Want to convert Quicken data into QuickBooks desktop? Then your search ends here.
Growing out of Quicken and ready to move your financial data into QuickBooks Desktop? You’re in good company it’s one of the most common transitions small business owners make as their accounting needs become more complex. Quicken works well for personal finance, but when invoicing, inventory tracking, and multi-user access become priorities, QuickBooks Desktop is the natural step up. The conversion itself is a one-way process so the preparation you do beforehand matters. This guide covers the key differences between Quicken and QuickBooks, what to sort out before you begin, which conversion tool to use for your specific versions, and the full step-by-step process for both methods. For assistance at any point, our QuickBooks support toll free number is available at +1-888-510-9198.
Quicken Vs QuickBooks: What are they, And Critical Differences between them.
Both Quicken and QuickBooks are robust financial accounting software that makes your business tasks attainable. As both of them serve the same purpose so they can’t be used simultaneously, so you have to choose one from them that is suitable according to your business necessities. However, both of them are now owned by separate companies, whereas QuickBooks is owned by Intuit Inc. and Quicken is now owned by Aquiline Capital Partners. Some more critical differences between both of them are listed below:
| Quicken | QuickBooks |
| Designed for personal financial management (for the finances of individuals and families) | Designed for the accounting processes of small and mid-sized businesses (creating invoices and can track inventory) |
| This software is not hosted on cloud. | QuickBooks is cloud host software. |
| Quicken accepts the payment only through the PayPal online transaction. | QuickBooks can accept payment through Pay Pal, bank debit cards, credit cards as well as from other online transactions. |
| Quicken can easily handle the Rental property management. | QuickBooks can’t handle the Rental property management. |
| Quicken can’t do the mileage tracking. | QuickBooks can do the mileage tracking easily. |
| Quicken is free of cost and more appropriate and easy to use. | QuickBooks is chargeable and more typical to use than Quicken. |
Things to Consider Before Transition from Quicken to QuickBooks
Before you begin to convert Quicken to QuickBooks, we have listed some factors that you must be aware of, they are:
- Firstly, Conversion of Quicken to QuickBooks is unilateral (one-way) process it means that once you have converted Quicken files to QuickBooks then it cannot be reverted back and it is not possible to open it in Quicken again.
- Before converting the file, you have to create the backup of Quicken file you want to convert or else you can convert the copied version of your Quicken data.
- As QuickBooks can only convert the windows file of Quicken so if in case you want to use Quicken software on Mac, then you need to convert Quicken Mac files into windows files first.
- It would be better to start the conversion process from a new file because of some of the challenges that can come with converting Quicken data to QuickBooks.
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Possible instances where you must utilize the Quicken converter to convert Quicken to QuickBooks:
Some of the instances where you need to use the conversion tool are given below:
- When the version of Quicken software is not same as the QuickBooks version, you’ll have to use the Quicken converter e.g., to convert files of Quicken 2017 to QuickBooks 2019, Premier, or QuickBooks Pro, for this Quicken converter is used.
- When you have a Quicken version that is parallel to the QuickBooks Desktop version, then you can convert directly to QuickBooks using the Conversion Utility instead of Quicken Converter e.g. Conversion of Quicken 2019 to QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or Enterprise 2019.
- Quicken converter tool and Conversion utility are only applicable for Windows, they don’t work for Mac data file of Quicken Or else you can develop a new QuickBooks file.
Procedure to Convert Quicken to QuickBooks Desktop
In order to build-up the production in business it is essential to convert Quicken to QuickBooks Desktop.
This conversion can be done in two ways:
- Using Quicken Converter tool.
- Utilizing the Conversion Utility.
How to Use Quicken Converter tool?
Step 1: Firstly, download the Quicken Converter tool according to your QuickBooks desktop version. After that locate your file in a place where you can easily access it.
Step2: Once it is done now follow the procedure to install the Quicken Converter and then perform the conversion process.
- Open the downloaded Converter tool by double clicking on it and then tap on the Next button.
- Now click on the ‘I accept the terms in the license agreement’, and click the ‘Next’ option.
- Again, to start the installation processes opt for the Next button and then choose ‘Install’.
- Next click on the ‘Launch Quicken Converter’ option, and then select the ‘Finish’ option.
- Click on the option ‘I am transferring data from Quicken for Windows ‘and hit on the ‘Get Started’ option.
- After that Choose the ‘Open a data file located on this computer’ option, and Select File.
- Then search for the Quicken file (.QDF), and hit on the ‘Ok’ option.
- Pick out the ‘Convert it’ option then again click on the ‘Ok’ option.
- Lastly, click on the ‘Save’ option then go for the ‘Exit’ option to save the Quicken (.QDF) file.
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How to Use Conversion Utility Tool?
In order to convert directly Quicken to QuickBooks Desktop by using the Conversion Utility in QuickBooks follow the below mentioned steps:
- For this you have to first log in to QuickBooks Desktop.
- Then go to the ‘File’ menu, and select the ‘Utilities’ option from the file.
- Now Choose ‘Convert’, and click on the ‘From Quicken’ option from the drop-down menu.
- After that, pick out the Quicken file (.QDF) that you want to convert to QuickBooks.
- Now for rest of the conversion follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
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In order to gather more information regarding the Conversion Utility.
- Tap on the F1 from the keyboard to go to the Help window in your QuickBooks Desktop
- Once the Help window gets opened type “convert from Quicken” in the search bar. This will give you more detail about this conversion utility.
To Sum Up!
Between the two methods, using the Conversion Utility directly inside QuickBooks (Method 2) is the simpler process if your Quicken and QuickBooks versions are the same year it’s just a few clicks from the File menu. The Quicken Converter tool (Method 1) is the right path when the versions differ and a version-specific converter download is needed. Whichever method you used, take a few minutes after the conversion to review your accounts and verify that balances look correct before fully committing to the new file. If anything looks off or you hit an error during the process, our QuickBooks Data Service Solutions team is available at +1-888-510-9198 to help you get the conversion right.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — Convert Quicken to QuickBooks
Yes, the conversion is strictly one-way. Once your Quicken data has been converted and imported into QuickBooks Desktop, the resulting QuickBooks file cannot be opened or converted back into Quicken. This is exactly why the guide above recommends creating a backup of your original Quicken file (or converting a copied version) before starting your original Quicken data stays intact and accessible in case you ever need to reference it later.
The conversion brings over your chart of accounts, account balances, and transaction history. However, some Quicken-specific features such as investment tracking, personal budgets, and certain categories may not map cleanly into QuickBooks’ business-focused structure. After the conversion, it’s worth reviewing your accounts and running a balance sheet to confirm everything transferred correctly before continuing to enter new data.
For Method 2 (Conversion Utility), yes you’ll need QuickBooks Desktop installed on the computer where the Quicken .QDF file is accessible, and you run the conversion from within QuickBooks. For Method 1 (Quicken Converter tool), you download and install the standalone converter tool, which handles the conversion independently QuickBooks just needs to be installed to receive the converted file. Either way, both the Quicken data file and QuickBooks Desktop should be accessible on the same machine during the process.
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