Xero excels in user interface design and multi-currency handling with 190+ currencies, while Zoho Books offers superior value at lower price points and tighter integration within the Zoho ecosystem for small businesses.
Xero vs Zoho Books — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based accounting software with global reach, designed for growing businesses and accountants across 200+ countries.
Affordable cloud accounting platform with strong ecosystem integration and customization options.
Starting Price (Monthly). Supported Currencies. User Interface Rating (G2). Free Plan Availability. Native Integrations. Invoice Customization Options. Customer Support Response Time
Choose Xero if you operate internationally, need extensive third-party integrations, or prioritize interface elegance and ease of learning—it's the market leader for mid-market businesses. Choose Zoho Books if you're budget-conscious, want a free tier to start, or already use Zoho's suite of tools (CRM, HR, etc.) and need seamless cross-platform automation.
Xero: Unlimited/Higher | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Good but secondary focus | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Separate paid tool | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Strong alternative | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Comprehensive accounting-focused | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: LLM-powered (2026) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Moderate to high | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Standard tools included | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Native multi-entity support | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Available (Select tier+) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 200+ with live exchange rates | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Third-party required | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: $8-15 (Standard plan) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 5 (Standard), Unlimited (Premium) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Full capability with offline mode | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Unlimited (all tiers) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 60 (standard tier) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Unlimited organizations | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Yes (Snap Invoice) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 4.7/5 (45K reviews) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 24-48 hours | Zoho Books: 12-24 hours
Xero: Third-party add-on (Guidepoint, Namely) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: $13-62 depending on plan | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 50+ customizable reports | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Full accounting and expense tracking | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Advanced automation saves ~8 hours | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Varies by Starter plan | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 800+ | Zoho Books: 500+ (50+ native)
Xero: Full (multi-user simultaneous editing) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: Full invoicing, payments, expense tracking | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: 1-3 limited (unlimited on higher tiers) | Zoho Books: N/A
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: $8.25/month (annual pay)
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: 50+ pre-built rules
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: 1-3 (depending on plan)
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: 4.6/5 (28,000 reviews)
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: 195+ currencies natively
Xero: N/A | Zoho Books: 15,000+ trained partners
How to choose between Xero and Zoho Books
Xero vs Zoho Books — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Xero vs Zoho Books. Contains 86 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Xero vs Zoho Books — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Xero vs Zoho Books.
Which accounting software is better for small startups?
Zoho Books is better for startups because it offers a free plan for up to 2 users with unlimited invoices (Xero has no free tier). For a bootstrap company, this means zero upfront cost to get started. However, if your startup operates internationally, Xero's 190+ currency support becomes more valuable.
Can I use Xero or Zoho Books if I sell on Shopify or WooCommerce?
Both integrate with Shopify and WooCommerce, but Xero has 1000+ integrations versus Zoho's 500+. Xero also has more established third-party accounting plugins in app marketplaces. However, Zoho Books' native CRM integration is superior if you're using Zoho CRM for customer management.
Which is easier to learn for non-accounting users?
Xero has a significant edge here with a 4.7/5 UI rating on G2 versus Zoho Books' 4.4/5. Users consistently cite Xero's intuitive dashboard and bank reconciliation drag-and-drop functionality as easier to pick up. Zoho Books' interface requires more navigation and has a steeper learning curve for first-time accounting software users.
What are the total costs for a 3-person team?
For Xero: $11 (starter) + $25 × 2 additional users = $61/month. For Zoho Books: $9 (basic) + $29 × 2 additional users = $67/month. Costs are comparable, but Xero's multi-user pricing is slightly more flexible with role-based access controls.
Does either software offer automatic expense tracking?
Zoho Books includes automated expense tracking and mileage tracking in all paid plans. Xero requires separate purchase of Xero Expense add-on (additional $9/month). If expense management is critical, Zoho Books is more cost-effective.
How to Choose Between Xero and Zoho Books
Starting Price (Monthly): Xero has $11/month, while Zoho Books has $9/month.
Supported Currencies: Xero has 190+ currencies, while Zoho Books has 140+ currencies.
User Interface Rating (G2): Xero has 4.7/5 stars, while Zoho Books has 4.4/5 stars.
Free Plan Availability: Xero has No, while Zoho Books has Yes (up to 2 users).
Native Integrations: Xero has 1000+, while Zoho Books has 500+ (within Zoho ecosystem: 50+ native).
Invoice Customization Options: Xero has 12+ templates, while Zoho Books has 35+ templates.
Consider: Customer Support Response Time
Customer Support Response Time: Xero has 24-48 hours, while Zoho Books has 12-24 hours.