| NetSuite | QuickBooks |
| Target user | - Mid-size and large businesses, especially international businesses with revenues ranging from $1 million to $200 million.
- Businesses that require a complete solution for managing all aspects of their operations.
- Businesses with complex operations and an in-house accounting team.
| - SMB (small and medium-sized businesses) or self-employed individuals.
- Businesses that require basic accounting tasks.
- Businesses that outsource their bookkeeping and accounting.
|
| Target industry | - Retail
- E-commerce
- Financials Services
- Advertising
- Media & Publishing
- Healthcare
- Life Sciences
- Energy
- Education
- Transportation & Logistics
- Nonprofits
- Social Venture
- Services
- Software and SaaS
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale Distribution
| - Accounting Firms
- Financial Services
- Franchise
- Church / Religious
- Insurance
- Landscaping
- Legal Services
- Nonprofit
- Property Management
- Restaurant and Bar
- Retail
- Transportation
- Wholesale Distribution
- Software and SaaS
|
| Size of customer base | | - Approximately 1.8 million
|
| Number of permitted users | - Allows for an unlimited number of users, at a per-user fee.
| - Maximum limit of 25 billable users, and 3 accountant firm users.
- Unlimited users for time tracking and reports.
|
| Core functions | - Fully featured ERP software, including financial & accounting software.
| - Purely accounting software.
|
| Software limits | - No built-in payroll capabilities, but integrates with third-party payroll providers.
- No batch invoicing or expense management capabilities.
- Not ideal for freelancers or small businesses with basic needs.
- The mobile app does not allow you to scan receipts, receive payments, or invoice customers.
- Can be very difficult to learn and master.
| - Doesn’t handle revenue recognition or subscription billing.
- No production management or procurement software.
- No fixed asset or lease management features.
- Does not provide any purchasing controls.
- Does not support multi-subsidiary consolidation.
- Limited project management and project billing.
- Lacks CRM features.
|
| How does it scale? | - While not ideal for small businesses, it supports businesses at every stage of growth.
| - An excellent starting point for small businesses in need of bookkeeping software.
- Not ideal for larger businesses with more complex operations.
|
| Does it offer custom options? | - Offers extensive customization options to tailor the software to your specific needs.
- Includes custom dashboards and views.
- The module-based system lets you customize an ERP solution without using third-party applications.
| - Limited customization.
- Can be customized to a degree using third-party app integration.
|
| Pricing | - Premium-tiered software.
- Not set prices – the software requires a custom quote, and potential costs for optimization or consulting.
| - More budget friendly, featuring discounted pricing schemes and a range of pricing plans.
- It’s important to budget for any add-on software.
|
| Contract term | | |
| How to license? | - Directly from Oracle or through a NetSuite Solution Provider Partner.
| - Directly through Intuit or through an Authorized Partner.
|
| Update schedule | - Two updates are offered twice a year.
- Updates are free and automatically installed.
| - Updates must be done manually, or can be set to update automatically.
- A system restart is necessary after every update.
|
| Ease of Use | - Good, although you’ll need some training and accounting knowledge to start with.
- NetSuite provides users with training resources and to navigate the software.
- The implementation process can be complicated, requiring input from IT professionals and financial experts.
| - Very good, the software is known for its simplistic design and user-friendly interface.
- Only requires additional guidance for the more advanced features.
|
| Ease of sharing | - Can be shared with additional accountants, by using what is called the user “seats” in your subscription.
| - Can be shared with up to three accountant firm users.
|
| How does it integrate | - Integrated ERP, CRM, and e-commerce functions are built into the core offering.
- Integrates with third-party apps (including automation and global mass payments software) to broaden its range of action.
- Features Professional Services Automation for project management, resource management, timesheet management, and expense management.
- Complex integrations and data migrations must be done manually.
| - Can integrate with several third-party add-on apps.
- App Store also offers add-on software integration (including payables automation software).
- Does not offer a CRM platform.
- No Professional Service Automation
|
| HR options | - Offers SuitePeople HR for employee center access, employee record management, time-off management, on- and offboarding, employee recognition, HR workflows, as well as metrics and reporting.
| - Requires external app integration for HR functionality.
|
| Reporting | - Offers standard accounting reports, such as profit and loss, and cash flow.
- Includes consolidated reporting (intercompany) and multi-currency report
- Includes real-time reports, from revenue forecasting to consolidated parent and subsidiary reports.
| - Offers standard accounting reports, such as profit and loss, and cash flow.
|
| Customer support | - Tech support is available 24/7 on a toll-free worldwide phone number.
- Live or online end user training.
- Online Support: Offers an extensive knowledge base (SuiteAnswers) to all users.
| - Tech support is available weekdays 6AM – 6PM (PST).
- Live or online end user training.
- Online Support: Offers an extensive knowledge base to users, including training videos, forums and live support.
|
| Cloud-based access | - Designed as cloud software.
- Also provides cloud-based ERP, CRM, e-commerce, PSA and human capital management (HCM).
| - Only one offering (QuickBooks Online) is cloud-based.
|
| How to manage inventory | - Has strong, real-time inventory management features.
- Includes advanced inventory management, like serialized inventory bar coding; lot management; pick, pack, and ship; and automated reorder.
| - Has limited inventory management.
- The software can integrate third-party apps for additional inventory management.
|
| Data security | - Offers advanced features like data encryption and access controls.
- Meets audit and security standards like SOC 1, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and EU-US Privacy Shield frameworks.
- ISO 27001:2013 certification.
- ISO 27000 and NIST 800-53 compliance.
| - Offers SSL encryption, password-protected logins, and firewall-protected servers.
- Comes with DigiCert® certification.
|
| Access to KPIs | - Allows access to approximately 75 KPIs.
| |
