Comparison · Prices checked in 10 markets, 18–19 October 2026
Xero vs QuickBooks Online (2026): Prices, Plans & Which to Choose
Disclosure: The Xero button in this article is an affiliate link (marked “partner link”). If you click through and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We hold both products to the same criteria below. Learn more.
Quick verdict
This one is close, and it depends on what you need. Choose Xero if several people need access, because it has no per-user fees on any plan. Its entry plan is also cheaper than QuickBooks’ first paid plan in the US. Choose QuickBooks Online if you need inventory or cheaper multi-currency in the US, if your accountant already works in it, or if you want a free plan to start. Outside the US, the price gap swings country by country, so check the price table for yours.
All prices are list prices from each provider’s official pricing page, read on 18–19 October 2026, before promotions and tax. We haven’t run a hands-on test for this comparison. Want more than two options? See the best accounting software for small business in your country.
Xero vs QuickBooks at a glance
| Xero | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan (US) | Early, $27/mo | Simple Start, $38/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes in the US (2 invoices/month, 1 user) |
| Users | No per-user fees on any plan | 1, 3, 5 or 25 depending on plan |
| Entry-plan limits (US) | 20 invoices and 5 bills | 1 user (plus 2 accountants) |
| Multi-currency (US) | Established, $97/mo | Essentials, $85/mo |
| Inventory (US) | Inventory Plus add-on (Growing and Established) | Plus, $140/mo |
| Not sold in | — | India and France (Intuit has withdrawn) |
Prices in 10 markets
Most Xero vs QuickBooks articles only compare US prices. But both companies price by country, and the cheaper option changes depending on where you are. Here’s every plan, with regular monthly prices in local currency:
| Market | Xero plans | QuickBooks plans |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Early $27 · Growing $59 · Established $97 | Free $0 · Simple Start $38 · Essentials $85 · Plus $140 · Advanced $340 |
| United Kingdom (excl. VAT) | Ignite £18 · Grow £39 · Comprehensive £55 · Ultimate £70 | Sole Trader Plus £10 · Simple Start £16 · Essentials £38 · Plus £56 · Advanced £123 |
| Canada | Starter C$25 · Standard C$60 · Premium C$80 | Lite C$20 · Essentials C$70 · Plus C$110 · Advanced C$220 |
| Australia | Ignite A$37 · Grow A$78 · Comprehensive A$107 · Ultimate 10 A$143 | Simple Start A$33 · Essentials A$60 · Plus A$84 · Advanced A$125 |
| New Zealand (excl. GST) | Ignite NZ$37 · Grow NZ$89 · Comprehensive NZ$117 · Ultimate NZ$135 | No New Zealand pricing page found |
| South Africa | Starter R450 · Standard R795 · Premium R1,095 | Simple Start R322 · Essentials R508 · Plus R708 · Advanced R1,144 |
| Singapore | Starter S$39 · Standard S$70 · Premium S$95 | Simple Start S$31 · Essentials S$57 · Plus S$78.99 · Advanced S$124 |
| Ireland | Starter $29 · Standard $50 · Premium $75 (billed in USD) | Simple Start €21 · Essentials €31 · Plus €45 · Advanced €75 |
| Hong Kong | Starter $29 · Standard $50 · Premium $75 (USD) | Simple Start HK$205 · Essentials HK$304 · Plus HK$416 · Advanced HK$885 |
| Other countries (global plans, USD) | Starter $29 · Standard $50 · Premium $75 | Simple Start $21 · Essentials $31 · Plus $46 · Advanced $89 |
Xero states its South Africa and Singapore prices rise from 1 November 2026. QuickBooks is no longer sold in India or France. Not sure which edition applies to you? Pick your country in our comparison table and it shows the right plans.
Two patterns stand out. In the US, Xero’s first paid plan is $11 a month cheaper. In Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and on the global USD plans, QuickBooks’ entry plan is the cheaper one (Australian readers: see our Australia guide, which adds MYOB). Then compare the plan you’ll actually need, not just the cheapest. Multi-user teams can pay more on QuickBooks just to add seats. Selling products online? Our ecommerce guide shows which plan unlocks inventory and Shopify or Amazon connections.
US plans compared
Xero keeps it to three US plans. Early ($27) covers quotes, 20 invoices, 5 bills, bank reconciliation, sales tax, W-9 and 1099 management, and a 30-day cash flow forecast. Growing ($59) removes the invoice and bill caps and adds dashboards and budgets. Established ($97) adds multi-currency, project time and cost tracking, and expense claims.
QuickBooks has four paid US plans plus a free one. Simple Start ($38) is 1 user plus 2 accountants, with automatic sales tax. Essentials ($85) moves to 3 users and adds multiple currencies. Plus ($140) brings 5 users, inventory tracking, budgets and project profitability. Advanced ($340) gives 25 users, plus construction and advanced project financials.
