Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“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.

“Time-saving billing automation”

Pros

One thing that really stands out with Xero is its automation. It takes a lot of the manual effort out of invoicing and billing which saves time and helps cut down on financial mistakes.

Cons

After putting this tool in place I haven't run into any bugs and the features were simple to customize without needing to contact support.

“Offers useful reports”

Pros

Xero is very easy to use even as a beginner and the dashboard is clean enough to give me a quick snapshot of my business finances. The reporting tools are detailed, simple to generate and save me a lot of time compared with doing things manually. Features such as invoicing and bill tracking have also been genuinely helpful and overall it feels like very good value for the money.

Cons

Customer support can sometimes take a little longer to reply than I would expect. I have also run into a few minor bugs now and then, along with occasional bank feed connection issues although those problems usually end up getting resolved.

“fantastic cloud accounting value”

Pros

Working with this software has been a really positive experience. It's a cloud-based accounting platform that is very user friendly and the customer support is quick to respond and genuinely helpful. The dashboard is clean and user friendly which makes day to day tasks like invoicing, bank reconciliation and expense tracking much more efficient. It also comes with a wide range of features that help speed up reconciliation and make reporting more customizable. On top of that it integrates well with banks and other software so it fits nicely into existing workflows. Considering everything it offers, it delivers excellent value for the price.

Cons

The only minor downside I have noticed is that it can become a bit slower when handling very large transaction volumes especially once you get into the hundreds of thousands. Even then, it never becomes unusable and it's a pretty small issue overall. The benefits definitely outweigh this slight performance dip.

“handy billing and time tracking”

Pros

Catching up on admin has been a lot less painful with this. The mobile app is perfectly decent for logging my hours while I am standing around waiting for coffee and billing customers has turned out to be far less of a mess than I expected. I was happy to see the sync actually worked, too. The calendar is useful for keeping tabs on who still owes me money and honestly I am just relieved to be able to clearly see the dates. For something centered around numbers, it was more user friendly than I had imagined.

Cons

One thing that really gets on my nerves is how often it logs me out as soon as I close the tab. That means going through the annoying OTP process all over again just to get back in. The reporting tools are also pretty limited, with barely any real customization if you want more detailed financial insights. On top of that it feels overpriced for what it actually offers and the thought of losing all my data if I ever cancel the subscription is honestly pretty unsettling.

“Affordable accounting software”

Pros

Compared with other bookkeeping tools I have used, Xero is much more affordable and a lot quicker to learn. The reporting dashboard shows the details I actually need and connecting my accounts is very easy.

Cons

Every now and then my accounts disconnect without warning and it can take a bit of time to sync everything back up without missing transactions or ending up with duplicates.

“fantastic dashboard and support”

Pros

It has been a real game changer and offers excellent value for the money. The platform is simple to use, the customer support team is responsive when bugs or issues come up and I really enjoy the dashboard interface along with the standout features it offers.

Cons

Honestly I do not have any real complaints about this product. The only thing that might be a challenge is that the pricing can feel a little expensive for startups without investors but considering the automation and everything included, it still feels worth paying for.

“Top support and reporting”

Pros

Xero has proven to be very user friendly and simple to navigate. Customer support is excellent, the features are really amazing and it makes reporting much simpler.

Cons

Its pricing is a little high for a startup at first but considering the range of features it offers and how useful they are for any business, it still feels worth the money.

“Ideal for daily tasks”

Pros

Using it day to day is not a problem at all and it's simple to work with for regular tasks. We rely on it for payroll, invoicing, financial reporting and keeping track of expenses.

Cons

The only downside I have run into is that certain reports can sometimes be difficult to locate, such as the remittance advice.

“friendly setup and responsive support”

Pros

Running a small self-employed business is much more manageable with this software because the layout is very user friendly. On top of that customer support replies quickly whenever help is needed.

Cons

One thing that would really improve it is having a Favorites section on the home screen so I could quickly check what is coming in, going out or still owing without opening issued invoices one by one. It would also help a lot if transactions could be labeled during reconciliation so personal items from a bank statement import could simply be marked to ignore instead of having to delete each line individually while the system keeps trying to match them to its item code.

“clean dashboard”

Pros

The dashboard is very clean and organized and it gives me a quick snapshot of unpaid invoices along with cash flow.

Cons

Getting in touch with customer support can be difficult when something goes wrong. On top of that the bank feed connections sometimes disconnect on their own.