What users are saying about
43 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 7.5 out of 100
Based on 43 reviews and ratings
Xero
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring#question3' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>Customer Verified: Read more.</a>
Top Rated
530 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.7 out of 100
Based on 530 reviews and ratings
Feature Set Ratings
- QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 3 feature sets: General Ledger and Configurable Accounting, Inventory Management, Order Management
- Xero ranks higher in 3 feature sets: Payroll Management, Security, Reporting & Analytics
- QuickBooks Self-Employed and Xero are tied in 1 feature set: Customization
Payroll Management
7.8
QuickBooks Self-Employed
78%
8.3
Xero
83%
Xero ranks higher in 3/5 features
Xero ranks higher in 3/5 features
Pay calculation
10.0
100%
2 Ratings
8.2
82%
64 Ratings
Benefit plan administration
5.0
50%
2 Ratings
8.2
82%
23 Ratings
Direct deposit files
8.1
81%
3 Ratings
8.9
89%
49 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management
8.0
80%
2 Ratings
8.8
88%
41 Ratings
Reimbursement management
8.0
80%
3 Ratings
7.6
76%
54 Ratings
Customization
7.7
QuickBooks Self-Employed
77%
7.7
Xero
77%
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 1/2 features
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 1/2 features
API for custom integration
8.5
85%
3 Ratings
7.3
73%
78 Ratings
Plug-ins
7.0
70%
3 Ratings
8.1
81%
85 Ratings
Security
8.5
QuickBooks Self-Employed
85%
8.6
Xero
86%
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 1/2 features
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 1/2 features
Single sign-on capability
9.0
90%
7 Ratings
8.7
87%
72 Ratings
Role-based user permissions
8.0
80%
4 Ratings
8.4
84%
114 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
7.5
QuickBooks Self-Employed
75%
8.2
Xero
82%
Xero ranks higher in 2/3 features
Xero ranks higher in 2/3 features
Dashboards
8.5
85%
11 Ratings
8.0
80%
129 Ratings
Standard reports
8.5
85%
13 Ratings
8.7
87%
132 Ratings
Custom reports
5.4
54%
7 Ratings
7.9
79%
121 Ratings
General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
8.9
QuickBooks Self-Employed
89%
8.0
Xero
80%
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 17/21 features
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 17/21 features
Accounts payable
9.0
90%
8 Ratings
8.7
87%
130 Ratings
Accounts receivable
8.6
86%
9 Ratings
8.7
87%
131 Ratings
Cash management
8.9
89%
8 Ratings
8.1
81%
121 Ratings
Bank reconciliation
8.5
85%
9 Ratings
8.9
89%
137 Ratings
Expense management
8.1
81%
13 Ratings
8.1
81%
125 Ratings
Time tracking
7.9
79%
6 Ratings
6.9
69%
42 Ratings
Fixed asset management
6.0
60%
3 Ratings
7.2
72%
86 Ratings
Multi-currency support
10.0
100%
1 Rating
8.2
82%
82 Ratings
Multi-division support
10.0
100%
1 Rating
7.5
75%
74 Ratings
Regulations compliance
9.0
90%
2 Ratings
8.3
83%
67 Ratings
Electronic tax filing
9.9
99%
12 Ratings
8.3
83%
65 Ratings
Self-service portal
7.2
72%
7 Ratings
7.8
78%
80 Ratings
Global Financial Support
10.0
100%
1 Rating
8.1
81%
36 Ratings
Primary and Secondary Ledgers
10.0
100%
1 Rating
7.8
78%
34 Ratings
Intercompany Accounting
9.0
90%
2 Ratings
7.4
74%
40 Ratings
Localizations
10.0
100%
2 Ratings
8.2
82%
40 Ratings
Journals and Reconciliations
9.0
90%
5 Ratings
8.7
87%
89 Ratings
Enterprise Accounting
10.0
100%
1 Rating
7.4
74%
33 Ratings
Configurable Accounting
9.0
90%
3 Ratings
8.3
83%
59 Ratings
Centralized Rules Framework
8.0
80%
2 Ratings
8.0
80%
33 Ratings
Standardized Processes
9.0
90%
4 Ratings
8.4
84%
59 Ratings
Inventory Management
7.3
QuickBooks Self-Employed
73%
6.8
Xero
68%
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 2/4 features
QuickBooks Self-Employed ranks higher in 2/4 features
Inventory tracking
7.0
70%
2 Ratings
6.1
61%
60 Ratings
Automatic reordering
5.0
50%
2 Ratings
7.0
70%
24 Ratings
Location management
7.0
70%
2 Ratings
7.7
77%
29 Ratings
Manufacturing module
10.0
100%
1 Rating
6.3
63%
16 Ratings
Order Management
8.1
QuickBooks Self-Employed
81%
7.7
Xero
77%
Xero ranks higher in 4/7 features
Xero ranks higher in 4/7 features
Pricing
7.0
70%
3 Ratings
7.3
73%
61 Ratings
Order entry
8.1
81%
3 Ratings
7.8
78%
56 Ratings
Credit card processing
7.9
79%
4 Ratings
8.6
86%
57 Ratings
Cost of goods sold
7.0
70%
2 Ratings
8.1
81%
65 Ratings
Order Orchestration
10.0
100%
1 Rating
7.3
73%
21 Ratings
End-to-end order visibility
7.0
70%
2 Ratings
7.4
74%
24 Ratings
Order exception Resolution
10.0
100%
1 Rating
7.4
74%
17 Ratings
Attribute Ratings
- QuickBooks Self-Employed is rated higher in 4 areas: Likelihood to Recommend, Likelihood to Renew, Usability, Support Rating
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
QuickBooks Self-Employed
90%
14 Ratings
8.8
Xero
88%
155 Ratings
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
QuickBooks Self-Employed
100%
1 Rating
8.8
Xero
88%
29 Ratings
Usability
9.5
QuickBooks Self-Employed
95%
2 Ratings
8.9
Xero
89%
80 Ratings
Availability
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
9.0
Xero
90%
20 Ratings
Performance
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
10.0
Xero
100%
16 Ratings
Support Rating
10.0
QuickBooks Self-Employed
100%
2 Ratings
7.1
Xero
71%
37 Ratings
In-Person Training
