QuickBooks dominates the US market with stronger desktop functionality and larger feature depth, while Xero leads globally with superior cloud-native design, multi-currency support, and lower pricing for small businesses. QuickBooks is best for established US businesses needing comprehensive reporting; Xero excels for growing international companies prioritizing real-time collaboration.
QuickBooks vs Xero — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Market-leading cloud accounting software by Intuit for SMBs with 80% US adoption.
Cloud accounting software designed for small businesses with inventory and multi-location capabilities.
Global Reach & Multi-Currency Support. Starting Monthly Price (Basic Plan). US Market Share. Desktop Accounting Software. Real-Time Collaboration. API Ecosystem & Third-Party Integrations. Payroll Integration (US)
Choose QuickBooks if you need comprehensive US-focused features, native payroll integration, desktop software options, or prefer the market-leading solution with strongest local support. Choose Xero if you operate internationally, need affordable cloud-native accounting, require unlimited team collaboration, or prioritize real-time multi-location visibility across 180+ countries.
QuickBooks Online: $30 (Simple Start) | Xero: $13
QuickBooks Online: 3+ (scalable) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Yes, included | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Phone, chat, and expert-assisted | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Yes (Advanced plan) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Available via add-ons | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Enhanced 2026 features | Xero: 61% growth
QuickBooks Online: Limited (separate subscriptions) | Xero: Native multi-entity support
QuickBooks Online: Limited USD focus | Xero: 140+ currencies
QuickBooks Online: 25 users | Xero: Unlimited/Higher
QuickBooks Online: Strong integration | Xero: 68.92%
QuickBooks Online: Deepest in market | Xero: Good but secondary focus
QuickBooks Online: Free (QBO Accountant) | Xero: Separate paid tool
QuickBooks Online: Industry-leading recommendation | Xero: Strong alternative
QuickBooks Online: Unlimited per plan tier | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Unlimited | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Available in higher tiers | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Advanced (Intuit Intelligence, Tax AI beta, batch processing) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Supported with advanced workflows | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Built-in | Xero: Third-party required
QuickBooks Online: 4.5/5 | Xero: 4.6/5.0
QuickBooks Online: No (add-on $10/user/month) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Limited/Premium plans only | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 1-2 hours | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: iOS, Android (full-featured) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $540/year | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Multiple (Online Plus+) | Xero: 190+
QuickBooks Online: Single entity focus | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 2-4 weeks | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Up to 500 SKUs | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $30/month | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: No (14-day trial only) | Xero: No
QuickBooks Online: Single currency per company | Xero: 30+
QuickBooks Online: 10,000+ banks | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 500+ via app marketplace | Xero: 1,000+
QuickBooks Online: 300,000+ certified | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: iOS & Android | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 50+ customizable reports | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Unlimited custom templates | Xero: 12+
QuickBooks Online: Advanced (recurring transactions, bill pay, expense automation) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Full accounting, reporting, and transaction management | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $180-$2400 | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $15/month | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 4.6 million | Xero: 1.9 million
QuickBooks Online: 3 users (Essentials plan) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Full invoicing + real-time sync | Xero: Full capability with offline mode
QuickBooks Online: 5 standard roles | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $35 | Xero: $13/month
QuickBooks Online: 4.5M+ users | Xero: 3.7M+ users
QuickBooks Online: 1 (U.S. primary) | Xero: 120+
QuickBooks Online: 160 (limited real-time conversion) | Xero: 195 currencies
QuickBooks Online: 10,000 | Xero: 60,000
QuickBooks Online: 50 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm ET) | Xero: 168 (24/7)
QuickBooks Online: Native (Payroll Plus plan included) | Xero: Third-party add-on (Guidepoint, Namely)
QuickBooks Online: Automated (SmartMatch AI) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Included in plan | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 16,000+ global institutions | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 100+ customizable reports | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 4.6/5 (89,000 reviews) | Xero: 4.8/5
QuickBooks Online: Limited: invoice viewing only | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Yes, native QuickBooks Payroll | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 1-2 weeks | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: Basic (serial/lot tracking, stock transfers) | Xero: N/A
Average Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
QuickBooks Online: $600-$1,200 | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: $55 (Plus) | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: 160 currencies | Xero: 160+
QuickBooks Online: 80+ templates | Xero: N/A
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Comprehensive accounting-focused
