Great Plains Software vs QuickBooks Compared: Which Is Best?

In the realm of accounting and financial management software, two prominent names frequently clash: Great Plains software vs QuickBooks. 

Both platforms have gained significant popularity among businesses, offering a range of features to streamline accounting processes and enhance overall efficiency. 

When it comes to choosing the right software for your organization, it's essential to understand the differences and similarities between these two options. In this article, we will compare Great Plains software and QuickBooks, exploring their key features, benefits, and limitations. 

By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of which software suits your business needs.

What is the difference between Great Plains software and QuickBooks?

The main difference between QuickBooks and Great Plains software is that Quickbooks is good standalone accounting software for startups and SMBs that also includes more advanced ERP functionality. On the other hand, Great Plains is part of the larger package of Microsoft Dynamics, which is comparable to MS Business Central.

Your typical Great Plains software review talks about how this app could be the best for your business if you are already dedicated to the Microsoft organization and prefer to consolidate all your data within its SQL database system for further business insights.

Meanwhile, QuickBooks online for small business reviews are also very positive, focusing on ease of use and customizable tools. As a matter of fact, Quickbooks is so easy to use that it ended up being on our list of top simple accounting software.

Great Plains software vs QuickBooks comparison chart

This table gives a brief overview of the main points of comparison between Great Plains and Quickbooks, with more details provided afterward. 

Great Plains software vs QuickBooks Pricing

Quickbooks pricing is pretty straightforward. 

The basic Simple Start fee is $30 per month, with premium plans going for $50, $85 and $200 per month. Plus, Quickbooks often has promotions, like 70% per month for the first 3 months. 

MS Great Plains is sold as part of the Dynamics 365 pricing, and to register it gets more complicated from there.

Winner: Quickbooks

Considering one can no longer get standalone pricing for Great Plains, Quickbooks is the pricing winner of these two accounting solutions. 
 

QuickBooks vs Great Plains software Free versions?

Neither of these business accounting modules offer free versions.

Winner: Tie

While many companies might offer free accounting tools, in this comparison between Dynamics GP vs Quickbooks, there are no free plans to speak of. Hence the tie.
 

Customer support

All Quickbooks accounting systems have pretty responsive customer support for their users. It is pretty easy to get in touch with a support staff there. 

Since Microsoft Dynamics GP is no longer a standalone system and is soon to be discontinued, getting specific customer service for this platform is less straightforward.

Winner: Quickbooks

The results are in and Quickbooks customer support is the winner here, although for GP users, there are still decent online support resources.
 

Knowledgebase & learning

Microsoft has always had a very comprehensive bank of online knowledgebase and learning tools for its users. Likewise, Quickbooks has a decent blog and support article database on its server for people to help themselves.

Winner: Great Plains

This is a closer category but ultimately Microsoft Great Plains is the winner here for having a tad more self help resources. 

QuickBooks vs Great Plains software features & functionality

Now it is time to compare some of the specific features and tools that Dynamics GP offers compared to Quickbooks.

QuickBooks or Great Plains software for Ease of use

In comparing Dynamics GP vs Quickbooks for user-friendliness, a lot of the decision comes down to familiarity and could be quite subjective. There are many Microsoft users who feel everything the brand makes is intuitive, including Great Plains.

Winner: Quickbooks

If you are a new licensed user approaching Quickbooks and Great Plains for the first time, you'll find Quickbooks to be easier. Migrating your data is a snap, and upgrading from the Quickbooks web browser to the desktop version is also no problem.
 

Great Plains software or QuickBooks for accounting?

Accounting covers everything from income, quotes, expenses, accounts payable and accounts receivable (AP and AR), to payroll management. Microsoft Dynamics GP includes a lot of these business needs, as does Quickbooks.

Winner: Quickbooks

The implementation of simple accounting transaction tools is slightly superior with Quickbooks, especially for things like Quickbooks data entry and scalability. 
 

Great Plains vs QuickBooks for ERP

As an ERP management system, one expects more advanced tools like built-in payroll, customer payment, and more customizable business process automation.

Winner: Great Plains

Quickbooks enterprise features are useful, but in the end, Microsoft GP is built to handle larger business intelligence and enterprise needs. And with the addition of Microsoft SQL for database purposes, you just get more ERP expertise. 
 

QuickBooks vs Microsoft Dynamics GP Inventory

Any inventory software solution needs to make deployment and allocation of supplies a streamlined process, especially between multiple companies or locations. 

Winner: Great Plains

As an ERP system, Dynamics GP is built to take care of this in ways that might feel limiting to Quickbooks users. 
 

Great Plains vs QuickBooks for Financial management

Managing financials should use data from a CRM as well as sales, HR and ERP information to make sure the process is efficient way beyond the standard pace of doing business. A good customized interface is key for accurate industry reporting.

Winner: Tie

Quickbooks, like Microsoft, take financial management and reporting very seriously and both can give your business an edge over other similar proprietary apps.
 

QuickBooks vs Microsoft Dynamics GP Mobile apps

As long as everything is on the cloud, you should be able to use mobile apps to stay on top of everything from supply chains, vendor and suppliers management, human resources, and to track manufacturing updates or sales transactions. 

Winner: Great Plains

Microsoft GP truly accommodates the use of mobile devices to stay in remote control over many departments and a host of business activities. Quickbooks also has a good mobile app which helps keep productivity high.
 

Microsoft Dynamics GP vs QuickBooks Integrations

Integrations are key, and while the Microsoft partner list and app group like Microsoft Office Excel is decent, being able to integrate outside your SaaS family means a big upgrade for your software capability.

Winner: Quickbooks

Quickbooks has over 750 native integrations right now, though these do not include things like Salesforce which you can connect using a 3rd party connector like Zapier. For Microsoft, integrations are now with Business Central and not so much with Great Plains.

A note on Great Plains software QuickBooks integration:

It seems right now that the QuickBooks Great Plains software integration does not integrate with apps like Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Is Great Plains software better than QuickBooks? Our conclusion

The answer to this question is always a bit subjective. However, if you are thinking long-term about Microsoft, you may want to look beyond Dynamics GP's packages and into other MS products. 

After comparing Quickbooks vs Microsoft Dynamics GP, exploring their features, pricing, pros and cons, we have reached a conclusion.

Both Great Plains Software and QuickBooks have their strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of businesses. QuickBooks shines in its affordability, ease of use, robust accounting features, and extensive integrations. It is particularly well-suited for startups and small to medium-sized businesses.

On the other hand, Great Plains Software offers more advanced ERP functionality and is highly scalable for larger enterprises. It excels in financial management, industry-specific reporting, and comprehensive mobile app support.

In terms of our overall comparison, QuickBooks emerged as the winner, scoring slightly higher in our evaluation. Its affordability, strong customer support, user-friendly interface, and extensive integrations make it a solid choice for businesses looking for a reliable accounting solution.

However, it's important to note that the final decision should be based on your specific business needs, budget, and long-term growth plans. Both Great Plains Software and QuickBooks have their unique features and strengths that may align better with your organization's requirements.

In conclusion, Great Plains Software and QuickBooks are both reputable accounting software options, but QuickBooks edges out slightly as the preferred choice for most businesses. And, if you want to see how Quickbooks stacks against the entire Microsoft suite, make sure to check out our QuickBooks vs Microsoft Dynamics 365 review.