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
9.1
Xero
91%
1 Rating
Online Training
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
10.0
Xero
100%
5 Ratings
Implementation Rating
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
9.5
Xero
95%
18 Ratings
Product Scalability
QuickBooks Self-Employed
N/A
0 Ratings
10.0
Xero
100%
6 Ratings
Likelihood to Recommend
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks is a great tool for new SoleTraders that need basic accounting software and require digital invoicing for their clients to send via email and access key features via a mobile app on the go. QuickBooks is a straightforward tool to use with a simple design and learning curve for business owners that are not very tech-savvy.For businesses that operate on a larger scale and need to provide access to other users on their team, QuickBooks is limited. This type of business may also require more insights into the business outside of accounting, and QuickBooks won't be able to supply insights outside of that.
Online digital business coach
Social Media Design SchoolE-Learning, 1-10 employees
Xero
Xero is a 10-point software since it streamlines accounting and financial processes with great agility, generating immediate productivity. I recommend using all its features since, from creating reports to paying bills, the whole process is easy and does not require much knowledge. We can use it remotely with our phones and still build fluidity, plus it can be integrated with Salesforce, building even more power for short-term results.
Senior Account Manager
Arrow ElectronicsInformation Technology & Services, 10,001+ employees
Pros
QuickBooks Self-Employed
- QuickBooks Self-Employed does keep a running total of your income and estimated taxes. Of course, this requires that your entries are accurate.
- The mileage feature is particularly helpful. One just needs to either use the phone app in conjunction with QuickBooks Self-Employed, or keep a log of all mileage.
- When tax time comes around, it's easy to use TurboTax software and import your data from QuickBooks.
Producer
Essential Sales TrainingMarketing and Advertising, 1-10 employees
Xero
- Reporting (customizing look and contents and the ability to add multiple comparative periods is brilliant and not found in many other competitors.
- Bank feeds. The way they organize bank feed and subsequent matching or coding is very user-friendly for non-accountants and fast for accountants.
- Can file VAT returns and is MTD compliant in UK.
- Customer support has been helpful (at least in my experience).
Senior Accountant
Tax Shop AccountantsAccounting, 11-50 employees
Cons
QuickBooks Self-Employed
- Doesn't integrate with Mint, which I use for my home expenses. I think this would be a nice addition to the program, so I could keep track of my whole financial situation.
- A Windows 10 app would be a nice addition to the program, so I could access it securely from my desktop.
Senior Content Manager
One Car Payment, Inc.Financial Services, 1-10 employees
Xero
- Overall it is a great platform and quite comprehensive for US based users.
- However, if we focus on multinational companies that want to integrate the information of different companies in several countries within the same solution, we find the need to carry out reports outside the platform to provide the accounting structure and compliance necessary in countries outside the US.

Verified User
Manager in Professional Services
Accounting Company, 51-200 employeesPricing Details
QuickBooks Self-Employed
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
—QuickBooks Self-Employed Editions & Modules
—
Additional Pricing Details
—Xero
General
Free Trial
Yes
Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
$11 per month
Xero Editions & Modules
Edition
Early | $111 |
---|---|
Growing | $321 |
Established | $621 |
- per month
Additional Pricing Details
—Likelihood to Renew
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed 10.0
Based on 1 answer
No answer on this topic is available.
Xero
Xero 8.8
Based on 29 answers
In addition to the matters covered in this review, my reason for renewing this product is that Xero's functionality and the constant updates that the company provides, makes the software even more business friendly. The software therefore builds a brand loyalty among customers.
Consultant - Cloud accounting integration, Real Time Accounting
FuturebooksAccounting, 1-10 employees
Usability
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed 9.5
Based on 2 answers
I have been using this software for several years now and it has always put out my data in beautiful generated reports that I can use for verification purposes with my financial institute and the IRS. It has all the tools I need to run my business without loosing track of anything
Independent Recruiter
Recruiters@Heart Truck Driving JobsTransportation/Trucking/Railroad, 1-10 employees
Xero
Xero 8.9
Based on 80 answers
It has deep functionality, and it's easy to use for invoicing, quoting, financial reporting, and customer management. This product manages financial information for small business owners in a unique way. The phone interface is really good as well-meaning I can keep on top of the finances on my phone and feel confident about the financial decisions I'm making.
