{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "xero",
            "name": "Xero",
            "kind": "web",
            "website": "https://www.xero.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/xero",
            "tagline": "Cloud accounting for small businesses and their accountants",
            "summary": "Xero is cloud accounting software made by Xero Limited for small businesses and accountants. It covers invoicing, bank reconciliation, expenses, reporting and cash flow forecasts, and it connects to more than a thousand apps. Plans are monthly, tiered by features, and have no per-user license fees.",
            "developer": "Xero Limited",
            "platforms": [
                "web",
                "ios",
                "android"
            ],
            "pricing": "subscription",
            "price_note": "Monthly plans with no per-user license fees",
            "free_to_use": false,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "No per-user license fees",
                "More than 1,000 app integrations",
                "Bank feeds and reconciliation"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Payroll and inventory are add-ons",
                "Lower plans limit features and reports"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Xero keeps the books online, with bank feeds, invoicing, bills, expense claims, sales tax and reporting. Its plans are tiered by features, and its reports include cash flow forecasts and performance dashboards. Its marketplace links it to more than a thousand apps, including a payroll add-on powered by Gusto and an optional inventory add-on.\n\nXero suits small businesses that want a modern browser interface and that work with an accountant who can share the file. Plans are priced per organization, not per user, which helps teams with several staff. Payroll and inventory are extra products, so the total cost depends on which add-ons a business uses. Unlike desktop packages, it needs no local install."
        },
        {
            "slug": "zipbooks",
            "name": "ZipBooks",
            "kind": "web",
            "website": "https://zipbooks.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/zipbooks",
            "tagline": "Invoicing and bookkeeping for freelancers and small businesses",
            "summary": "ZipBooks is online invoicing and bookkeeping software for freelancers and small businesses. Its Starter plan is free and includes unlimited invoices, customers and vendors, and paid plans add more features, team members and reports. An accountant tier is aimed at firms that keep books for clients.",
            "platforms": [
                "web"
            ],
            "pricing": "freemium",
            "price_note": "Free Starter plan; paid tiers with free trials",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices",
                "Accountant tier for bookkeeping firms"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Smaller ecosystem than the largest accounting apps",
                "Advanced reporting is on higher tiers"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "ZipBooks combines invoicing, expense tracking and bookkeeping in one web app. The free Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, customers and vendors, and paid tiers add features such as more team members, custom invoices and quotes, and a fuller set of reports.\n\nZipBooks suits freelancers and small firms that want a free invoicing start and simple bookkeeping. Its higher tiers are built for growing businesses, and an accountant tier is aimed at firms that keep books for clients. It is less established than Xero or FreshBooks and has a narrower ecosystem, so check that its bank and payment options cover your country before you choose it."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Only Xero runs on iOS.",
        "Only Xero runs on Android.",
        "ZipBooks has a free plan or free version; Xero does not.",
        "Xero: subscription. ZipBooks: free plan, paid upgrades."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "accounting-software",
            "name": "Accounting software",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/accounting-software",
            "of": 9,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "xero",
                    "rank": 1,
                    "score": 93,
                    "verdict": "Strong bank feeds, reconciliation and cash flow forecasting, with no per-user license fees. Payroll and inventory are add-ons, and it has no free plan, unlike Wave and Zoho Books.",
                    "best_for": "Small businesses working with an online accountant",
                    "spec": {
                        "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                        "bank_feeds": true,
                        "inventory": true
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "zipbooks",
                    "rank": 5,
                    "score": 82.5,
                    "verdict": "Bank Connect and time tracking come with the free Starter plan, plus quotes and bookkeeping for freelancers. It has no inventory module, so stock tracking needs a separate tool.",
                    "best_for": "Freelancers who want bookkeeping with bank connections",
                    "spec": {
                        "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                        "bank_feeds": true,
                        "inventory": false
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "xero",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/xero-vs-zipbooks",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/xero-vs-zipbooks.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}