Every growing ecommerce business reaches a point where spreadsheets become inadequate, and managing operations, orders, inventory, and finances gets more complex. At this stage, the QuickBooks vs NetSuite discussion becomes relevant!
QuickBooks is known for its accessible, user-friendly accounting features, while NetSuite offers a full-blown ERP system that handles finance, inventory, and beyond.
The QuickBooks vs NetSuite comparison doesn't aim to determine which platform is superior, but which fits your growth stage. In this blog, we’ll examine the differences between QuickBooks as a powerful accounting solution and NetSuite as an end-to-end ERP platform based on their functionalities, use cases, pricing, and other considerations.
We’ll share our recommendation at the end and explain how Webgility can connect both tools without a hitch, so you can get clean books and operational control, no matter which one you choose. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
NetSuite and QuickBooks are accounting and bookkeeping tools, but differ in scope and complexity.
QuickBooks is a platform that handles complex accounting tasks well, like invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and reporting. It comes in two main versions: QuickBooks Online (cloud-based, subscription) and QuickBooks Desktop (installed, license-based).
On the other hand, NetSuite is a complete business management solution that has an impact on advanced features like customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and ecommerce solutions.
Both platforms have positives and negatives, but larger businesses see NetSuite as stronger than QuickBooks.
While both QuickBooks and NetSuite handle core accounting needs, the depth and flexibility of each tool vary greatly. Let’s explore the functionalities of both platforms in detail:
Both QuickBooks and NetSuite provide a general ledger to manage your company's financial records. This includes recording financial transactions, creating reports, and analyzing data. However, NetSuite offers deeper customization in reporting and compliance.
QuickBooks simplifies bank reconciliation and cash flow tracking. NetSuite takes it further with real-time visibility and forecasting tools to support smarter financial planning.
NetSuite and QuickBooks both have tools to handle accounts receivable, letting you create invoices, keep track of payments, and manage customer accounts. However, NetSuite's accounts receivable features give you more options to customize and automate things such as setting up payment terms, automating billing, and managing collections.
Both QuickBooks and NetSuite allow you to handle vendor bills, track expenses, and make payments.
QuickBooks takes a more straightforward approach with user-friendly tools for paying bills. On the contrary, NetSuite's accounts payable tools offer more ways to automate and customize, like setting up payment terms, automating approval processes, and handling payments in different currencies.
Both platforms offer robust tools for managing sales and taxes. QuickBooks keeps it simple with easy-to-use tools to calculate taxes, while NetSuite offers advanced automation for tax calculations, manages tax across multiple jurisdictions, and provides robust tools for compliance and scheduling.
QuickBooks supports real-time inventory tracking and order fulfillment for small to mid-sized operations. NetSuite expands this with features for multi-location inventory, advanced purchase order workflows, and granular project profitability.
QuickBooks doesn’t have native fixed asset tracking, but many businesses meet this need through third-party integrations. On the other hand, NetSuite includes built-in tools for managing asset depreciation and reporting.
QuickBooks and NetSuite both allow businesses to track employee hours, project time, and mileage for reimbursements or billing. NetSuite adds automation across multiple projects, while QuickBooks keeps the process intuitive and accessible.
Whether you’re tracking costs, revenue, or budgets, both platforms help you manage profitability per project. NetSuite supports automation across larger, more complex projects, while QuickBooks is ideal for streamlined project accounting.
QuickBooks comes with built-in payroll features. You can process payroll, manage employee data, and create payroll reports. NetSuite doesn't have built-in payroll tools, but you can get NetSuite's SuitePeople Payroll System for an additional cost.
QuickBooks makes it easy to create and send multiple invoices or expense reports in bulk, perfect for businesses with recurring billing or high transaction volume. NetSuite also supports batch expense management through its dedicated Expense Management module, which you can add if your business needs.
QuickBooks supports easier, plug-and-play integrations with well-known ecommerce platforms, payment, and CRM systems, ideal for small and medium businesses that need quick, low-effort setup. On the contrary, NetSuite allows for more in-depth, tailored connections through its SuiteCloud platform, making it a better fit for complex, enterprise-level businesses.
Pro tip: You can use specialised ecommerce automation platforms like Webgility that enhance both platforms by connecting your sales channels and automating accounting workflows, no matter which you choose, QuickBooks or NetSuite.
