Xero

Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform used by more than 4.9 million customers worldwide to manage invoicing, bank reconciliation, expenses, payroll, and financial reporting from a browser or mobile app. Founded in New Zealand in 2006, Xero has grown into one of the most widely used small business accounting systems, connecting directly to banks, payment processors, and over 700 third-party apps through the Xero App Store.

The platform centers on a real-time general ledger: bank transactions flow in automatically, invoices and bills can be automated and tracked, and dashboards give owners a live view of cash position, outstanding invoices, and bills due. Xero has recently layered AI into the product with JAX ("Just Ask Xero"), a financial assistant built into the platform that answers business questions using real-time data and helps users explore their financials in plain language, alongside AI-assisted document capture and beta auto-reconciliation features.

Beyond core bookkeeping, Xero supports payroll, project time and cost tracking, multi-currency transactions, cash flow forecasting, and sales tax and 1099 management, with feature depth varying by plan tier. A separate suite of tools, including Xero HQ, Partner Hub, Practice Manager, and Xero Workpapers, serves accountants and bookkeepers managing multiple clients, and Xero runs a free partner program used by more than 250,000 accounting and bookkeeping professionals.

Xero is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses across industries such as construction, retail, real estate, and professional services, as well as the accounting and bookkeeping firms that support them, offering a cloud-native alternative to legacy desktop accounting software.

Xero offers three core US self-serve plans, each with discounted intro pricing for the first 3 months, then standard monthly pricing. Early: $5/mo for 3 months, then $25/mo — send quotes and 20 invoices, 5 bills, bank reconciliation, Smart Document Capture, real-time reports, W-9/1099 management, sales tax, and a 30-day cash flow forecast. Growing: $11/mo for 3 months, then $55/mo — unlimited invoices and quotes, automated bill entry and beta auto-reconciliation, customizable performance dashboards, financial health scorecards, and a 60-day cash flow forecast. Established: $18/mo for 3 months, then $90/mo — everything in Growing plus multi-currency support, project time/cost tracking, employee expense and mileage claims, industry benchmarking, KPI analysis, international bill payments, and a 180-day cash flow forecast. All plans include free standard domestic ACH bill payments and 24/7 online support. A one-month-free promotional offer is also available on any plan, and larger practices can access Xero HQ, Partner Hub, and Practice Manager through the accountant/bookkeeper partner program.