There are three ways to get multiple people working in AccountEdge, and the right one depends on two questions: where are your people, and what do they need to do — full accounting, or just entering data? Find your situation below, then use the comparison to confirm.

Everyone works in one office and needs full features → Network Edition. Full desktop AccountEdge for every user, sharing one company file over your local network, in real time.

People in different locations need full features (reports, payroll, reconciliation) → Hosted. The complete application running on a secure cloud desktop — log in from any device's browser, anywhere.

Mac and Windows users in the same company file → Hosted — it's the only option that supports a mixed-platform team.

Field or remote people who only enter data (sales, purchases, quotes, timesheets, customer info) → Connect, added to whichever AccountEdge you run. It works from a phone or tablet, which makes it the natural fit for field-based sales reps and crews.

Front counter + back office → either works: Network Edition with user permissions limiting what counter staff see, or Connect for the counter with the desktop handling the accounting.

You travel constantly or change computers often → Hosted — your file lives on the server, so there's nothing to track across machines.

Network Edition shares your company file across the office using FileConnect, a service that runs on the host machine — workstations connect to it over the network. Everyone gets the complete feature set with user permission controls, and data is shared in real time.

Hosted is the full desktop application — nothing removed — running in a hosted environment, so "remote access" doesn't mean a reduced experience. It stands alone (no desktop install required), and the subscription includes phone-based technical support.

Connect is a companion, not standalone software — it links to a company file in Pro, Network Edition, or Hosted and syncs when you sync (not continuously). Connect users see only what you allow; they never have full file access. Getting started: Getting Started With AccountEdge Connect.

Can I switch approaches later? Yes — your company file works with all of these, though not simultaneously as your primary setup. Many businesses also combine them: Network Edition in the office plus Connect for the field is a common pairing.

What happens when the internet goes down? Network Edition keeps working on your local network. Hosted and Connect users need a connection.

Still deciding between plans overall? Which AccountEdge Plan Is Right for You? compares Pro, NE, and Hosted from the top.