QuickBooks Online vs Xero
Quick verdict
As of 2026-09-04, Xero is the cheaper accounting software tool, starting at $25/mo versus QuickBooks Online at $38/mo. That's $13/mo less on the entry option. QuickBooks Online has a free plan; Xero does not. QuickBooks Online has 4 priced options; Xero has 3 priced options.
QuickBooks Online starts at $38/mo and has a free plan. Xero starts at $25/mo and has no free plan.
QuickBooks Online's published priced options: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced. Xero's published priced options: Established, Growing, Early.
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Against the $21.50/mo median entry price across the 6 tools we track, QuickBooks Online's $38/mo is 77% above and Xero's $25/mo is 16% above. 4 of 6 accounting software tools include a free plan.
| QuickBooks Online | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $38/mo | $25/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| Priced options | 4 | 3 |
| Pricing model | tiered | tiered |
| Visit site | Visit site → | Visit site → |
Sources: quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing, verified · xero.com/us/pricing-plans, verified
QuickBooks Online — pros & cons
Pros
Cons
Xero — pros & cons
Pros
Cons
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Online or Xero cheaper?
Xero is cheaper to start. QuickBooks Online begins at $38/mo and Xero at $25/mo, a gap of $13/mo. Both usually bill less on an annual plan, so weigh yearly pricing before deciding. Every figure comes straight from our maintained, dated dataset, verified on 2026-09-04.
Does QuickBooks Online or Xero have a free plan?
QuickBooks Online has a free plan and Xero has no free plan. So QuickBooks Online is the one to try first if a free plan is a must-have for you. Every figure comes straight from our maintained, dated dataset, verified on 2026-09-04.
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