# Xero — Small-business ledger with a JAX assistant that answers questions in plain language; unlimited users on every plan.

> Source: Tick Mark Books — https://tickmarkbooks.com/xero (structured, researched, re-verified)

Xero is online accounting software for small businesses, covering invoicing, bills, bank reconciliation, sales tax and financial reports. Its JAX assistant answers questions about your own figures and drafts routine admin inside the same ledger.

**Best for:** Small businesses wanting the whole team and their advisor on the books, no per-user fees

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Website | https://www.xero.com/us/ |
| Category | Accounting software, Bookkeepers and accounting firms, Cheapest accounting software, Freelancers and the self-employed, Small businesses |
| Open source | No |
| Price | $27 a month |
| Price checked | 28 October 2026 |

Screenshot of Xero: https://tickmarkbooks.com/img/1920/screenshots/xero.webp, captured 28 October 2026

**What we checked**

- Pages last read: 28 October 2026
- Price on its site: From $27 a month (From its pricing page)

## Xero in our research

**Also named in**

- [Freelancer accounting software with bank feeds](https://tickmarkbooks.com/collections/freelancer-accounting-software-with-bank-feeds) · Collection

## What it costs

A month of books at 100 transactions: $27 a month at 100 transactions, on Early

## Xero price and plans

Prices excluding tax, as Xero publishes them.

| Plan | Price | What's included |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early | $27 a month | Flat fee |
| Growing | $59 a month | Flat fee; adds Categorizes transactions |
| Established | $97 a month | Flat fee; adds Other currencies; adds Mileage; adds Billable time; adds Profit by project or job |

Read on https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/, 28 October 2026.

## What Xero costs at your volume

| Transactions | Cost | Plan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 | $27 a month | Early |
| 500 | $27 a month | Early |

## What we checked on Xero

### What it costs to keep your books

**Cost at 100 transactions a month** · Yes — $27 a month on Early for 100 transactions. Early is 90% off for 6 months for new customers ($2.70 a month), on offer until 2 November 2026. The figure is the regular $27, paid after it.

> Then $27 per month
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plan cards, Early column, checked 28 October 2026

**Cost at 500 transactions a month** · Yes — $27 a month on Early for 500 transactions. Early is 90% off for 6 months for new customers ($2.70 a month), on offer until 2 November 2026. The figure is the regular $27, paid after it.

> Then $27 per month
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plan cards, Early column, checked 28 October 2026

**Cost for a solo freelancer** · Yes — The cheapest public plan, Early, is $27 a month after the promotion and includes bank reconciliation, Smart Document Capture and reporting, so one freelancer with roughly 30 transactions pays that.

> Then $27 per month
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plan cards, Early column price, checked 28 October 2026

**Promotion and regular price** · Yes — promotion: new US customers get 90% off for six months, the offer closes 2 November 2026, and the regular plan price then applies and renews monthly.

> New customers get 90% off for the first 6 months, then Xero’s regular price will apply and auto-renew monthly until cancelled as described in our Terms of Use.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Pricing plan details and offer terms, checked 28 October 2026

**Ledger included** · Yes — Xero is the double-entry ledger itself, so no QuickBooks or Xero subscription sits underneath it; the plan price is the whole accounting bill.

> Xero online accounting software for your business connects you to your bank, accountant, bookkeeper, and other business apps.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ · Page meta description, homepage, checked 28 October 2026

**What the price is based on** · Yes — Flat monthly fee for one Xero organization, in USD before tax, with no per-user charge and no metering of transactions.

> No per-user license fees
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plans header, benefit list, checked 28 October 2026

**Users included** · Yes — Every plan takes unlimited users at no extra cost, so adding staff, a treasurer or an advisor does not change the monthly bill.

> All Xero plans include unlimited users at no extra cost.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/versus/quickbooks-alternative/ · Why small businesses choose Xero, point 2, checked 28 October 2026

**Past your plan’s limits** · Partly — Only the Early plan is capped, at 20 invoices and 5 bills a month, and the footnote says approving counts too; the pages do not say what happens once you reach the cap.

