Sage Intacct and QuickBooks are two giants in financial and accounting software. While they are similar, there are several key differences that ensure they’re not in direct competition with one another. This is a good thing because they’re both pretty cool with many benefits for their specific target audience.
1. Target Audience and Business Size
Sage Intacct is designed for SMBs that are on an upward trajectory and need financial software that meets their growing needs. In other words, it’s scalable and matches increasingly complex accounting needs with your company’s growth.
QuickBooks is designed for small businesses that need accounting software with simpler features and functions. In fact, if we’re going to be specific, QuickBooks specializes in bookkeeping tasks. Accounting … not so much.
Sage is popular among specific industries, including healthcare, professional services, software providers, and not-for-profits. QuickBooks is used by small businesses across more sectors.
2. Cloud vs Desktop Deployment
This is one area where QuickBooks has a sorta-kinda advantage over Sage Intacct. You see, Sage is a cloud-based financial services solution with all the benefits that entails, like remote access.
QuickBooks provides cloud-based and desktop software solutions. Of course, Sage can be used in-office as a desktop system, but there are some features on QuickBooks’ desktop version not available online and vice versa.
Cloud-based software updates automatically, but desktop versions require manual updates, which can be a pain in the tuchus, especially if you forget (or ignore) update notifications.
The cloud also tends to provide higher data security, ensuring the protection of sensitive financial data.
3. Financial Management and Automation Features
Think of Sage Intacct as a basket of apples. It caters to a market that needs advanced financial management software, including multi-entity consolidations and revenue recognition.
Think of QuickBooks as a basket of oranges. Its features, including invoicing and expense tracking, are simpler.
You can’t compare apples and oranges. At least, that’s what we’re told.
It’s rubbish, of course. You can absolutely compare fruit.
Sage Intacct provides:
- Extensive automation, especially in accounts payable, receivable, and financial closing.
- Extensive customization, especially custom reporting.
- Management of complex multi-currency and multi-entity transactions.
QuickBooks provides … none of that. It only generates basic, pre-set reports and isn’t great at multi-anything.
4. Integrations and Customization
Sage Intacct is well-known for its integration with several third-party applications, including Salesforce and ADP. QuickBooks has integration capabilities, but not nearly to the extent of Intacct.
| Apples | Oranges |
|---|---|
| High degree of customization for unique business needs.
API access for deeper integrations Broad selection for pre-built integrations |
Not so much.
Not so much Limited selection |
The intention isn’t to make QuickBooks a wuss. Sage Intacct is suited to its purpose; growing, complex, financial solutions.
QuickBooks is suited to its purpose; small businesses that don’t need customization, API access, or extensive integrations.
5. Cost and Pricing Structure
Cost and pricing depend on the range and extent of features. Obviously, Sage Intacct is more expensive, because you get more.
Sage’s starting cost is higher because it’s based on business size and specific needs. We know that Sage targets businesses that are bigger than QuickBooks’ market. This means QuickBooks is more affordable, regardless of whether it’s the desktop or cloud-based version.
The downside is that QuickBooks can become expensive when small businesses grow and need additional features. Upgrades don’t come free.
Sage Intacct has higher start-up costs but it already contains many of the additional features QuickBooks users must buy.
6. Support and Customer Service
Remember when you dialed customer service and for the next three hours, you were told your call was important? That scenario is increasingly unlikely as support services develop. Now, 24/7 service is the norm. Sage and QuickBooks both provide 24/7 support, but QuickBooks’ support levels vary depending on the value of your subscription.
Sage has a good reputation for its customer support services due to the expertise of its staff in complex financial matters. Typical bookkeeping-focused support services tend to be more generalized, without delving deeply into anything complex.
Both companies provide several avenues for customer support, including phone, email, and online resources.
7. Scalability and Long-Term Growth
Between the two, Sage Intacct is best for SMBs that intend to grow their business or have increasingly complex financial needs, like multi-entity accounting when they open new branches or multi-currency operations when they expand to international markets.
Quickbooks: straightforward bookkeeping and accounting services for small businesses. It’s a bit self-limiting though and can’t easily adapt to small businesses’ evolving needs.
Sage Intacct is inherently scalable, but QuickBooks needs upgrades, possibly even migration to another financial accounting system to cope with your business’s growth.
Apples & Oranges: Which is the tastier fruit?
The cop-out answer is that it depends.
The real answer is that it hangs on the size and complexity of your business and your long-term goals. In other words, it depends.
You can always ask a seasoned professional for advice. Lescault & Walderman is a vendor for both systems and is happy to guide you to the solution best for your business’s needs.
