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QuickBooks Desktop Pro vs. Sage Accounting vs. ValueSoft

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    QuickBooks Desktop Pro

    Score7.8 out of 10
    N/AQuickbooks Desktop Pro is accounting software from Intuit, Inc. It includes core accounting features, plus analytics and exportable reports. It is offered in on-premise and SaaS forms.N/A

    Sage Accounting

    Score7.5 out of 10
    N/ASage Accounting is online accounting software made to simplify life for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers by providing the functions needed to take care of daily business to-dos. Users can create and send professional quotes and invoices, track income and expenses and know where the business' financials stand. Every Sage Business Cloud Accounting subscription includes unlimited access to support as well as automatic backups and product updates.

    $19

    per month

    ValueSoft

    N/AN/AN/A

    $225

    one-time fee

    Pricing
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Basic
    $225
    one-time fee
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Free Trial
    NoYesYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsVersions and pricing listed are for CA products. Versions available and pricing may vary by country. * 2 months free to start, or free for 1 month to try, then $19/$43/$62 +tax/mo (tier depending). Offer valid for new customers only on monthly subscriptions of Sage Business Cloud Accounting. After the promotional period, the monthly subscription rate will renew at the then current rate. May not be combined with any other offers or discounts. To ensure continuous service the subscription plan is an automatically renewing plan. Subsequent months will automatically be billed to the same credit card each month on the anniversary date of purchase. Plans can be terminated at any time prior to the renewal data and not charged for renewal.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Considered Multiple Products
    Intuit
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    I think QuickBooks Online is better than QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    Incentivized
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    I selected QB Desktop Pro because of the client size, industry, and accounting staff.
    Incentivized
    Chose QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    So many of our clients use it and recommended that we use it. We used to use Sage 50 and were hesitant to move over. The TurboTax integration is a great feature and was a factor in my decision to switch. I think QB and the others are all very capable of meeting our needs. …
    Incentivized
    Sage
    Chose Sage Accounting
    Sage and Quickbooks are very similar. Sage has it's own format and style of their program. However, Sage needs to more advanced with syncing with other program apps, such as Shopify (for example). The only one feature we don't like is the "Other Payment" option. It's like a …
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    It's about the same, just a different way to get to a similar end goal. Ultimately, Sage offers superior, rigid compliance tracking and robust multi-entity management tools. QuickBooks certainly wins for its more modern UI, thousands of native app integrations, and superior …
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    For a period we switched from Simply Accounting to Quickbooks based on recommendations that it was easier to use. However, Sage Accounting uses a classic standard double entry bookkeping system which is needed for our somewhat complicated postings. Quickbooks seemed more …
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    Sage Accounting is good, but Xero is even more beginner friendly. And more affordable and also incorporates Hubdoc. I use Sage Accounting because that's what work is already using, and also for my own clients, I already have the old Desktop version which works just as fine.
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    I find it easier and more user friendly than quickbooks
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    While Sage Accounting (at least the version I am familiar with), lacks more involvement with the owner (features like Xero's hubdoc encourage owner use of accounting software) I generally prefer the layout, design and overall product that is Sage Accounting. I find that the …
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    Sage Accounting allows for better customization and setup
    Incentivized
    Chose Sage Accounting
    While QuickBooks is a solid solution, Sage Accounting offers enhanced security and effectively prevents any unrecorded activity. I'm thoroughly satisfied with Sage Accounting and Payroll and have no intention of switching back. Better security and prevents any unrecorded …
    Incentivized
    Kalasoftech
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    88%
    Would buy again
    29 Answers
    85%
    Would buy again
    163 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    28 Answers
    85%
    Delivers good value for the price
    145 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    32 Answers
    85%
    Happy with the feature set
    162 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    83%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    20 Answers
    83%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    119 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    25 Answers
    82%
    Implementation went as expected
    130 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    6.6
    69 Ratings
    14% below category average
    Sage Accounting
    9.3
    19 Ratings
    21% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Pay calculation6.364 Ratings10.015 Ratings00 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration6.338 Ratings9.312 Ratings00 Ratings
    Direct deposit files6.656 Ratings8.812 Ratings00 Ratings
