QNE vs SQL Account: Comprehensive Comparison for Malaysian Businesses

Choosing between QNE and SQL Account means deciding between a modern cloud-first platform and an established solution offering both perpetual licenses and cloud subscriptions. SQL Account has served Malaysian businesses since the early 2000s with over 320,000 companies using their products, while QNE represents the newer generation of cloud accounting software. This comparison helps you understand which platform aligns better with your business model and preferences.

Quick Comparison Summary

Detailed Feature Comparison

Pricing Breakdown: Subscription vs Perpetual

Verdict on Price: QNE is cheaper for short-term (<3 years) and offers lower upfront risk. SQL Account is cheaper for long-term (>4 years) usage, assuming you don't pay for annual support maintenance (approx RM 500-800/year).

Pricing Philosophy: Subscription vs Ownership

QNE's Subscription Model

QNE operates purely on monthly subscriptions, reflecting the software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model. The Prime plan at RM 62 per month provides entry-level access with 2 users + 1 accountant and core accounting features. The Professional plan at RM 130 per month expands to 3 users + 1 accountant with advanced features. The Enterprise plan at RM 500 per month offers 7 users + 1 accountant and premium support. This pricing structure ensures predictable monthly expenses with no large upfront investments. All updates, new features, and compliance changes are included automatically. For a three-year period, QNE's Prime plan costs RM 2,232 total, Professional plan RM 4,680, and Enterprise plan RM 18,000. These costs include everything—software, updates, support, and cloud infrastructure. The subscription model suits businesses preferring operational expenses (OPEX) over capital expenses (CAPEX). Startups and growing businesses benefit from low initial costs, while the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade plans accommodates changing needs. However, long-term costs accumulate—after 10 years, even the Prime plan totals RM 7,440, potentially exceeding perpetual license costs.

SQL Account's Flexible Pricing

SQL Account offers both perpetual licenses and cloud subscriptions, giving businesses choice based on their preferences. The desktop perpetual licenses start at RM 2,699 for Basic edition, RM 2,999 for Standard (with onsite training), RM 3,799 for Advanced (with stock control), and RM 4,099 for Pro (full features with onsite training). These are one-time payments with no recurring subscription fees. However, perpetual licenses aren't entirely cost-free long-term. While SQL Account doesn't mandate annual fees, businesses typically purchase support and update packages (usually 20-25% of license cost annually) to receive new features, compliance updates, and technical support. Without these, you continue using the software but miss out on improvements and may face compliance issues with changing regulations. SQL Account's cloud subscriptions start at RM 79 per month for Essential plan (RM 39.50 with 50% government grant) and RM 109 per month for Pro plan (RM 54.50 with grant). The unique selling point is the 10-year price guarantee—your subscription price remains locked for a decade, protecting against inflation and price increases. This guarantee provides unusual certainty in the subscription software market. For businesses planning long-term use, SQL Account's perpetual license becomes cost-effective. A RM 2,699 Basic license used for 5 years costs RM 540 per year, far less than QNE's RM 744 annual Prime plan cost. However, this assumes you don't need annual support packages, which would add RM 540-675 annually (20-25% of RM 2,699).

Deployment and Data Control

QNE's Cloud Infrastructure

QNE operates exclusively in the cloud with data stored in secure Malaysian data centers. This design eliminates infrastructure concerns—no servers to maintain, no backups to manage, no software installations to troubleshoot. Access your accounts from any device with internet connectivity, whether desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. The cloud architecture enables real-time collaboration. Multiple users access the same data simultaneously without version conflicts. Your accountant can review transactions while you create invoices and your warehouse manager updates inventory—all seeing current information instantly. This synchronization is particularly valuable for businesses with multiple locations or remote teams. QNE's mobile app extends accessibility further, allowing business owners to monitor dashboards, approve transactions, and check financial positions on the go. The system handles all backups automatically with redundancy across multiple data centers, ensuring data safety even in disaster scenarios. However, cloud-only means internet dependency. While QNE offers limited offline functionality, full features require connectivity. Businesses in areas with unreliable internet may experience disruptions. Some business owners also prefer keeping financial data on their own servers for security or control reasons, which QNE's architecture doesn't accommodate.

SQL Account's Deployment Flexibility

SQL Account's greatest strength is deployment choice. The desktop version installs on your local server or computers, giving complete control over your data. Financial information never leaves your premises unless you choose to back it up externally. This appeals to businesses with security concerns, compliance requirements for data locality, or simply preference for traditional software ownership. Desktop SQL Account works entirely offline. No internet required for daily operations—create invoices, record expenses, generate reports without connectivity concerns. This reliability suits businesses in areas with unstable internet or those requiring guaranteed access regardless of external factors. You control when to update software, allowing testing before deploying changes to production systems. The cloud version provides similar benefits to QNE—accessibility from anywhere, automatic backups, no infrastructure requirements. SQL Account Cloud uses robust infrastructure with high availability and disaster recovery. Businesses can start with desktop and migrate to cloud later, or run hybrid setups with desktop as primary and cloud for remote access. This flexibility requires more decision-making. Businesses must evaluate their infrastructure capabilities, IT expertise, and long-term plans. Desktop deployments need proper backup strategies, security measures, and update management. Cloud deployments require trusting third-party infrastructure and accepting ongoing subscription costs.