Which plan includes what (US)
| Feature | Xero (from) | QuickBooks (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing without a cap | Growing, $59 (Early: 20 invoices) | Simple Start, $38 (Free: 2 invoices/month) |
| Sales tax | Early, $27 | Automatic sales tax from Simple Start, $38 |
| Multi-currency | Established, $97 | Essentials, $85 |
| Budgets | Growing (3 budgets), $59 | Plus, $140 |
| Projects | Established, $97 | Plus (project profitability), $140 |
| Inventory | Inventory Plus add-on (Growing, Established) | Plus, $140 |
| 1099s | W-9 + 1099 management on every plan | Free 1099 e-filing with Bill Pay Elite (Advanced) |
| Payroll | Xero Payroll powered by Gusto: $36/mo + $6 per person | QuickBooks Payroll add-on |
From each provider’s US pricing page and plan comparison, 18–19 October 2026.
Users and accountant access
This is the clearest difference between the two. Xero says it charges no per-user licence fees on any plan, so adding people doesn’t change the price. QuickBooks ties users to the plan: 1 on Simple Start, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus and 25 on Advanced, with accountant seats on top (2 on most plans, 3 on Advanced).
A three-person business that only needs basic bookkeeping can run on Xero Early at $27. On QuickBooks, the same team needs Essentials at $85, because Simple Start allows one user. If it’s just you and an accountant, though, QuickBooks Simple Start covers it.
In the UK: MTD, VAT and CIS
Both work for UK Making Tax Digital. Xero’s cheapest UK plan, Ignite (£18), lists VAT return submission to HMRC, MTD for Income Tax readiness and automated CIS calculations. Its limits are 20 invoices and 10 bills.
QuickBooks UK starts lower. Sole Trader Plus (£10) calculates and submits CIS and is MTD for Income Tax ready, and Simple Start (£16) adds VAT returns. Both are single-user plans.
Paying a construction workforce? Our construction accounting guide compares CIS handling across Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and Zoho Books.
Free plans, trials and discounts
- QuickBooks has a genuine Free plan in the US (no credit card, 2 invoices a month). Its paid plans offer a choice of a launch discount or a 30-day free trial, e.g. 50% off for 3 months in the US and 90% off for 6 months in the UK, Canada, Ireland and Singapore.
- Xero has no free plan. The US, UK, Australia and New Zealand pages offered a discount (80–90% off) or one month free. Canada, South Africa and Singapore list a 30-day free trial.
Discounts end after 3–6 months, so budget for the regular price. If a $0 plan matters most, see our best free accounting software guide. All current offers by country are in our offers section.
Who should choose Xero, and who should choose QuickBooks
Choose Xero if…
- More than one person needs access (no per-user fees)
- You’re in the US and want the cheapest paid entry plan ($27)
- You want W-9 and 1099 tools on every plan
- You’re in New Zealand, where we found Xero pricing but no QuickBooks pricing page
Choose QuickBooks if…
- You need inventory tracking or cheaper multi-currency in the US
- Your accountant already works in QuickBooks
- You want a free plan to start (US)
- You’re in Canada, Australia, South Africa or Singapore and want the lowest entry price
See Xero’s current offer (partner link, opens in a new tab) QuickBooks pricing (official site, opens in a new tab)
Alternatives worth a look
- Zoho Books — a free plan in every edition we checked, and paid plans from $20 a month ($15 billed yearly) in the US.
- FreshBooks — better suited to freelancers who bill clients for time; see FreshBooks vs QuickBooks.
- Sage Accounting — a UK, Irish and Canadian option with payroll included in UK plans (no longer sold in the US).
We cover eight options in our QuickBooks alternatives guide, or let the finder rank them for your country and business type.
FAQ
Is Xero cheaper than QuickBooks?
In the US, yes at entry level: Xero Early is $27 a month vs $38 for QuickBooks Simple Start. In Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and on global USD plans, QuickBooks’ entry plan costs less. Teams with several users often pay less on Xero because it doesn’t charge per user.
Does Xero or QuickBooks have a free plan?
QuickBooks has a free plan in the US with 1 user, 2 invoices a month and 1 bank connection. Xero has no free plan; it offers discounts or a free month or trial depending on the country.
Which is better for multiple users?
Xero, because it charges no per-user licence fees on any plan. QuickBooks allows 1, 3, 5 or 25 users depending on the plan.
Can I use QuickBooks Online in India?
No. Intuit states that QuickBooks Online is no longer available in India, and QuickBooks has also been withdrawn from France. Xero sells global plans in USD in countries without a Xero regional site.