> Invoice limits for the Early plan apply to both approving and sending invoices. Transactions initiated by app partners may automatically contribute to your invoice limit.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Pricing plan details, footnote †, checked 28 October 2026

**Setup or onboarding fee** · No — No one-time setup or onboarding charge: setup help is listed as a free part of every plan, and onboarding specialists come with the first 90 days.

> Free expert setup help
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plans header, benefit list, checked 28 October 2026

**Notice before a price rise** · Partly — The pricing page reserves the right to change prices at any time, while the terms promise a reasonable effort to give 60 days notice of material changes, so the notice is an endeavor rather than a guarantee.

> We will reasonably endeavour to provide you with 60 days’ notice of material changes before they become effective, unless there are circumstances outside of our control.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/legal/terms/ · Section 76, Changes to these terms, checked 28 October 2026

### What the AI does with your books

**What the AI does** · Yes — JAX, built into the navigation bar and the mobile app, answers questions about your own Xero figures, pulls in outside market data and drafts admin such as invoices and quotes.

> Gain critical insights through its advanced conversational capabilities, ask about ideas to improve cash flow or for help with admin tasks like creating invoices or quotes.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ai-in-accounting/jax/ · Intro paragraph, checked 28 October 2026

**What the AI costs** · Yes — included: JAX chat carries no extra charge for subscribers on any plan, though Xero reserves the right to change that pricing later.

> There’s currently no additional charge to Xero subscribers to use JAX chat experience. However, we reserve the right to change the terms and conditions of using JAX, including the pricing.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ai-in-accounting/jax/ · FAQs about JAX chat, "Do I need to pay to use JAX?", checked 28 October 2026

**Categorizes transactions** · Partly — Bank rules categorize recurring transactions for you and Xero suggests matches, but hands-off auto-reconcile is a $5 a month add-on on Early and only included from Growing up; no page claims it learns from your corrections.

> Auto-reconcile transactions Optional $5.00 per month Included Included
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Auto-reconcile transactions row, checked 28 October 2026

**Reconciles your accounts** · Yes — Bank reconciliation is on every plan: feeds arrive automatically, Xero proposes matches on one screen, and reconciling often keeps the cash-flow forecast honest.

> Approve Xero’s suggested transactions matches – including amounts from online payments – on a single screen
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/connect-your-bank/ · Get an accurate view of your finances, checked 28 October 2026

**Reads receipts and bills** · Yes — Smart Document Capture is on all three plans and pulls bills and receipts straight into Xero so they sit with the records they belong to.

> Smart Document capture pulls bills and receipts straight into Xero, so your records stay lovely and organized.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ · Turn receipts into relief section, checked 28 October 2026

**Pays your bills** · Yes — Bills are captured and tracked with approval roles and duplicate spotting, and standard domestic ACH payments are included in every business plan, with fees on other methods.

> Standard ACH payments are included in Xero Early, Growing and Established plans (fees apply for other payment methods).
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Pricing plan details, footnote ††, checked 28 October 2026

**Sends invoices** · Partly — Invoicing with online payment acceptance is on every plan, but Early is capped at 20 invoices a month before you must move up to Growing.

> Send quotes and 20 invoices†
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Plan cards, Early feature list, checked 28 October 2026

**Accrual books and reports** · Yes — Real-time profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow reports are on every plan and can be customized and compared against budget; the pages do not name the accounting basis.

> View profit and loss, balance sheets, cash flow, and a range of other accounting reports and forecasts, whenever you need to.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/run-financial-reports/ · Get updates on your business performance anytime, checked 28 October 2026

### Who checks the AI’s work

**Your accountant can sign in** · Yes — You can invite your accountant or bookkeeper into the same books at no extra cost, because every plan carries unlimited users.

