Xero Accounting Solution Reviews

“Pretty easy setup”

Pros

Xero is fairly easy to use and it covers pretty much everything a bookkeeper is likely to need. It's still a good idea to think through the setup properly before jumping in.

Cons

The expenses app is quite weak compared with alternatives like Expensify. Some of the reporting features could also be improved.

“popular with accountants, excellent integrations”

Pros

Pretty much every accountant in NZ seems to use it and it integrates with almost everything I need. It was also very quick to pick up and easy to use from the start.

Cons

The cost is the biggest downside since it isn't exactly affordable for a small business like mine.

“modern and user friendly accounting”

Pros

As someone without a bookkeeping background, this software was very easy to use. It uses everyday terms instead of complicated accounting jargon which made everything much easier to understand. The interface also looks really nice as it is clean, modern and visually appealing.

Cons

I honestly didn't run into any issues with the software itself. My needs were pretty basic and it handled everything I needed it to. The only frustration was not being able to find a phone number for support although I was still able to send questions by email and received helpful replies fairly quickly.

“fantastic API and support”

Pros

Working with an application connected through the Xero API has been a really positive experience. Xero has been excellent overall. Whenever I have run into issues, the support team has been responsive and helpful which makes a big difference. The system is also very user friendly so it doesn't take much effort to understand how things work. On top of that the documentation is thorough and very well put together in my opinion.

Cons

At the moment, I don't really have anything negative to add here.

“real-time financial visibility”

Pros

Being able to check my financials anytime from my laptop or desktop has been a huge plus and I really appreciate how well it integrates with other software and fits into my finance team's workflow.

Cons

There's no annual payment option some of the reports can be a little glitchy although they seem to be improving them and the mobile app still feels fairly limited.

“time-saving accounting boost”

Pros

Handling accounting with this makes everything much simpler. It saves both time and money and as an accountant it helps me work more closely with you. It's definitely worth paying a bit extra for the time it gives back.

Cons

The only area that could really be improved is having a call centre.

“powerful reporting and features”

Pros

Packed with functionality and backed by excellent reporting, this software handles pretty much everything very well. Support is also fast to respond and they genuinely make an effort to resolve issues.

Cons

That said, there have been some pretty serious coding oversights. Over the past five years, I have come across major gaps in places where you really wouldn't expect them. The backup files we uncovered were completely inadequate and basically useless for rebuilding anything from although that has since been corrected. The VAT reporting for MTD was especially poor, with a badly designed process that could lead to corrupted data. Some fixes have now been introduced but users should not be the ones effectively testing software in real time. It needs much more care and thorough attention.

“all-in-one payroll support”

Pros

Running my child care business was much simpler with Xero handling both payroll and accounting in one place. Whenever I had issues or questions about payroll withholding, customer service was helpful and stepped in several times to get things sorted out.

Cons

While I was using it, I didn't come across any features I disliked. It included everything I needed in a single package.

“affordable bookkeeping peace of mind”

Pros

Compared with the bigger accounting platforms, the pricing is just right for everything it includes. The interface is user friendly, the learning curve is light and it's a very reassuring bookkeeping option for small businesses.

Cons

Getting everything configured properly can still require help from an accountant especially when it comes to sorting out reporting compliance issues.

“helpful dashboard, weak sales reporting”

Pros

The dashboard does a good job of showing cash in the bank, what still needs reconciling, debt collection and invoice sending. Those day to day functions all work well.

Cons

Where it really falls short is reporting especially around sales. There's no simple customer sales report available which feels pretty ridiculous for a financial platform. It seems like this is left out because there are so many third-party reporting add-ons so instead of including it, you're pushed toward paying another $50 a month for an app just to see information that already exists in it. If sales reporting matters to you, you'll likely need an add-on or a different program.

“handy cloud accounting tools”

Pros

It is pretty easy to use, entering data is simple and the small pop-up tips do a nice job of explaining what different fields and features mean. Since it runs in the cloud, there's nothing to install and no need to keep files stored locally.

Cons

Support feels a little limited especially since it doesn't offer live chat the way some competitors do. It also doesn't look as polished as products like QuickBooks and the reporting isn't quite at the same level either.

“user friendly reports and payroll”

Pros

Once my business began expanding, I needed accounting software that was easy to use and could help me pull together reports for the ATO, payroll and other essentials without a hassle. Since numbers have never really been my strength, I leaned on my accountant for a recommendation and that's how I ended up with this one. It's been very easy to figure out everything I need to handle. Entering and coding expenses is simple and producing BAS and Super reports is just as manageable. Whenever something comes up that I am unsure about, I reach out to my accountant and they talk me through it. Overall it's been fantastic.

