Looking for a QuickBooks Desktop alternative?
Meet RareBooks. Offline-first accounting, POS, and inventory built for growth-focused SMEs.
When to choose QuickBooks Desktop
If you're a US business with an accountant already fluent in QuickBooks, need its payroll depth, and can absorb Enterprise-tier pricing, staying in the QuickBooks ecosystem still makes sense.
Why businesses switch to RareBooks
If you're a new or growing business outside that specific niche, Intuit has made the decision harder to avoid: the affordable Desktop tiers you'd normally start with aren't for sale anymore, and the ones still running are getting more expensive on every renewal.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How RareBooks compares to QuickBooks Desktop on core capabilities.
| Capability | RareBooks | QuickBooks Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Available to new customers | Yes, all tiers | Only Enterprise — Pro/Premier/Mac Plus discontinued for new sales (Sept 2024) |
| Works fully offline | Yes, 7-day grace period | Degrades once a version's support window ends |
| Point of Sale | Built-in | Separate add-on product |
| Pricing trend | Predictable, one-time-friendly | Rising — Pro Plus +15% in Feb 2026 alone |
| Local database | SQLite (lightweight, portable) | Proprietary local file |
| Built for African SME tax context | Yes | No |
Migrating from QuickBooks Desktop to RareBooks
Moving your books over is straightforward. Here's the process from start to finish.
Export your chart of accounts, customer/vendor lists, and item catalog from QuickBooks Desktop (File → Utilities → Export).
Set up your company profile in RareBooks using the guided wizard, mapping your existing account structure.
Import customers, vendors, and inventory via CSV, then enter opening balances from your last QuickBooks trial balance.
Run both systems in parallel for a billing cycle if you want a safety net, then move invoicing and POS fully to RareBooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from businesses considering the switch.
Is QuickBooks Desktop actually shutting down?
Not entirely — Enterprise remains for sale with no announced end date. But Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus are closed to new customers, and each version's connected services (payroll, bank feeds, security patches) stop on a rolling support-end schedule.
Can I import my QuickBooks data directly into RareBooks?
RareBooks accepts CSV imports for accounts, customers, vendors, and items, which QuickBooks Desktop can export directly. There isn't a one-click proprietary-file importer, so budget time for mapping your chart of accounts during setup.
Ready to make the switch?
Start a free trial of RareBooks — no credit card required.