Xero excels in cloud-native design and multi-currency support with superior UX, while Zoho Books offers significantly lower pricing and deeper integration with Zoho's 55+ app ecosystem. Xero is better for growing businesses prioritizing user experience, while Zoho Books suits cost-conscious SMBs already using Zoho products.
Xero vs Zoho Books — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based accounting software focused on small businesses with strong UX and multi-currency support.
Affordable cloud accounting platform with deep Zoho ecosystem integration and built-in AI automation.
Starting Monthly Price. Multi-Currency Support. Bank Connections (US/UK). Mobile App User Rating (iOS). Third-Party Integrations (Native). Invoice Automation (OCR). Free Trial Length
Choose Xero if you need superior multi-currency handling, better mobile experience, and work with international clients or multiple currencies—the user experience and bank connectivity justify the premium pricing. Choose Zoho Books if you're budget-constrained, already use Zoho CRM/Suite, or need AI-powered invoice OCR without additional costs—it delivers solid core accounting at a lower price point.
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: 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: 160+ currencies | Zoho Books: 120+ currencies
Xero: 1,200+ (US/UK/AU/NZ) | Zoho Books: 850+ (global coverage)
Xero: 4.6 stars (18,000+ reviews) | Zoho Books: 4.3 stars (12,000+ reviews)
Xero: 500+ native integrations | Zoho Books: 1,000+ (Zoho ecosystem + partners)
Xero: Manual entry + basic matching | Zoho Books: AI-powered OCR (included)
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 92 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 is better for freelancers and solopreneurs?
Xero is better if you invoice internationally or handle multiple currencies regularly—its superior UX and 160+ currency support are worth the premium. Zoho Books is better if you're in a single currency, on a tight budget, and prefer straightforward invoicing at $10/month.
Can I integrate Xero or Zoho Books with my CRM?
Xero integrates with 500+ apps including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive. Zoho Books has a significant advantage if you use Zoho CRM—direct, seamless integration with shared customer data. For non-Zoho CRMs, Xero has more established third-party integrations.
Which handles multi-currency invoicing better?
Xero supports 160+ currencies with real-time exchange rates and is purpose-built for international businesses. Zoho Books supports 120+ currencies but is better suited for single-currency operations. Xero is the clear winner for companies with international clients.
Is Zoho Books' AI invoice OCR actually useful?
Yes—Zoho Books' AI-powered bill OCR automatically extracts vendor details, amounts, and dates from uploaded PDFs/images with 90%+ accuracy, reducing manual data entry by 70-80%. Xero requires manual entry or third-party tools like Hubdoc, which adds cost. This is a genuine competitive advantage for Zoho Books.
Which platform has better customer support?
Xero offers 24/7 phone support in most regions and has extensive community forums. Zoho Books offers 24/7 email and chat support but phone support is limited to premium tiers. Xero's support is generally considered more responsive, though both offer live assistance.
How to Choose Between Xero and Zoho Books
Starting Monthly Price: Xero has $13/month, while Zoho Books has $10/month.
Multi-Currency Support: Xero has 160+ currencies, real-time rates, while Zoho Books has 120+ currencies, real-time rates.
Bank Connections (US/UK): Xero has 1,200+ institutions, while Zoho Books has 850+ institutions.
Mobile App User Rating (iOS): Xero has 4.6 stars (18K reviews), while Zoho Books has 4.3 stars (12K reviews).
Consider: Third-Party Integrations (Native)
Third-Party Integrations (Native): Xero has 500+ apps, while Zoho Books has 1,000+ apps (Zoho ecosystem).
Invoice Automation (OCR): Xero has Manual entry + basic matching, while Zoho Books has AI-powered bill OCR included.
Free Trial Length: Xero has 30 days, while Zoho Books has 14 days.