Switching from Xero to QuickBooks Online
Switching from Xero to QuickBooks Online is common among US-based businesses that want deeper integration with QuickBooks’ larger North American accountant and app ecosystem.
Why teams switch from Xero to QuickBooks Online
Larger US accountant and bookkeeper network
QuickBooks Online has a bigger footprint among US-based accountants and bookkeepers, which can simplify finding support and integrations.
Deeper North American payroll and tax integration
QuickBooks’ payroll and tax-filing tools are more tightly integrated for US businesses than Xero’s Gusto-based payroll add-on.
Bigger third-party app marketplace
QuickBooks Online’s app ecosystem, especially for US-specific tools (POS, industry-specific software), is generally larger than Xero’s.
Switching Cost & Friction Estimator
Estimate the real hidden cost of moving from Xero to QuickBooks Online — not just the subscription price.
How to migrate your data
QuickBooks routes Xero conversions through a partner tool called Dataswitcher, which is free for a limited data window but excludes several record types.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Set up your QuickBooks Online account | Create your QuickBooks Online company file and select the plan tier that matches your team size and feature needs. |
| 2. Run the Dataswitcher conversion | Use QuickBooks’ official Dataswitcher-powered tool to import opening balances, customers and suppliers, chart of accounts, invoices, and transactional history. |
| 3. Confirm the data window and paid add-ons | Check that the free conversion (up to two years of data) covered everything needed, since additional years or extras like company information and classes/locations cost more. |
| 4. Manually rebuild excluded records | Recreate anything the tool excludes — budgets, memorized transactions, invoice templates, sales orders, payroll, projects, attachments, and estimates — directly in QuickBooks. |
| 5. Reconcile opening balances | Verify QuickBooks’ opening balances match Xero’s closing balances as of the cutover date and correct any discrepancies. |
| 6. Parallel-run and cut over | Close a full month in both systems to confirm the numbers agree, then move day-to-day bookkeeping fully into QuickBooks. |
Pricing during the transition
Both vendors run frequent introductory discounts, so compare list prices for a realistic long-term view.
| Plan | Xero | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No permanent free plan — 30-day free trial only | Free plan: $0 — 1 user, 2 invoices/month, 1 bank connection, no accountant access; 30-day free trial on paid plans |
| Entry paid tier | Early: around $25/month | Simple Start: around $38/month |
| Mid tier | Growing: around $55/month | Plus: around $140/month |
Both vendors frequently run steep first-months discounts (sometimes 50-90% off) for new customers, so the list prices above are what plans revert to after the promotional period.
Feature-parity checklist
QuickBooks Online and Xero cover similar ground, but differ in user limits, multi-currency depth, and app-ecosystem size.
| Feature | Xero | QuickBooks Online equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| User seat limits | Unlimited users on every plan | Capped by plan (1 to 25 users) |
| Multi-currency support | Native on Growing and Established plans | Available on Plus and Advanced |
| App marketplace size | Strong app ecosystem, popular internationally | Larger, more North America-centric app ecosystem |
| Inventory tracking | Native on Growing and Established plans | Native on Plus and Advanced |
| Free migration tooling | Free, official QuickBooks conversion tool (via Jet Convert) | Routes Xero conversions through Dataswitcher |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Xero-to-QuickBooks conversion tool free?
Yes, for up to two years of data via Dataswitcher — additional years or certain extras like company info and classes/locations require extra fees.
What data doesn’t transfer through Dataswitcher?
Budgets, memorized transactions, invoice templates, sales orders, payroll records, projects, attachments, and estimates all need to be manually recreated in QuickBooks.
How long does the Xero-to-QuickBooks migration take?
QuickBooks’ documentation cites around 72 hours or less for the Dataswitcher conversion itself, though review and reconciliation typically add more time.
Does my Xero payroll data move to QuickBooks?
No, payroll records are explicitly excluded and need to be set up fresh in QuickBooks Payroll or a connected app.
Which QuickBooks Online versions support this conversion?
Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced are supported; QuickBooks Self-Employed users need to upgrade to one of these plans first.
Canonical data for the tools on this page
Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page — with the date each figure was last verified.