Feature Depth and Customization

QNE's Streamlined Approach

QNE focuses on providing essential accounting features in an intuitive package. Core functionality covers general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank reconciliation, inventory management, and financial reporting. The system handles multi-currency transactions (RM 10/mo add-on), multi-location inventory (RM 60/mo add-on), and SST compliance smoothly. The platform emphasizes automation to reduce manual work. Bank feeds automatically import transactions for reconciliation. AI-powered categorization suggests account classifications based on transaction patterns. Recurring invoices and bills generate automatically on schedule. These features help small businesses operate efficiently without dedicated accounting staff. QNE's app marketplace extends functionality through third-party integrations. Need e-commerce integration? Connect WooCommerce or Shopify. Require advanced payroll? Integrate with specialized payroll platforms. Want CRM capabilities? Add customer relationship management apps. This ecosystem approach keeps the core product focused while allowing expansion as needed. However, QNE's simplicity has limits. Businesses requiring complex accounting scenarios—project costing, job tracking, manufacturing BOMs, advanced pricing structures—may find QNE constraining. While workarounds exist, they're not as elegant as purpose-built features. Extensive customization isn't QNE's strength; the platform works best for businesses fitting its standard workflows.

SQL Account's ERP Capabilities

SQL Account positions itself as more than accounting software—it's an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for SMEs. Beyond standard accounting, it includes sophisticated inventory management, purchasing workflows, sales order processing, and business intelligence. The depth of features rivals enterprise software but remains accessible to small businesses. Customization is SQL Account's hallmark. The platform provides extensive configuration options allowing businesses to tailor workflows, forms, reports, and processes to their specific needs. Many resellers offer industry-specific versions pre-configured for manufacturing, retail, distribution, construction, and professional services. These customizations address unique requirements without custom programming. For businesses needing deeper customization, SQL Account provides APIs and development tools. Developers can create custom modules, integrate with proprietary systems, or modify almost any aspect of the software. This flexibility makes SQL Account suitable for businesses with unique requirements that off-the-shelf software can't address. The platform's unlimited processing power claim reflects its ability to handle large transaction volumes without performance degradation. Businesses processing thousands of invoices monthly or managing tens of thousands of inventory items find SQL Account scales well. The system supports complex scenarios like multiple price lists, customer-specific pricing, quantity-based discounts, and promotional pricing. However, this power comes with complexity. SQL Account's extensive options can overwhelm new users. The learning curve is steeper than QNE's streamlined interface. Businesses must invest more time in training and may need consultant assistance for optimal setup. The flexibility that serves complex businesses may be overkill for simple operations.

E-Invoice Implementation

Both platforms support LHDN e-Invoice requirements, but implementation approaches differ significantly.

QNE's Peppol Integration

QNE is a Peppol-certified access point, meaning it's directly integrated into the global e-invoicing network. When you create an invoice in QNE, the system automatically formats it according to e-invoice standards, validates the data, and transmits it through the Peppol network to LHDN's MyInvois system. This integration is remarkably seamless. From the user's perspective, creating e-invoices feels identical to creating regular invoices. QNE handles all the technical complexity—XML formatting, digital signatures, transmission protocols—behind the scenes. Customers receive e-invoices through the Peppol network automatically, and you receive confirmation of successful submission. The Peppol certification also enables international e-invoicing. As more countries adopt Peppol standards, businesses can exchange e-invoices across borders using the same infrastructure. This future-proofs your e-invoice capability beyond Malaysia's requirements.

SQL Account's LHDN Integration

SQL Account provides e-invoice functionality through direct integration with LHDN's MyInvois system. The process involves generating invoices in SQL Account, then submitting them through the e-invoice module to MyInvois. While requiring slightly more steps than QNE's automatic approach, it offers more visibility and control over the submission process. SQL Account's strength lies in handling complex e-invoice scenarios. The system supports consolidated e-invoices, self-billed e-invoices, and batch submissions for high-volume transactions. Businesses with complex billing requirements—like those in construction or logistics—may find SQL Account's granular control beneficial. However, the integration relies on LHDN's portal availability. During peak times or maintenance windows, submissions may be delayed. QNE's Peppol approach bypasses some of these direct dependencies, potentially offering more reliable transmission.

Final Verdict: Which is Right for You?

Choose QNE AI Cloud If:

• You want a modern, cloud-native experience with access from anywhere.
• Low upfront costs and predictable monthly expenses are priorities.
• You value automation and AI features to reduce manual data entry.
• Your business has standard accounting needs without complex customization.
• You prefer a simple, intuitive interface that requires minimal training.

Choose SQL Account If:

• You need deep customization and industry-specific workflows.
• You prefer owning your software with a perpetual license.
• Your business processes high transaction volumes or complex inventory.
• You require offline access due to unreliable internet or security policies.
• You want a system that can scale to enterprise levels without changing platforms.