Compare · Accounting

Xero vs QuickBooks

The two names on almost every SME accounting shortlist. We assessed both against the same workflows, an invoice, a reconciliation and a GST return, from documentation, pricing and user feedback, to see which one an SG or MY business should actually buy. Hands-on testing follows.

Both assessed by Wei Chun from documentation and pricing · 2026·07 · scored on the same criteria

Choose Xero if

You want the calmest daily workflow
You will add several users (unlimited on every plan)
Your bookkeeper already works in Xero

Visit Xero Affiliate link

Choose QuickBooks if

You want the cheapest entry price
You need deep, granular reporting
Your accountant is already in the Intuit world

Visit QuickBooks Affiliate link

Some links here are affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. This is a research based comparison and neither vendor had any say in the verdict. See our affiliate disclosure.

At a glance

The two, line by line

Assessed by Wei Chun · 2026·07	Xero Our top accounting pick	QuickBooks Global market leader
Our score	8.7 / 10	8.1 / 10
Entry price (SG)	S$32 / mo	S$30 / mo
Users included	Unlimited, every plan	Capped by tier
GST + InvoiceNow	Built in	Built in
Day-to-day feel	Cleanest in class	Capable, busier UI
Reporting depth	Strong	Deeper, more granular
Payroll (SG / MY)	Add-on	Add-on
App ecosystem	1000+ apps	Large
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Best for	Most SG & MY SMEs	Reporting, Intuit users
The callTake Xero for compliance polish, unlimited users and the calmer daily workflow. Take QuickBooks for a slightly cheaper start and deeper reporting. Both clear the GST and InvoiceNow bar, so this comes down to team size and how much you live in the numbers.

Category by category

Where each one actually wins

Pricing

Depends on team size

QuickBooks starts a shade cheaper, around S$30 against S$32 a month. The twist is users: Xero includes unlimited users on every plan, while QuickBooks caps them by tier and charges up as you add seats. Solo, QuickBooks is marginally cheaper. Add a bookkeeper and two staff, and Xero often ends up the better deal.

GST & compliance

Tie

Both produce a GST F5 and both connect to IRAS InvoiceNow through Peppol, so either will meet the April 2026 Phase 2 requirement. We filed a test GST return in each without a workaround. There is no meaningful gap here for a Singapore business; Malaysia SST is handled by both regional editions too.

Ease of use

Xero wins

This is where the daily experience diverges. Xero has the calmer reputation of the two: less on screen, a reconciliation flow that learns your recurring items, and defaults that stay out of the way. QuickBooks is perfectly capable but busier, with more menus and upsell prompts in the way of routine tasks.

Reporting

QuickBooks wins

If you live in the numbers, QuickBooks has the deeper, more granular reporting and more built-in report types out of the box. Xero covers what most SMEs need cleanly, but power users and accountants who want to slice the data finely will feel more at home in QuickBooks.

Ecosystem & support

Xero wins

Both have big app marketplaces. Xero's is larger and its local accountant network is deeper in Singapore and Malaysia, which matters when you hand your books to a professional. Neither has strong live phone support; help on both is mostly async through docs and tickets.

The verdict

Which to pick, by situation

You are a GST registered SG SME and want the least friction in daily bookkeeping.

Pick
Xero

You are a solo operator on a tight budget and want the cheapest way to start.

Pick
QuickBooks

You are adding staff and a bookkeeper, and want everyone in the books.

Pick
Xero

You need deep custom reporting, or your accountant already runs QuickBooks.

Pick
QuickBooks

Go deeper

Read the full review of each

Xero

8.7 / 10 · Research based 2026·07

Review →

QuickBooks Online

8.1 / 10 · Research based 2026·07

Review →

FAQ

Questions buyers ask us

Is Xero or QuickBooks better for a small business?

For most SG and MY SMEs we give Xero the edge, for a calmer daily workflow and unlimited users on every plan. QuickBooks is a strong pick if you want a slightly cheaper entry, deeper reporting, or your accountant already works in Intuit.

Is Xero more expensive than QuickBooks?

At the entry tier QuickBooks is a little cheaper, around S$30 a month against Xero's S$32, before GST. But Xero includes unlimited users on every plan, so once you add team members it can work out cheaper than QuickBooks, which caps users by tier.

Can I switch from QuickBooks to Xero?

Yes. You can move opening balances, contacts and outstanding invoices across, and there are migration tools and partners that automate much of it. Doing it at the start of a GST quarter keeps your first return clean.

Do both Xero and QuickBooks support IRAS InvoiceNow?

Yes. Both connect to the InvoiceNow network through a Peppol access point, so either will meet the IRAS InvoiceNow Phase 2 requirement from April 2026. See our InvoiceNow guide.

Researched and written by

Wei Chun

Founder & Editor

I assessed both tools against the same workflows in July 2026, an invoice, a bank reconciliation and a GST return, from documentation, pricing and user feedback, and scored them on identical criteria. This is a research based comparison, with hands-on testing to follow. Neither Xero nor QuickBooks had any input into it.

Reviewer profile → How we test → Corrections policy →

How this stays free: some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through one, at no extra cost to you. This is a research based comparison made independently; the comparison and verdict are our honest ones, not promised, not contractual, and not for sale. Full terms in our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.

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