- Best for full-stack business resource management: QuickBooks
- Best for high clientele count: FreshBooks
- Best for AI-powered finance management: Sage Intacct
- Best free plan option: Wave
- Best for complex, distributed teams: Zoho Books
- Best for solopreneurs: ZipBooks
- Best enterprise-level solution: NetSuite
- Best hassle-free finance tool for small businesses: Kashoo
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Top Xero competitors and alternatives: Comparison tableNo business lasts long without an accurate financial record and an effective system for managing cashflow. But there is more to accounting than just managing a spreadsheet, and different industries have different financial concerns. We’ve highlighted four major areas of functionality and identified which solutions fulfill these areas.
Top Xero competitorsBigger isn’t always better and less isn’t always more. Some businesses only need basic accounting support while others need comprehensive software suites to manage processes at scale. The list of competitors below reflects those varied use cases and are identified by their target market applications. QuickBooks: Best for full-stack business resource managementOur star rating: 4.6 out of 5 The foremost name in business financial software, QuickBooks by Intuit is an industry powerhouse that has been around since the rise of digital systems. Designed to help organizations of any size track income and expenses, inventory, production costs and a great deal more, QuickBooks is among the most widely used solutions in the business landscape today. PricingThe core QuickBooks product has four pricing tiers:
The Simple Start and Essentials plans primarily include core accounting functions, with most advanced features like inventory and profitability projections available at only the higher tiers. In some cases, like payroll, these features are part of distinct add-on subscriptions that increase the monthly base cost when included. You can get QuickBooks for 50% off for the first three months to save a little money upfront, or you can take advantage of the 30-day free trial to see if it’s the right fit for you. However, you can’t do both — it’s either the discount or the trial. Features
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For more information, read the full QuickBooks review.
FreshBooks: Best for high clientele countOur star rating: 4.1 out of 5 FreshBooks offers software solutions to freelancers, solopreneurs, small businesses and organizations that rely on contractors. With tools to support accounting, invoicing, time-tracking, payroll and client communication, it offers many of the core features QuickBooks does without the added costs or tier-based limitations. PricingFreshBooks has three standard pricing tiers, plus an enterprise tier:
The Select tier also offers a dedicated account manager, specialized features and help migrating from other accounting software. Features
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For more information, read our FreshBooks review.
Sage Intacct: Best for AI-powered finance managementOur star rating: 4.6 out of 5 Sage is a finance platform that incorporates extensive business intelligence functionality. Its two core products, Sage Intacct and Sage X3, function as analytics-boosted versions of SMB finance and enterprise ERP, respectively. The suite also includes products for payroll, CRM, human asset management, time tracking and more. PricingSage doesn’t have transparent pricing on its site, so you’ll have to call for a quote. Features
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Wave: Best free plan optionOur star rating: 4 out of 5 Wave Accounting is a beginner accounting solution with one free-for-life plan and one paid plan with a below-average starting price. (At $16 a month, Wave’s starting price is rivaled only Xero’s $15-a-month starting fee.) Its user-friendly accounting software was built primarily for freelancers, small-business owners and growing businesses that need collaborative, multi-business accounting software. With Wave, you can track your income and expenses, create journal entries, manage multiple businesses, accept online pages and even process payroll with the Wave Payroll add-on. In contrast to FreshBooks’ cheapest plan ($19 a month), Wave Accounting includes true double-entry accounting, which is a more accurate accounting method compared to FreshBooks Lite’s single-entry bookkeeping. Plus, Wave lets you add as many users as you want to one account, including your accountant. (Note that unlimited users are only available with Wave Pro, its paid plan.) If you need to collaborate with multiple business partners, Wave Accounting is the cheapest way to do so. Learn more by reading our Wave Accounting review. PricingWave Accounting has one completely free plan, Wave Starter, which you can use to can track expenses, send invoices and accept online payments for no cost beyond the basic transaction fee that always accompanies payment acceptance. Wave’s paid plan, Wave Pro, costs $16 per month or $170 per year. It includes unlimited users, automated bank transaction imports and free mobile receipt scanning. (Wave Starter does not include receipt scanning, though interested users can add the feature for $11 per month or $96 per year). If you want payroll software that syncs with your Wave Accounting plan, Wave Payroll is the best choice. While it does cost a fee, it’s self-service plan is one of the least expensive payroll plans on the market:
