Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“Great choice for startups”

Pros

This accounting software is easy to use and the implementation process is simple for entry-level use. It's also a very cost-effective tool that works well for just about any type of business.

Cons

It falls short when it comes to handling and depreciating more complex fixed assets and managing multiple subsidiaries can be challenging.

“Very clean dashboard”

Pros

Running the finances through Xero is pretty easy because the platform is simple and user friendly. The dashboard has a clean layout and is easy to move around in so keeping up with invoices, expenses and cash flow from one place doesn't feel complicated. The cloud access is also a big plus since it lets me handle accounting from anywhere and the bank integrations work well for saving time and helping keep records accurate.

Cons

Getting comfortable with some of its more advanced accounting tools can take a while especially for someone new to accounting. Bank feeds also have the occasional syncing delay which can be frustrating at times. On top of that the customization available for reports and invoices feels a bit limited compared with some other accounting platforms and the subscription cost can start to feel expensive as the business grows.

“frustrating billing and cancellation mess”

Pros

During my time using the platform I honestly struggled to identify any real positives. I also ran into situations where account balances and financial details didn't always seem accurate or clearly presented which made me lose trust in the software overall.

Cons

I am still genuinely surprised by how this played out and I feel it's worth sharing so other people know what to expect before joining one of its promotional offers. I signed up when they were running a 100% off for 6 months deal. Once that promotional period ended, the billing started again automatically on an account I was no longer actively using. I didn't notice right away so several charges had already gone through before I caught it. The moment I realized what happened, I reached out to support and explained everything. I wasn't asking for anything extreme just whether they could offer some kind of goodwill refund or adjustment since the account was inactive, I contacted them soon after noticing the charges and I hadn't kept using the platform once the promotion ended. What really made this worse was everything that followed. There was no phone support available and I couldn't even properly get into my own account to handle the cancellation until I turned on two-factor authentication. On top of that the cancellation process was far more complicated than it should have been. After I escalated the matter, the billing team basically told me they don't track whether accounts are being used, they don't send reminders before promotional pricing expires and subscriptions just keep renewing unless you manually cancel them yourself. Yes, technically they can rely on the terms of service and I understand that. But from a customer relationship standpoint, it makes no sense to lose a potential long-term customer over about $150 on an inactive account instead of showing at least a little flexibility or goodwill.

“fantastic fit for SMB accounting”

Pros

I am running a small sized business and I think its much more manageable with Xero. The interface is clean and user friendly so tasks like invoicing, tracking expenses, handling payroll and reconciling bank transactions are easy to stay on top of.

Cons

There are a few downsides though. Some of the more advanced accounting tools come with a learning curve for new users, customer support can sometimes be a bit slow during busier times and a few features are only available on the more expensive plans.

“time saving tool”

Pros

Bank reconciliations are really quick with the match feature and it does a good job of allocating receipts without much effort. The option to memorize bills is also a real time-saver when entering repeat transactions.

Cons

Recently there have been a few software glitches that made things run a bit slower although it doesn't happen often. Aside from that, the overall performance has been very good.

“feature packed”

Pros

It handles everything I need for my solo business and then some. It's especially useful knowing it's considered one of the go-to standards by accountants.

Cons

At the same time it seems more complicated than a solo business owner really needs and that makes it pricier than what I actually use. Still, I am pretty much locked in now since all my records and data are already in the system.

“Simple switch from sage”

Pros

Moving over from SAGE was fairly simple and the system is easy to use overall. The help support isn't quite as strong as Sage's but there's still plenty of useful information available in the help section.

Cons

It cannot connect to CAF Bank which makes the banking side of things quite difficult when you're managing accounts for a charity.

“Modern cloud accounting tool”

Pros

The interface is modern and user friendly which makes day to day use pleasant. The accounting automation is a real advantage and having cloud access from anywhere is very convenient. It also connects well with lots of other tools and the invoice and expense tracking features are especially useful.

Cons

The pricing can get fairly expensive depending on which features you need. There is still a learning curve for new users and it can slow down a bit when handling large amounts of data. Reaching customer support is sometimes difficult or responses can take longer than expected. Some of the more advanced features are also a bit complicated to set up.

“Offers the best support”

Pros

Using Xero has not been a problem. It's simple to work with, bank reconciliation is quick and connecting to HMRC for VAT returns is very convenient. Customer support has also been reliable whenever needed and the mobile access is a big plus when working away from the office.

Cons

One area that could be better is the way quotes convert into invoices because it doesn't feel very smooth. It would also help if invoices could display the full job price and let us deduct percentages as we invoice different stages of each job.

“Reliable tool!”

