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XERO VS. FRESHBOOKS

The Alternative to Xero That’s Twice As Easy, at Half the Price

Xero is for suit-wearing accounting teams that never talk to customers. Small business owners choose FreshBooks to stay close to their clients and simplify accounting, without breaking the bank.

Offer exclusive to this page: Get 90% Off for 4 Months

SAVE 90% NOW
Only available to new subscribers via this page. See offer details

Offer terms:

Monthly Plans

Get 90% off a Lite, Plus or Premium Plan for 4 months. After the 4-month promotional period, you will be billed at full price for the plan you have selected.

Yearly Plans

The total price for a Yearly plan is billed at the time of purchase. It includes both the monthly discount outlined above, as well as an additional 10% discount for selecting a yearly plan.

Promotional offers for both monthly and yearly plans are for a limited period. New customers only. Cannot be combined with other offers. No free trial period is included when availing this promotional discount. FreshBooks reserves the right to change this offer at any time.

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Try it free for 30 days. No credit card required. 
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Product Comparison

Product Comparison
Xero
Product Screenshot
Pricing (monthly)
Starting $15 NZD ($5 NZD for Invoicing Only plan)
Starting at $31 NZD
Free Trial
Free 30-Day Trial Included
Free 30-Day Trial Included
Live Human Customer Support
Checkmark Stevie Award Winner for Excellent Customer Service
Crossmark
Easy to Use Interface
9.2 Ease of use score on G2
8.7 Ease of use score on G2
Unlimited invoices & quotes
Checkmark
Crossmark Available on higher-tiered plans, starting at $62/mo NZD
Late fees
Checkmark
Crossmark From $14/mo NZD
Time tracking
Checkmark
Crossmark From $10/mo NZD per user
Client proposals
Checkmark
Crossmark From $10/mo NZD per user
Project management
Checkmark
Crossmark From $10/mo NZD per user
Project profitability tools
Checkmark Available on FreshBooks Premium plan
Crossmark From $10/mo NZD per user
Accounting reports & analytics
Checkmark Included in Lite and above
Crossmark Paid add-on: $10/mo per organisation
Double-entry accounting
Checkmark
Checkmark
Business health reports
Checkmark
Checkmark
Customisable chart of accounts
Checkmark
Checkmark
Expense tracking
Checkmark
Checkmark
Online payments (Credit Cards)
Checkmark
Checkmark
Client communication
Checkmark
Checkmark

30+ Million People Have Used FreshBooks

“FreshBooks makes it easy for my clients to pay and easy for me to bill. I love the clean interface. I’m in the system every single day (yes, as a freelancer, even on weekends). It’s my stress-free money lifeline.”


Julia McPherson

Online Marketing Consultant

“Accepting payments is super easy and puts my clients at ease. My fees are automatically added as a text expense. This is my one-stop-shop for accounting as a freelancer.”


Jason McCullough

Digital Marketing Strategist

“Invoicing is my favourite part. The client once they open the invoice they can see what other invoices are outstanding. Great resource for being a small business owner to collect money :)”


Raymond Charloux III

Owner at RC3 Financials

“I love being able to send automatically generated professional looking invoices that my clients can pay immediately through the payment portal. It adds a layer of professionalism that I didn’t have before I began using FreshBooks.”


Nicole Apostle

Marketing and communications consultant


FreshBooks Beats Xero Where It Matters

FreshBooks Is Easy to Set Up and Use, Even if You’re Not an Accountant

FreshBooks Rating in G2

Ease Of Use

Xero score: 8.7
Accounting average: 8.6

Ease of Setup

Xero score: 8.3
Accounting average: 8.1

Quality of Support

Xero score: 7.7
Accounting average: 8.4

Xero Turns Small-Business Accounting Into a Big Headache

Xero Turns Small-Business Accounting Into a Big Headache

Over the years, Xero built a very robust—and complex—accounting software. The kind of tool that fits companies with big teams.

But as a small business owner with limited resources, you might feel lost trying to make Xero work for you, your clients and your budget.

Customers Describe the Xero App as “Complex”

“It was making our accounting for our law firm more cumbersome, confusing and complex.

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd

“Slightly too complex and technical for a casual user.”

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd

“Starting to get a bit over complex now as there is so much getting added to the product.”

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd

“The more complex functions of Xero are difficult to understand. I do not know how our accounting department is able to use this.”

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd

“It seems more suitable for professional bookkeepers/accountants.

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd

“The initial complexity is a bit of a headache and unless for accounting trained you will struggle with the accounting terminology.”

Verified Xero review on G2Crowd


FreshBooks Makes Accounting Easy for You, Your Team, and Your Budget

Get started and onboard your team in minutes. Pay a fraction of Xero’s
prices for comparable plans. Keep your financial data in check.

Easy to Use for
Non-Accountants

You don’t need to be an accountant to use FreshBooks. Do your own books and create better connections with clients, the easy way.

Get Help Whenever
You Need It

Switch to FreshBooks for real-human, hands-on customer support. Call us and a friendly agent with accounting knowledge picks up.

Start for as Low as $5/mo

Pay half of Xero’s pricing on any plan. Get the accounting features you need to run your business, without add-ons and upgrades.