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: LLM-powered (2026)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Moderate to high
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Standard tools included
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Available (Select tier+)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: $8-15 (Standard plan)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 4.7/5 (G2 2024)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 5 (Standard), Unlimited (Premium)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: $13/month
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Advanced tracking with stock levels
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Unlimited (all tiers)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 60 (standard tier)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 1-2 weeks
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Unlimited organizations
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Yes (Snap Invoice)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 4.7/5 (45K reviews)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: No (Cloud only)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 24-48 hours
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 50+ customizable reports
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Full accounting and expense tracking
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Advanced automation saves ~8 hours
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Varies by Starter plan
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Not available
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Full (multi-user simultaneous editing)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Full invoicing, payments, expense tracking
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 1-3 limited (unlimited on higher tiers)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: $66/month
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 1,200+ (US/UK/AU/NZ)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 4.6 stars (18,000+ reviews)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 500+ native integrations
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Manual entry + basic matching
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: $13/month (Early plan)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 190+ currencies
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: No, 1-3 users max
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 1,000+ integrations
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 24/7 phone + email + chat
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Unlimited
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 2.4% (Xero Payments)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 3.6+ million
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: $5-10 extra
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: Advanced (multi-location, real-time tracking)
QuickBooks Online: N/A | Xero: 4.4 stars
How to choose between QuickBooks Online and Xero
QuickBooks vs Xero — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for QuickBooks vs Xero. Contains 161 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
QuickBooks vs Xero — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for QuickBooks vs Xero.
Which is better for US-based small businesses?
QuickBooks has the edge for US businesses due to 35-40% market dominance, integrated payroll capabilities, larger support community, and stronger local accounting firm partnerships. However, if you need multi-user collaboration or have international operations, Xero is the better choice despite lower US adoption rates.
Can multiple employees use these platforms simultaneously?
QuickBooks limits concurrent users to 2-3 on paid plans, while Xero offers unlimited concurrent users on all plans. This makes Xero significantly better for teams and distributed workforces where multiple people need to work simultaneously.
Is there a significant price difference?
Yes. Xero's basic plan starts at $11/month versus QuickBooks' $15/month. At scale, Xero remains cheaper: Xero's highest plan is ~$84/month for unlimited features, while QuickBooks Plus reaches $150/month. For international businesses, Xero's multi-currency pricing (same price globally) provides better value than QuickBooks' limited multi-currency support.
QuickBooks has native integrated payroll (QuickBooks Payroll), making it seamless for US businesses. Xero requires third-party payroll integrations (Gusto, Rippling, etc.), adding complexity and potential additional costs. For US payroll-dependent businesses, QuickBooks is the clear winner.
Which is better for international or multi-currency businesses?
Xero is far superior for international operations, supporting 180+ countries and operating as a true multi-currency system. QuickBooks supports only 50+ countries with limited multi-currency functionality. If your business operates across multiple countries, Xero is the only practical choice.
How to Choose Between QuickBooks Online and Xero
Consider: Global Reach & Multi-Currency Support
Global Reach & Multi-Currency Support: QuickBooks Online has 50+ countries (limited multi-currency), while Xero has 180+ countries (advanced multi-currency).
Consider: Starting Monthly Price (Basic Plan)
Starting Monthly Price (Basic Plan): QuickBooks Online has $15/month (Self-Employed), while Xero has $11/month (Early).
US Market Share: QuickBooks Online has 35-40% of small business accounting, while Xero has 8-12% of US market.
Desktop Accounting Software: QuickBooks Online has Full desktop app (QuickBooks Desktop Pro), while Xero has Cloud-only (no desktop version).
Real-Time Collaboration: QuickBooks Online has Limited (2-3 concurrent users), while Xero has Unlimited concurrent users.
Consider: API Ecosystem & Third-Party Integrations
API Ecosystem & Third-Party Integrations: QuickBooks Online has 800+ integrations, while Xero has 1,000+ integrations.
Payroll Integration (US): QuickBooks Online has Full native payroll (QuickBooks Payroll), while Xero has Third-party integrations only.