    Salary revision and increment management6.352 Ratings9.410 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reimbursement management7.754 Ratings9.112 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    5.7
    43 Ratings
    28% below category average
    Sage Accounting
    8.6
    23 Ratings
    13% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    API for custom integration6.535 Ratings9.120 Ratings00 Ratings
    Plug-ins5.039 Ratings8.017 Ratings00 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    8.5
    101 Ratings
    4% above category average
    Sage Accounting
    9.7
    42 Ratings
    17% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Single sign-on capability8.482 Ratings9.931 Ratings00 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions8.695 Ratings9.539 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    8.5
    117 Ratings
    8% above category average
    Sage Accounting
    9.3
    44 Ratings
    17% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Dashboards8.4100 Ratings8.340 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standard reports8.9117 Ratings9.844 Ratings00 Ratings
    Custom reports8.1114 Ratings9.735 Ratings00 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    7.5
    124 Ratings
    2% below category average
    Sage Accounting
    8.8
    200 Ratings
    14% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Accounts payable9.3119 Ratings8.1187 Ratings00 Ratings
    Accounts receivable9.2121 Ratings9.945 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cash management9.2107 Ratings8.3159 Ratings00 Ratings
    Bank reconciliation9.7119 Ratings7.9190 Ratings00 Ratings
    Expense management9.4108 Ratings9.934 Ratings00 Ratings
    Time tracking7.451 Ratings6.611 Ratings00 Ratings
    Fixed asset management5.669 Ratings8.428 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-currency support6.931 Ratings10.018 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-division support8.958 Ratings9.918 Ratings00 Ratings
    Regulations compliance8.342 Ratings9.529 Ratings00 Ratings
    Electronic tax filing8.355 Ratings7.3102 Ratings00 Ratings
    Self-service portal5.941 Ratings10.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Global Financial Support4.217 Ratings9.38 Ratings00 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers7.140 Ratings9.515 Ratings00 Ratings
    Intercompany Accounting7.943 Ratings8.111 Ratings00 Ratings
    Localizations4.219 Ratings8.49 Ratings00 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations8.876 Ratings9.033 Ratings00 Ratings
    Enterprise Accounting6.838 Ratings6.910 Ratings00 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting7.647 Ratings9.318 Ratings00 Ratings
    Centralized Rules Framework5.427 Ratings8.98 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standardized Processes8.555 Ratings9.520 Ratings00 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    5.8
    59 Ratings
    23% below category average
    Sage Accounting
    6.9
    17 Ratings
    5% below category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Inventory tracking6.056 Ratings6.717 Ratings00 Ratings
    Automatic reordering6.035 Ratings8.26 Ratings00 Ratings
    Location management6.032 Ratings5.77 Ratings00 Ratings
    Manufacturing module5.218 Ratings7.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Sage Accounting and ValueSoft
    Feature
    QuickBooks Desktop Pro
    6.8
    77 Ratings
    8% below category average
    Sage Accounting
    8.2
    28 Ratings
    10% above category average
    ValueSoft
    -
    Ratings
    Pricing7.555 Ratings9.917 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order entry8.555 Ratings7.615 Ratings00 Ratings
    Credit card processing7.251 Ratings8.118 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold8.063 Ratings7.620 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order Orchestration5.220 Ratings7.66 Ratings00 Ratings
    End-to-end order visibility6.123 Ratings7.57 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order exception Resolution5.218 Ratings8.95 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Small Businesses
    QuickBooks Self-Employed (discontinued)
    Score4.3 out of 10
    QuickBooks Self-Employed (discontinued)
    Score4.3 out of 10
    QuickBooks Self-Employed (discontinued)
    Score4.3 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    MYOB
    Score8.3 out of 10
    MYOB
    Score8.3 out of 10
    MYOB
    Score8.3 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Microsoft Dynamics GP
    Score5.5 out of 10
    Microsoft Dynamics GP
    Score5.5 out of 10
    Microsoft Dynamics GP
    Score5.5 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.5
    (135 ratings)
    7.4
    (218 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (19 ratings)
    9.0
    (27 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    9.1
    (42 ratings)
    7.9
    (185 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Availability
    8.3
    (2 ratings)
    8.5
    (12 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.7
    (12 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    1.2
    (29 ratings)
    7.6
    (30 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.8
    (5 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    7.7
    (10 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.0
    (10 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.5
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    CPA Rating
    8.5
    (22 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    5.0
    (4 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    6.9
    (11 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Professional Services
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.5
    (9 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.7
    (9 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    QuickBooks Desktop ProSage AccountingValueSoft
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Intuit
