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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac

    Score8.4 out of 10
    N/AQuickbooks Desktop for Mac is an accounting software designed for Mac users. It is designed to integrate with Apple iCloud. It provides core accounting features in line with the rest of the Quickbooks Desktop product line.N/A

    Sage 500

    Score6.2 out of 10
    N/ASage 500 ERP includes accounting and finance, distribution and supply chain, and manufacturing operations support modules. The latest Sage 500 release includes accounts payable enhancements, credit card processing, and general updates, as well as updates to the solution's modules.N/A
    Pricing
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Considered Both Products
    Intuit
    No answer on this topic
    Sage
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    80%
    Would buy again
    4 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    80%
    Delivers good value for the price
    4 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    80%
    Happy with the feature set
    4 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    8.9
    13 Ratings
    16% above category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    7.0
    2 Ratings
    7% below category average
    Pay calculation8.411 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration7.98 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Direct deposit files10.010 Ratings7.02 Ratings
    Salary revision and increment management8.47 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reimbursement management10.09 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.5
    12 Ratings
    1% below category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.5
    3 Ratings
    12% above category average
    API for custom integration7.08 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Plug-ins8.011 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    10.0
    22 Ratings
    20% above category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.5
    3 Ratings
    1% above category average
    Single sign-on capability10.022 Ratings7.03 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions10.019 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    6.7
    24 Ratings
    15% below category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.0
    3 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Dashboards5.121 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Standard reports7.924 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Custom reports7.024 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.6
    26 Ratings
    0% below category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.0
    3 Ratings
    4% above category average
    Accounts payable8.126 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Accounts receivable7.625 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Cash management5.520 Ratings00 Ratings
    Bank reconciliation9.526 Ratings00 Ratings
    Expense management8.622 Ratings00 Ratings
    Time tracking7.514 Ratings00 Ratings
    Fixed asset management7.016 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-currency support5.011 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-division support6.012 Ratings00 Ratings
    Regulations compliance10.011 Ratings00 Ratings
    Electronic tax filing10.017 Ratings00 Ratings
    Self-service portal7.615 Ratings00 Ratings
    Global Financial Support5.08 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers8.615 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Intercompany Accounting8.116 Ratings00 Ratings
    Localizations8.07 Ratings00 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations9.519 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Enterprise Accounting8.67 Ratings00 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting6.511 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Centralized Rules Framework6.511 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standardized Processes6.915 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    7.4
    17 Ratings
    2% above category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.0
    3 Ratings
    0% above category average
    Inventory tracking9.516 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Automatic reordering6.512 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Location management6.911 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Manufacturing module6.510 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    9.1
    20 Ratings
    21% above category average
    Sage 500 ERP
    8.8
    2 Ratings
    10% above category average
    Pricing9.019 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Order entry9.518 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Credit card processing9.119 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold9.118 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Order Orchestration9.07 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    End-to-end order visibility9.19 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order exception Resolution9.18 Ratings00 Ratings
    Subledger and Financial Process
    Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    5.9
    2 Ratings
    25% below category average
    Billing Management00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Cash and Asset Management00 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Travel & Expense Management00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Period Close00 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Project Financial Management
    Comparison of Project Financial Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    6.9
    1 Ratings
    9% below category average
    Budgeting and Forecasting00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
    Project Costing00 Ratings3.01 Ratings
    Cost Capture00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Capital Project Management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Customer Contract Compliance00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Project Revenue Recognition00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Project Execution Management
    Comparison of Project Execution Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    4.5
    1 Ratings
    44% below category average
    Task Insight for Project Managers00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Project Mobile Functionality00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Grants Management
    Comparison of Grants Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    7.5
    1 Ratings
    0% above category average
    Award Lifecycle Management00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Procurement
    Comparison of Procurement features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    6.0
    1 Ratings
    17% below category average
    Contract Authoring00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Contract Repository00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Requisitions-to-Purchase Orders Integrated00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Supplier Management00 Ratings4.01 Ratings
    Risk Management
    Comparison of Risk Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    4.3
    1 Ratings
    44% below category average
    Risk Repository00 Ratings3.01 Ratings
    Control Management00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Control Efficiency Assessments00 Ratings4.01 Ratings
    Remediation and Certification00 Ratings3.01 Ratings
    Supply Chain
    Comparison of Supply Chain features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    1.3
    1 Ratings
    140% below category average
    Forecasting00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
    Inventory Planning00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Performance Monitoring00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
    Product Lifecycle Management
    Comparison of Product Lifecycle Management features of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Sage 500 ERP
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop for Mac
    -
    Ratings
    Sage 500 ERP
    5.3
    1 Ratings
    33% below category average
