© CreditDonkey Quicken set out to create a program that was at least comparable to its sibling, Quicken for Windows. Did it accomplish that goal? Many users don't think so, but they do recognize the improvements made in the program.

Quicken for Mac now includes all-new access to online bills from more than 11,000 billers, which are integrated into a streamlined bill workflow; expanded Additionally, Quicken Home, Business & Rental Property Manager users can now create and easily email invoices with custom logos and colors.

If you are using a QuickBooks for Mac version older than 2016, download and install the free trial, before converting to QuickBooks Online. You must be logged in as the Administrator in both your QuickBooks Desktop for Mac company file and your QuickBooks Online account.

Some of the most important improvements made include: • A more user-friendly interface • More cohesiveness between mobile app and Quicken for Mac • More reporting options Did Quicken accomplish what they set out to do? Keep reading to find out. How Does Quicken for Mac Work? One thing you should understand about Quicken for Mac: just likes its Windows counterpart, you must subscribe to the service. The subscriptions are available in one and two-year increments.

This means every year (or two years), you must renew your subscription. Quicken offers three versions for Mac users: • Starter: As the name suggests, it's a starter program, good for those who have never officially budgeted their finances. Don't expect any bells and whistles with this option. • Deluxe: If you are ready for more, the Deluxe program helps you customize your budget, track your debt, manage your debt, and monitor your investments. • Premiere: The top tier program includes everything in Deluxe, plus online bill pay service (free of charge) and quicker access to customer service. Contacting Quicken: Quicken offers two ways to contact customer support: • Phone support is available Monday - Friday, 5 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time • Live chat is available 24/7; you can see the wait time for an agent right on the website What Are the Fees? As we discussed above, Quicken is a subscription-based service.

You will pay anywhere from $34.99 to $74.99 per year for the service. If you neglect to renew your subscription, you can still access your information, but you cannot use the program's services any longer. Converting from Quicken for Windows to Quicken for Mac Previously, Mac users had to run Quicken for Windows via VMWare Fusion or run an old version of Quicken for Mac. This allowed them to run Quicken on a Mac without having a program made for Mac.

These users who now pay for the Quicken for Mac subscription can move their Quicken files over to Quicken for Mac. Quicken does offer full support to help you transfer the files, no matter how many years of transactions you have going at the time of transfer. Reasons We Like Quicken for Mac • You can sync your financial data between the desktop app and the mobile app. The Quicken mobile app is free and syncs with your desktop app. This way you can add, edit, or delete transactions on either device and they will synchronize the information so you are always looking at the most up-to-date data. • You can easily reconcile your accounts.

If you don't reconcile your accounts, you may be using incorrect information. Reconciling is a feature in Quicken for Mac that is simple to use. It's like a system of checks and balances that lets you know the information you put into Quicken for Mac matches the information the bank provides. • Quicken for Mac provides visually appealing graphs and charts. Quicken for Mac is easier to navigate and read for users.

You can view ledgers, graphs, or charts—whichever is the most appealing to you and will help you stay on track with your budget. • You can pay bills via Quicken for Mac.

Quicken for Mac has access to more than 11,000 vendors. You can view all of your bills on the dashboard and/or you can download your bills in PDF format if you prefer to have a copy of the bill yourself.

• You can manage your investments. A new key feature of Quicken for Mac is the investments feature. You can track your portfolio, get updated quotes, and track your profits.

You can also see your cost basis, determine your capital gains, and prepare yourself for tax time. • You can track your principal and interest on loans. If you are trying to get ahead of your loans, you will like the loan feature in Quicken for Mac. You can see how your payments affect principal and interest. You can also run 'what if' scenarios to see how different payments and scenarios would help you pay off your debt. • You can use Dropbox for backups. Even though Quicken for Mac is on your local computer, you get access to 5 GB of online backup from Dropbox.

This gives you a 'backup' of your financial information to ensure that you don't lose anything. • You always have the latest updates. Because Quicken for Mac is subscription-based, you don't have to upgrade the product when new versions are released. You'll automatically receive updates, which means you'll always have the latest features available to you. • You don't lose access to your financial data even after your subscription ends. If you don't want to renew your subscription, you still have access to your financial data. You can view it, edit it, or export it.