Comparison

Shopify Orders → QB Desktop vs A2X: Instant Convert Alternative

Need to import shopify orders to quickbooks pro, premier & enterprise. the iif format intuit discontinued but desktop still accepts? A2X Accounting is an ecommerce accounting automation platform with QuickBooks and Xero integration. SpreadsheetBroccoli is better for converting CSV files to accounting formats without ecommerce accounting platform subscriptions or API access requirements.

Try Shopify Orders → QB Desktop yourself

Why QuickBooks Desktop Users Are Left Behind

The IIF Format Gap

Intuit discontinued IIF import tools years ago, but QuickBooks Desktop still accepts the format. Most SaaS integrations only support QuickBooks Online, leaving Desktop users with manual data entry. Without IIF format conversion, Desktop users must manually recreate hundreds of transactions or switch to Online just to sync data.

What This Tool Does

We generate proper IIF (Intuit Interchange Format) files that Desktop accepts: - Native IIF structure with !TRNS, !SPL, !ENDTRNS markers - Works with Pro, Premier, and Enterprise 2020-2025 - Handles Desktop-specific limits (41-char customer names, ASCII-only) Import via File → Utilities → Import → IIF Files. No app, no subscription, no Online migration needed.

Quick Comparison

Feature Comparison

Feature A2X SpreadsheetBroccoli
Flexible pricing (pay-as-you-go)
Try without signup
No setup or learning required
Data stays on your device Cloud-based
Works on any device
Error detection before upload
Fast email support
No API tokens required
No risk of data corruption
Full data transparency

What A2X Does Well

To be fair, A2X has genuine strengths:

  • Ecommerce accounting automation platform
  • QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage, NetSuite integration
  • Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, PayPal integration
  • Summarized entries matching payouts
  • Auto-categorization of sales, fees, taxes, refunds
  • Tax accounting (VAT, GST, sales tax)
  • Profit margins and COGS tracking
  • Trusted by 12,000+ ecommerce businesses
  • Xero Small Business App of the Year 2025 (US)

Which Should You Choose?

Choose A2X if: You are an ecommerce business You need automated ecommerce accounting You want QuickBooks/Xero integration for ecommerce You sell on multiple channels (Amazon, Shopify, eBay, etc.) You need summarized entries matching payouts You prefer ecommerce accounting platform approach
Choose SpreadsheetBroccoli if: You need CSV file conversion to accounting formats You want file-based tools without ecommerce accounting subscriptions You do occasional imports rather than ongoing ecommerce accounting You prefer browser-based conversion without API access You want instant results without platform setup

Ready for the simpler approach?

Try Shopify Orders → QB Desktop yourself - no signup required.

Convert Your First File

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your needs. A2X is built for businesses that need advanced automation and accounting integrations. If you're a small business doing monthly imports or occasional conversions, SpreadsheetBroccoli's simpler approach may be a better fit - no subscriptions, no setup, just results.
Not for the same transactions - you'd risk double-counting. However, you could use A2X for ongoing automation and SpreadsheetBroccoli for one-off historical imports or quick ad-hoc conversions outside your normal workflow.
A2X typically requires 30-60 minutes of initial setup (account creation, API connections, mapping configuration), then runs automatically. SpreadsheetBroccoli takes under 2 minutes per conversion - upload, preview, download. Choose based on whether you need ongoing automation or quick occasional conversions.
Pick a clean cutoff date (end of month works best). Let A2X finish processing that period, then disconnect. Export your data from the source platform and use SpreadsheetBroccoli for conversions going forward. The first month needs careful reconciliation to ensure no gaps or duplicates.
Both produce accurate results when used correctly. A2X uses API connections for automated data sync. SpreadsheetBroccoli processes the exact file you provide and shows you a preview before finalizing. Our pre-upload validation catches errors before they reach your accounting software.
A2X typically charges monthly subscriptions regardless of usage. SpreadsheetBroccoli offers flexible options: free preview before commitment, pay-per-conversion, credit bundles for volume, or subscriptions for heavy users. You only pay for what you actually use.
A2X offers various support tiers depending on your plan. SpreadsheetBroccoli provides fast email support to all users. Our file-based approach also means simpler troubleshooting - if something looks wrong, you can see exactly what data was converted in the preview.
A2X processes data on their servers via API connections. SpreadsheetBroccoli processes files entirely in your browser - your data never leaves your device. There's no account to hack, no API tokens to secure, and no data stored on external servers.
SpreadsheetBroccoli is ideal for small businesses doing their own bookkeeping, occasional users who need monthly or quarterly imports, and anyone who wants instant results without learning a new platform. A2X is better suited for larger operations with dedicated bookkeepers who need ongoing automation.
A2X offers automated syncing, real-time connections, and features like multi-channel consolidation or advanced accounting automation. SpreadsheetBroccoli focuses on doing file conversion exceptionally well - fast, private, and simple. We're not trying to replace full accounting platforms, just make conversions effortless.
Absolutely not. This is a major security advantage of SpreadsheetBroccoli over A2X. A2X requires you to hand over API keys or login credentials, creating a permanent security vulnerability. We only touch the specific file you upload, process it in your browser, and forget it immediately.
It works until it breaks. Automated integrations often fail silently when platforms update their APIs, leaving you with weeks of missing or duplicated data to clean up manually. SpreadsheetBroccoli is deterministic: you verify the file right now, import it right now, and you know it's done correctly. It turns "background anxiety" into "finished work."
You can, but the cost is validation and edge cases. AI often hallucinates math or format structures, and free scripts rarely handle messy real-world data (missing SKUs, strange currency formats, tax anomalies). We have battle-tested validators specifically for A2X exports that catch issues a generic script will miss.

Shopify → Quickbooks Desktop Data Ecosystem

All available data flows from Shopify to Quickbooks Desktop

Shopify Orders Export Customer orders with line items, shipping, taxes, discounts, addresses
→
Quickbooks Desktop IIF File Tab-delimited Intuit Interchange Format for Desktop
Name → DOCNUM Created at → DATE Billing Name → NAME
QB Pro, Premier, Enterprise (2020-2025) Parent tool