Bonsai vs Xero
Updated 2026 — Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and scores.
Bonsai
6.8/10
Good
Ease of Use8.5
Value for Money7
Support7.5
Features7
Scalability5
Integrations5.5
Xero
8.3/10
Great
Ease of Use8.5
Value for Money7.5
Support7.5
Features9
Scalability8.5
Integrations9
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bonsai | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ Invoicing with contracts and proposals | ✓ Customizable invoices with online payments |
| Expense Tracking | ✓ Expense tracking with bank import | ✓ Expense claims on Premium plan |
| Bank Reconciliation | ~ Basic bank connection for expenses | ✓ Industry-leading bank reconciliation |
| Tax Management | ✓ Quarterly tax estimates and 1099 prep | ✓ VAT returns, sales tax, Making Tax Digital |
| Financial Reports | ✓ P&L, tax summary, income by client | ✓ Comprehensive financial reporting |
| Payroll | ✗ Not available | ~ Available as paid add-on in select regions |
| Multi-Currency | ✓ Multi-currency invoicing | ✓ Premium plan |
| Project Tracking | ✓ Project management with task boards | ✓ Premium plan |
| Inventory Management | ✗ Not applicable (service-focused) | ~ Basic inventory on all plans |
| Receipt Scanning | ✓ Receipt upload and categorization | ✓ Hubdoc included for receipt capture |
| Mobile App | ✓ iOS & Android | ✓ iOS & Android |
| API Access | ~ Limited API on Business plan | ✓ Comprehensive REST API |
| Free Plan Available | ✗ 7-day free trial only | ✗ 30-day free trial only |
| Time Tracking | ✓ Built-in time tracking with timer | ~ Via integrations or Projects add-on |
| Third-Party Integrations | ~ Zapier + Calendly + Slack + limited native integrations | ✓ 1,000+ integrations via app marketplace |
✓ Full support~ Limited✗ Not available
Pricing Comparison
Bonsai Pricing
Starter$21/mo
$17/mo billed annually
ProfessionalPopular$39/mo
$33/mo billed annually
Business$79/mo
$69/mo billed annually
Xero Pricing
Starter$29/mo
$29/mo billed annually
StandardPopular$46/mo
$46/mo billed annually
Premium$62/mo
$62/mo billed annually
FAQ
Is Bonsai or Xero better?
It depends on your needs. Bonsai scores 6.8/10 overall while Xero scores 8.3/10. Compare the detailed feature matrix above to find the best fit.