QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is a comprehensive automated tax and compensation management software providing small to mid-sized businesses with integrated tools to pay employees, manage benefits, and file taxes accurately.
Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small business owners and accountants to manage invoices, bank reconciliation, inventory, and payroll through a real-time financial dashboard.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | QuickBooks Payroll | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Website | quickbooks.intuit.com | xero.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $45/month | $15/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1983 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, USA | Wellington, New Zealand |
Overview
QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is an automated solution designed to take the stress out of paying your team. Whether you have one employee or a growing workforce, you can run payroll in minutes with integrated time tracking and automatic tax calculations. The platform handles your federal and state tax filings and payments automatically, helping you stay compliant without manual data entry.
You can manage your entire back office by syncing payroll data directly with QuickBooks Online accounting. This integration ensures your financial books stay balanced and up-to-date every time you run a pay cycle. Beyond just paychecks, you can offer your team health benefits, 401(k) plans, and workers' comp, all managed from a single dashboard that scales with your business needs.
Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that helps you take control of your small business finances from anywhere. Instead of manual data entry, you can automate your bank feeds so your transactions flow directly into your accounts for easy reconciliation. You can track your cash flow in real-time, send professional recurring invoices, and manage your bills to keep your suppliers happy.
The platform is built for collaboration, allowing you to share access with your accountant or bookkeeper so you are always looking at the same numbers. Whether you are managing inventory, processing payroll, or tracking project expenses, you can handle everything through a single dashboard. It simplifies complex tasks like tax preparation and financial reporting, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.
Overview
QuickBooks Payroll Features
- Auto Payroll Set your payroll to run automatically each pay period so your team gets paid on time without you lifting a finger.
- Automated Tax Filings Let the software calculate, file, and pay your federal and state payroll taxes automatically to ensure year-round compliance.
- Same-Day Direct Deposit Keep your money longer and pay your employees faster with the ability to submit payroll on the very same day.
- Integrated Time Tracking Track employee hours and approve timesheets directly within the app to eliminate manual data entry and errors.
- Health Benefits Compare and choose medical, dental, and vision plans for your team with digital enrollment and automated deductions.
- Workers' Comp Integration Get quotes and manage your policies with a pay-as-you-go model that improves your business cash flow.
- Expert Support Access 24/7 premium support and even get a payroll setup review from a professional to ensure everything is correct.
- HR Advisor Access Consult with certified HR professionals to get custom handbooks and expert advice on complex hiring or termination issues.
Xero Features
- Bank Reconciliation. Connect your bank accounts to automatically import and categorize your transactions every day for an up-to-date view of your cash.
- Online Invoicing. Create and send professional invoices from your desktop or mobile device and let customers pay you instantly via credit card.
- Bill Management. Track and pay your bills on time to build better supplier relationships and get a clear overview of upcoming accounts payable.
- Expense Tracking. Capture costs by taking photos of receipts with your phone to automate expense claims and keep your records digital.
- Inventory Management. Keep track of what you have in stock, populate invoices with items, and monitor which products are your best sellers.
- Project Tracking. Monitor your project profit margins by tracking time and expenses against specific jobs to ensure every hour is billed.
Pricing Comparison
QuickBooks Payroll Pricing
- Full-service automated payroll
- Automated tax filings
- Next-day direct deposit
- Health health benefits
- 401(k) plans
- Expert product support
- Everything in Core, plus:
- Same-day direct deposit
- Integrated time tracking
- Expert setup review
- HR support center access
- Workers' comp administration
Xero Pricing
- Send up to 20 invoices
- Enter up to 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Capture receipts with Hubdoc
- Short-term cash flow snapshots
- Everything in Early, plus:
- Send unlimited invoices
- Enter unlimited bills
- Bulk reconcile bank transactions
- Standard business reporting
Pros & Cons
QuickBooks Payroll
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks Online accounting
- User-friendly interface is easy for non-accountants
- Reliable automated tax filing and payments
- Fast same-day direct deposit options
- Mobile app allows payroll runs from anywhere
Cons
- Per-employee fees can become expensive
- Customer support wait times can be long
- Occasional glitches when syncing with third-party apps
Xero
Pros
- Clean and intuitive user interface
- Excellent mobile app for managing finances
- Seamless collaboration with your accountant
- Massive ecosystem of third-party app integrations
- Automated bank feeds save significant time
Cons
- Strict limits on the entry-level plan
- Multi-currency support requires the highest tier
- Customer support is primarily online-only
- Recent price increases for long-term users