If you have Windows, you’ll need to be running Windows 7 or newer, with at least 4GBs how does a person become incorporated of RAM and a processor comparable to the Intel Core i5. Both services are available on all the most common devices and browsers. It’s worth noting that QuickBooks uses a first-party payment processor, which means that the money goes through QuickBooks, while Xero uses third-party processors, like PayPal or Stripe. Neither of these is better than the other, but it pays to be aware of the differences. Sign up to receive more well-researched small business articles and topics in your inbox, personalized for you. We consider this a draw, and the ratings presented above are simply reflections of the average scores of Xero and QuickBooks Online on review sites.

QuickBooks vs Xero: Which is best for your business in 2024

We went to user review websites to read first-hand reviews from actual software users. This user review score helps us give more credit to software products that deliver a consistent service to their customers. The A/P section focuses on vendor management, bill management, bill payments, and other payable-related transactions.

At different seasons of the year, QuickBooks plans have been between 50% and 70% off for the 8 best free accounting software for small business in 2021 first three months. Whatever the current deal, users will need to skip their free trial to qualify. Xero’s security measures keep your data encrypted and stored in multiple locations online, keeping it safe yet backed up. All plans support two-step authentication for all users, and the company guarantees it’ll keep your data private. Another notable difference is that QuickBooks Online lets you upload your file of transactions, so you aren’t required to connect your bank account.

Banking: QuickBooks Online Wins

The software must have a mobile app to enable users to perform accounting tasks even when away from their laptops or desktops. Some of the features we looked into include the ability to create and send invoices, accept online payments, enter and track bills, and view reports on the go. If your business needs many users to access your accounting data and requires low-cost inventory and fixed-asset accounting, Xero is the better choice. If you need comprehensive bank reconciliation, class and location tracking, good customer support, and easy access to local bookkeepers, then QuickBooks Online wins. QuickBooks Online is full-featured accounting software that is easy to use, even if you’re new to accounting. In addition to the standard accounting features you’d expect, QuickBooks Online also has advanced features, exceptional invoicing automatizations and customizations, and built-in lending.

It also offers a 30-day free trial so you can test drive the software before committing to a paid plan. Xero has over 1,000 integrations, so you can connect with other software and apps to manage inventory, process payments, track time, and more. Both offer great accounting features and integrations, but which one is better for small businesses? If you’re in the market for accounting software, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all the options out there. While Xero and QuickBooks are wildly popular, they’re not the only options available. There are a number of alternative accounting software programs that can offer powerful features and a user-friendly interface.

The Xero accounting interface is clean and uncluttered, and new users have access to a demo company where they can manipulate data without worrying about entering or deleting important information. Just keep in mind that unlike the inventory feature in QuickBooks Online’s higher-tier plans, Xero doesn’t let users set up reorder points that flag when stock is running low. Integrates with more than 750 apps and offers live, in-house bookkeeping add-on.

1. For those moving their small business’ accounting over from another application, you can import data into QuickBooks Online using the Import Data function.
2. A 30-day free trial is available for those who want to test the software before committing and you can get big discounts on all of the above plans for the first six months, with a monthly fee from £1.
3. QuickBooks Online is easy to use, so it’s a good choice for beginners.
4. The Projects category lets you manage any projects and record time spent using the time tracking feature.

Choose QuickBooks Online If…

Ideally, there will be a wizard to walk the user through the import process. Both do a great job of accounting for inventory and calculating the cost of your inventory sold automatically. However, inventory accounting is included in all Xero plans, while it’s only in the chapter 4.1 preparing a chart of accounts Plus and Advanced versions of QuickBooks Online. So, if you want a low-cost inventory management solution, go with Xero. Unlike QuickBooks, Xero supports unlimited users and organizations for all accounts.

Note, each QuickBooks Live offering requires an active QuickBooks Online subscription and additional terms, conditions, limitations and fees apply. For more information about services provided by Live Bookkeeping, refer to the QuickBooks Terms of Service. QuickBooks goes beyond accounting with 750+ integrated apps, streamlining everything from payroll to customer relationships. This eliminates the need for multiple platforms, reducing time and effort while empowering smarter business decisions.

Xero’s accounting functionalities are fairly simple to navigate, so it’s likely these resources will be sufficient if and when something goes wrong. All of these things can cause extreme frustration, and you’ll need the assistance of product support to solve these problems. Xero and QuickBooks Online offer very similar features and functionality along with summary dashboards to measure business health. QuickBooks Online, an offshoot of the popular QuickBooks Desktop application, is a good fit for small and growing businesses. To make the decision a little easier, we’re comparing Xero and QuickBooks Online, side by side based on features, pricing, ease of use, and more. Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.