QuickBooks Online
From ~$30 per mo
Xero
From ~$20 per mo
QuickBooks Online is the US market leader with the widest accountant support. Xero includes unlimited users on every plan and is strong on bank reconciliation. QuickBooks wins on ecosystem; Xero wins on user pricing and simplicity.
Pick QuickBooks Online if you are a US business that wants the most accountant-supported platform with the deepest reporting and add-on ecosystem.
Pick Xero if you want unlimited users, clean design, and excellent bank reconciliation — often at a lower total cost as your team grows.
QuickBooks Online and Xero are the two giants of small-business cloud accounting. QuickBooks dominates the US market and has the deepest network of accountants and bookkeepers who know it inside out. Xero grew out of New Zealand and the UK and built a loyal following with clean design, unlimited users, and excellent bank reconciliation.
A defining difference is user pricing. Xero includes unlimited users on every plan, while QuickBooks charges based on tiers that cap users. For a growing team that means Xero can be substantially cheaper at scale, even if the headline starting price looks similar.
We compare price, user limits, payroll, invoicing, reporting, and the all-important question of which one your accountant prefers.
| Quick facts | QuickBooks Online | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30 per mo | ~$20 per mo |
| Users included | Tiered (capped) | Unlimited |
| US market share | Largest | Growing |
| Payroll | Add-on | Add-on / via partners |
| Accountant familiarity (US) | Very high | High |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | Q QuickBooks Online | X Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Bank feeds & reconciliation | Yes | Best-in-class |
| Invoicing & quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited users | No | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | Higher tiers | Higher tiers |
| Payroll | Add-on | Add-on / partner |
| Reporting depth | Extensive | Strong |
| Third-party app ecosystem | Large | Large |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-05-30.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
QuickBooks caps users per tier; Xero includes unlimited users, which can flip the cost comparison for teams.
In the US, more accountants default to QuickBooks, which matters if you outsource bookkeeping.
Both charge extra for payroll, so factor that in rather than comparing only the base subscription.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add QuickBooks Online, Xero, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.