Pros

Right from the start Xero made sense without any training at all. I am not an accountant in the slightest as I am actually a software developer but it was incredibly simple to get comfortable with. My accountants were genuinely impressed by how accurate and well-kept my books were and they could turn around my UK VAT returns in just a few minutes.

Cons

That said the interface seems quite dated and honestly doesn't look very good. I even rely on a Chrome extension to switch it to dark mode at night. It can also feel a bit confusing when moving back and forth between pages especially when older information shows up.

“time saving and user friendly”

Pros

Using Xero across two businesses for the past three years has been really convenient. The platform is user friendly, simple to learn and it saves me a lot of time.

Cons

Honestly I have very little to complain about with it. The only issue I have noticed is that the website is occasionally unavailable once in a while.

“affordable and user friendly accounting”

Pros

The pricing is extremely affordable and the functionality is right up there with other well-known accounting programs. My accountant really loves using it and finds the platform very user friendly.

Cons

To be honest there is not much to complain about. There were a few small challenges during the account setup but its support team was very responsive and helped quickly.

“clean and simple interface”

Pros

this tool's biggest strengths are its clean, user friendly interface and the automation tools. Bank reconciliation and invoicing, in particular, save a lot of time and make handling finances much more simple and organized.

Cons

One downside with this tool is that customer support can be slow and somewhat limited. On top of that some of the more advanced features, like reporting, payroll and customization, feel less flexible or more difficult to work with than I expected.

“Amazing accounting experience”

Pros

The interface has been a joy to use. Even as the product has evolved over time, it has kept that fresh, lively look and feel and it still is incredibly simple to navigate.

Cons

The biggest downside is the subscription pricing for smaller users. There really isn't a low-cost starter option that feels affordable when money is tight. And like any platform, they have to choose which user-requested features actually get built so some people end up feeling overlooked. It's never going to be perfect for everyone but it comes very close.

“user friendly software!”

Pros

Everything about it is very user friendly. Bank feeds, journals and the AP and AR functions are all easy to work with and the layout is clean and pleasant to use.

Cons

Bringing in the chart of accounts can be a little complicated although that's fairly expected. Other than that, there's really not much to dislike.

“Simple reporting for nonprofits”

Pros

Running our nonprofit with this has been fairly easy. Even without a formal accountant on staff, we were able to get everything set up and start using the reports in a way that felt simple, practical and genuinely helpful.

Cons

I really do not have any major complaints. The only slight hiccup was some confusion when setting up the chart of accounts but after speaking with someone from their team, the issue was resolved quickly and they also gave me a very helpful overview of the platform.

“It boosts productivity”

Pros

From day one the platform has felt very user friendly and has helped keep my business productive. It also does a really good job of helping you understand the basic building blocks of the business which makes managing things much clearer.

Cons

That said it still is a bit limited when it comes to covering the full financial umbrella. I'd prefer more of an all-in-one solution with everything included in one place.

“powerful invoicing and clear dashboard”

Pros

Using this has made handling finances pretty easy. Also the interface is very simple to work with, the invoicing and reporting tools are really capable and the dashboard pulls everything together in one clear view.

Cons

There are a few minor bugs from time to time but they do not really disrupt day to day use. Customer support can also be a bit slow to respond occasionally.

“Saves us time”

Pros

It has been a real time saver for handling everyday accounting tasks. The dashboard gives a clear, live snapshot of cash flow, bank balances and unpaid invoices which makes it much simpler to stay on top of decisions. One feature that stands out is bank reconciliation since it matches transactions automatically and cuts down a lot of manual work. The invoicing tools are also very convenient, with useful customization options and quick sharing that help keep client communication moving efficiently. At the same time, it can feel a bit restricted for more advanced reporting or highly specific accounting needs. Even so, it offers a great mix of usability and functionality especially for small to mid-sized businesses that want a dependable cloud-based accounting platform.

Cons

One downside with this tool is that some of the more advanced capabilities feel a little limited especially for highly customized reporting or deeper financial analysis. When I need more detailed or tailored reports, I often have to export the data into Excel which adds an extra step to the process. I have also seen the system slow down at times as transaction volume grows, particularly during bank reconciliation or while reports are loading. On top of that features such as multi-currency support and certain advanced integrations are locked behind higher-tier plans which can make it less budget-friendly for businesses that are expanding.

“Affordable accounting tool”

Pros

Xero gives small businesses a professional-level accounting platform at a reasonable price. The interface is also easy to use, it connects with plenty of integrations and the cloud-based setup scales well as the business grows. The banking integration is also a big plus.

Cons

Some of the premium features get expensive. Customer support has room for improvement and the reporting tools are not as strong as what some competitors offer.