Workplace Culture Architect & Owner
Carolyn SworaManagement Consulting, 1-10 employees
Reliability and Availability
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 9.0
Based on 20 answers
We have been actively using and 100% Xero based for our ecommerce accounting practice for over 4 years. There has on been one real outage for more than 5 minutes. Xero was open and transparent about the outage, what they were doing to resolve the issue, and provided 15 minute updates. Showing how they care about their customers and partners. Plus, showing that their customers care too, were understanding, and went surfing or in our case took a nap. Couldn't run our business without Xero as a partner.
Co-Founder
Catching CloudsAccounting, 1-10 employees
Performance
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 10.0
Based on 16 answers
Pages generally load quickly, but it's a fairly common occurrence to have pages taking a bit longer than I'd like to load (as in, 4+ seconds). Occasionally I have to refresh a page to get it to work. Bank feed and integrations tend to be slow in general, but that could easily be due to API latency on the side of the other parties. Most of the time, though, the bank feeds refresh before I login so it's not a huge problem. Not necessarily good performance compared to a local app like QuickBooks desktop, but definitely good performance for a cloud application. Room for growth? yes.

Verified User
C-Level Executive in Corporate
Information Technology and Services Company, 11-50 employeesSupport Rating
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed 10.0
Based on 2 answers
I have never faced any difficulties that required me to contact QuickBooks customer service. QuickBooks has plenty of online tutorials, blog posts, and helpful tips and advice for almost any issues you may face using the desktop or app version of the software. Even if you can not find the right answer on the QuickBooks webpages, there are loads of YouTube videos from experts.
Online digital business coach
Social Media Design SchoolE-Learning, 1-10 employees
Xero
Xero 7.1
Based on 37 answers
Support has always been responsive and quickly resolved any questions I have. The only reason I don't give full points is because there's no way to call for immediate help. I'm fine with this because I don't need it badly enough to pay for it
CFO
RenewableTech VenturesVenture Capital & Private Equity, 11-50 employees
In-Person Training
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 9.1
Based on 1 answer
The format was great; someone was there to ask questions or help if you were stuck.
Executive Director
EpsomTax.com LimitedAccounting, 11-50 employees
Online Training
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 10.0
Based on 5 answers
All of Xero's training is online and available for anyone (business owner or accountants) to learn and become experts in their system. There is a range of content from product training to real world webinars from their partners. Xero is beautiful accounting software and their training is the same.
Co-Founder
Catching CloudsAccounting, 1-10 employees
Implementation Rating
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 9.5
Based on 18 answers
If it can be done, time the implementation near a new fiscal year so you can start clean. Otherwise, you have to go back and do historical data from the beginning of the fiscal year, which can be brain draining.
Owner / Head Trainer
When Hounds FlyConsumer Services, 1-10 employees
Alternatives Considered
QuickBooks Self-Employed
FreshBooks limited my ability to categorize transactions, specifically removing duplicates or excluding them. I selected QuickBooks Self-Employed because it allowed me to be in control of items. Sometimes accounting is just making sure things are organized the way YOU think, and FreshBooks wasn't doing that for me.
Owner
Palance Music and MediaMedia Production, 1-10 employees
Xero
Solely the ease of use. This has saved me so much time on day-to-day tracking it is astonishing. Not only does it make it super easy to send invoices, but it also makes it easy to print invoices off, eases the process of partial payments, and keeps good track of all notes made to the account.
Customer Success manager
JOHNSONCONCEPT LLC.Marketing & Advertising, 11-50 employees
Scalability
QuickBooks Self-Employed
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Xero
Xero 10.0
Based on 6 answers
Over 600 plus apps available for integration and easy to create standard charts of account and report templates to implement across multiple entities. Same pricing regardless of number of transactions or users. Real benefit is variety of integrated apps that allow you to automate processes and have functionality that 10 years ago was only available in ERP systems costing hundreds of thousands.

Verified User
Partner in Finance and Accounting
Accounting Company, 1-10 employeesReturn on Investment
QuickBooks Self-Employed
- Overall, tagging expenses and mileage has saved me thousands in taxes, for a relatively low cost of around $8/mo.
- QuickBooks allows me to get invoices to clients quickly and accept online payments, which helps with cashflow.
- The app has stopped tracking mileage automatically on my device, so I worry that sometimes I am not tracking business miles effectively, which could end up costing me at the EOY.
Founder
CATAPULT.digitalInternet, 1-10 employees
Xero
- Makes bookkeeping easier for clients or for us to do on behalf of clients.
- Time saving reports for BAS preparation.
- Picks up on potential issues in General Ledger Exceptions report.
- Dashboard can show accounts watchlist and current payables/receivables.
- Matches bills/sales to bank feed transactions and you can select multiple or split payments.
Senior Bookkeeper
MultipleFood & Beverages, 201-500 employees