> Invite your accountant or bookkeeper into Xero, so you’re both working from the same up-to-date books.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/small-businesses/non-profit/ · Reports your nonprofit can count on, Team up with your accountant, checked 28 October 2026

### Where your books live and what it connects to

**Bank and card feeds** · Yes — Automatic feeds pull transactions from thousands of US banks and cards without statement uploads, and the connection is read-only; PDF, OFX, QIF, QBO, QFX or CSV import covers banks that do not connect.

> Set up automatic transaction imports from a wide range of US banks and financial institutions
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/connect-your-bank/ · See your bank transactions flow into Xero, checked 28 October 2026

**Stripe** · Yes — Xero publishes App Store listings for Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square and Gusto

> Payout reconciliation: Automatically match payouts from Shopify Payments and more to your bank account. The integration handles fees, refunds, and taxes
> — https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify · Shopify by Xero listing, overview, checked 28 October 2026

**Shopify** · Yes — Xero publishes App Store listings for Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square and Gusto the Shopify connector splits out fees, refunds and taxes against payouts and is free on all plans.

> Payout reconciliation: Automatically match payouts from Shopify Payments and more to your bank account. The integration handles fees, refunds, and taxes
> — https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify · Shopify by Xero listing, overview, checked 28 October 2026

**PayPal** · Yes — Xero publishes App Store listings for Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square and Gusto

> Payout reconciliation: Automatically match payouts from Shopify Payments and more to your bank account. The integration handles fees, refunds, and taxes
> — https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify · Shopify by Xero listing, overview, checked 28 October 2026

**Square** · Yes — Xero publishes App Store listings for Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square and Gusto

> Payout reconciliation: Automatically match payouts from Shopify Payments and more to your bank account. The integration handles fees, refunds, and taxes
> — https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify · Shopify by Xero listing, overview, checked 28 October 2026

**Gusto payroll** · Yes — Xero publishes App Store listings for Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square and Gusto

> Payout reconciliation: Automatically match payouts from Shopify Payments and more to your bank account. The integration handles fees, refunds, and taxes
> — https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify · Shopify by Xero listing, overview, checked 28 October 2026

**Payroll** · Partly — add-on: payroll is not in the plan price but is sold beside it as Xero Payroll powered by Gusto at $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor, on any plan.

> New Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto Optional $36 a month + $6 per employee/contractor
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Xero Payroll row, checked 28 October 2026

**Moves your history in** · Partly — Xero says switching from QuickBooks is straightforward with hands-on setup help, and historical data can be imported when you first connect a bank, but no page states what moving prior-year books costs or how far back it goes.

> Moving your accounting software doesn’t have to be complicated. Xero makes the switch from QuickBooks straightforward. With hands-on set-up help, easy steps, and clear answers
> — https://www.xero.com/us/versus/quickbooks-alternative/ · Ready to switch from QuickBooks? section, checked 28 October 2026

**Platforms** · Yes — web, ios, android: Xero runs in the browser and the Accounting app is a free part of the subscription on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets; no Windows or Mac desktop build is offered.

> The Xero Accounting app is available on iOS and Android devices, including iPads and tablets.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/xero-accounting-mobile-app/ · FAQ, What devices is the Xero Accounting app available on?, checked 28 October 2026

**Getting your books out** · Yes — Any Xero report, including the ledger and balance sheet reports, can be taken out as a PDF or a spreadsheet, so your figures leave with you.

> Yes, any report in Xero can be exported as a PDF to print or share by email, or as a spreadsheet for further analysis
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/run-financial-reports/ · FAQ, Can I export reports in different formats?, checked 28 October 2026

### Taxes

**Files 1099s** · Partly — Xero collects W-9s, tracks contractor payments against the $2,000 threshold and builds the 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC report on every plan, but filing goes through an e-filing partner app at extra cost or by CSV export.

> Send 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms to the IRS through e-filing partner apps in the Xero App Store (fees may apply)
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/1099-reporting/ · E-file your 1099s your way, checked 28 October 2026

**Calculates sales tax** · Yes — Sales tax is on all three plans: Avalara applies the current rate to each invoice from ship-from and ship-to addresses, product type and exemption status across more than 13,000 US jurisdictions.

