This feature is available on all pricing plans; which I appreciate since some accounting software charges extra for mobile receipt capture. Employees can submit a reimbursement request as soon as their receipts are uploaded, and the business owner can track expenses totals by category as they are submitted (Figure C). The Growing plan costs $47 per month and includes unlimited numbers of invoices and bills. In addition to the future value of a single amount features on the Early plan, the Growing plan includes bulk transaction reconciliation to speed things up. The Early plan costs $20 per month and lets users send up to 20 invoices and schedule up to 5 bills per month.

Recommended Alternative: FreshBooks

After a 30-day trial period, Xero will bill a monthly charge of $13 per month for the Early plan, $37 per month for the Growing plan and $70 per month for the Established plan. For free invoicing platforms, consider Zoho Invoice, Square Invoices or PayPal Invoicing, although these platforms provide fewer capabilities. Xero often gets praised for its robust feature selection by its customers, and we have to agree. Overall, Xero has a set of features that easily rival how to share information with huffpost competitors like QuickBooks Online. However, we are disappointed that Xero lacks tax support, doesn’t have more advanced inventory (unless you purchase the Inventory Plus add-on), and doesn’t have more invoice templates. Xero doesn’t provide a phone number on its customer support page, but a representative will call you if necessary.

Xero integrates with Gusto for payroll, which supports all 50 states and has added functionality such as health insurance and retirement support. Xero has a reputation for some of the strongest cloud security out there. Security measures include data encryption, two-step authentication, and 24/7 monitoring at multiple locations. Data is backed up daily across what is a variable cost per unit various servers, and regular security audits are performed. Xero used to offer strong customer support, and while there are still a ton of great support resources available, getting in touch with an actual representative is a lot more difficult.

1. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews.
2. Despite a few shortcomings, we rated Xero 4.7/5 for its customer support.
3. If you need only 1 person to use the software but plan to send a high number of invoices and bills, QuickBooks may be a more cost-effective choice than Xero.
4. Xero does offer an invoice template to help get you started, and you can choose to create and save your own templates.

Enter bills

This is a serious drawback if you want to be able to pick up the phone and talk through an issue or are new to accounting software and have lots of questions. Has robust reporting tools and report customization options, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app; Early plan limits the number of invoices and bills. Xero may be harder to learn than a simpler invoicing platform like Square Invoices or Zoho Invoice. However, it’s generally considered easier than QuickBooks Online.

FreshBooks has a deal running where you can save 50% for the next six months. With an overall score of 4/5 in this review, Xero is a good solution for mid-to-large-sized businesses in need of strong accounting features and multiple users. Take advantage of Xero’s free trial to see if this accounting solution is right for you. If you’re still on the fence, check out our picks for the best small business accounting software to compare your options.

Invoices & Estimates

FreshBooks is another one of our favorites for small businesses — especially freelancers. It has unlimited customizable invoices, a client portal, built-in project and time tracking and a highly rated mobile app. Plus, if you’re new to accounting software, you can’t go wrong with FreshBooks’ easy interface, but if you do get lost, you can easily access the help center through your account.Want to save a little money?

Pricing and features

We also have a comprehensive and free How To Set Up Your Xero Account guide that teaches you how to use and optimize your Xero account. Wave is a solid choice for small businesses looking for free accounting software. All pricing plans cover the accounting essentials, with room to grow. Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Xero no longer offers built-in payroll, but it does integrate with Gusto Payroll.