QuickBooks vs Xero
QuickBooks and Xero are level on what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
It's a dead heat.
Neither pulls ahead on the published figures and review sites, so the decision is in the details this comparison cannot see. Check the current figures on both pages.
Choose QuickBooks if…
- • You want QuickBooks's edge on who picks up when you are stuck and who runs your payroll
Choose Xero if…
- • You want Xero's edge on what it costs to start and how many people can log in
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startXero winsQuickBooks5/10
$38
Simple Start, per month at list price (the introductory offer is half that for three months)
- $38, against $27
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Xero8/10$27
Early plan, per month at list price (introductory $5.40 for three months)
Source: xero.com ↗
Xero wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Who picks up when you are stuckQuickBooks winsQuickBooks8/10
Phone support included
phone support comes with every paid plan
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Xero5/1024/7 online support, callback on request
no support phone line, but they will call you
- 24/7 online support, callback on request, against Phone support included
Source: xero.com ↗
QuickBooks wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3How many people can log inXero winsQuickBooks5/10
1 user
Simple Start includes one user plus two accountants
- 1 user, against Unlimited users
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Xero wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 4Who runs your payrollQuickBooks winsQuickBooks8/10
Own payroll product
QuickBooks Payroll is Intuit's own, sold separately
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Xero5/10Optional add-on via Gusto
payroll is handed to a partner
- Optional add-on via Gusto, against Own payroll product
Source: xero.com ↗
QuickBooks wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 5What customers say on TrustpilotXero winsQuickBooks5/10
3.7 out of 5
TrustScore from 16,940 reviews on Trustpilot
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Xero wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6How many invoices you can sendQuickBooks wins
QuickBooks wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- Simple Start includes one user plus two accountants
- inventory comes from integrations rather than the core plan
- $38, against $27
- 1 user, against Unlimited users
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
- $38, against $23
- 24/7 online support, callback on request, against Phone support included
- Optional add-on via Gusto, against Own payroll product
- 20 invoices a month, against Unlimited invoices
- $27, against $23