Xero vs FreshBooks

Start Easier and Grow Faster With FreshBooks

An Invoicing-Only Plan for Those Getting Started

Save hours of manual effort every week by automating online invoicing. Track outstanding payments and set-up automatic reminders for late payments.

Unlimited Invoices at $15/mo

Xero charges $62/mo for unlimited invoicing. With FreshBooks you can send unlimited invoices to up to 5 clients and still pay a fraction of that.

Call and Talk to a Human

FreshBooks’ phone support team picks up calls within 2 rings and answers all your questions, without transferring you to another department.

4.8/5.0 Star Reviews and 9-Time Stevie Award Winner for Outstanding Customer Service

Make It Easier for Clients to Pay You

Offer clients multiple payment options and send automated reminders to get paid twice as fast. Accept online payments via credit card, debit card, Stripe, PayPal and checkout links.

Bill Clients in Their Preferred Currency

Bill international clients in their currency, no matter which plan you’re on. Take payments in 25 currencies from 202 countries, including USD, Euros and NZD.

Simple Pricing That Fits Your Budget

No pricey upgrades, no hidden costs, no confusion. Access all the accounting features you need to manage finances and keep clients happy.


Xero vs FreshBooks

Stress-Free Accounting for Small Businesses

Try it free for 30 days. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.


Xero vs FreshBooks

Switch From Xero With No Interruptions to Your Business

Ready to switch? Our friendly support team is there for you every step of the way. We’ll help you move your data to FreshBooks and onboard your team.

Call our migration team at +64 (80) 0456811 || Toll-Free New Zealand (2AM – 2PM NZDT)

I love FreshBooks’ ease-of-use and variety of features. FreshBooks has significantly reduced the amount of time I spend on the administrative front, while making it easier for my clients to pay me.

Derek Rippe

Web Developer and Small Business Owner


Xero vs FreshBooks

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my accountant insists that I use Xero?

It’s expected that accountants have recommendations when choosing your cloud accounting tool. Accountants feel comfortable with Xero because it’s built for them. Business owners, on the other hand, might not have the in-depth accounting knowledge needed to make Xero work for them. When choosing software vendors you need to prioritize the one that fits your business needs.

FreshBooks is built to make accounting easy for non-accountants running small and medium sized businesses. And you can always give your accountant immediate access to FreshBooks to get support during tax season and key financial decisions.

95% of users agree that FreshBooks makes it easy to work with your accountant.

Do I need an accountant if I use FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is a super-easy-to-use cloud-based accounting software built specifically for freelancers, soletraders and SMBs, letting you easily do everything yourself.

You don’t need an accountant to use FreshBooks, but you can still give them access and collaborate with them, if that’s what you prefer. Talk to your accountant and start a free trial to see how easy it is to work together.

Is FreshBooks easy to learn?

Absolutely. It’s built so you can add your clients, connect your bank account, launch new projects and get started with expense management, without having to read documentation or get help from a lawyer. And if you need a hand, our phone support with a live rep extends to both you and your accountant, with no additional fees.

Do I need invoicing software if I am only starting out?

Sending online invoices is one of the easiest ways a business can automate repetitive tasks and look professional in front of clients. If your business is new, you can try our invoicing-only plan ($5 NZD per month) to create and customize your invoice, add your logo, and personalize your thank you email, in seconds.

Is my accounting data safe in the cloud?

The safety of your private data is our top priority, that’s why it’s protected by 256-bit SSL encryption—the gold standard in internet security. You can even connect your bank accounts for automatic bank reconciliation trusting your data will always be private and secure. FreshBooks is a cloud accounting solution that uses industry-leading secure servers. 

How does pricing compare in FreshBooks vs Xero?

There are 3 main differences between FreshBooks and Xero pricing.

Starting price:

Get started for as low as $5/mo NZD with FreshBooks invoicing-only plan. Xero’s lowest plan is $29/mo NZD.

Unlimited customized invoices:

Included with FreshBooks Lite ($15/mo NZD) vs Xero Standard ($62/mo NZD).

Add-ons:

We don’t charge extra for basic features. FreshBooks offers essential features on all plans (excluding our invoicing-only plan).

  • Late fees – Included with FreshBooks Lite. Charged as an add-on with Xero, at $14/mo NZD
  • Unlimited time tracking – Included with FreshBooks Lite. Charged as an add-on with Xero, at $10/mo NZD per user.
  • Unlimited estimates and proposals – Included with FreshBooks Lite. Charged as an add-on with Xero, at $10/mo NZD per user.
  • Project management – Included with FreshBooks Lite. Charged as an add-on with Xero, at $10/mo NZD per user.
Is FreshBooks compatible with my device?

Yes! FreshBooks is a cloud based accounting software. It works with any device, from laptops to tablets and smartphones. You can download and use FreshBooks mobile app on Apple and Android devices.

WHY BUSINESSES LOVE FRESHBOOKS

553 hrs

SAVE UP TO 553 HOURS EACH YEAR BY USING FRESHBOOKS

$ 10,000

SAVE UP TO $10,000 IN BILLABLE HOURS EVERY YEAR

160+

PEOPLE IN OVER 160 COUNTRIES HAVE USED FRESHBOOKS

Try it free for 30 days. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
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