The verdict
Ask your accountant first, because the best choice usually follows what they prefer. If they have no preference, the real decision is team size and country. Pick QuickBooks if you are a sole trader or a very small business that wants to test on a free plan before paying. Pick Xero if you want several people in the books without per-seat charges. Both depend on local fit: VAT or sales tax, bank connections and prices differ by country. For a Dutch business, compare both with Moneybird and Exact Online before you commit.
Side by side
| 6 points compared | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $38/mo | $27/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | Yes |
| Accountant access | Yes | Yes |
| Bank feed sync | Yes | Yes |
| Links |
Plans and pricing
QuickBooks
- FreeFree
- Simple Start$38/mo
- Essentials$85/mo
- Plus$140/mo
- Advanced$340/mo
Xero
- Early$27/mo
- Growing$59/mo
- Established$97/mo
Who each is for
Choose QuickBooks if…
Pick QuickBooks if you operate in a market where Intuit sells and supports it and your accountant knows it. The free plan is a low-risk start, though it is narrow: one user, no accountant access and one bank connection. Every paid plan includes access for accountants, and tiers add users and features in clear steps. A large partner app list helps if you sell through several channels. Compare the regular price, not the first-months discount, when you work out your running cost.
Choose Xero if…
Pick Xero if your accountant uses it, or if you expect to add colleagues and do not want the bill to grow with each one. The step between plans is easy to follow, because limits on invoices and bills separate Early from Growing. Established adds multiple currencies and project time tracking. The catch is local fit, since features differ by country site. Count your monthly invoices before choosing, as the lowest plan fills up quickly, and remember that payroll and inventory are add-ons.