QuickFile vs Xero (2026): which should you pick?

Pick QuickFile if

• Fits if you're a UK sole trader or small company with under 1,000 ledger entries a year
• Works for people who want MTD VAT returns without a subscription

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're busy: 1,001 entries or more moves you to £60 plus VAT a year
• Watch out: bank feeds cost £15 plus VAT a year and extra storage £9.99 per GB, with 1 GB included
• Watch out: Power User features cost extra on the free tiers, and the page doesn't state the price
• Skip it if you're an accountant or bookkeeper: you're directed to QuickFile Affinity instead

Pick Xero if

• Fits if your accountant already works in Xero
• Works for businesses where several staff and advisers need to be in the books, as users are unlimited

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you send more than 20 invoices or enter more than 5 bills, since that's where Early stops
• Watch out: the advertised prices are 80% off for 3 months only, then $27, $59 or $97 a month
• Pricey if you need US payroll, at $36 a month plus $6 a person on top
• Pricey if you bill in other currencies, which need Established at $97, or want auto-reconcile on Early, a $5 add-on
• Skip it if you want a free plan to start on, as there isn't one, and taking the free month costs you the discount

QuickFile

• Prices exclude VAT; the paid tiers apply from 1,001 ledger entries in a rolling 12 months.
• Bank feeds cost an extra £15 plus VAT a year, and extra file storage is £9.99 per GB a year, with 1 GB included.
• Power User features cost extra on the free tiers, and the pricing page does not state that price.
• Accountants and bookkeepers are directed to the separate QuickFile Affinity product.

Xero

• The advertised prices are 80% off for the first 3 months; plans then renew at $27, $59 or $97 a month.
• Early stops at 20 invoices and 5 bills, and its graphs and cash flow forecast are the basic ones.
• US payroll costs $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor, and is not offered to Xero's US mobile-only subscribers.
• These are US prices; Xero sells in other countries, including New Zealand, Australia and the UK, on separate regional sites.

QuickFile

Invoicing and estimates

Branded invoices and quotations, with a client area, reusable inventory items and multi-currency support.

VAT returns

MTD-compatible VAT returns on every plan; MTD VAT bridging and MTD ITSA readiness are listed as Power User features.

Purchases and receipts

Receipt and purchase management, with receipts photographed and stored from the iOS and Android mobile app.

Banking automation

Automated bank feeds are an add-on at £15 plus VAT a year; the vendor lists the supported banks.

Power User features

Segmented profit and loss, custom trading styles, invoice revision history, cryptocurrency tracking and bulk invoice entry.

API access

API access and free unlimited users are included on all plans, along with two-factor authentication and daily backups.

Xero

Bank reconciliation

Match bank transactions to invoices and bills. Auto-reconcile is part of Growing and Established, and a $5 a month add-on on Early.

Invoices, quotes and online payments

Send invoices and quotes with a payment service attached, and take card payments in person with Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android.

Bills and Smart Document Capture

Bills and receipts are pulled into Xero from documents, and standard ACH bill payments in US dollars are included on every plan.

Cash flow forecasts and analytics

Forecasts run 30, 60 or 180 days ahead depending on the plan, and Syft analytics, dashboards and health scorecards are built in.

JAX assistant

Xero's AI assistant answers questions about the business's numbers and handles routine bookkeeping tasks.

Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto

Full-service payroll that calculates, files and pays federal and state taxes across all 50 states, without leaving Xero.

QuickFile

• Extra Small, Small and Medium£0

  Up to 1,000 ledger entries in 12 months; Power User features are a separate paid subscription.

• Large and Extra Large£60

  per year, plus VAT

  For 1,001 ledger entries and up, including Power User features; accounts over 40,000 entries need an enterprise quote.

Xero

• Early$27

  per month, billed monthly

  Advertised at $5.40 a month for the first 3 months. Quotes, 20 invoices, 5 bills, bank reconciliation, sales tax and a 30-day cash flow forecast.

• Growing$59

  per month, billed monthly

  Advertised at $11.80 a month for the first 3 months. No invoice or bill limits, auto-reconcile, dashboards, budgets and a 60-day forecast.

• Established$97

  per month, billed monthly

  Advertised at $19.40 a month for the first 3 months. Adds multiple currencies, project time and costs, expense claims and a 180-day forecast.

QuickFile

No public discounts listed.

Xero

• Other savings

  80% off the first 3 months

  New US customers buying their first organization pay 20% of the base plan price for 3 months, then the regular monthly price. Add-ons are not discounted.

• Other savings

  Two months of Xero Payroll free

  Xero's payroll page offers two months free to try Xero Payroll, which then costs $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor.