Drake Accounting vs. QuickBooks Desktop: Which Software Is Better for Your Firm?

Accounting is the backbone of any business, making it necessary to choose the right accounting software for growth. However, with a plethora of accounting solutions on the market, it can be challenging for businesses to choose the best one. 

QuickBooks Desktop and Drake Accounting are two accounting tools preferred by the majority of accountants and tax preparers for automating accounting tasks, reducing errors, and streamlining the filing process. 

In this blog, we will compare QuickBooks Desktop and Drake Accounting based on features, pricing, data security, and other key aspects.  

Overview of QuickBooks Desktop and Drake Accounting

QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks Desktop is a group of accounting solutions by Intuit. It is one of the most popular accounting software solutions with a market share of 62.23%. Its products – Pro, Premier, and Enterprise cater to every scale of business, from SMBs to enterprises.

QuickBooks Desktop also offers industry-specific solutions for retail, accounting, construction, and more. A wide range of features, including AR, AP, job costing, time tracking, inventory management, billing, invoicing, payments, barcode scanning, and expense tracking, make QuickBooks Enterprise a comprehensive business management solution.       

Drake Accounting

Drake Software’s Drake Accounting is an accounting and payroll solution for small accounting firms and tax preparers. Along with features like double data entry and batch payroll processing, Drake Accounting also offers unlimited clients per site and unlimited form generation.

You can also install Drake in multiple systems on a single site. If you handle multiple clients for bookkeeping or payroll services, Drake Accounting is a good tool to have.   

Drake Accounting vs. QuickBooks Desktop: Quick Comparison

Here is a quick summary of the comparison between QuickBooks Desktop and Drake Accounting. 

A Clear and Detailed Comparison of Drake Accounting and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 

1. Accounting Features

All QuickBooks Desktop versions offer core accounting features, such as Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), general ledger, invoicing, bookkeeping, payments, and expense tracking. However, with QuickBooks Enterprise, you also gain additional features, including Advanced Reporting, Advanced Inventory, and payroll. 

Drake Accounting offers a comprehensive accounting solution with features like batch payroll processing, AP and AR, direct deposit, and forms. However, compared to QB Desktop, advanced features such as vendor management, inventory management, and time tracking are not available.  

2. User Interface

QuickBooks Desktop features an intuitive interface, enabling even non-accounting professionals to use it conveniently. For instance, QuickBooks Enterprise has a comprehensive dashboard that offers 360-degree visibility into the entire business process. Moreover, you can easily navigate between different sections, such as Vendors, Customers, Employees, etc.     

Drake offers a more accountant-specific interface, which can be challenging for first-time users. It focuses on efficiency and workflow for practitioners rather than an intuitive interface for business owners.

3. Scalability

In QuickBooks Desktop, as you upgrade from Pro to Premier to Enterprise, you can add additional users up to a maximum of 30. However, in the QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond version, you can upgrade up to 40 users.   

Whereas in Drake Accounting, scalability is primarily concerned with the number of client entities and firm operations, rather than the number of concurrent internal business users.

4. Payroll

You can integrate QuickBooks Desktop with QuickBooks Payroll to get a comprehensive payroll solution with self-service options. It facilitates automated wages, taxes, and deductions. Moreover, it can manage direct deposits and generate payroll tax forms (W-2s, 1099s). The system also integrates with federal and state e-filing systems to simplify compliance.

Drake Accounting offers post-facto payroll services for accountants who manage the payroll of multiple clients. It also provides batch payroll processing, form generation, and direct deposit.  

5. Pricing

QuickBooks has stopped selling QB Pro and Premier licenses for US customers. However, customers can purchase QB Enterprise, which is available in four versions: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. 

• QuickBooks Enterprise Silver (1 User): $131/month
• QuickBooks Enterprise Gold (1 User): $178/month
• QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum (1 User): $213/month
• QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond (1 User): $358/month

Drake Accounting offers two versions: 2026 Drake Accounting Pro and 2026 Drake Accounting Forms. While the Pro version is more expensive, it provides additional features, including unlimited clients and unlimited e-filing. 

2026 Drake Accounting Pro – $695   

2026 Drake Accounting Forms – $395

6. Customer Support

QuickBooks offers premium customer support for QB Enterprise users through the Priority Circle. With Priority Circle, you get unlimited phone and chat support. The executives are available 24/7 to resolve any queries. Intuit also has a large community and articles you can access for a quick resolution.  

Drake does not offer 24/7 customer support for its accounting product. It is also unavailable on major holidays. You can reach out to Drake support through phone, email, or chat from: 

2nd Jan – 15th April
Mon – Fri: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (ET)
Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (ET)

16th April – 31st December
Mon – Fri: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM (ET)
Sat: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ET)

7. Reporting

In QuickBooks, the reporting is not limited only to accounting. You get over 200 comprehensive reports, ranging from sales, accounting, inventory, and customers. Moreover, with the Advanced Reporting module in QuickBooks Enterprise, you can customize the pre-defined templates, consolidate multiple reports, or create a new report as per your requirements.   

Drake Accounting provides standard accounting reports that accountants and tax professionals can utilize during tax season. Some of these reports include budget reports, cash flow, general ledger, expenses, firm reports, payroll, and wages.

8. Integrations

QuickBooks provides businesses with an extensive ecosystem of proprietary and third-party tools for seamless integration. These include tools for CRM, data security, document management, e-commerce plugins, inventory management, expense management, billing, and more. 

Drake Accounting, on the other hand, integrates with only a few third-party tools, QuickBooks being one of them. However, it integrates with all the tools in the Drake ecosystem, including Drake Tax, Drake Portals, and Drake Documents. 

9. Data Security

QuickBooks Desktop offers more advanced security features than Drake Accounting. It enables administrators to customize access controls according to different roles within the organization. You can also edit permissions or create new ones accordingly. 

Moreover, you can set a specific expiration period for passwords. Admins can also view audit trails to identify suspicious activity. Additionally, QuickBooks utilizes 256-bit data encryption.  

Drake offers security features such as Identity and Access Management and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). The admin can create, delete, or suspend a user. The suspended user cannot access the Drake Accounting software. Moreover, a user is automatically logged out of Drake after 15 minutes of inactivity.   

10. System Requirements

Let’s discuss the minimum system requirements: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise vs. Drake Accounting.

Choosing Between QuickBooks and Drake Accounting

The right choice depends on what your firm wants to optimize. If your focus is on tax work, Drake Accounting naturally integrates into your workflow. It helps small accounting firms and solo tax preparers manage books, payroll, and tax filings in a tighter, more efficient loop with fewer errors.

If you need a broader business management system that goes beyond accounting, QuickBooks is the stronger option. It suits small and mid-sized organizations that rely on features like inventory tracking, pricing, sales management, payroll, and an extensive ecosystem of integrations.

In short, both tools offer solid accounting and payroll capabilities, but as desktop software, they share limitations in accessibility, scalability, and data security. Hosted QuickBooks or Drake Accounting removes those barriers and gives your team secure, anywhere access with higher reliability.

Ready to see how cloud hosting changes your accounting workflow? Start your 7-day free trial today!

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