Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“fantastic banking and invoicing tools”

Pros

Bank connections and invoice creation work really well and the dashboard provides very helpful, valuable information at a glance.

Cons

The invoice approval process can be a little awkward since I sometimes have to keep scrolling up and down the page but it's not a major issue.

“reliable invoicing”

Pros

After using Xero for my small business accounting over the years I am still very pleased with how well it performs. The interface seems user friendly and simple so entering and monitoring financial information is simple. Connecting my business bank accounts and credit cards also makes transaction reconciliation feel smooth and efficient.

Cons

Another feature I really appreciate is being able to create, send and monitor invoices directly within the platform. The payment gateway has been secure and dependable and the recurring invoice option has saved me a lot of time in running my business.

“user friendly accounting automation”

Pros

Using it is very hassle free and a lot of the work is handled automatically. It takes care of tax calculations, expense calculations, pricing calculations and other expense-related tasks which saves time and makes daily accounting much simpler.

Cons

One limitation is that the basic plan does not support multiple currencies. It would also be helpful if more training videos were available.

“reliable accounting and invoicing”

Pros

this has been a big help for our organization's accounting needs. It makes bookkeeping and invoicing simple and the integration with payment methods is really useful as well.

Cons

I haven't run into any issues personally as overall has been trouble-free for me.

“accountant-friendly integration”

Pros

Connecting it with my workflow and my accountants has been easy and really convenient.

Cons

The interface feels a little dull to look at. Accounting is already dry enough so it could really use a bit more visual flair.

“helpful billing and reporting tools”

Pros

Keeping up with bill cycles and reports is really easy with this software. It's very user friendly and there are plenty of features available that we can make use of.

Cons

The only downside in my opinion is that paying bills can feel a little slow especially when it's connecting to the server.

“better clio integration”

Pros

Compared with QBO, this product works much better with Clio which has been a big advantage for us. My accountant and bookkeeper handle most of the work in the system and I just step in to make corrections when expenses get coded incorrectly.

Cons

It would be even better if it included automated tax reporting.

“powerful cloud bookkeeping tools”

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of this software is that it runs entirely in the cloud so there's nothing to install as long as you have an internet connection and it works across any device. Getting started is fairly easy and using it can cut down the amount of time spent on bookkeeping. It also comes with plenty of integrations and a lot of automation features that help save even more time. It offers a 30 day free trial which is useful for seeing whether it's the right accounting solution for your needs. On top of that they provide video tutorials to help you learn the platform.

Cons

Compared with some other accounting programs, it has quite a steep learning curve. It takes time to become familiar with all of the features and understand how everything works. Another downside is that it only includes one invoice template that you can customize and this is definitely an area where it could improve by offering more design options. Customer support is also disappointing since you can only reach them by email or through help center articles and there's no phone support for customers.

“clean design and quick receipts”

Pros

Uploading receipts is really easy and being able to check my pay so easily is a big plus. The layout is simple to get around and the overall design looks modern and elegant.

Cons

After using it for a while, I honestly haven't come across anything I dislike or any area that feels like it needs improvement.

“challenging reports and reconciliation”

Pros

Honestly nothing comes to mind as a real positive with Xero right now. I keep running into tasks I need to complete but either they cannot be done at all or they're much harder than they should be especially when it comes to reconciling things properly or pulling different kinds of reports.

Cons

Working in this software has been very challenging for me. I mostly use QuickBooks Online and Desktop with my clients and we only have one client using this tool but compared with QB, it seems much harder to navigate and seems to be missing functionality I am used to having.

“flexible reporting with excel exports”

Pros

Using it has been practical and efficient. It's flexible, works well and the option to download data into Excel makes different types of analysis and presentation much more convenient.

Cons

One thing that would improve it is the ability to import data directly into other accounting software for reporting purposes.

“user friendly accounting with free training”

Pros

This software is quite easy to use and the free training they offer for each component is really helpful. Also it lets us create a demo account and a demo company which makes it possible to test the accounting features first and see whether it fits our needs or not.

Cons

This software is better suited to small businesses and it becomes difficult to manage when used for a large-scale company. A few of the options are also a bit complicated to work through.

“affordable reporting that saves time”

Pros

One thing I really like is the pricing and it works well whether you run a small business or a larger one. The reporting feature is also really helpful because it makes tracking simple and lets you choose exactly which report you want to run. On top of that the reconciliation process is very simple and saves a lot of time.

Cons

The only part I had some trouble with was understanding the difference between inventory management and inventory control. Those features also felt very basic to me and I wish they were more developed.

“transparent accounting with direct filing”

Pros

This software is easy to use and daily tasks feel simple and clear. Also it is very transparent, has strong support from many accountants and feels built more for the end user than for the accountant. Depending on your package, you can also file GST and Payroll directly with the IRD.

Cons

Support by phone isn't available so everything has to go through the web portal. On top of that some topics aren't explained very well such as best practices for issuing dividends.

“remote access that really helps”

Pros

Being able to log in from home, the office or even on a phone has been a big plus for us. That remote access is something I really appreciate because it means we are not tied to sitting in front of a computer all the time to get things done.

Cons

Our time using this tool has been excellent overall. We have not run into any limitations with the software, the benefits have stayed consistent and I expect it will keep improving how efficiently we handle finance and accounting.

“centralized reporting with instant audits”

Pros

Xero has made things much simpler for us by keeping all of our financial reports in one place. It also lets us review and audit those reports almost instantly with just a single click.

Cons

A few of the features are quite difficult to work with so we ended up bringing in an expert to handle the software properly.

“effective accounting with a clean interface”

Pros

It works really well for accounting and the user interface is clean and user friendly.

Cons

Getting around it can feel a bit confusing at first but once you get used to it, it becomes much easier to navigate.

“repeat billing is a lifesaver”

Pros

Running an IT MSP, the repeat billing feature is easily my favorite part. It makes sure we never miss invoicing monthly clients for their services, month after month. Such a simple feature but incredibly powerful.

Cons

It's honestly hard to come up with much to complain about. The only thing that annoys me is logging in and realizing the way something works has been changed.

“free learning and simple setup”

Pros

Xero is pretty easy to use and the platform is simple to understand once you learn the basics. After that, Xero Learning is a really helpful way to build your skills further and the courses are free and easy to access.

Cons

Bank transaction feeds through Yodlee still cause ongoing problems. It has improved over time but I still have to keep an eye out for missing or duplicated transactions and sometimes the feeds need to be refreshed manually. Support is helpful when contacted but responses are not especially quick because they depend on Yodlee to get back to them. There are times when it feels easier to just upload the transaction lines manually.

“handy expense tracking overall”

Pros

The interface is easy to use and it does a really good job of keeping expenses organized and under control.

Cons

Making changes can be difficult unless you have at least some programming knowledge. It also leaves out a few basic features, like a default place for the PO# on invoices.