AccountEdge Connect and AccountEdge Hosted are both cloud-based services, however, they function in drastically different ways. When deciding which service you need, we need to consider the following information.
What is AccountEdge Connect?
Connect is a browser-based add-on for AccountEdge that has multiple pricing options available, based on how many users you need. It is not a stand-alone product and therefore requires other services in order to function.
Connect functions by linking its account to your company file in AccountEdge Pro, Network Edition, or Hosted.
Connect can be accessed through a phone or tablet, making it an excellent choice for businesses that have field-based sales representatives or workers. It can be used to enter purchase orders, quotes, invoices, sales, customers and vendors, and can be used for timesheets or job tracking. Users can also view inventory to see the quantity of on-hand items. More information about Connect can be seen on our website's Connect page, linked here.
It is important to note that Connect does not offer full file access to its users. If you need a remote solution that has reporting/payroll features, you should instead consider AccountEdge Hosted.
What is AccountEdge Hosted?
AccountEdge is a cloud-based, fully functioning version of AccountEdge that does not require any other services or products in order to run. It has all of the same capabilities as desktop versions of AccountEdge, like Pro or Network Edition, and gives full-file access to its users.
If your business is looking to work remotely, or you frequently travel or change computers and don't want to track where your files are located, Hosted is an excellent option. This is especially true if you need full file access. You are able to log in from any device using your browser. Hosted also allows you to have a mixed environment with both Mac and Windows operating systems, something that isn't possible with desktop versions of our software.
Hosted is provided in partnership with Apps4Rent, and the subscription includes phone-based technical support.
So which service is right for me?
If you have field-based employees who only need to enter data such as invoices or purchases, but that don't need to run reports or payroll, AccountEdge Connect can be an affordable add-on solution that syncs with your AccountEdge Pro, Network Edition, or Hosted version of AccountEdge.
If you need advanced functions in AccountEdge, such as payroll, reporting, or the ability to reconcile accounts, you'll want to use AccountEdge Hosted.