Xero vs Quicken: Which Accounting Software Wins in 2025? 

Are you struggling to keep track of your business money?

It can be a real headache trying to manage income and expenses. 

Imagine having software that makes it easy to see where your money is going and helps you stay organized.

But with so many choices out there, like Xero vs Quicken. 

It’s tough to know which one is the best fit for you. 

Overview

We’ve tested both Xero and Quicken, exploring their features and how they handle everyday business tasks.

Our hands-on testing focused on ease of use, core accounting functions, and overall value to bring you this clear comparison.

What is Xero?

So, you’re curious about Xero?

It’s a popular online accounting software—many small businesses like it.

It helps manage your money stuff in the cloud.

Also, explore our favorite Xero alternatives…

Key Benefits

• Automatically imports daily bank transactions.
• Send professional invoices and get paid faster.
• Run over 50 types of financial reports.
• Connect with over 1000 other business apps.

Pricing

• Starter: $2.90
• Standard: $4.60
• Premium: $6.90

What is Quicken?

Okay, let’s talk about Quicken. It’s been around for a while.

People often use it for personal finance.

But it also has options for small businesses. It’s the software you usually install on your computer.

Also, explore our favorite Quicken alternatives…

Key Benefits

Quicken has some really cool things it can do:

• It can connect to over 14,500 financial institutions. That’s a lot of banks!
• You can easily see where your money goes with its spending reports.
• It helps you plan for the future by letting you set budgets.
• You can even track your investments and see how they’re doing.
• It helps you manage your bills and avoid late fees.

Pricing

• Annually Subscription: $24

Feature Comparison

Choosing between Xero and Quicken involves looking closely at what each offers.

Let’s compare their features feature by feature to highlight their similarities and differences.

And see which best meets your business needs for management and beyond.

1. Billing and Invoicing

• Xero: Offers robust billing and invoicing features. You could create professional invoices, set up recurring invoices, and send them electronically. It also allows for online payment options, streamlining your accounts receivable process.
• Quicken: Primarily focuses on personal finance but offers basic billing and invoicing functionalities in its Home & Business version. These features are less advanced than Xero’s, lacking extensive customization and automation for accounts receivable.

2. Expense Management

• Xero: Provides comprehensive expense management. Employees can submit expense claims with receipts, which can then be reviewed and approved. It integrates with bank feeds to easily match transactions, simplifying expense management and workflow.
• Quicken: Offers some expense management capabilities, allowing you to categorize and track spending. However, it lacks the advanced features for team-based expense management and approval workflow found in Xero.

3. Bank Reconciliation and Bookkeeping

• Xero: Excels in bank reconciliation, offering auto-matching of bank feeds to transactions, making bookkeeping more efficient and accurate. Its core strength lies in its cloud-based bookkeeping and accounting features.
• Quicken: Facilitates bank reconciliation but often requires more manual input. While suitable for basic bookkeeping, it’s not as specialized for business bookkeeping and compliance as Xero.

4. Accounts Payable

• Xero: Has strong accounts payable features, allowing you to manage and pay bills, schedule payments, and keep track of what you owe. This helps maintain good supplier relationships and manage cash flow effectively.
• Quicken: Offers basic bill payment features, but its accounts payable management is not as comprehensive as Xero’s, lacking features for detailed vendor tracking and payment scheduling.

5. Reporting and Insight

• Xero: Provides a wide range of customizable reports, offering valuable insight into your business performance. You can generate financial statements, track key metrics, and gain a clear review of your financial health.
• Quicken: Offers various reports for tracking income and expenses, providing some financial insight. However, its business-specific reporting capabilities are less extensive than Xero’s for in-depth business review.

6. Mobile Accessibility

• Xero: Offers a well-designed mobile app for both iOS and Android. This allows you to manage your finances, send invoices, and review key information on the go, enhancing flexibility and workflow.
• Quicken: Has mobile apps, but their functionality can be limited compared to the desktop version & Xero’s dedicated business app, potentially hindering seamless mobile management.