    Proposal Management00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Product Master Data Management00 Ratings4.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Small Businesses
    QuickBooks Self-Employed (discontinued)
    Score4.3 out of 10
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    MYOB
    Score8.3 out of 10
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Microsoft Dynamics GP
    Score5.5 out of 10
    Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)
    Score4.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.1
    (34 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (9 ratings)
    6.3
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    6.1
    (8 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Availability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.0
    (4 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    6.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    QuickBooks Desktop for MacSage 500
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Intuit
    If you're a freelancer or running a very small business where you do your own bookkeeping I think this is a great option, especially if you're familiar with accounting and bookkeeping in general. If you're not so familiar with bookkeeping, I would say that the learning curve is too steep and you might want to look elsewhere for a more intuitive solution
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    Sage 500 ERP is great for companies with core accounting needs, distributors, and discrete manufacturers. Some areas, such as process manufacturing, would require a companion product from an ISV for the software to be truly functional. Some areas, such as construction or retail apparel, may simply not be well-served.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Intuit
    • The program is very easy to learn, the interface is incredibly user-friendly and there are tons of free resources and tutorials available
    • It makes managing payroll really easy for the employee and accountant on staff. No more lost time sheets or late paychecks!
    • Managing bills and paying them has become streamlined and it's great having everything in one place so we don't lose track of things.
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    • Sage is the one-stop-shop for all of our needs. We're able to control contracts, subcontracts, and field reports from the program.
    • Another strength is the ability to database all the information and export it to excel. This makes data-based investigations a breeze.
    • The ability for Timberscan to be imported to Sage is a huge help with invoice management. Prior to this it all had to be done manually and slowed the process to an essential halt as there are thousands of invoices per month.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Intuit
    • The #1 complaint is that setting it up right is a challenge. People waste time trying to figure it out only to realize that they don't know accounting so of course they don't know how an accounting program should be set up. Like any time you are in over your head, reach out to your network and find someone who can log onto your computer and walk you through it.
    • If you need to track the cost of wages to jobs you can't do it with the online payroll, but check for yourself because it's a function that landscaping companies and construction businesses usually need, so maybe they have added it by now. That would really help!
    • It's premise-based software and that means you take on the role of hardware admin, and it's a lot of work for what is increasingly becoming a smaller gap in the functionality between QuickBooks for Mac and QuickBooks Online.
    • QuickBooks for Mac 2015 has been updated consistently over the last 3 years and continues to provide for the bookkeeping needs of small companies using Macs in their offices. However, it has limited job costing functionality. It is similar in functionality to the 2010 version of QuickBooksPro which runs on Windows.
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    • The biggest concern/complaint of Sage 500 users is speed. Some of the screen take a while to load.
    • The user interface needs some refreshing. Screens need to be updated to take advantage of shortcuts and to be more intuitive.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Intuit
    I haven't spent that much time with the newer versions of QuickBooks for Mac, but I think I'm seeing it make the much-needed improvements. For example, something as simple as undoing the previous reconciliation was a terrible chore, and I'm glad that feature has been included in the newer versions of QuickBooks for Mac
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    It's too pricey for our size of company.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Intuit
    The Mac version is OK overall. I find the Windows versions to be much more robust but Mac is quite good for Mac users. Though I think die hard Mac users should consider QuickBooks Online instead as there is a new QB for Mac app that makes using QBO much better!
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    I have been using Intacct for almost 10 years in 2 different companies and I just simply love it. I tried SAP (GUI) and Netsuite and they dont come close to what Ive seen.
    Incentivized
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    Reliability and Availability
    Intuit
    I've been using the QuickBooks online version for a little over 6 months now (upgraded from Mac desktop) and I haven't had any access issues. There have been times when it was down for service/upgrade however there is always plenty of notification time given by the Quick Books Online Support team. These upgrade maintenance time frames are always over night hours and on the weekends so everything can be worked around very easily.
    Read full review
    Sage
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Intuit
    Fortunately, I haven't had to reach out much for support.
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    The online training courses are not up to date. We experienced technical issues with two of the classes.
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    Keep your database and application in different servers.
    Install Microsoft Office on your application server so you can use some of the data analysis tools in Sage.
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Intuit
    I love using Quickbooks compared to other software we've tried. QuickBooks Online and TSheets interface. Customer service and problem resolution are generally excellent, with well-trained and proficient agents taking calls or on chat. Ease of use and accessibility via the mobile app. Great courses were available to help with learning the basics and some advanced accounting background. I love learning! Online accessibility - it can work anywhere with an internet connection. Linking to bank and credit card accounts is handy.
    Read full review
    Sage
    500 seems much smoother at handling some of the basic accounting tasks, for example both issuing and later reconciling checks in Dynamics AX seems a little tedious.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Intuit
    • It has allowed us to offer multiple bookkeeping softwares for clients that do not want to change from what they have been using.
    • Payroll filing has given us ease of mind because we can physically make the filings rather than waiting on payroll software to make them for us.
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    • Positive: The program allows for a lot of data entry and splitting of information. It has the capability of replacing multiple programs and therefore saving cost.
    • Negative: The modules are cumbersome and not user friendly at all. As a result not many user are comfortable using it. This means that the program is not being used to its capacity.
    • Negative: Although the program has the capacity to be great, the user interface destroys that potential. Sage needs to seriously work on their program to simplify it. It's as if it still uses Command-line entries from 1995. Needs to be updated ASAP.
    Incentivized
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    ScreenShots