Business Software
QuickBooks vs Xero: Pricing for Small Businesses
On 24 October 2026, QuickBooks Online listed Simple Start at a regular $38 a month, and Xero's cheapest US plan, Early, at $27 a month after an intro period. Both vendors discount heavily at first: QuickBooks showed 50% off for 3 months, and Xero showed 90% off for 6 months for new US customers through 2 November 2026. The intro price is not what you will pay long term.
This guide is for a US small business owner choosing between the two for a salon, cafe, studio or service company. Figures come from each vendor's own pricing page, read on 24 October 2026. Anything the pages did not show is marked.
$38→
QuickBooks Simple Start regular price per month
QuickBooks pricing page, 24 Oct 2026
$27→
Xero Early price per month after 6 months
Xero US pricing page, 24 Oct 2026
50% / 3 months→
QuickBooks intro discount
QuickBooks pricing page, 24 Oct 2026
90% / 6 months→
Xero intro discount for new US customers
Xero US pricing page, offer to 2 Nov 2026
Estimates for illustration; actual numbers vary.
What Does QuickBooks Online Cost?
The QuickBooks pricing page listed four paid plans with a struck-through regular price and a 50% off promo for 3 months. Simple Start is $38 regular ($19 promo) for 1 user. Essentials is $85 ($42.50) for 3 users. Plus is $140 ($70) for 5 users. Advanced is $340 ($170) for 25 users. Each plan also shows access for 2 accountants (3 on Advanced).
The page also showed a Free plan at $0 for 1 user and mentioned a 30-day trial, but it did not clearly say which plan the trial covers. It also did not state the promo's fine print, or whether the prices are billed monthly or annually. Confirm those at checkout.
What Does Xero Cost in the US?
Xero uses plans by activity rather than by user count. Early is $2.70 a month for the intro period, then $27. Growing is $5.90, then $59. Established is $9.70, then $97. The page said there are no per-user license fees.
Early is limited: quotes and 20 invoices, 5 bills, with auto-reconcile as a $5 a month add-on. Growing and Established list invoices, bills and reconciliation with no limit shown.
Payroll is separate. Xero Payroll was listed at $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor.
QuickBooks vs Xero: Side-by-Side Comparison
| QuickBooks Online | Xero (US) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan, regular | $38 a month (Simple Start) | $27 a month (Early) |
| Mid plan, regular | $85 (Essentials, 3 users) | $59 (Growing) |
| Top listed plan, regular | $340 (Advanced, 25 users) | $97 (Established) |
| Intro offer | 50% off for 3 months | 90% off for 6 months, to 2 Nov 2026 |
| Pricing model | By plan, with user limits | By plan, no per-user fee |
| Cheapest-plan limits | 1 user | 20 invoices and 5 bills a month |
| Payroll | Separate, see our payroll guide | $36 a month plus $6 per person |
| Trial | 30 days mentioned, plan unclear | Not mentioned on the page |
Checked 24 October 2026. The two pricing models are not like for like, so compare on what you actually do each month.
Who Should Pick QuickBooks and Who Should Pick Xero?
These are rules of thumb, not vendor claims.
- Pick Xero if you have many users (a bookkeeper, a manager, you) and a modest invoice volume. No per-user fee keeps the bill flat, and Growing at $59 covers unlimited invoices and bills per the page.
- Pick QuickBooks if your accountant already uses it. Both pages show accountant access, but familiarity saves hours.
- Skip Xero Early if you send more than 20 invoices a month or pay more than 5 bills.
- Choose by the regular price, not the promo. Compare $38 against $27, or $85 against $59.
Ask your bookkeeper or accountant before switching, because migrating history takes time.
The Math: What Does Year One Cost?
All inputs are assumptions for a business with two users that sends 30 invoices a month. Prices come from the pages read on 24 October 2026, and the promo is taken at face value.
| QuickBooks Essentials | Xero Growing | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro months | 3 at $42.50 = $127.50 | 6 at $5.90 = $35.40 |
| Remaining months | 9 at $85 = $765 | 6 at $59 = $354 |
| Year one total | $892.50 | $389.40 |
Xero Growing is picked because 30 invoices exceeds the Early limit of 20. In year two the gap is $1,020 against $708, using regular prices only. Taxes are excluded, and the promo may not apply if you are not a new customer.
Why Does Software Choice Matter for Marketing Spend?
Your books tell you what a customer costs you, and that decides how much you can spend to win one. Our customer-focused CRM guide and local CRM guide explain how to keep that data together.
For budget planning, see our local marketing budget guide and our affordable marketing help guide.
Do This Today
Write down your monthly invoices, bills and number of people who need access. Then price both tools at the regular, not the promo, rate.
What Should You Check Before You Sign Up?
Open the checkout page and read three things the pricing pages did not make clear on 24 October 2026: whether the price is billed monthly or annually, what the price becomes when the promo ends, and how you cancel. Then export a sample of your own data, such as last month's invoices, and see whether the tool imports it cleanly.
Also confirm whether your bookkeeper or accountant has a login on the plan you pick. QuickBooks showed accountant seats on every paid plan, and for Xero you should ask the accountant directly. A switch mid-year creates extra work at tax time, so the best moment to change is the start of a new financial year or quarter.
Finally, put the promo end date in your calendar. A price that doubles or rises tenfold after the intro period is the most common surprise with both tools.
FAQ
Is Xero cheaper than QuickBooks?
On the regular prices listed on 24 October 2026, yes at each tier. Early is $27 against $38 for Simple Start, but Early has invoice and bill limits.
Does QuickBooks charge per user?
Plans include a set number of users: 1, 3, 5 or 25 on the four paid plans. Extra users mean moving up a plan.
Does Xero charge per user?
The US page says there are no per-user license fees. Payroll is priced per employee separately.
How long do the intro discounts last?
QuickBooks showed 50% off for 3 months. Xero showed 90% off the first 6 months for new US customers through 2 November 2026.
Is there a free trial?
QuickBooks mentioned a 30-day trial but did not make clear which plan it applies to. Xero's page did not mention a trial.
Sources
- QuickBooks Online pricing (plans, regular and promo prices; checked 24 October 2026)
- Xero US pricing plans (plans, limits, intro offer, payroll; checked 24 October 2026)
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Nataliia
Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.
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