Rated #6 Best UK Accounting Software

Overall Rating:

9.1

Ease Of Use = 9.1

Value For Money = 9.1

Customer Support = 8.6

Features = 9.7

PROS:

All plans allow you to add an unlimited number of users

Developed mostly to cater for medium and large businesses

Contains some advanced features other platforms don’t offer

CONS:

There is a learning curve to the platform, as it’s not the most user-friendly

Some users have reported a problem with the customer support

Visit Website

Brands Reviewed:

Hours Of Research:

44.5

Average Rating:

9.1

Xero Review – Setting shop back in 2006, Xero is an online, cloud-based accounting platform that has tried to make its way to the top of the industry ever since.

Have they managed? This thorough review aims to provide you with the answer.

So let’s take an in-depth look at Xero, the platform that has been marketed as a real contender for the current number one place holder, FreeAgent.

What you'll get from this page:

At a Glance

Unlike other cloud-based pieces of online accounting software, Xero is a very robust platform that offers complex features, unlimited users, more than 700 integrations, and ample reports.

Apart from that, Xero benefits from the mobility and freedom that comes with being a cloud platform. This is one of the main reasons why it has become the preferred accounting solution of more than 4.4 million subscribers.

Xero also excels in adapting to the modern world. Their app is available on every device, so no matter what you own as long as you have a stable internet connection, you don’t have to worry about anything.

The plans presented on the platform have almost every feature you could think of. This is what makes Xero so good for small and medium businesses. All your accounting can be taken care of in one place. Which brings us to this.

Top-Rated Accounting Software:

Cheapest Package	Ease Of Use	Our Rating	Review	Official Site
£33/mo	Excellent	9.4	Read Review	Visit Website
FREE	Outstanding	9.3	Read Review	Visit Website
£10/mo	Excellent	9.3	Read Review	Visit Website

View All

What Features Do Xero Support?

Visit Website

As mentioned above, the list of features you will find on the Xero platform is quite extensive, the app being able to cover all your needs accounting-wise.

Here are some of the most interesting features that Xero has to offer to all of its users:

Online invoicing – all your invoices can be sent directly from Xero which will then link to PayPal, Square, Stripe, and other such processors to make sure you accept your payments online.
Inventory tracking – when you reach the maximum level you have in stock, Xero will notify you via a red pop up.
Smart reconciliation – the process becomes extremely simple given the fact that Xero will match your bank transactions with the ones you have entered into the system itself.
Multiple reports – up to 50, including aged receivables, profit and loss, and a general ledger.

All of these features are also available if you decide to use the Xero mobile apps. In other words, you will be able to do the exact same tasks on the go, on your phone, tablet, or smartwatch.

If you’re interested in learning more about the extensive features that Xero offers, please visit the Xero website for details.

Fees

The main thing that makes Xero a worthwhile investment is this. Almost all the features we have presented and reviewed above (plus the ones you can find on the website) are available in all the plans Xero offers.

Usually, features such as estimates and accounts payable would only be accessible to users electing top tier plans. But here is what you can find on the Xero platform (prices correct when this Xero review was published).

Xero also has a simple plan, which is specifically designed for small businesses like sole traders and landlords who aren’t VAT registered. This plan is priced at £7 per month, but with a current promotion, it is being offered for as little as 70p for the first three months.

For VAT-registered companies, there are 4 tiered plans to choose from.

The first is Ignite, priced at £16 per month. This limits your invoices and quotes to 20 per month, and bills to 10 a month. It provides a 30-day cash flow forecast for the cash flow manager, along with all the basic Xero features.
The second tier is Grow, priced at £37 per month. In addition to the Ignite features, you will also receive unlimited invoices and quotes, bills, and payroll for up to 1 person (with a charge of £1.50 per additional member), as well as customisable graphs and dashboards.
Third is Comprehensive at £50 a month. This will increase your cash flow manager to a 90-day forecast, offer payroll for up to 5 people, expenses and milage for up to 5 users, and give you the ability to use multiple currencies and set up multiple performance dashboards.
Finally, the last tier is Ultimate at £65 per month. This ups your forecast to 180 days, supports payroll for up to 10 people, and mileage claims for 10 users for free. You’ll also be able to track projects for up to 10 users for free and unlock advanced KPI analysis.