Here’s a quick comparison between QuickBooks and NetSuite:
| Feature | QuickBooks | NetSuite |
| Type | Accounting | ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) |
| General Ledger | Standard, user-friendly, core reporting | Advanced customization, deeper compliance |
| Cash Flow & Forecasting | Simplified, bank reconciliation, cash flow tracking | Real-time visibility, robust forecasting tools |
| Accounts Receivable | Core invoicing & payment tracking | Customizable invoicing, automation, advanced collections |
| Accounts Payable | Straightforward, user-friendly bill payments | Automated workflows, multi-currency, custom approval processes |
| Tax Management | Simple, basic tax calculation | Automated, multi-jurisdiction, compliance tools |
| Inventory Management | Real-time tracking for SMBs, limited multi-location | Multi-location, advanced workflows, project profitability |
| Fixed Asset Management | No native tracking, relies on integrations | Built-in asset depreciation & reporting |
| Time & Mileage Tracking | Intuitive employee/project tracking | Automated, handles complex/multi-project/time tracking |
| Project Profitability | Simple, streamlined project accounting | Advanced automation for multi-layered project profitability |
| Payroll | Built-in payroll module | Optional SuitePeople Payroll (add-on module) |
| Invoicing & Expenses | Bulk invoicing, batch expense reports | Advanced expense management via add-on module |
| Integrations | Plug-and-play, ideal for SMB e-commerce & apps | Advanced, customizable (SuiteCloud platform) for enterprise needs |
Here is the summary table comparing the pricing of both platforms:
| Plan | NetSuite | QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Enterprise |
| Starting price | Starts around $999/month + $99/user | Starts at $19/month (varies by plan) and goes to $137.5/month | Starts at $2210/year and goes to $5364/year |
| User fees | Around $99 per additional user | Included up to user limit per plan | Additional fees based on users & features |
| Pricing model | Customized quote, yearly license + implementation fee ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 or more, depending on scope. | Tiered subscription, monthly billing | Annual license + implementation fee |
| Trial | No trial, but product tours available | 30-day free trial available | 30-day free trial available |
| Plans available | Customizable based on modules | Multiple plans: Self-Employed, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced | Three Enterprise plans: Gold, Platinum, and Diamond plan |
| User limits by plan | Customizable per contract | Self-Employed (1 user), Simple Start (1 user), Essentials (3 users), Plus (5 users), Advanced (25 users) | Supports many users, scalable pricing |
| Included features | Comprehensive ERP, billing, inventory, reporting | Basic to advanced accounting and invoicing features based on plan | Advanced features for larger businesses |
| Implementation costs | One-time implementation fees apply | Usually no setup fee | Implementation fees apply |
| Best for | Medium to large enterprises with complex needs | Small to medium businesses | Larger small-medium businesses needing advanced features |
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
QuickBooks excels for businesses with these characteristics:
Business size and stage:NetSuite becomes the better choice for businesses with these attributes:
Business size and complexity:Operational sophistication:
Here is how using these platforms helped numerous online businesses and multichannel merchants:
Ecommerce businesses face unique accounting challenges that generic business software often struggles to address effectively:
Where QuickBooks falls short:
Where NetSuite needs enhancement:
For QuickBooks users:
Webgility transforms QuickBooks into a sophisticated multichannel back-office system by:
For NetSuite users:
| Challenge | Native in QB? | Native in NetSuite | Solved by Webgility |
| Shopify/Amazon payout sync | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Real-time inventory updates | ❌ | ⚠️(complex setup) | ✅ |
| COGS per SKU | ⚠️(native features exist but require complex configuration) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready reconciliation | ⚠️(native features exist but require complex configuration) | ✅ | ✅ |
There’s no one-size-fits-all winner in the QuickBooks vs NetSuite debate. The right fit depends on your current growth stage, operational complexity, budget, and team size, and need for scalability and automation.
Choose QuickBooks if:
Choose NetSuite if:
Whether you’re just starting with QuickBooks or planning your move to NetSuite, Webgility gives you the real-time accuracy and automation you need now and the flexibility to grow later.
Thousands of ecommerce sellers trust Webgility to sync orders, inventory, and accounting across every channel, without spreadsheets or manual entries.
Book a free demo and see how Webgility powers smarter ecommerce operations.