QuickBooks Online and Xero are the two biggest names in small-business accounting. QuickBooks leads on features and ecosystem; Xero wins on unlimited users and value.
Full reviews: QuickBooks review · Xero review
Quick verdict
Choose QuickBooks if you want the deepest features, the biggest app ecosystem, and accountant familiarity. Choose Xero if you want unlimited users, a cleaner interface, and lower cost as your team grows.
Side by side
| QuickBooks Online | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Features & ecosystem | Unlimited users / value |
| Entry pricing | $38/mo (Simple Start) | $25/mo (Early) |
| Users included | 1–25 by plan | Unlimited (all plans) |
| US payroll | Native add-on | Via Gusto |
| Ecosystem | 750+ apps; biggest | 1,000+ apps |
| Accountant familiarity | Highest | High |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Where QuickBooks wins
QuickBooks has the most comprehensive features, native US payroll, and the deepest accountant familiarity — most US firms work in it daily. For complex or growing US businesses, it is the safe, capable choice.
Where Xero wins
Xero includes unlimited users on every plan, so adding your team and bookkeeper doesn’t raise the bill. It is cleaner and often cheaper, and very strong internationally.
Bottom line
Pick QuickBooks for depth and ecosystem; pick Xero for unlimited users and value. Read the full QuickBooks review and Xero review, or see all options in our best accounting software guide.
Pricing last verified June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, QuickBooks or Xero?
Xero is cheaper to start, at $25/mo for the Early plan, versus QuickBooks Online’s Simple Start at $38/mo. Xero also includes unlimited users on every plan, while QuickBooks scales pricing by users and features.
Which has native US payroll, QuickBooks or Xero?
QuickBooks Online offers native US payroll as an add-on, while Xero handles payroll through an integration with Gusto rather than a built-in feature.
Which is better for a growing team, QuickBooks or Xero?
Xero is the better fit for a growing team since it includes unlimited users on every plan, so adding staff or a bookkeeper doesn’t raise the bill. QuickBooks limits included users by plan (1–25).
Do QuickBooks and Xero have similar ratings?
Yes — both QuickBooks Online and Xero carry a 4.5/5 rating in our comparison, so the right pick depends on your priorities: features and accountant familiarity versus unlimited users and value.