You can try Xero for free, of course, if you choose the classic 30-day trial period. But you might also be interested in some other perks they have to offer.

All the fees have to be paid on a monthly basis. There is no additional charge when you set up your account with Xero.

Xero Reviews From Customers:

Xero has a Great 4.1 rating on Trustpilot from 10,000 reviews, with 75% of users rating it 4 stars and above. On Capterra, Xero have a 4.4 rating from over 3,000 reviews, with average scores for the following:

4.4/5 for ease of use
4.0/5 for customer service
4.3/5 for features
4.2/5 for value for money.
Overall, 82% of customers on Capterra would be likely to recommend Xero.

On G2, Xero also have a 4.4/5 star rating, with 71% of its 1000+ reviews giving the company five stars.

So what do users say about Xero? On the whole, users generally recommend Xero for being user-friendly and intuitive to use. Many reviews discuss how the integrations and features offered by Xero have helped them save time and streamline their accounts. On the negative side, some users say that Xero can be difficult to use and have had trouble with customer support. Some users also criticise the price, saying it’s too expensive and there’s been too many pricing hikes over the years.

I have only been with Xero a matter of weeks, but already I know moving my bookkeeping to this company is the best business decision I’ve made so far. Their support is second to none and everyone I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with so far has been friendly and really helpful.
5-Star review from Miriam via Trustpilot

My overall experience with xero has been fantastic. It takes the stress of my workload and its just so seamless. Also my accountant gets all the information from one place so it makes filling out my SA Assessment returns so much easier.:
As a small business owner who has never used xero before, i like the features it provides. I like how you can connect your bank statements to xero which makes reconciling transactions easier. Its seamless and you dont have to manually go in and pull the transactions across. Also i love how you take a photo of your receipt and input that into xero.
5-Star review from Natasha via Capterra

At first, I was skeptical that Xero would be flexible enough for my needs, but it surprised me. What I value most is how it adapts to the pace of my work: I can schedule recurring invoices, automate tasks that used to take hours, and have a clear view of my income and expenses in real time. It’s helped me better understand the financial health of my business without having to be an accounting expert. Even when I need to collaborate with my accountant, everything is organized and accessible. It’s not just a tool; it’s like having an assistant who never tires.
5-Star review from Victoria A via G2

The Advantages

After all the interesting details we have found out so far through our Xero review, let’s see what are the main benefits of signing up with the platform.

One of the primary advantages you will get from Xero is the ease of working with the platform itself. In fact, a better way of putting it would be to say that you can sit back while Xero simplifies things to a great extent for you.

All you have to do is enter the data and then all the transactions and operations can be handled from the same main page. In turn, this means that the app can save you time and energy.

Another main advantage is the fact that you will be able to take care of all your major accounting needs without having to switch to a better plan or buy add-ons. There will also be no recurring fees.

Visit Website

The Disadvantages

As mentioned earlier, users do report some shortcomings when talking about Xero. Let’s see what they are.

The number one thing you need to know in terms of cons is that the Ignite, or the cheapest one, is very limited. It will only allow you to make 20 bank transactions in a month, and send 10 bills, invoices, and quotes per month without paying extra.

If you are running a business, this might not be ideal and you will have to move on to a better plan. However, this is not mandatory. You decide what your needs are after trying the plan out.

Another thing that users report is that Xero is a tad expensive for smaller businesses but more affordable for medium and large ones. Once again, if this is your case, you might have to try it out before committing to the platform as a permanent solution.

Please be aware that there are quite a few accountants who are not as familiar with Xero as they might be with some other similar platforms, according to users’ personal experiences.

This means that you will have to export all your data into a more common platform if you wish to liaise with an accountant at some point. Yet, once more, this all depends on personal experience.

Xero Review – Summary

The end of our Xero review must also bring with it the conclusions. On the whole, Xero is definitely a good choice, but perhaps not the best.

It can be a fantastic platform for medium and large businesses which know how to navigate it and can afford the price range. Xero also seems perfect for Mac users whom it caters to the most.

The great reviews that Xero often receives plus its amazing roster of features that is hardly matched make us confident that it will perform well for larger businesses. Smaller ones may want to consider Quickbooks or FreeAgent as an alternative.

Visit Website