Head to head
QuickBooks Online vs Xero
Both platforms are scored with the same methodology and the same category rubric. Nothing on this page is influenced by advertising.
70/100Higher score | 64/100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category rank | #1 | #2 |
| Confidence | High confidence | High confidence |
| External Reputation | 80 | 80 |
| AI Authority | 73 | 56 |
| Web Authority | 57 | 56 |
| Expert Assessment | 62 | 57 |
| TOP10 User Score | — | — |
| Pricing | USD $38/month (Simple Start, 1 user; promo $3.80/mo for 3 months) · free tier: 30-day free trial, offered as an alternative to a 90%-off-for-three-months promotion | USD $25/month (Early), rising to $27/month from 1 October 2026 · free tier: No permanent free tier; one month free starting once business setup is finalized, with a reminder 7 days before it ends |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Best for | US small businesses of roughly 3-25 people that already need double-entry accounting — inventory, job costing, sales tax, an external accountant — and want invoicing to live in the same ledger. | Small businesses that want invoicing inside a full double-entry ledger, teams needing many free user logins, and firms already working with an accountant in the Xero partner ecosystem. |
| Avoid if | You are a freelancer or solo operator who only sends invoices, you need batch invoice sending without paying $340/mo, or you require a firm all-in monthly cost including card-processing fees. | You want a pure invoicing tool, bill only a handful of clients a month, need multi-currency or international payments on a budget, or require phone support when money or access is stuck. |
| Markets | SMB, Accountants | SMB, Accountants and bookkeepers, Agencies |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
A higher TOP SCORE means more of the evidence favours that platform on this methodology — it is not a recommendation, and it does not account for your specific requirements. Advertisers are never declared the winner of a comparison.