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XERO VS. FRESHBOOKS

User-Friendly Accounting Software Built for Business Owners

Xero is designed for accountant use. FreshBooks’ easy-to-use interface and collaboration features help business owners do their own books and create better connections with their clients.

Business Owners Love How Simple FreshBooks Is

“I’ve evaluated QuickBooks online and Xero and they don’t come close to ease of use. I don’t have an accounting background, so having a tool like this do much of the heavy lifting is a huge help.”


JEFF HILL

Rated 9.2 for Ease of Use by G2

Business Owners Find FreshBooks Easy to Set up and Use

Ease of Use

Xero rating in G2

FreshBooks rating in G2

Ease of Setup

Xero rating in G2

FreshBooks rating in G2


Reviews Say Xero Is Hard to Use If You Lack an Accounting Background

“It may come across as complicated for users who have no accounting knowledge as it seems more suitable for professional bookkeepers/accountants”

Verified Xero review on G2

“Sometimes I need to look up how to do things online. For instance I didn’t know how to raise a credit note so I had to go online to research.”

Verified Xero review on G2

“The software is anything but beautiful. Let’s be honest, Excel is prettier than their platform.”

Verified Xero review on G2

“Built by accountants for accountants. Does not work for those of us who use Common Sense.”

Verified Xero review on G2

“It takes a while to learn how to use and its UI isn’t as great as similar softwares.”

Verified Xero review on G2

“It was overcomplicated. Too many ways to do the same things and get to the same places in the system.”

Verified Xero review on G2


You Shouldn’t Have to Be an Accountant to Manage Your Own Books

When you’re handling the day-to-day finances and growing a business, the last thing you need is to worry about making mistakes because your accounting software is overwhelming.


If You’re a Business Owner,
FreshBooks Is Built for You

We didn’t just take software for accountants and readapt it. We built FreshBooks with business owners in mind. That’s why it’s easy to send invoices, track expenses, manage projects, get paid and keep your clients happy.

Expenses and Time
Tracking

Unlike Xero, you have unlimited expense tracking and time tracking built into any plan.

Get Set up and
Running Faster

With FreshBooks’ intuitive and easy to use interface, you won’t waste time finding where everything is.

More Business From
Happier Clients

More payment options and beautiful invoices make it simple for clients to pay you—and do repeat business.

Featured In

Simplify Your Day-to-Day Accounting With FreshBooks

Track Time and Expenses Without Paying Extra

Xero only offers time tracking and expense tracking on their highest plan. FreshBooks includes built-in time tracking and unlimited expense tracking on all plans.

“I can track time, send invoices via email, and keep track of all my expenses.”


Bret Roberson

Accounting Software Without a Learning Curve

Accounting is hard—especially if you have no accounting background. FreshBooks is built for non-accountants so you spend less time setting up and more time serving your clients.

“For a finance novice it is amazingly supportive”


Liz Gallo

Bill International Clients in Their Own Currency—or Yours

FreshBooks lets you bill international clients in their currency. Choose from a range of different payment options, including:

Payment processors:

  • FreshBooks Payments
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Online payment options:

  • Credit Card
  • ACH (US)
  • Direct Debit (UK)

“It’s great that it allows me to accept online payments from customers without a lot of hassle.”


Ellen Lichtenstein Podhajsky


FreshBooks vs. XERO

Managing Your Books Can Be Easier

See how FreshBooks makes accounting easy for anyone. Try it risk-free with a 30-day trial.

No credit card required. Cancel anytime.


FreshBooks vs. XERO

FreshBooks Has Unlimited Features for Businesses Starting Out With Accounting

Features table header
Xero Early FreshBooks Lite
Expense tracking Not Available Available

Unlimited

Built-in time tracking Not Available Available

Unlimited

Mileage tracking Not Available Available

Unlimited

Customized invoices

Limited to 5

Available

Unlimited

Estimates

Limited to 5

Available

Unlimited

Bank reconciliations

Limited to 20

Available

Unlimited


FreshBooks vs. XERO

FreshBooks Supports Multi-Currency on All Plans

Features table header
Xero Early FreshBooks Lite Xero Growing FreshBooks Plus Xero Established FreshBooks Premium
ACH (US) Not Available Available Not Available Available Available Available
Direct Debit (UK) Not Available Available Not Available Available Available Available
PayPal Not Available Available Not Available Available Available Available
Stripe Not Available Available Not Available Available Available Available
Credit Card Not Available Available Not Available Available Available Available

