Software Advice offers objective, independent research and verified user reviews. We may earn a referral fee when you visit a vendor through our links. Learn more
Our commitment
Independent research methodology
Software Advice’s researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology.
How Software Advice verifies reviews
Software Advice carefully verified over 2.5 million+ reviews to bring you authentic software and services experiences from real users. Our human moderators verify that reviewers are real people and that reviews are authentic. They use leading tech to analyze text quality and to detect plagiarism and generative AI.
How Software Advice ensures transparency
Software Advice lists all providers across its website—not just those that pay us—so that users can make informed purchase decisions. Software Advice is free for users. Software and service providers pay us for sponsored profiles to receive web traffic and sales opportunities. Sponsored profiles include a link-out icon that takes users to the provider’s website.

About Xero

Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform designed to assist small and midsize businesses with financial operations management, financial visibility and business performance optimization and more. The platform helps automate accounting tasks and maintain accurate financial records. It offers expense management tools that enable users to track and manage business expenses. Key features include invoicing, quoting, making and collecting payments, tax payment, employee and workforce management, bank reconciliation, expense management, projects handling, reporting and analytics and security measures. Users can capture receipts, categorize expenses and submit them for approval. Xero also supports expense claims, allowing employees to submit their expenses for reimbursement. It provides detailed expense reports, helping businesses monitor spending and identify cost-saving opportunities. One of the core features of Xero is its invoicing capability. The solution allows accountants and bookkeepers to create and send professional invoices to clients, track their status and receive payments online. Users can customize invoice templates to align with their brand identity and set up automated reminders for overdue payments. It supports multi-currency invoicing, making it suitable for businesses with international clients. Xero's bank reconciliation feature is designed to streamline the process of matching bank transactions with accounting records. The tool automatically imports bank transactions and suggests matches based on historical data. Users can also create custom bank rules to automate the categorization of recurring transactions. Xero also provides real-time updates on cash flow, helping businesses maintain accurate financial records. Xero includes payroll management functionalities that assist businesses in managing employee payroll and compliance. It allows users to process payroll, calculate taxes and generate payslips. It also supports direct deposit, enabling businesses to pay employees electronically. Additionally, Xero provides tools for managing employee leave and tracking work hours, ensuring accurate payroll processing and compliance with labor regulations. Xero complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and produces Service Organization Control (SOC 2) reports. It also offers a range of reporting and analytics tools that provide valuable insights into business performance. Users can generate custom financial reports, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements. Xero's dashboard provides a real-time overview of key financial metrics. The tool supports budgeting and forecasting, enabling businesses to plan for future growth and manage financial risks. Xero integrates with several third-party applications, including CRM systems, eCommerce platforms and payment gateways. Xero’s integrated practice management software includes Xero HQ, Xero Practice Manager, Xero Workpapers and Xero Tax. It connects businesses with their bank, their advisor, accounting tools, payment services and more. These integrations facilitate data synchronization and optimize overall operational. Data is protected by multiple layers of security, including encryption and the platform is subject to strict privacy controls as it uses multi-factor authentication.
Xero Software - Xero dashboard
Xero Software - Xero financial dashboard
Xero Software - Xero bank reconciliation
Xero Software - Xero bank account management
Xero Software - Xero payroll overview
Xero Software - Xero inventory management
Xero Software - Xero dashboard - thumbnail
Xero Software - Xero financial dashboard - thumbnail
Xero Software - Xero bank reconciliation - thumbnail
Xero Software - Xero bank account management - thumbnail
Xero Software - Xero payroll overview - thumbnail
Xero Software - Xero inventory management - thumbnail

Xero pricing

Xero does not have a free version but does offer a free trial. Xero paid version starts at £10.00/month.

Starting Price:
£10.00/month See pricing details
Free Version:
No
Free trial:
Yes

Alternatives to Xero

QuickBooks Online

4.3 (8328 Reviews)
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software designed to help businesses manage their finances. It offers a... Learn more

QuickBooks Enterprise

4.5 (20593 Reviews)
QuickBooks Enterprise is an accounting solution designed for SMBs across different industry verticals such as constructi... Learn more

QuickBooks Desktop

4.4 (2534 Reviews)
QuickBooks Desktop is a business management software that combines accounting, payroll, inventory management, reporting,... Learn more

QuickBooks Online Advanced

4.4 (1035 Reviews)
QuickBooks Online Advanced is a cloud-based accounting solution that helps small to large enterprises manage expenses,... Learn more

