior year eFiling, corrected forms, and more, making eFiling an easy and efficient process. Tax1099.com simplifies the eFiling experience, ensuring that managing tax forms has never been more convenient.