“beginner friendly software”

Pros

The software is very user friendly especially for someone new to accounting software. Managing bank accounts is easy with the linked reconciliations and the layout is simple to move around in. It also makes the day to day upkeep of the business much easier to handle.

Cons

One thing that can be frustrating with this tool is posting manual adjustments since some nominal accounts are locked and that can make the process harder than it should be.

“Helpful training and customization”

Pros

I find it easy to use, the setup didn't take much effort and the user training provided is really amazing. Also it gives enough flexibility to customize things when needed.

Cons

There's not much to complain about since it's generally very user friendly. The only slight challenge is that it can be a bit tricky to use for a multi-entity type of business.

“Tool that works well for us!”

Pros

It has been proven to be a reliable invoicing and accounting platform for our business and it fits nicely into the way we work. The email templates are a real plus and being able to send quotes and invoices with custom messages makes everything feel more personal while still being easy to set up. It also handles our invoice volume well which is around 200 per year.

Cons

There are a few smaller frustrations that could definitely be improved. One example is address entry as you cannot paste a full address and have the city, street and zip code fill automatically so each field has to be entered separately. Another limitation is that after an invoice has already been sent, you cannot add automatic email reminders afterward. I also think the overdue invoice page could use a better UI to help our finance team stay more organized. Features like AI-based flags for invoices that are unlikely to be paid, based on due dates or previous payment behavior, would be really useful.

“Helpful invoicing and reporting”

Pros

Managing invoices and keeping up with expenses has been really easy with this software. The bank reconciliation tool does the job well for what we need and has saved us a lot of time compared with the system we used before. The reporting has also been useful when we need a quick look at cash flow.

Cons

One thing that could be better is the mobile app which can feel a little confusing when entering new transactions while away from the office. It's not a major problem but it would be better if quick entries were more user friendly. Looking up specific older data can also take more clicks than I'd like.

“Pretty complex setup”

Pros

There's plenty of customer support available which is helpful but it isn't immediate. When you're trying to complete your accounts, you really need answers right away rather than waiting for a callback.

Cons

Getting started is overly complicated and nobody made it clear that you need multiple apps just to upload receipts, bills, banking documents and invoice pages. The whole process has been very complex and frustrating to deal with.

“Decent for small businesses”

Pros

this tool doesn't take much accounting knowledge which makes it very approachable. Tasks like invoicing, handling payments and reconciling bank transactions are all quick and easy to manage.

Cons

It seems quite restrictive when dealing with more advanced accounting requirements. Plus it seems better suited to sole traders and smaller businesses than companies with more complex needs.

“Reliable for daily use”

Pros

After switching from Sage we have been using Xero for our accounting for several years and it has been a really positive change. The layout is simple, everything makes sense and it's very simple to move around the system. There are plenty of built-in reports available and it's also useful that you can customise them and save favourites for quick access. We have Xero connected to our Cybake account so invoices are sent across every day and we also create invoices directly in Xero itself. On top of that we use it to manage bills as well. I work in it every day and honestly haven't run into any problems. Anytime I have needed to figure something out, a quick online search has always given me the answer so I have never even had to reach out to support.

Cons

A small thing I noticed early on is that some of the standard reports have very similar names which can be a bit confusing until you get used to them. Because of that, I sometimes open a couple of reports before finding the exact one I need. That said, it's a minor issue and not really any different from other accounting software we have used before.

“Clear layout and reliable tracking”

Pros

Xero is the accounting platform I use most and I really enjoy working with it because the interface is simple and the layout makes it easy to locate the information I need. It also provides a strong audit trail so I can clearly see when bills were created, who entered them and whether anything was changed and when. On top of that it gets updated regularly and connecting bank feeds is very easy.

Cons

The pricing is a bit on the high side and the payroll add-on which costs extra, isn't as strong as some other payroll software options.

“very rewarding impact”

Pros

Working at Xerox gave me a real appreciation for how much the company values innovation and problem-solving. With its long-standing background in technology and document management, it was exciting to be part of teams that were consistently encouraged to come up with creative solutions for clients, whether that meant improving workflows with multifunction printers or rolling out digital transformation initiatives. The collaborative atmosphere, along with access to advanced tools, helped me grow a lot and clearly see how my work contributed to making businesses more efficient. Being surrounded by talented colleagues who genuinely cared about delivering dependable, high-quality results made the experience even more rewarding.

