# Zoho Books vs Xero

Source: https://nachonacho.com/compare/zoho-books-vs-xero

Choose Zoho Books if you want a free option for a small business or built-in inventory and project tools on its Professional plan; choose Xero if you need unlimited users or prioritize its third-party app ecosystem. Both are available cloud accounting products for US businesses, but their plans differ substantially in user allowances, invoice limits, and when advanced features become available.

## At a glance

| | Zoho Books | Xero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plans | Free, Standard, Professional, Premium, Elite, Ultimate | Early, Growing, Established |
| Free option | Free plan; annual revenue must not exceed $50,000 | One-month free offer; no free plan listed |
| Regular monthly price | $0; paid plans $20–$275 per organization, billed monthly | $27, $59, or $97 per month |
| Users | Free: 1 user plus 1 accountant; paid plans: 3–15 users | No per-user license fees |
| Invoice limits | 1,000–100,000 invoices annually, depending on plan | Early: 20 invoices; Growing and Established: unlimited invoices |
| Multiple currencies | From Professional | Established |
| Projects | Billable timesheets and project profitability from Professional | Time and cost tracking on Established |
| Inventory | Inventory tracking from Professional; advanced control on Elite | Inventory Plus optional on Growing and Established |
| Integrations | Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory, and Stripe integrations | 1,000-plus connected apps |
| Platforms | Cloud access; iOS and Android apps; Windows desktop app | Online accounting; iOS and Android apps |
| Support | Free: email; paid plans: email, voice, and chat | 24/7 online support; callbacks, not inbound phone support |
| Banking | Bank reconciliation on Free; connected bank feeds from Standard | Bank reconciliation on all three plans |

## Which to choose

### Choose Zoho Books if

- Businesses eligible for a free accounting plan
- Teams that already use Zoho apps
- Businesses seeking inventory tracking on Professional
- Project-based teams seeking billable timesheets on Professional

### Choose Xero if

- Teams that need unlimited users
- Businesses choosing from 1,000-plus app integrations
- Teams seeking online support around the clock
- Businesses that want domestic standard ACH bill payments included

## Verdict

The deciding factor is how your business expects to grow. Zoho Books suits a smaller team that can work within its plan limits and wants inventory tracking, project profitability, and multiple currencies on Professional. Xero suits a team that needs to add users without per-user license fees or connect accounting to a broad selection of apps. Compare the regular subscription price and the plan containing the features you need, rather than choosing on entry price alone.

## Questions

### Is Zoho Books or Xero free?

Zoho Books has a free US plan for businesses whose annual revenue does not exceed $50,000. Xero lists paid US plans and a one-month free offer, but no permanently free plan.

### How much do Zoho Books and Xero cost?

Zoho Books lists a free plan and paid US plans from $20 to $275 per organization per month when billed monthly. Xero's regular US prices are $27, $59, and $97 per month for Early, Growing, and Established, respectively. Promotional prices may differ.

### Which product works better for a team with many users?

Xero lists no per-user license fees. Zoho Books includes a set number of users by plan, from three on Standard to 15 on Ultimate, and offers additional users as a paid add-on.

### What are the entry-plan invoicing limits?

Zoho Books allows up to 1,000 invoices annually on Free and 5,000 annually on Standard. Xero Early permits 20 invoices; Xero Growing and Established list unlimited invoices.

### Which offers inventory management?

Zoho Books includes inventory tracking from Professional and advanced inventory control on Elite. Xero offers Inventory Plus as an optional add-on to Growing and Established.

### Which plan supports multiple currencies and projects?

Zoho Books lists multiple-currency transactions, billable timesheets, and project profitability from Professional. Xero lists multiple currencies and project time and cost tracking on Established.

### Can I use Zoho Books and Xero on a phone?

Yes. Both vendors offer iOS and Android accounting apps. Zoho Books also lists a Windows desktop app.

### How does customer support differ?

Zoho Books lists email support on Free and email, voice, and chat support on paid plans. Xero offers 24/7 online support and can arrange a callback, but does not offer inbound phone support.

## Product pages

- Zoho Books: https://nachonacho.com/product/zohobooks
- Xero: https://nachonacho.com/product/xero