Comparison guide ยท Prices checked October 11, 2026
QuickBooks alternatives: Xero and Zoho Books compared
Xero and Zoho Books appear in almost every list of QuickBooks alternatives. They charge differently: QuickBooks limits users by plan, Xero charges nothing per user but caps invoices on its cheapest plan, and Zoho Books has a free plan for very small businesses.
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Quick answer
- Lowest first-year cost: Zoho Books Standard at $180 on annual billing, versus $259.20 for Xero Early and $399 for QuickBooks Simple Start (all with new-customer offers).
- Free: Zoho Books Free covers one user plus an accountant, up to 1,000 invoices a year, while revenue stays at or below $50K.
- More than a few users: Xero has no per-user fee, while QuickBooks caps users at 1, 3, 5 or 25 by plan.
Check the invoice and bill limits: Xero Early allows only 20 invoices and 5 bills.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Regular price per month | New-customer offer | Users | Limits listed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Simple Start | $38 | $19 for 3 months | 1 | – | Vendor page |
| QuickBooks Essentials | $85 | $42.50 for 3 months | 3 | – | Vendor page |
| QuickBooks Plus | $140 | $70 for 3 months | 5 | – | Vendor page |
| QuickBooks Advanced | $340 | $170 for 3 months | 25 | – | Vendor page |
| Xero Early | $27 | $5.40 for 3 months | No per-user fee | 20 invoices and quotes, 5 bills | Vendor page |
| Xero Growing | $59 | $11.80 for 3 months | No per-user fee | No invoice or bill limit listed | Vendor page |
| Xero Established | $97 | $19.40 for 3 months | No per-user fee | No invoice or bill limit listed | Vendor page |
| Zoho Books Free | $0 | – | 1 + 1 accountant | Up to 1,000 invoices a year; revenue at or below $50K | Vendor page |
| Zoho Books Standard | $20 ($15 annual) | – | 3 | Up to 5,000 invoices a year | Vendor page |
| Zoho Books Professional | $50 ($40 annual) | – | 5 | Up to 10,000 invoices a year | Vendor page |
| Zoho Books Premium | $70 ($60 annual) | – | 10 | Up to 25,000 invoices a year | Vendor page |
Source tags: Vendor page means we read the figure on the vendor's pricing page on October 11, 2026. Third-party, verify means it comes from an independent pricing tracker and we could not confirm it on the vendor page; check it before you buy. Prices are in US dollars, exclude tax, and change often.
Offers: QuickBooks lists 50% off for 3 months. Xero lists 80% off the base plan for 3 months for new US customers who buy their first organisation on xero.com. Both can change or end at any time, and neither covers add-ons.
First-year cost
Three months at the offer price plus nine months at the regular price. Zoho Books has no offer, so we show its annual and monthly billing totals.
| Tier | QuickBooks | Xero | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Simple Start: $399 | Early: $259.20 | Standard: $180 annual / $240 monthly |
| Mid | Essentials: $892.50 | Growing: $566.40 | Professional: $480 annual / $600 monthly |
Year two is the number to plan around: QuickBooks Simple Start renews at $38 a month ($456 a year), Xero Early at $27 ($324), and Zoho Books Standard at $15 on annual billing ($180).
The three options
QuickBooks Online
The highest regular prices of the three, with user caps that rise by plan (1, 3, 5, 25). Higher-tier prices were reported to rise on 1 August 2026 (see our pricing updates).
Xero
No per-user fees on any plan. The entry plan limits invoices and bills, so businesses with more activity should price Growing ($59), not Early.
Zoho Books
The only one of the three with a free plan, and the lowest paid prices, with user counts and invoice caps rising by plan. The Free plan is available only while revenue for the financial year is $50K or less.
How to choose
- Freelancer or very small business: start with Zoho Books Free and move up if you exceed the invoice or revenue limit.
- Several people need access: compare Xero (no per-user fee) with Zoho Books Standard (3 users) and Professional (5).
- Your accountant already uses one: ask them before switching; migration effort can outweigh a price difference.
For other small-business accounting and invoicing options, see our small business tools comparison.
How this page was made. It compares published pricing and plan limits. We have not run hands-on tests of these products yet, so nothing here is a performance or usability verdict. See our methodology.
Common questions
What is the cheapest QuickBooks alternative?
Zoho Books is cheapest: free for businesses at or below $50K revenue, then $15 a month on annual billing for Standard.
Does Xero charge per user?
No. Xero’s pricing page says there are no per-user license fees on any plan.
Are the promotional prices permanent?
No. QuickBooks and Xero both apply their discounts for the first 3 months only, then charge the regular price.
How current is this?
Checked October 11, 2026 on each vendor’s US pricing page. Prices vary by country and change often.