Amendability | No | Yes | No | Yes | Unpost | Unpost |
Year End Rollback | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows/ Mac | Both | Interchangeable | Windows | Windows | Windows | Windows |
Multi-user | Yes | Yes | | No | Yes | Yes |
Tax Compliance | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Fair | Good |
Payroll | Yes | No | Addon | No(US only) | No | No |
How is the software paid for | Proprietory | Proprietory | Proprietory | Proprietory | Proprietory | Proprietory |
Drill down | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but not on reports | Yes |
Ledger Based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Networkable | Yes | Yes | | ? | Yes | Yes |
Hosted version | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Import/Export | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes, CSV, Quickbooks, Pdf | Yes | CSV |
Multi currency | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Work from SAL template | n/a | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Links to other software | n/a | No | Excel, CSV | Excel, Email, US Payroll, | Excel, Email | Excel, Email |
Moving datafile | n/a | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Datafile usable offsite | n/a | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Helpdesk | n/a | Yes | Yes | No | | Yes |
Partner Scheme | Partial | No | | No | | No |
Advantages | Larger scale Mac alternative to AccountEdge. Strong networking. | Appears to cover most ledgers available in MYOB. ODBC add on. | Addon modules to extend functionality such as CRM, Stock. | Excellent for small and medium size business. Built in inventory, sales and built in workflow coach for novice users. | Inventory, sales, and purchasing. | Promising piece of software with inventory and sales. Very cheap. |
Disadvantages | Not amendable. Looks too much like a database. | Comprehensive but irritating. Several features appear clumsy. Tricky to use and expensive. | Windows 95 style screens. Difficult in and out ledger based layout. Look and feel very similar to Excel. | Limited to single dollar currency and single user. Reports won’t download to Excel. No Bank Register. | Unpost only | No mac version. No built in payroll. Not amendable. |
Website | astraaccounts .co.uk | bigbusiness.com | bigredbook.com | avanquest.com | quest2go.com | business-ware .co.uk |