| Feature | Desktop Pro/Premier Trial | Online Plus Trial | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | No (only for updates) | Yes (always) | | Speed | Very fast (local SSD) | Slower (server dependent) | | Inventory | Advanced (P.O., Assemblies) | Basic (No assemblies in Plus) | | Access | Only on installed PC | Anywhere (Web/Mobile) | | Automatic Updates | No (you manually update yearly) | Yes (continuous) | | Cost after trial | ~$549+/year (Pro) | ~$299/year (Plus) | | Industry Versions | Yes (Contractor, Non-profit) | No (one size fits all) |
If you are a solo consultant or e-commerce seller with 100 SKUs, use QuickBooks Online. If you are a construction job coster or a warehouse with 10,000 SKUs, you need the free trial of QuickBooks Desktop .
The Mac version of Desktop is a separate product. It is much weaker than the Windows version (no inventory assemblies, fewer reports). If you are on a Mac, honestly, you should get QuickBooks Online instead. The "Mac Plus" trial is also available, but it is a niche product.
You can use the trial to open company files if you are migrating data between Mac and Windows versions. ⚠️ Important 2026 Status
Accessing the trial version requires navigating Intuit's push toward cloud services.
| Feature | Desktop Pro/Premier Trial | Online Plus Trial | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | No (only for updates) | Yes (always) | | Speed | Very fast (local SSD) | Slower (server dependent) | | Inventory | Advanced (P.O., Assemblies) | Basic (No assemblies in Plus) | | Access | Only on installed PC | Anywhere (Web/Mobile) | | Automatic Updates | No (you manually update yearly) | Yes (continuous) | | Cost after trial | ~$549+/year (Pro) | ~$299/year (Plus) | | Industry Versions | Yes (Contractor, Non-profit) | No (one size fits all) |
If you are a solo consultant or e-commerce seller with 100 SKUs, use QuickBooks Online. If you are a construction job coster or a warehouse with 10,000 SKUs, you need the free trial of QuickBooks Desktop . free trial of quickbooks desktop
The Mac version of Desktop is a separate product. It is much weaker than the Windows version (no inventory assemblies, fewer reports). If you are on a Mac, honestly, you should get QuickBooks Online instead. The "Mac Plus" trial is also available, but it is a niche product. | Feature | Desktop Pro/Premier Trial | Online
You can use the trial to open company files if you are migrating data between Mac and Windows versions. ⚠️ Important 2026 Status It is much weaker than the Windows version
Accessing the trial version requires navigating Intuit's push toward cloud services.