Cons

One part I enjoyed less was how slowly change could happen in certain areas especially because of bureaucratic processes that sometimes held up decisions and delayed project execution. In a rapidly changing tech environment, having to wait for approvals across several layers could definitely slow innovation down. Even so, I recognize that this is fairly common in large, well-established companies and it ended up teaching me useful skills in working through complex structures and speaking up effectively for improvements. It also left me excited about future opportunities where I can apply that experience in a more agile setting.

“It has been fantastic”

Pros

it has been a pleasure to use over the past few months and I am genuinely impressed with how well it works. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who asks about accounting software.

Cons

The only thing I'd point out is that customer service could be a bit quicker at times but overall I really haven't run into any major issues worth complaining about.

“Quite a handy integrations”

Pros

Coming from other accounting tools, Xero has been a much better fit for day to day use. I am not an accountant or even a fully trained bookkeeper but I work in it every day and it is very user friendly. It also helps a lot that it connects with our bank, our CRM system and the expenses app we rely on.

Cons

Whenever I need help, figuring out where to get support can be frustrating. I'd really like to see an obvious chat bubble or contact option built into the interface, as long as it doesn't just trap you in a useless bot loop.

“Overall a dependable tool”

Pros

The tax filing has been consistently dependable and the newer features have made the platform more user friendly. I manage three separate small companies with it so having everything together in one place is really convenient.

Cons

Because I only use it lightly but still have three accounts, the pricing adds up pretty quickly. It would be much better if there were a multi-company option designed for users in my situation.

“clear dashboard and fast support”

Pros

Creating invoices is not hassle and the dashboard is clear and customizable. Customer support has also been very reliable, with quick response times whenever help is needed.

Cons

It does feel a bit pricey especially since you need to move to a higher-tier plan to access more features like unlimited invoices.

“fantastic integrations and automation”

Pros

The integrations and automation are excellent. Even without a bookkeeping background, the platform seems very user friendly to work with.

Cons

A few of the reporting features can still be overly complicated although recent updates have been making things better, including improvements to the dashboard.

“payroll tasks made simple”

Pros

From a payroll standpoint Xero has been really easy to work with and I know it offers plenty of other features beyond that. Adding employee information and pulling reports is very simple and doesn't take much effort.

Cons

The holiday feature could definitely be improved. As it is not as easy to calculate holiday the way dedicated HR software usually allows.

“bank integration seems misleading”

Pros

Overall it is simple and the initial setup is user friendly too. Unfortunately, that is where the positives end because the product does not work the way it is advertised and Xero seems unwilling to fix the problem.

Cons

The bank integration does not perform as promised and the imported information shows up truncated. Even though they admit the issue exists, they does not appear willing to take responsibility for resolving it. In the end, they are selling a feature they do not actually deliver which feels like scamming customers.

“Decent for payment tracking”

Pros

Creating and sending purchase orders is really easy and invoices are just as quick to put together. I can enter them fast and email them out right away. It also does a good job of keeping track of which payments have been made and which are still outstanding.

Cons

One downside is that the system is updated pretty often so the layout and appearance can change regularly. Updating products has also been frustrating and I still haven't been able to figure that part out.

“user friendly interface I rely on”

Pros

Working in Xero has been a really comfortable experience because the platform is very user friendly and the interface is pleasant to look at every day. I have used Xero for a long time now and at this point it would be hard for me to switch to something else.

Cons

Handling multiple entities is where it gets really frustrating. You cannot keep two company files open at the same time because opening one logs the other out and it has even crashed which is incredibly annoying. Since I need at least two entities open every day, I am constantly stuck toggling back and forth.

“Clear dashboard and quick bookkeeping”

Pros

Using Xero has been a real time-saver. The interface is user friendly, the dashboard is clean and easy to follow and bank reconciliation is very simple to handle.

Cons

A downside is that a few features feel somewhat limited and the pricing can be a little high. Customer support is also slow at times.

“faster billing & audit access”

Pros

It has helped us automate recurring quarterly billing which makes the whole process much faster than creating invoices by hand. For audited companies, it's also very easy to give the audit team read-only access and that saves a noticeable amount of time. Linking Barclays bank accounts is also very convenient. Transactions flow into Xero regularly which makes reconciliation much easier without having to log into the bank portal manually.

Cons

One limitation is the lack of built-in consolidation across companies. I also have some concerns about the pricing and the regular increases. For most entities, it still offers reasonable value but we do have one business we are not moving over because it has a USD bank account which would mean paying for a more expensive premium package. The budgeting and forecasting tools also haven't worked properly for us, with changes not saving and budgets not populating as they should so we still end up managing budgets in spreadsheets.

“Simple invoicing and navigation”

Pros

The platform is very easy to use and using it doesn't take much effort. The invoicing process is simple for everyone involved which makes things easier across different departments.

