FreshBooks vs Xero Expenses
FreshBooks
freshbooks.comXero Expenses
xero.comSide by side
| Figure | FreshBooks | Xero Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.60/mo | $5.40/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 7 | 3 |
| Spec score · Financial Management | 9.1 (#2) | 7.5 (#24) |
| Spec score · Accounting & Finance Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.6 (#19) |
| Spec score · Bookkeeper Software | 9.2 (#2) | 7.6 (#19) |
| Spec score · SaaS Accounting Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.6 (#17) |
| Spec score · Bookkeeping Software | 9.2 (#7) | 7.5 (#51) |
| Spec score · Trucking Accounting | 9.2 (#2) | 7.6 (#9) |
| Spec score · Gym Accounting Software | 9.1 (#3) | 7.6 (#23) |
| Spec score · Core Financial Management | 9.1 (#3) | 7.5 (#22) |
| Spec score · Mileage Tracking Software | 9.1 (#5) | 7.6 (#32) |
| Spec score · Salon Accounting Software | 9.1 (#6) | 7.6 (#23) |
| Founded | 2003 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada | Melbourne, Australia |
| Integrations | FreshBooks App Store lists more than 100 partner integrations covering payments, payroll, scheduling, projects and other workflows. | Xero says its platform connects with more than 1,000 business apps. |
| Purpose | FreshBooks describes itself as accounting software for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses. | Xero Expenses lets employees submit business expense claims for approval and reimbursement. |
| Security | FreshBooks states that browser traffic uses 256-bit SSL, data is firewalled and servers undergo regular vulnerability scans. | Xero states it is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, produces independently audited SOC 2 reports, and encrypts information in transit and at rest. |
| Support | The Help Center organizes guidance for invoices, payments, expenses, projects, reports, payroll, integrations and mobile use, with FreshBot routing support options. | Xero offers support through Xero Central and advertises free personalized onboarding from a product specialist for the first 90 days. |
Plans
FreshBooks
- Lite$23 a month
- Plus$43 a month
- Premium$70 a month
- Lite$4.60 a month
- Plus$8.60 a month
- Premium$14 a month
- SelectPriced on request
Xero Expenses
- Early$5.40 a month
- Growing$11.80 a month
- Established$19.40 a month
In their own words
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is accounting software for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses. It creates invoices with tracked time and expenses, calculates taxes, and offers configurable payment options. Users can track time against clients and projects, then generate invoices from those records. Projects organize client work, team members, time, invoices, and expenses, and include profitability views. Listed payment options include card and ACH payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and buy now, pay later options. FreshBooks also offers recurring invoices, expense tracking, and a client portal. Its API uses OAuth2 for integrations and account automation. The service runs on the web and has iOS and Android apps, but some features, including reporting, are desktop-only. Mobile apps require iOS 15 or later or Android 7.0 or later. Lite costs $23 a month and includes five billable clients; Plus costs $43 a month and includes 50. Premium costs $70 a month and includes unlimited clients. Double-entry accounting is available on Plus, Premium, and Select. There is no free plan, and the listed trial lasts 30 days.
Xero Expenses
Xero Expenses lets employees submit business expense and mileage claims for approval and reimbursement. Employees can photograph receipts in the Xero Me app; extracted details can prefill a claim. Approvers can approve or decline claims in Xero or Xero Me and track them by status, employee, or account. Approved claims can be paid from a bank account or reimbursed through payroll in the next pay run. Xero turns approved claims into accounts payable bills and records them against the relevant expense account. Employees can submit mileage claims for work travel in a personal vehicle, alongside other expenses. Xero says digital receipts are stored for audit and compliance, and claims include document audit trail details. Expenses is available through Xero on the web and the Xero Me app for iOS and Android. Xero describes its audience as small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers. It offers support through Xero Central and advertises free personalized onboarding with a product specialist for the first 90 days. Pricing is listed from $25/mo, and there is no free plan. A free trial is available.