Xero vs QuickBooks Online
The two global leaders in small-business cloud accounting, and the most common final shortlist in the category. Both nail the fundamentals; the differences that matter are users, reporting and ecosystems.
| Xero | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Growing teams wanting unlimited users | Reporting-led businesses; US market |
| Users included | Unlimited on all plans | 1–25 depending on plan |
| Entry price | ~£16/mo | ~£12/mo (heavy discounts common) |
| Reporting depth | Good; strong add-on ecosystem | Deepest at Plus and Advanced tiers |
| Integrations | 1,000+ apps | 750+ apps |
| Payroll | Add-on (UK/AU/NZ) | Add-on, well integrated |
| Support | 24/7 online; no inbound phone | Phone and chat; quality varies |
Where Xero wins — and where QuickBooks Online wins
Xero
- Unlimited users makes scaling a team dramatically cheaper
- Larger, deeper app ecosystem
- Cleaner multi-currency handling for international trade
QuickBooks Online
- Reporting is deeper, especially at higher tiers
- More accountants know it inside out — especially in the US
- Mileage tracking and receipt capture built in
Our verdict
For most UK and international small businesses we recommend Xero: unlimited seats and the bigger ecosystem outweigh QuickBooks' reporting edge. Choose QuickBooks if your accountant prefers it, you are US-centred, or advanced reporting is your top requirement.
How we compare: assessments draw on vendor documentation, published pricing, product testing where noted, and our published methodology. Prices are indicative entry-level figures — confirm current plans with vendors. We may earn commission from links on this page; it never affects our verdicts.