Cons

At times the authentication code takes a while to arrive which ends up slowing down the login process.

“Quite useful integrations”

Pros

Using it has not been a problem at all because the interface is user friendly and the integrations work well. It also supports multiple users at the same time which is really helpful for teams. On top of that it handles bank feed updates, reconciliation, reporting, user roles and time tracking well so it covers a lot of important accounting tasks in one place.

Cons

The biggest downside is the cost since it is quite expensive. It also is not really usable on mobile which can be limiting when working away from a computer. Another drawback is the lack of a payroll feature and from time to time there are performance issues as well.

“User friendly invoicing for global billing”

Pros

The dashboard is very user friendly so it's easy to use the invoicing feature and bill international insurance companies for complex medical evacuations in a short amount of time.

Cons

At times bugs and other issues can slow down urgent financial syncs and customer support is often slow to respond to time-sensitive questions related to medical billing.

“clean invoicing and powerful reporting”

Pros

Xero is easy to work with and the interface is clean and well organized. The knowledge base is detailed and the user community is helpful enough to answer nearly any question that comes up. Sending invoices is quick and simple, bugs are extremely rare if they happen at all and the reporting features keep expanding. It really covers everything needed in one accounting platform.

Cons

Pricing could be more competitive and the multi-currency functionality still needs improvement for businesses that work across different currencies. For example, it would help to make batch payments in other currencies directly from this tool and during reconciliation it doesn't automatically default to AUD.

“fantastic reporting and mobile app”

Pros

Whether you're an experienced accountant or running an owner-managed business, Xero works really well for both. The platform is beginner-friendly, pretty easy to navigate and comes with a strong selection of ready-made reports plus automated bank reconciliation that saves a lot of time. On top of that the mobile app is genuinely very useful for business owners who need to keep an eye on things while away from their desk.

Cons

My only complaint is a small one that is the formatting of reports can be a bit awkward when exporting them to Excel.

“clean interface and fast workflows”

Pros

Working in Xero is not a hassle especially with smaller clients. The layout is clean, nothing feels too cluttered and most everyday accounting tasks can be handled pretty quickly. Bank feeds, reporting and overall navigation all work really well which makes it a more pleasant system to use than a lot of other accounting platforms.

Cons

Bank reconciliation does get a bit awkward at times when a client has already entered transactions. In those cases, it can be difficult to spot a clear audit trail or quickly figure out exactly what was done and that can slow the process down.

“hidden payment fees nightmare”

Pros

It didn't take much effort of mine to use it. The payment gateway was simple to set up and the initial onboarding was fairly simple too. Sending invoices to customers is also uncomplicated which has been useful for my consulting work. That said the dashboard felt overly complex and finding customer payment details wasn't user friendly at all.

Cons

The biggest problem has been the fees and honestly it feels deceptive. It was charging an additional 2.92% to 4.42% in application fees on top of Stripe's own payment processing charges. I only discovered this a month later when I went into my Stripe account to issue a refund. The rate isn't even consistent and the variation doesn't seem tied to transaction size so it makes no logical sense. Once this tool and Stripe fees are combined, I am losing around 6% to 10% just to process a client payment. None of this was clearly disclosed by them upfront even though Stripe was transparent about its own fees. After searching for its application fees on stripe, it's obvious plenty of other users have raised the same issue and the responses on its forums don't actually resolve anything. Because of this, I am now stuck looking for another payment portal provider in the middle of the month since I am not willing to send out invoices and give up 10% in fees. When I compare it to alternatives like QuickBooks, they don't seem to charge extra payment portal fees and it still hasn't given me a proper explanation for why they do. On top of that Stripe gives the option to pass processing fees to the client but its added fee is forced onto you as the customer whether you want it or not.

“fantastic features and reporting”

Pros

Using it day to day it really hassle free which makes a big difference. They keep rolling out new features and that matters a lot to me. The new dashboard is a nice improvement and pulling reports is very simple.

Cons

One frustration is that two of the clients I work with are charities using CAF Bank so automatic bank fees aren't supported. Because of that, I have to enter them manually which is a hassle.

“reporting and usability win”

Pros

Everything is very easy to use and the interface is genuinely user friendly. The reports are presented in a really clear, practical format and overall it feels like the best accounting system available.

Cons

The thing that would make it even better is having more how-to guides and training sessions especially for getting the most out of the software in day to day use.

“custom dashboards and standout reports”

Pros

Right from the start Xero has been very user friendly. Being able to customize the dashboard and adapt it to the way my business operates is a big plus. The reports it generates are among the best we have come across.

Cons

At this point I really haven't run into any downsides including when importing data.