FreshBooks vs. Xero

FreshBooks Makes It Easier for Clients to Pay You

Features table header
Xero FreshBooks
Checkout Links Not Available Available
Virtual Terminal* Not Available Available

* Get Virtual Terminal for $20/month (plus 3.5% + $0.3 per transaction)


FreshBooks vs. Xero

FreshBooks Makes It Easier for Clients to Pay You

Features table header
Xero Growing FreshBooks Plus
Expense tracking Not Available

Unlimited

Built-in time tracking Not Available

Unlimited

Projects Not Available Available
Multi-currency Not Available Available
Award-winning Customer Support Not Available Available

FreshBooks Is a 9-Time Stevie Award Winner for Outstanding Customer Service

When choosing your accounting software you want to know you’ll get support whenever you need it. That’s why you can count on FreshBooks’ support team to answer your call within 2 rings and be your new best friend until all of your questions are answered.

“Speaking to a support representative really helped me get set up and hit the ground running with FreshBooks. Xero didn’t even have a way to contact them by phone with questions!”


LIZZIE MARTINEZ

“It’s easy to reach a real human on the phone when I can’t find the answer in the FAQ database. And anytime I simply call, no matter how simple my question is, I’m never harassed by support that I should have looked more before calling.”


Ryan Siemers

“Also of note is the incredible customer support team. So important to have dedicated and timely support when operating a small business.”


Anna O.

Quality of Support

Xero rating in G2

FreshBooks rating in G2


FreshBooks vs. Xero

With FreshBooks, You’ll Never Feel Alone While Running Your Business

Try FreshBooks risk-free for 30 days

No credit card requiered. Cancel anytime


Switch Effortlessly, With Help From Our Onboarding Team

Switching from Xero, spreadsheets, or a different accounting software? Our friendly agents will migrate your account, onboard your team, and walk you through the most important features your business needs.

Done-for-You Migration

“Switching to FreshBooks from one of those other software packages was one of the most liberating experiences of my career.”


FRANK N.


Need Some Help Finding the Best Xero Alternative?

The FreshBooks Support team is here to answer any questions that you might have. Give them a shout at 1.866.303.6061 or [email protected].


“Customer Support is far better than Xero. I was in contact with both providers due to a data migration. FreshBooks support is WOW.”


Udi Ura

Frequently Asked Questions

Does FreshBooks automate my accounting tasks?

FreshBooks’ features automate most of your accounting so you can spend more time focusing on your work and your clients. You can have invoices automatically generated and sent, expenses automatically tracked and even have your payments automatically recorded, all without you lifting a finger.

Where can I see FreshBooks price?

Find the right features and price to support your business by visiting FreshBooks pricing page.

How does your price compare vs Xero?

Xero’s early plans offer limited invoicing, expense tracking and bank transactions tracking. FreshBooks offers unlimited invoices & quotes, expense tracking and bank reconciliations on all plans.

With Xero, you can’t manage multi currency unless you pay their highest plan. FreshBooks offers multi-currency payments on any plan.

Can I use FreshBooks features while away from my office?

You sure can. Our iOS and Android apps let you painlessly invoice your clients and track expenses wherever and whenever you need to.

Can I get paid via credit card through FreshBooks?

Absolutely. With FreshBooks Payments you can start accepting credit cards online right away, in just a few clicks.

Is my data safe in the cloud?

The safety of your private data is our top priority, that’s why it’s protected by 256-bit SSL encryption—the gold standard in Internet security. FreshBooks is a cloud based accounting software and uses industry–leading secure servers.

Does FreshBooks allow for teams to collaborate?

Yup. With FreshBooks both you and your team can collaborate on and track time towards the same projects and clients. Your team members can also help you with your business accounting by creating invoices and tracking their expenses. You can also add team members to your account with specific user roles and levels of access to sensitive information.

Is FreshBooks compatible with a Mac?

Great news: all FreshBooks features are available on any device—desktop, mobile or tablet and plays nicely with both Mac and PC.