Xero

Cloud accounting for small businesses with unlimited users on every plan and a large app marketplace.

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Xero

Xero is a New Zealand-born cloud accounting platform that became the main rival to QuickBooks in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and has a growing US presence. It handles invoicing, bills, bank feeds and reconciliation, quotes, expense claims, multi-currency, projects and reporting, and lets you invite as many users as you like on every plan, which suits businesses that share the books with staff and an accountant. Its app marketplace is large, and many vertical tools treat Xero as the system of record. In the US, payroll comes through a Gusto partnership rather than Xero itself. Pricing is a flat monthly fee per organisation across a few tiers, with the entry tier capping invoices and bills; introductory discounts are common. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps. The usual drawbacks are tier limits that push growing businesses up a plan and reporting that some accountants find less flexible than desktop tools.

Best for: Small businesses, especially outside the US, that want accountant-friendly cloud books.

What works

Unlimited users included on every plan
Large marketplace of connected apps
Strong bank reconciliation workflow

Why people leave

Entry plan limits the number of invoices and bills
US payroll relies on a Gusto add-on
Costs climb once you need projects or multi-currency

Top Xero alternatives

See all 6

1
QuickBooks Online
The US default, with more native add-ons such as payroll built by Intuit.
66.5
2
Zoho Books
Similar feature set at lower prices, plus a free plan for micro businesses.
62.6
3
FreeAgent
UK-focused alternative built for freelancers and small limited companies.
59.6
4
MYOB
Local alternative for Australian businesses that want payroll in the same product.
57.2
5
FreshBooks
Easier for service businesses that mostly need invoicing and time tracking.
53.6

Why people left Xero

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Xero: common questions

Is Xero free?

No, Xero is a paid product. Starting price: $27/month after intro offer (Early) (checked on Xero's own site).

Is Xero open source?

No, Xero is not open source.

What platforms does Xero run on?

Xero is available for Web, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Xero?

The highest-ranked Xero alternatives right now are QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books and FreeAgent. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Xero alternatives

Xero facts

5 of 5 verified

Starting price: $27/month after intro offer (Early); Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab); “Early $ 2 . 70 per month for the first 6 months Then $27 per month An easy financial foundation - track cash flow with the essentials.”
Growing plan: $59/month after intro offer; Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab); “Growing $ 5 . 90 per month for the first 6 months Then $59 per month Go beyond the basics - automate tasks and access performance dashboards.”
Integrations: 1,000+ apps; Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab); “Integrate with 1000+ apps”
Customers: 5 million worldwide; Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab); “Used by 5 million customers worldwide.”
Mobile apps: iOS and Android; Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab); “The Xero Accounting app is available on iOS and Android devices, including iPads and tablets.”