QuickBooks vs Xero
The 80/20 verdict.
Both tools have a place in the ecosystem. See the table below for the side-by-side, and visit each tool's detail page for the full 80/20 verdict.
| QuickBooks | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | The dominant US small-business accounting platform — invoicing, payroll, and tax preparation in one. | Cloud-native accounting for small businesses outside the US — clean interface and strong multi-currency support. |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starts at | $30/mo | $20/mo |
| Free tier | No | No |
| 80/20 verdict | core | core |
| Best for | US-based small businesses filing federal and state taxes, founders who want their accountant to log in directly, teams that run payroll and need it connected to their books | UK, Australian, and New Zealand small businesses, founders who want a cleaner interface than QuickBooks, teams that deal with multiple currencies or international invoicing |
QuickBooks
The dominant US small-business accounting platform — invoicing, payroll, and tax preparation in one.
Visit QuickBooks
Affiliate link — see how we evaluate.
Xero
Cloud-native accounting for small businesses outside the US — clean interface and strong multi-currency support.
Visit Xero
Affiliate link — see how we evaluate.