Xero
Xero is online accounting software for small businesses: bank transactions flow in every day, its AI, JAX, reconciles the matches it is confident about, and invoices, bills, reports and cash flow forecasts sit in the same books, with unlimited users on every plan.
It suits founders who want a co-founder, bookkeeper and accountant in the books without per-user fees, and founders outside the US: Xero says it serves 5 million customers in 180+ countries and leads cloud accounting in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
On Xero's US page the plans are $27 to $97 a month, with one month free or, until 2 November 2026, 90% off the first 6 months for new US customers, as checked on 30 October 2026. Plans and prices differ by country.
Reviewed by the IndieHacked team
- What it does
- Online accounting with unlimited users on every plan: bank feeds, invoices, bills and cash flow forecasts, with plans and prices set per country.
- Our take
- Founders who want everyone who touches the money in the same books, with no fee per user on any plan. Outside the US, Xero publishes local plans and prices, and it says it leads cloud accounting in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
- Pricing
- Free trialMid priceFrom Xero's US page, in USD before tax and billed monthly; Xero sets plans and prices per country, and its UK plans run from £18 to £70 a month before VAT. Early is $27 a month with 20 invoices and quotes and 5 bills; Growing, $59, lifts both limits and includes auto-reconciliation (a $5 a month add-on on Early) and a 60-day forecast; Established, $97, adds multiple currencies, project time and costs, expense claims and a 180-day forecast, as checked on 30 October 2026. Every plan has unlimited users and free domestic ACH bill payments. New US customers buying their first organisation choose one month free, or 90% off the first 6 months until 2 November 2026, then the regular price; the offers do not combine. Payroll, powered by Gusto, is $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor. A move to a cheaper plan waits 1 month after an upgrade.
The IndieHacked breakdown
What it does
Xero connects to your bank so transactions flow in every day, and JAX, its AI, reconciles the matches it is confident about and answers questions about the numbers. From the same books you send quotes and invoices with a Pay Now button for card, ACH or digital wallets, chase late payers with automatic reminders, enter and pay bills, and capture receipts with Smart Document Capture.
Plans add depth, never seats: cash flow forecasts run 30, 60 or 180 days ahead by plan, and Established adds multiple currencies, project time and costs, and expense claims. In the US, payroll comes from Gusto inside Xero, and 1000+ apps connect through Xero's app store. Your accountant or bookkeeper works in the same organisation.
Who it suits
Founders who want the co-founder, a contract bookkeeper and the accountant in one set of books, with no fee per user on any plan. Xero says 250,000 accountants and bookkeepers have joined its partner programme, and a Xero Coach helps with setup for the first 90 days in the US.
It also suits founders outside the US. Xero publishes plans per country: the UK runs Ignite to Ultimate and states its plans are ready for HMRC's Making Tax Digital. The prices on this page are the US ones, so check your own country's page before comparing.
Not the right fit for
Founders who invoice in several currencies on a small budget. On Xero's US plans, multiple currencies come only with Established at $97 a month; QuickBooks Online, reviewed here, includes them from Essentials at $85.
Founders with a one-person business who want to start at no cost. Xero has no free plan, only a free first month; QuickBooks Free, reviewed here, covers 1 user with 2 invoices a month and no time limit.
Also on the shortlist
- QuickBooks OnlineFinanceA free plan for 1 user, paid plans priced by user count from 1 to 25, and multiple currencies from Essentials at $85 a month (US).Free for 1 user, paid plans from $38 a month, as checked on 30 October 2026
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