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Zoho Books: Best for complex, distributed teamsOur star rating: 4.7 out of 5 Zoho Books is the accounting and financial portion of the full Zoho software suite. An expansive platform built to power inventory systems, CRM efforts, email automation, human resources, IT management and more, Zoho is one of the broadest software tool sets on the market. Businesses can use Zoho Books as a standalone product or combine it with any number of other products to customize the level of functionality brands need. Pricing
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ZipBooks: Best for solopreneursZipBooks combines several of the advantages of the entries listed above and packages them into a free or low-cost option for the smallest of businesses. Offering unlimited invoices, vendors and customers even on the free plan, ZipBooks helps solopreneurs and small teams run their finances smarter, without having to pay hundreds a month in software fees. Pricing
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NetSuite: Best enterprise-level solutionOur star rating: 4 out of 5 Just as QuickBooks is the foremost name in financial software, NetSuite has been a pioneer of cloud-based business systems since the very beginning. The full platform encompasses ERP, global business management, human capital management, omnichannel commerce and much more. Unlike other options in this list, however, NetSuite is all-or-nothing. Using any of the products requires paying for the whole platform, meaning enterprises are the best suited to this accounting solution. PricingUnfortunately, you have to contact NetSuite for a quote. To get started, simply fill out a form on the NetSuite site. Features
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Kashoo: Best hassle-free finance tool for small businessesBilling itself as “The World’s Simplest Accounting Software,” Kashoo is designed around ease-of-use and the streamlining of accounting processes. Focused solely on accounting functionality, Kashoo seeks to strip away all of the problematic or difficult aspects of managing business finances for small organizations. With only two products offered, it won’t meet every business’s needs, but it provides solid functionality for specific use cases. PricingKashoo has two products, TrulySmall Accounting and Kashoo. Kashoo represents the more advanced, customizable option, while TrulySmall is the automated solution.
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Is Xero worth it?![]() Our star rating: 4.4 out of 5 Xero represents a middle ground between complex, expensive solutions and simple, affordable ones. With plans ranging from $15 per month to $78 per month, there are options to fit most small and midsize budgets while also offering room to grow. And, as a double-entry solution, it prioritizes accuracy and compliance. Xero pricing
If you haven’t gotten Xero yet and are thinking about it, you can get 50% off your first three months. Xero pros
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Do you need an alternative to Xero?Xero is a solid option for businesses as they start to get organized with their finances, but some users may find it restrictive feature-wise, especially compared to other options with similar price points. Ultimately, though, you have to decide if its features and functionality will adequately support your particular business. MethodologyWhile writing this comparison article, we researched vendor websites and customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Gartner to fully understand the offerings and target use cases of each solution. 1 PaycorPaycor’s HR software modernizes every aspect of people management, which saves leaders time and gives them the powerful analytics they need to build winning teams. Paycor provides a full suite of HCM solutions with a single source of truth for employee data, so users never have to switch platforms, log-in to multiple systems, re-key data or open multiple spreadsheets. Everyday processes become simplified, allowing organizations to focus on their most important work. 2 DeelRun US and international payroll in all 50 states, 100+ countries and 200+ currencies from a single place. Deel handles everything from salary and tax payments to payslip distribution and compliant hiring processes. With 24/7 in-app support featuring a rapid 1.25-minute response time and dedicated Customer Success Managers, Deel is with you every step of the way. 3 RipplingRippling is the first way for businesses to manage all of their HR, IT, and Finance — payroll, benefits, computers, apps, corporate cards, expenses, and more — in one unified workforce platform. By connecting every business system to one source of truth for employee data, businesses can automate all of the manual work they normally need to do to make employee changes. 4 Velocity GlobalVelocity Global simplifies global workforce expansion with an HR platform for payroll, compliance, and support in 185+ countries. Manage international teams efficiently with accurate, on-time payroll and a streamlined process that reduces errors. All-inclusive rates cover local taxes and contributions, ensuring compliance, while flexible payment options suit your business and employees. 5 Multiplier TechnologiesWith Multiplier, pay any number of global employees easily in multiple currencies. Eliminate the hassle of maintaining individual providers per country. Generate a single invoice and pay international teams in minutes. Have a consolidated dashboard to manage global payroll from a single window. Also Read |