FreshBooks vs Xero: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of FreshBooks and Xero — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: FreshBooks wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.1/10).
| Scored on | FreshBooks | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 8 |
| Lite Plan (Monthly) | $19.00 | — |
| Plus Plan (Monthly) | $33.00 | — |
| Premium Plan (Monthly) | $60.00 | — |
| Additional Team Member | $11/mo | — |
| Early Plan | — | $15/mo |
| Growing Plan | — | $42/mo |
| Established Plan | — | $78/mo |
| Gusto Payroll Add-on | — | Varies |
FreshBooks in one paragraph
FreshBooks is the best-in-class choice for service-based owners who value their time over a low monthly bill.
Skip it if: You have a high volume of low-paying clients that would trigger the expensive Premium tier caps.
Xero in one paragraph
Xero is a powerful, sleek alternative to QuickBooks that excels for businesses with international needs, provided you don't mind the lack of phone support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, FreshBooks or Xero?
On our five-axis scorecard, FreshBooks scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.1/10). FreshBooks is the best-in-class choice for service-based owners who value their time over a low monthly bill.
Who should skip FreshBooks?
You have a high volume of low-paying clients that would trigger the expensive Premium tier caps.
Who should skip Xero?
Skip it if you need to call a human being on the phone whenever you have a software question.