Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“automation that keeps things moving”

Pros

Once everything is configured the first time, it pretty much takes care of itself from there. All you really need to do is enter the data and Xero handles the rest of the processing automatically.

Cons

The only real downside is usability but with decent guidance and instructions, it's something you can figure out within a few hours.

“Top modules for faster decisions”

Pros

Xero has strengthened our business workflows and boosted efficiency across departments. It includes all the modules we need to support our operations and its built-in integrations have helped us make timely, effective business decisions.

Cons

Only downside is the cost especially when you have more than 600 salespeople using the system constantly to create quotes or handle invoices.

“helpful dashboard and quick adoption”

Pros

It doesn't take long to get comfortable with and the landing page gives a really helpful snapshot of the overall business situation at a glance.

Cons

The part I am not happy with is the custom invoice templates. They're quite tricky to build in Word especially when working with tables and images don't load the way they should.

“clean interface and fixed assets”

Pros

A fixed asset register was the one thing I always felt was missing in QBO so having it here is a big plus. The interface also looks clean and uncluttered which makes everything feel more organized.

Cons

Support is handled through email rather than with a live person which can be a downside at times. That said its community is excellent and people are usually very willing to help.

“admin work made simpler”

Pros

Xero has made things much simpler for my company and really helped us handle admin tasks like billing, salary payments, expenses and more.

Cons

I haven't come across any issues so far though it would be nice if some of the charges were reduced.

“excellent expense tracking app”

Pros

Handling expenses with this software has been really good. The app and the online interface both work very well and it doesn't take long to get comfortable using them. Uploading receipts is fast and getting them submitted for approval is just as quick.

Cons

I haven't run into any issues with it. It does exactly what's needed for this purpose and I don't see any improvements that are necessary.

“user friendly accounting with fast reconciliation”

Pros

Very little training is needed to use it which is a big plus. There are also many online articles and forum discussions available so it's usually quick to figure out any process or answer questions as they come up. The reports and transaction lists are easy to navigate though many settings still need manual changes each time since they don't always carry over even when you save default reports. Bank reconciliations are very convenient through the direct bank feed, except for credit cards which still need manual importing. The rules feature also helps speed up reconciliation a lot and STP compliance works in a very simple manner.

Cons

A downside is that some of the newer reports may look more polished but they don't offer the same level of functionality as the older versions they replaced. One important gap is the inability to compare projects across a single period. Foreign currency gains and losses can also be quite confusing to work through if that's part of your workflow. On top of that it continues to record FX movements from a bank account that was closed several years ago. In general, if you need detailed analysis, budgeting or deeper reporting on your data, you'll probably end up doing that work outside of it.

“report exporting is fantastic”

Pros

Exporting reports from this application is fantastic and the software itself is very easy to use without feeling complicated.

Cons

My access was limited to read-only since I was auditing a company that uses this tool as its accounting software.

“accounting feels effortless”

Pros

Running my company's books with this software has been a pleasure. It takes a lot of the stress out of accounting and makes the whole process feel almost effortless.

Cons

The rule based reconciliation feature could be a little more user friendly but aside from that I really haven't run into any problems.

“faster VAT and reporting”

Pros

Bank reconciliation saves a lot of time so getting VAT done and pulling together financial reports is much quicker.

Cons

The bank feed disconnects pretty often so it needs to be reconnected regularly.

“cleaner bookkeeping for small businesses”

Pros

Handling bookkeeping for around 13 clients means I am in Xero every day and it's been a really great tool. A few of my clients moved over from QuickBooks and Xero feels much cleaner and more user friendly by comparison. The layout makes sense, it's simple to navigate and overall it's a fantastic product. I regularly recommend it to small businesses that need a reliable way to stay on top of their finances.

Cons

A few areas still need work although I do like that it keeps updating and improving the platform. Right now, you still cannot pay bills directly from it without using an integration and it's the same situation when receiving money. I have also noticed that some bank feeds seem to run into issues fairly often.

“bank automation that saves time”

Pros

Having my bank statements feed directly into Xero has been a big help. Once I set up the rules, most of the process takes care of itself automatically. GST is also very convenient as you set it up once and then you barely have to think about it again. It also integrates with my practice management software which is useful although that setup ended up getting a bit messy. The software was getting confused about which account matched which bank transaction so I had to turn that part off. Still, I wouldn't blame Xero itself for that issue.

Cons

I feel like a few parts could definitely be more user friendly for someone who is not very familiar with the system. Importing and navigating bank statements can be awkward and quite a few transactions were missed the first time around so I had to import them again. It's a fiddly process and pretty frustrating when that happens.

“simple accounting that delivers”

Pros

After more than 6 years of using Xero one thing that has consistently stood out is how user friendly it is. Compared with other accounting platforms that often feel overly complicated, this one keeps things simple and much easier to work with.

Cons

The mobile app still has room for improvement especially when it comes to adding more functionality.

“handy bank feed integration”

Pros

Using it day to day is pretty hassle free and it integrates well with bank accounts to automatically pull in transactions without much hassle.

Cons

The downside is that it can feel a little pricey compared with other software options like QuickBooks.

“powerful cloud suite for practices”

Pros

Because it's cloud-based, every client gets updates automatically as soon as they're released, without having to purchase a new version. Xero HQ also makes it simple for the practice to manage all clients from one central place. On top of that Xero Tax rounds out the package nicely, giving the practice everything it needs to operate efficiently.

Cons

The recent price increase has been a bit frustrating for some clients.

“Really like the design”

Pros

The platform is versatile and easy to work with and it's simple to use overall. I am also able to build customized reports which makes it much more useful for my needs.

Cons

The multi-currency setup takes a bit more effort than expected and isn't the most simplest part but it is manageable once you work through it.

“powerful billing and reporting”

Pros

Billing is pretty easy, expense tracking is simple to stay on top of and the reports are clear and customizable. Overall it is both practical and highly functional.

Cons

Live customer support would be much better than having to wait around 24 hours for a reply especially when a quick issue can turn into nearly a week of back-and-forth and could have been sorted out in just a few minutes.

“xero migration was a joy”

Pros

Switching over to Xero was easy and even enjoyable. Their support team has been fantastic too as they are quick to respond, consistently helpful and willing to stay with the issue until everything is fully resolved. They are also upbeat and genuinely pleasant to work with.

Cons

There really hasn't been anything about the product that has disappointed me.

“clear navigation and helpful language”

Pros

Compared with other accounting platforms, Xero seems far easier to understand and move around in. It's user friendly enough that I am actually planning to handle my own year end tax records this year instead of paying for an expensive accountant. The wording throughout the system is clear, informative and genuinely makes sense.

Cons

One thing that would really improve it is a receipt logging feature that can automatically extract the details from a receipt and match them to the correct bank transaction.

“reliable and packed with integrations”

Pros

Its strong reputation is a big plus and using it is very easy. On top of that the wide range of integration options is excellent.

Cons

I really haven't run into any major flaws with this product. The only issue I have noticed was a reconciliation mismatch with manual bank transfers but it was resolved very quickly every time.