> Avalara automatically calculates accurate sales tax across over 13,000 US tax areas.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/calculate-sales-tax/ · Quick and easy to set up, checked 28 October 2026

**Files sales tax** · Partly — It reports rather than files: the Sales Tax report shows what you have recorded and what is due to help you prepare the return, and the page describes no filing or payment on your behalf.

> Run the Sales Tax report to view tax amounts recorded and help prepare your sales tax return.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/calculate-sales-tax/ · Reports that make filing day simpler, checked 28 October 2026

### What it keeps track of

**Inventory** · Partly — Basic stock tracking comes with every plan, while multichannel selling, reorder points and shipping need the paid Xero Inventory Plus add-on, which the comparison table marks optional on Growing and Established only.

> Inventory tracking is included in Xero plans, and Xero Inventory Plus and inventory apps are paid add-ons
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/manage-inventory/ · FAQ, How much does Xero’s inventory management cost?, checked 28 October 2026

**Other currencies** · Partly — Invoicing and accounting in other currencies is reserved for the top plan: the comparison table marks multiple currencies excluded on Early and Growing and included on Established.

> Use multiple currencies Excluded Excluded Included
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Use multiple currencies row, checked 28 October 2026

**Mileage** · Partly — Mileage claims are entered in the Xero Me app from start and end points and are an Established-plan feature; automatic GPS logging needs a third-party app such as TripLog.

> Employee expense and mileage claims Excluded Excluded Included
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Employee expense and mileage claims row, checked 28 October 2026

**Billable time** · Partly — Billable time is recorded with a start-stop timer and billed through project invoicing, but only on Established; the two cheaper plans exclude project time and costs.

> Track time and costs for projects Excluded Excluded Included
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Track time and costs for projects row, checked 28 October 2026

**Profit by project or job** · Partly — Profit by project or job needs the Established plan, where project tracking links costs and time to each job; tracking categories give a lighter class view on cheaper plans.

> Track time and costs for projects Excluded Excluded Included
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Compare features across plans, Track time and costs for projects row, checked 28 October 2026

**Funds for nonprofits** · Yes — A nonprofit records each gift as it arrives and uses tracking categories to see spending per grant, program or initiative, with report layouts saved for the board.

> Record each gift as it arrives, then see spending for every initiative with tracking categories.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/small-businesses/non-profit/ · What your nonprofit gets with Xero, Built for donations, grants and programs, checked 28 October 2026

### Your data and its security

**SOC 2 report** · Yes — Xero produces SOC 2 reports from independent audits and is certified to ISO 27001:2022; subscribers download the report after logging in and anyone else can request it through a form.

> Xero produces Service Organization Control (SOC 2) reports based on independent audits of Xero’s cloud-based accounting system.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/about/security/ · SOC 2 security assurance audits, checked 28 October 2026

**Your data trains AI** · No — Xero states that JAX does not train its language models on your data and that the third-party providers behind them do not retain it for training, so there is nothing to opt out of.

> No, JAX chat doesn’t use your data to train the LLMs it uses.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ai-in-accounting/jax/ · FAQs about JAX chat, Does JAX use customer data to train the model?, checked 28 October 2026

### Who it is built for

**For accounting firms** · Yes — The partner program gives firms free Xero and Partner Hub for their own practice, client tools such as Workpapers and lighter Ledger and Cashbook plans, with benefits rising through bronze to platinum status.

> All new partners can use Xero and Xero Partner Hub for free, with more products added at higher status levels.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/accountants-bookkeepers/ · Get access to free Xero software, checked 28 October 2026

**Australia** · Yes — Sold well beyond the US: Xero runs country editions with local pricing and tax, including UK plans that file VAT returns to HMRC, Australian plans that lodge BAS for GST, and Canadian plans priced in Canadian dollars.

