QuickBooks bills itself as ‘smart, simply accounting software – with no commitment’⁴. It’s particularly good at helping businesses to streamline repetitive tasks, and manage accounting processes from just their smartphone. Explore cloud and desktop-based accounting software with subscription and perpetual licensing options like AccountingSuite, Xero, TallyPrime, and Striven. QuickBooks by Intuit is a well-known accounting software designed to help small to medium-sized businesses manage their finances.

Inventory Management: Tie

Xero’s Early plan gives you 5 bills and 20 invoices, but it only offers unlimited invoices and bills starting in its second product tier. On the other hand, Xero may be the better choice for your business. Xero is strong cash basis definition accounting software that has everything you need to track the financials of your business.

She also regularly writes about business for various consumer publications. Yes, you can use Xero to track inventory, and the feature is available in all plans. In evaluating pricing, we considered the billing cycle (monthly or annual) and number of users. Another option for QuickBooks Online users is finding an independent QuickBooks ProAdvisor for assisted bookkeeping.

How We Evaluated Xero vs QuickBooks Online

You can also use QuickBooks to schedule payments in advance, including partial bill payments. We were impressed with this flexibility — you can make appropriate payments for your current cash flow. We liked that Xero’s app store neatly organizes and categorizes these apps. This makes it easy to find the integrations you need and compare several options side-by-side. Business News Daily provides resources, advice and product reviews to drive business growth.

Customer Support: QuickBooks Online Wins

1. Both services are available on all the most common devices and browsers.
2. QuickBooks has an online portal that users with common problems can check to resolve any issues without involving customer support.
3. Ideally, you’ll want all your transactions flowing seamlessly into the software, with regular updates helping you keep on top of your cashflow.
4. 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.

All plans include 24/7 live chat support; phone support is available 5 a.m. 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 software must also have a mobile app to enable users to perform accounting tasks even when away from their laptops or desktops. While it’s not part of our case study, we evaluated Xero vs QuickBooks Online in terms of assisted bookkeeping.

QuickBooks Online provides this feature starting in its Essentials plan, and Xero offers it in its Established plan. Additionally, both software provide online support, but QuickBooks excels by offering phone customer support as well. Standard phone support is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM EST, and 24/7 with the QuickBooks Online Advanced plan. While Xero and QuickBooks Online have a lot in common (i.e., advanced features and numerous integrations), there are a few features that separate the two. Xero comes how to calculate leave pay out on top for its support of unlimited users at no additional cost — something that is pretty much unheard of in the accounting software world.

However, QuickBooks Online offers features you won’t find with Xero, such as mileage tracking and built-in lending, and also has stronger invoicing. Both services do offer an app marketplace, for both in-house mobile apps and integrations or extensions offered by third-party services. Xero offers more integrations overall, but both are very comprehensive. Xero’s financial reporting features start with its interactive reports and budgets, updated in real time throughout the week.

You can only accept do purchases go on a balance sheet payments via card or direct debit with Xero, boxing out clients who prefer newer technologies. You can review and pay outstanding bills in QuickBooks, and the platform will automatically record and match your vendor payments and invoices. QuickBooks’ pricing plans are as follows, with a 30-day trial available for all tiers.