    For a small business, QuickBooks Desktop Pro is great! For a larger, more complex business, another system may be more beneficial. We actually run multiple businesses on QuickBooks Desktop Pro, but all are very small. The help feature is sometimes so beneficial, and sometimes it seems like you just can't get the right answer and need to find a workaround - but this is usually for more complex issues.
    Read full review
    Sage
    Sage Accounting seems appropriate for a small business that has basic accounting needs and is just starting from the beginning to set up its accounting software. It is less appropriate for businesses that have been using Sage 50, as Sage Accounting Standard does not successfully transfer important data from Sage 50.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Pros
    Intuit
    • It is easy to manage and adjust inventory on hand.
    • It is easy to make reports and customize them to your needs.
    • We also use it to pay our employees directly.
    • It is easy to make year-to-year comparisons to see where we can make improvements and the current financial situation.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    • Cloud Based - I work from different offices so I can access anywhere.
    • Whether paying a bill or receiving a payment it's done similarly. The consistency makes it easy to get in workflow.
    • I appreciate the setup of the statements - easy to read.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Cons
    Intuit
    • QuickBooks Desktop Pro has been around for a few years and after an update[,] they force you to look at the changes/updates before you can use [them] after updating.
    • QuickBooks Desktop Pro does not have 2FA.
    • QuickBooks Desktop Pro should offer a way to store backups to a personal cloud without having to map a local network drive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    • Sorting reports - I want to sort my projects by what has and has not been paid, and this is unavailable.
    • Print preview.
    • FONT SIZE: This should be an option directly available to increase screen font sizes. Also, report font adjustments are incredibly difficult.
    • Understanding all options and the performance the program can do, I would much prefer an in-person session or scheduled webinar because it is far too overwhelming to search forums/help centers. Just a useless vortex to get sucked into.
    • Updates are easier than they used to be, but there’s still a big communication barrier. E.g., I install updates and restart programs, and then the next day or two it tells me to restart again because there have been updates. I know, I installed them already! It’s frustrating.
    • Removing inactive vendors or clients - why is this so difficult? Can I not just delete and move to the next one? Every time I try it, it just defaults back to the top of the report… It’s fine for the first couple of letters in the alphabet, but that’s about all. Multi-select would be nice!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Likelihood to Renew
    Intuit
    I'd love to keep using it, and do intend to - though we've not been pleased with price increases over the past several years. In fact, we used to subscribe to the payroll service, but QuickBooks priced themselves out of reach for us, so we discontinued that. Currently, pricing would be the primary reason for NOT renewing, if we didn't.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    Because we don't have time to migrate to a new system. So, we are kind of stuck with this system until our company grows or we are in a better financial position to afford the larger expense of moving to a new platform and doing what it should be doing in the first place.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Intuit
    The set up was quite easy. I took some online training causes, and figured our the rest pretty quickly. The only issue I had during the implementation process was it was very hard to change some of the GL Account name to reflect the needs of a non-profit organization, such as Net Assets. At the end I had to scratch what I did, and used the existing formats that the third-party bookkeeping firm shared. Everything else is simple and easy to manage and implement.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    I find Sage's usability very intuitive. Everything from data entry to high level reporting it easy to navigate. Some of the other accounting software programs I have used have not had adequate forms or menus to help navigate the program. Sage does a good job of balancing providing the proper forms without being overly difficult to understand or use
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Reliability and Availability
    Intuit
    I haven't experienced a time when QuickBooks Pro was unavailable when I needed it in the entire 20 years of using the software
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    Sage has been always available when I want it. If there is any maintenance work to be done by the Sage team, you are told well in advance. Maintenance is generally carried out late at night or before the day begins for most of us. It continues to be the most reliable software I use.
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    The day-to-day performance is very good. Items such as transactions or reports load and process quickly. You never feel like you're waiting in Sage. I have never seen Sage Accounting affect the speed or performance of any integrated system. However, I do think when you are bringing very old files up to date the updates are slow but that'll be a rare occurrence and not reflective of the day-to-day usage.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Intuit