> Prices are in Canadian dollars and exclude applicable taxes
> — https://www.xero.com/ca/pricing-plans/ · Pricing plan details and offer terms, Canadian site, checked 28 October 2026

### Trying it, starting and getting help

**Free trial or free plan** · Partly — There is no standing free plan, but any plan can be taken for one month at $0 before billing starts, so you can run your own books in it first.

> Your first month, on us. Any plan
> — https://www.xero.com/us/ · Your first month, on us section, checked 28 October 2026

**Sign up without a sales call** · Yes — You can buy any plan online with a Buy now button and set it up yourself; a sales call is offered but never required.

> Purchase any Xero plan and get started today.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ · Navigation promo, A better deal on Xero is waiting, checked 28 October 2026

**Contract and cancelling** · Partly — Billing is month to month with automatic renewal and no yearly commitment, but canceling takes one month of notice given in your Xero account rather than ending immediately.

> you may choose to terminate your subscription at any time by providing Xero with one month’s notice in advance via your Xero account
> — https://www.xero.com/us/legal/terms/ · Section 59, Termination by you, checked 28 October 2026

**Support** · Partly — Support is free and online around the clock: you search Xero Central and raise a case from any article. There is no published phone line, though you can ask to be called back.

> With Xero you get free online support 24/7 from our customer support team.
> — https://www.xero.com/us/about/contact/ · Contact Xero support, checked 28 October 2026

## Xero alternatives

- [FreeAgent](https://tickmarkbooks.com/freeagent) · From £10 a month (about $13): UK cloud accounting with HMRC filing, bank feeds and AI receipt capture, priced per business type.
- [Zoho Books](https://tickmarkbooks.com/zoho-books) · Free plan, then $20 a month: Cloud accounting ledger with Zia AI, bank feeds, sales tax and 1099 e-filing, from $20 a month.
- [Puzzle](https://tickmarkbooks.com/puzzle) · No list price: AI-native accounting software with optional bookkeeper services for startups and small businesses.
- [Pilot](https://tickmarkbooks.com/pilot) · No list price: A bookkeeping and tax service for startups that pairs software-driven dashboards with human financial advisors.
- [Booke AI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/booke-ai) · No list price: An AI bookkeeper that works inside QuickBooks Online and Xero to categorize transactions and match documents.
- [SimpleAI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/simpleai) · From $79 a month: AI agents that extract, classify and reconcile accounting documents, then publish them into Xero or QuickBooks.
- [QuickBooks Online](https://tickmarkbooks.com/quickbooks-online) · Free plan, then $38 a month: Intuit's cloud ledger, now with Intuit Intelligence agents that categorize, reconcile and flag errors.
- [Sage Accounting](https://tickmarkbooks.com/sage-accounting) · From £20 a month (about $27): Sage's cloud small-business ledger with built-in payroll and the Sage Copilot assistant; US edition retired.
- [Digits](https://tickmarkbooks.com/digits) · From $65 a month: AI-native general ledger that books and reconciles itself, replacing QuickBooks or Xero for US businesses.

6 of the 9 publish a price.

[All 9 alternatives](https://tickmarkbooks.com/xero/alternatives/)

## Sources and changes

Last changed 28 October 2026

**Sources** (17)

- https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/ai-in-accounting/jax/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/calculate-sales-tax/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/connect-your-bank/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/run-financial-reports/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/legal/terms/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/small-businesses/non-profit/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/versus/quickbooks-alternative/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/ca/pricing-plans/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/about/contact/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/about/security/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accountants-bookkeepers/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/1099-reporting/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/manage-inventory/, read 28 October 2026
- https://www.xero.com/us/accounting-software/xero-accounting-mobile-app/, read 28 October 2026
- https://apps.xero.com/us/app/shopify, read 28 October 2026

## Is this yours?

Claim Xero: https://tickmarkbooks.com/claim/xero

Report an error if a fact is wrong: hello@tickmarkbooks.com, subject "Report an error: Xero (xero)".