7. Forecasting and Compliance

• Xero: Offers forecasting tools and features designed to help businesses with compliance, such as generating reports needed for tax purposes. Its focus on business accounting ensures better compliance management.
• Quicken: Has some budgeting and forecasting features for personal finance, but its capabilities for business forecasting and compliance are not as robust or tailored as Xero’s. It lacks specific features for industries like auto dealer accounting.

What to Look For When Choosing Accounting Software?

Here’s a quick checklist to consider:

• Scalability: Can it grow with your business?
• Integration: Does it connect with your other tools?
• Ease of Use: Is it intuitive for you and your team?
• Support: What kind of help is available if you need it?
• Specific Needs: Does it cater to your industry (e.g., auto dealer accounting)?
• Budget: Does the pricing align with your financial constraints?
• Security: How secure is your financial data?

Final Verdict

We’ve checked out Quicken vs Xero.

For most businesses, Xero wins. Its billing, invoicing, and bill tracking are stronger.

The screenshots show it’s easy to use.

Quicken is okay for personal use.

But Xero is built to help your business grow with team features and many connections.

We’ve tested them well.

So, we think Xero is the better pick for most businesses.

More of Xero

• Xero vs Puzzle IO: Offers strong inventory management and e-commerce integrations.
• Xero vs Dext: Excels in automated data capture from receipts and invoices.
• Xero vs Synder: Provides seamless multi-channel sales and accounting synchronization.
• Xero vs Easy Month End: Streamlines and automates the month-end closing process.
• Xero vs Docyt: Focuses on AI-powered financial data extraction and automation.
• Xero vs RefreshMe: Offers tools for cash flow forecasting and scenario planning.
• Xero vs Sage: A well-established player with comprehensive accounting features for larger businesses.
• Xero vs Zoho Books: Provides an integrated suite of business applications alongside accounting.
• Xero vs Wave: Known for its free accounting software option with basic features.
• Xero vs Hubdoc: Specializes in document management and automated data fetching.
• Xero vs Expensify: Strong in expense reporting and management for businesses of all sizes.
• Xero vs QuickBooks: A popular choice with a wide range of features for small to medium businesses.
• Xero vs AutoEntry: Automates the data entry of invoices, receipts, and bank statements.
• Xero vs FreshBooks: Geared towards service-based businesses with strong invoicing features.
• Xero vs NetSuite: A comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with robust accounting.

More of Quicken

• Quicken vs Puzzle IO: Puzzle IO focuses on inventory and e-commerce, while Quicken is personal finance with some business tools.
• Quicken vs Dext: Dext automates receipt and invoice data capture; Quicken’s document handling is less specialized.
• Quicken vs Synder: Synder syncs multi-channel sales with accounting; Quicken lacks this e-commerce focus.
• Quicken vs Easy Month End: Easy Month End streamlines financial closing, while Quicken doesn’t target this specific process.
• Quicken vs Docyt: Docyt uses AI for financial data; Quicken’s data extraction is more manual.
• Quicken vs RefreshMe: RefreshMe offers cash flow forecasting; Quicken’s forecasting is more basic.
• Quicken vs Sage: Sage offers comprehensive business accounting; Quicken is primarily for personal use.
• Quicken vs Zoho Books: Zoho Books is a full business accounting suite; Quicken has limited business features.
• Quicken vs Wave: Wave offers free basic business accounting; Quicken’s business features are in paid tiers.
• Quicken vs Hubdoc: Hubdoc automates financial document collection; Quicken’s document handling is manual.
• Quicken vs Expensify: Expensify excels in expense management; Quicken’s expense tracking is less automated.
• Quicken vs QuickBooks: QuickBooks is designed for small business accounting; Quicken is primarily personal.
• Quicken vs AutoEntry: AutoEntry automates data entry from financial documents; Quicken lacks this automation.
• Quicken vs FreshBooks: FreshBooks targets service-based business invoicing; Quicken’s invoicing is basic.
• Quicken vs NetSuite: NetSuite is a comprehensive ERP for large businesses, while Quicken is for personal/small use.

Frequently Asked Questions