    They are awful. Intuit doesn't spend real money on support. They appear to have typically said, first-level script readers who are sending messages to the senior people for anything even a little bit difficult. Many of them don't speak particularly good English. Considering that they recently doubled (or, if you are paying annually, tripled) their pricing, and touted as one of the benefits that it includes [..] support, it's a real ripoff. However, we have to use the product because it is ubiquitous. I look forward to the day a competitor comes up with something good enough, which has excellent support, that matches all the features QuickBooks Desktop Pro currently has [...] or at least gives us a way to have all the functionality we currently have without excessive sacrifice [...] so that we can switch. I was very satisfied with QuickBooks for many years. This latest [rise] in price, and their sheer gall at touting the benefit of the 100 to 200% increase as being [the] inclusion of support, is what turned me so far against them.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    Sage Accounting are easy to contact and have knowledgeable and helpful staff. Whenever I've encountered a problem I've always been able to get assistance and guidance and it feels like the person at the end of the phone/screen knows the product well.
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    In-Person Training
    Intuit
    Best thing I ever did was to attend a two day training seminar on QuickBooks, I learned an immense amount in a short time with hands on training by experts. I strongly recommend such training for anyone using any part of the software. It will pay for itself in the first month.
    Read full review
    Sage
    Staff are always friendly, and patient, always work at a speed that suits you. You are never rushed, and In only a short time they seem to be able to help you make great strides. It has been a pleasure not a chore, learning how SAGE Accounting works and benefits me and the company.
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    I find the online training was very informative and they answered all my questions. I am also certified in Sage One and provided online training in the program which I have set up several people on and they love how it keeps them organized.
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Intuit
    We implemented the software ourselves. The training we received on the software was done by taking a community course teaching us how to use QuickBooks. It allowed me to get started with some basics of how to use the program and have not needed much assistance since completing the course work.
    Incentivized
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    Sage
    This was generally a very straightforward process. I have previously implemented other software which required considerable external support. I implemented Sage Accounting with only a minimal amount of reference to the Sage support desk. I was extremely pleased with the implementation process.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Intuit
    We tried switching from QuickBooks Desktop Pro to QuickBooks Online, but there were a lot of issues and bugs so we ultimately decided to stay with Desktop Pro. Unfortunately, we are losing a lot of Online Banking capabilities on 5/31 as we have an older version of QB, but we plan to stick with Desktop Pro. In terms of invoicing, SaaSOptics beats QuickBooks in almost all aspects as it's all automated and takes seconds to create and send invoices. However, SaaSOptics is not really a full ERP program so it wouldn't serve us as a main bookkeeping software like QB.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    I also like Quickbooks Desktop, however, they are forcing customers to switch to Quickbooks Online. I will be moving forward with SAGE in this case, unless there is a valid reason the client would like to use QBO instead. I have not used the version of SAGE where the client doesn't need to purchase the full version, themselves, in order to access their file so this is something that I may consider looking into, in the near future, for this reason.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    The pricing structure is fair and offers good value for money. The billing is done through their online system and you can access your bills at any time. Most contacts only require 30 days' notice, so no need to feel tied in, although I can't imagine why you would want to leave Sage.
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Scalability
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    You can use Sage in your company for various aspects/positions such as bookkeepers, invoicing clerks, accountant, purchasing etc. Everyone can have their own user login and permissions can be set that specific people can do specific jobs without being able to access other peoples progress or accounts of the company.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Professional Services
    Intuit
    No answers on this topic
    Sage
    Do not use
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    Intuit
    • Training time is low compared to other accounting packages
    • It was difficult to adapt to DCAA requirements, [which] required [the] hiring of [a] special consultant for that
    • QuickBooks Desktop Pro is a standard for small companies and makes it easy to hire bookkeepers
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sage
    • Sage has allowed us to be self-supporting and to perform full-cycle accounting up to the point of handing off to the accountant at year-end.
    • We are self-sustaining and do not need outside accounting assistance, such as an independent bookkeeper.
    • Sage has allowed us to save money at year's end, as we can do all the prep internally up until the handoff to the accountant, minimizing the hours he has to spend on our file.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kalasoftech
    No answers on this topic
    ScreenShots

    Sage Accounting Screenshots

    Screenshot of the All-in-One DashboardScreenshot of the Accounting DashboardScreenshot of an Invoicing Quote EstimateScreenshot of the Purchases TrackerScreenshot of Stock InventoryScreenshot of a VAT Returns List