Sage Intacct

4.3 (591 Reviews)
Transition from bookkeeping to growth financials, leverage cloud-native flexibility. Sage Intacct is a cloud-native... Learn more

FreshBooks

4.5 (4502 Reviews)
FreshBooks is a web-based accounting platform designed for small businesses across industries such as marketing, legal... Learn more

Wave

4.4 (1710 Reviews)
Online accounting software that provides features including invoicing, billing, payment tracking, payroll management,... Learn more

Sage Accounting

4.1 (547 Reviews)
Sage Accounting is a cloud-based accounting and invoice management solution for small to midsize businesses. It offers... Learn more

Browse Xero Reviews

3,250 of 3,250 reviews
Sort by:
Abbey
Abbey Show more details
  • Industry: Retail
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Weekly for 2+ years
  • Review Source Show more details
Value for Money
5
Features
5
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
5

5.0
Reviewed on 20/01/2026

Simple to use and learn and still robust!

I've tried a few bookkeeping programs and either they didn't have enough features to be useful or they were so overly bloated, it made it difficult to do basic tasks or get simple reports on the health of my business. Xero threads the needle perfectly, being simple to use and get the information I need while still being robust enough to fill all of my business needs.

Pros

Xero is very affordable and the learning curve is much lower than other bookkeeping programs. The reporting dashboard gives me the information I actually need and it's a breeze to hook up my accounts.

Cons

Sometimes my accounts disconnect randomly and it takes a little bit to get them synched up again without missing any transactions or having them appear more than once.

Alternatives Considered

17hats, FreshBooks and Harvest

Reasons for Choosing Xero

Quickbooks was too expensive and complicated to use

Switched From

QuickBooks Online

Reasons for Switching to Xero

These products, while affordable, didn't offer all the features.
Debbie
Debbie Show more details
  • Industry: Accounting
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source Show more details
Value for Money
2
Features
4
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
3

5.0
Reviewed on 03/01/2026

Xero is ok

I’m generally happy with Xero. It’s very easy to use and integrates well with other products, though often at an additional cost. Its reporting features are somewhat limited, but they’re sufficient for what I need.

Pros

The dashboard is easy to use, the reporting functions work well, and I’m not aware of any bugs or issues. Recording transactions is straightforward, and keeping bank activity up to date is simple.

Cons

It does not offer good value for money compared with competitor products, and customer support is not available by telephone. As a partner, commission opportunities are limited, and payments are taken by direct debit.

Alternatives Considered

MYOB Business and Reckon One

Reasons for Switching to Xero

The advice I received from accountants was biased, as they had no genuine knowledge of alternative products.
Russ
  • Industry: Computer Software
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Weekly for 2+ years
  • Review Source Show more details
Value for Money
5
Features
4
Ease of Use
4
Customer Support
3

4.0
Reviewed on 30/12/2025

8 out of 10

Xero is a decent accountancy system that helps in all aspects of your accounts. It is especially useful for Vat.

Pros

Xero is a great system with great functionality, especially for the small to medium sized businesses.

Cons

The user interface is not too friendly, especially for none Accountants but this is not a major issue.

Matthew
  • Industry: Machinery
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source Show more details
Value for Money
5
Features
5
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
4

5.0
Reviewed on 15/12/2025

Xero - a great fit for our small business

In the more than 5 years we have been using the software, our experience with Xero has been overwhelmingly positive. The improvements and new features that have been added in that time have been relevant and well implemented

Pros

For us as a small manufacturing company that exports its products worldwide, Xero has proved to be an excellent fit with our needs. It integrates seamlessly with our bank accounts in multiple currencies, as well as our MRP system. The VAT reporting makes submitting VAT returns a very straightforward process. The product is simple to use and all members of our team are comfortable with it. Overall, it provides a high degree of functionality at a very reasonable price point.

Cons

My only complaint would have been that tools for visualising your financial data were a little thin on the ground, but the new analytics features seem to have addressed this.

Alternatives Considered

Sage 50 Accounting and QuickBooks Online

Reasons for Switching to Xero

Had all the features we needed at a reasonable price
Natalie
  • Industry: International Trade & Development
  • Company size: 11–50 Employees
  • Used Daily for 1-5 months
  • Review Source Show more details
Value for Money
5
Features
5
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
5

5.0
Reviewed on 10/12/2025

Accounting is made easy

Pros

Xero offers 30 days for trial where you're able to explore all features of this tool and you are able to learn how it's feature can be used for accounting. You can export reports about sales and expense.

Cons

Xero is perfect and i have no challenges about it since i started using therefore i just recommend it.

Related categories

powered by