Cons

One area that has been a bit tricky is trying to manage payroll from the app while I am travelling. As far as I can tell, it doesn't seem fully set up for that although I could be mistaken and it may require access to the full program to run pays. I am also aware there's a lot more functionality built into it but I just haven't had the time to explore everything yet and if accounting isn't something that comes naturally, it can feel a little overwhelming at first. That said, the software is still very user friendly.

“invoicing and tracking made simple”

Pros

Keeping up with accounting and invoicing usually isn't something I enjoy but Xero has made that part of the job much more manageable. Creating invoices, sending them out and tracking their progress is very easy and it helps me stay on top of the workflow.

Cons

The repeat function was the only part that gave me some trouble. It took a bit of time to understand the settings and get the parameters configured properly. It felt more like a learning curve on my side than a limitation of the software though it definitely could have been a little more foolproof.

“affordable basics but frustrating reports”

Pros

It works well for basic accounting and invoicing is also very easy with it. Plus the price is reasonable and the training videos help you learn the basics.

Cons

Reporting has been buggy at times and it is not very clear how to customize it. Support has not been very helpful and it has been frustrating trying to find the exact report I need.

“Way to easy to use”

Pros

Xero is surprisingly easy to use, even as someone using bookkeeping software for the first time. I was able to begin using it right away without any issues. It integrates perfectly with my bank and my other database tools which makes it simple to stay current with invoicing, billing and all of my accounting tasks.

Cons

Honestly I don't have any complaints about this software. It handles everything I need it to and because it's cloud-based, it gives my accountant and bookkeeper real-time access to the information they need.

“pricing changes outweighed the value”

Pros

Back when we adopted Xero in 2015, it was a decent option because it combined proper double-entry accounting with payroll and tax filing at a fair price. It also helped us connect with an accountant who already knew the platform well. One useful feature was being able to give the accountant remote access to log in, configure accounts, generate reports and handle tax filings. From what we could tell, Xero also appears built to handle bigger, more complex businesses, even though we never ended up using it at that level.

Cons

The interface was decent at best and certain tasks were not especially user friendly. Our biggest issue came when it stopped offering payroll in 2018 which meant paying extra for a separate provider like Gusto. On top of that the FreshBooks integration quit working around 2017 and neither company gave a clear explanation since each pointed fingers at the other. Then for 2019, we would have needed to move to a far more expensive monthly plan just to keep access to expense tracking and reimbursement tools. Because of all that, we stopped using it at the end of 2018.

“affordable invoicing and accounting win”

Pros

Running a small or mid-sized business with Xero has been quite practical because it's affordable and easy to work with. It covers the key accounting tasks well including tracking invoices, expenses, inventory, payables and receivables. The layout is simple to understand so it doesn't take long to get started and manage day to day business operations right away.

Cons

One area that fell short was customer support which wasn't very responsive when we needed help. Replies from the team came slowly and that created delays for our startup since we had to make decisions quickly. I also have concerns about how well it will scale over time especially for businesses that end up needing more complex functionality.

“helpful templates for startups”

Pros

Working at a startup gave me the opportunity to use Xero and a few things really stood out in a good way. It comes with ready-made templates for invoices, expenses, purchase orders and similar tasks which saves time. It's also fairly simple to use. Our employees are able to submit expense claims without needing any training and regular users can also keep track of the status of their submissions.

Cons

The part I am least happy with is the customer support since response times can be slow sometimes. Integration could also be better. I'd also prefer to get an email notification whenever one of my pending items has been approved.

“clean banking and reassuring notes”

Pros

One thing that really works well with Xero is how simple it feels to use. My bank transactions flow straight into the system which saves time and keeps things up to date. The layout is clean, the screens are clear and readable and the colour choices make everything pleasant to look at. I also really appreciate being able to add notes for my accountant whenever I am unsure how to allocate an entry which gives me a lot of reassurance.

Cons

There are still a few areas I need more time to understand especially entries that need extra detail like part payments. I am also not sure whether there is a manual or guide that would help with that. That said, it does show the software is usable even without formal training. My accountant initially set up the chart of accounts and during our 3-monthly BAS review they check that all the balances are correct.

“Top notch accounting platform”

Pros

The platform is user friendly and is fairly simple to work with, even for people who don't do bookkeeping as their full-time job.

Cons

Getting it connected with certain other systems can be a bit difficult during the initial setup.