Alternatives to Xero
Cloud accounting loved by accountants
Xero ranks #7 of 10 in Accounting software, with an Alt Score of 78. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $25/month and available on Web, iOS and Android. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Small business owners who need to manage day-to-day finances, and the accountants or bookkeepers who work with them.
Xero is cloud-based accounting software covering bank reconciliation, invoicing, bill payment, expense tracking, and financial reporting in one place. It connects to your bank feeds to automatically categorize and match transactions, and supports payroll through a partner integration. The platform is accessible from a browser or mobile app and integrates with over 1,000 third-party business apps.
You sign up, connect your bank accounts to import transaction feeds, then create invoices, enter bills, and reconcile transactions as they come in. Accountants or bookkeepers can be invited to collaborate on the same live data, and reports (cash flow, P&L, etc.) are generated automatically from the recorded transactions.
Where Xero stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Xero
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Accounting software checklist (14 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Accounting software checklist | Xero | Odoo | ERPNext | FreeAgent | FreshBooks | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Invoicing | ||||||
| Bank feeds | ||||||
| Expense tracking | ||||||
| Multi-currency | ||||||
| Tax reports (VAT) | ||||||
| Payroll available | ||||||
| Inventory | ||||||
| Self-hostable | ||||||
| Accountant access | ||||||
| API |
Every fact and feature listed for Xero is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
-
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
© 2026 Xero Limited. All rights reserved.
https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ -
Pricing model Subscription verified 2026-07-11
Xero subscriptions auto-renew monthly until they are cancelled.
https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ -
Starts at $25/month verified 2026-07-11
Then $25 per month
https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ -
Platforms Web, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Send invoices online from wherever you are with the Xero Accounting app on iOS and Android.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/send-invoices/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Last updated: Oct 7, 2025
https://blog.xero.com/product-updates/inventory-features-good-based-businesses/ -
Invoicing Yes verified 2026-07-11
Use customizable invoice templates to create professional invoices fast – add your logo, payment terms, and branding.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/send-invoices/ -
Bank feeds Yes verified 2026-07-11
Set up automatic transaction imports from a wide range of US banks and financial institutions
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/connect-your-bank/ -
Expense tracking Partial verified 2026-07-11
Xero's expense management features are available on the Established plan.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/claim-expenses/ -
Multi-currency Partial verified 2026-07-11
Multi-currency is available on Xero's Established plan (US).
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/use-multiple-currencies/ -
Tax reports (VAT) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Xero calculates VAT and files VAT returns online securely with HMRC, using software that’s compatible with HMRC systems.
https://www.xero.com/uk/accounting-software/submit-vat-online/ -
Payroll available Partial verified 2026-07-11
Pay your team faster with an online payroll accounting system. Xero and Gusto have partnered to offer you the most seamless accounting and payroll experience.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/payroll/ -
Inventory Yes verified 2026-07-11
Manage up to 4,000 items without breaking a sweat.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/manage-inventory/ -
Self-hostable No verified 2026-07-11
HMRC-recognised payroll software for small businesses. Pay employees with confidence. 100% cloud-based payroll and accounting, all in one place.
https://www.xero.com/uk/accounting-software/payroll/ -
Accountant access Yes verified 2026-07-11
Invite your accountant or bookkeeper to work with you in Xero and you’ll be across the same up-to-date figures.
https://www.xero.com/us/get-started/ -
API Yes verified 2026-07-11
Yes! If you have an idea for a problem that existing apps can’t solve, you can build one with our open API.
https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/app-integrations/
FAQ
Yes. Zoho Books and Wave have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Odoo, ERPNext and Invoice Ninja — every license claim links its source.