QuickBooks Online → Xero
Switching QuickBooks Online to Xero for 15 users: QuickBooks Online Essentials is $1,020 a year, Xero Simple is $120 (−$900), and our self-scored effort is 4–10 days (11/25). Checked 2026-11-10.
COST BY SEATS · ANNUAL BILLING
| Seats | QuickBooks Online Essentials | Xero cheapest fit | Difference / yr | Effort (days, range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 seats | $1,020 | Simple · $120 | −$900 | 4–10 days |
| 15 seats | $1,020 | Simple · $120 | −$900 | 4–10 days |
| 50 seats | $1,020 | Simple · $120 | −$900 | 6–15 days |
Sources: QuickBooks Online pricing and Xero pricing, checked 2026-11-10. The cheapest Xero plan may lack features your current plan has. Change the plan in the estimator.
Migration check
| Question | What the vendor documents | Official doc |
|---|---|---|
| Can I export from QuickBooks Online? | QuickBooks Online exports reports and lists to Excel from Settings > Export data. | QuickBooks help: export your QuickBooks Online data |
| Can I import into Xero? | Xero offers a free migration for eligible new customers that moves contacts, chart of accounts, invoices, bills, payments, journals and transaction history. | Xero: QuickBooks to Xero migration (free for eligible new customers) |
| General | Xero Central has a general "Convert to Xero from another accounting system" guide. | — |
More from the vendors: Xero Central: convert to Xero from another accounting system
Steps (hand-written from the docs above)
- Export reports and lists from QuickBooks Online as a backup before you touch anything.
- Check you qualify for Xero's free migration (eligible new customers only), then run it with a conversion date at a month or year end.
- Re-connect bank feeds and re-check opening balances against your last QuickBooks trial balance.
- Rebuild invoice templates and payment links; re-point payroll and expense apps.
- Keep QuickBooks read-only for the period your accountant needs.
Effort score
| Factor | Score (1 easy, 5 hard) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Export | 2 / 5 | Based on the export documentation linked above (limits, add-ons, who must enable it). |
| Import | 1 / 5 | Based on the destination vendor's import documentation linked above (first-party tool vs scripting, what is not imported). |
| Permissions | 2 / 5 | Users, roles and groups usually need to be created and mapped by hand before data can land. |
| Integrations | 3 / 5 | Email forwarding, forms, plugins and API keys all have to be re-pointed; default score unless the vendors document a connector. |
| Training | 3 / 5 | Different data model or terms; people need time to relearn. |
Total 11 / 25 → 4–10 days for up to 15 seats (×1.5 for 16–50, ×2 above). This is our judgment from public docs, not a measured project. Rubric.
Other moves from QuickBooks Online
Sponsored station: none yet. We do not sell any product that competes with QuickBooks Online or Xero.