Business software · Comparison
QuickBooks Online vs Xero
QuickBooks Online starts at $19/mo billed monthly and renews at $38/mo; Xero starts at $5.40/mo billed monthly and renews at $27/mo. Over 3 years paying monthly, QuickBooks Online (Simple Start) costs about $1,311 and Xero (Early) about $907. Prices checked 10 Oct 2026.
Accounting and invoicing
Cloud accounting from Intuit with a limited free plan and four paid tiers that add users, reports and automation.
$19/mobilled monthly, renews $38/mo. Free plan too
Checked Screenshot of the pricing page (opens in a new tab)Visit QuickBooks Online (no commission) (opens in a new tab)Accounting and invoicing
Cloud accounting with no per-user fees and three monthly plans, the cheapest capped at 20 invoices and 5 bills.
$5.40/mobilled monthly, renews $27/mo
Checked Screenshot of the pricing page (opens in a new tab)Visit Xero (no commission) (opens in a new tab)Starting price against renewal price
3 years, paying monthly
- QuickBooks Online Simple Start, monthly$1,311
- Xero Early, monthly$907
Side by side
| QuickBooks Online | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan, paid from $19.00/mo (term: monthly, renews at $38.00/mo). Price checked . | From $5.40/mo (term: monthly, renews at $27.00/mo). Price checked . |
| Free plan | Yes: 1 user, 2 invoices a month, 1 bank connection, no accountant access | No |
| Trial length | 30-day free trial on paid plans, as an alternative to the 3-month discount | One month free (USD 0 for one month), as an alternative to the 80% off offer |
| Integrations | Third-party integrations on paid plans, not on QuickBooks Free | Not captured |
| Users included | Free 1, Simple Start 1, Essentials 3, Plus 5, Advanced 25 (plus 2 accountants, 3 on Advanced) | No per-user license fees |
| Card payment fees | Not captured | Payment fees apply to online invoice payments; standard ACH bill payments included, fees for other methods |
Both are Researched from public pricing and specifications; neither has been hands-on tested.
Both discount the first 3 months, then list price applies
On 10 October 2026 QuickBooks Online listed Simple Start at $38 a month, Essentials at $85, Plus at $140 and Advanced at $340, with 50% off for the first 3 months (Simple Start $19). Xero listed Early at $27, Growing at $59 and Established at $97, with 80% off for the first 3 months (Early $5.40). After the offer, both charge the list price monthly. Both also offered a free month or 30-day trial as an alternative to the discount.
The cheapest plans are capped differently. Xero Early allows 20 invoices and 5 bills a month, and invoices created by connected apps count toward the cap. Xero says it charges no per-user license fees. QuickBooks plans include a set number of users: 1 on Simple Start, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus and 25 on Advanced. QuickBooks also listed a free plan limited to 2 invoices a month.
Read the full reviews: QuickBooks Online review and Xero review.