{
  "name": "Xero and QuickBooks UK buying scenarios",
  "checkedAt": "2026-10-14",
  "method": "Published UK monthly base prices, rechecked against official sources. Costs are calculated from those prices; these are buying scenarios, not product trial results.",
  "currency": "GBP",
  "taxBasis": "Excluding VAT",
  "months": 12,
  "assumptions": [
    "Standard monthly base price stays unchanged for the comparison period.",
    "The promotional first year applies the checked six-month discount only when eligible.",
    "No payroll add-on, payment fee, migration charge or other extra is included.",
    "The renewal year is a fresh twelve months at the checked standard price."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "Xero UK prices and offer terms",
      "url": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xero Ignite limits",
      "url": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/ignite/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xero Comprehensive capabilities",
      "url": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/comprehensive/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xero Ultimate project allowance",
      "url": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/ultimate/"
    },
    {
      "name": "QuickBooks UK prices and user limits",
      "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/pricing/"
    },
    {
      "name": "QuickBooks Simple Start",
      "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/simple-start/"
    },
    {
      "name": "QuickBooks Essentials and VAT price basis",
      "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/essentials/"
    },
    {
      "name": "QuickBooks Plus project capabilities",
      "url": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/plus/"
    }
  ],
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "id": "vat-entry",
      "title": "A small VAT workflow with one bookkeeping user",
      "xeroPlanId": "xero-ignite",
      "quickbooksPlanId": "quickbooks-simple-start",
      "reason": "Start with the lowest checked VAT-capable tiers. QuickBooks Simple Start has one business user plus accountant access. Xero Ignite lists 20 invoices and 10 bills; check its counting rules against your volume.",
      "trial": "Use a representative batch of invoices and supplier bills, record payments, reconcile the bank and ask your accountant to review the VAT workflow.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/ignite/",
        "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/simple-start/"
      ],
      "plans": [
        {
          "id": "xero-ignite",
          "name": "Ignite",
          "product": "Xero",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 18,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 1.8,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 216,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 118.8,
          "renewalYearGbp": 216,
          "sourceUrl": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/"
        },
        {
          "id": "quickbooks-simple-start",
          "name": "Simple Start",
          "product": "QuickBooks Online",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 16,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 1.6,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 192,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 105.6,
          "renewalYearGbp": 192,
          "sourceUrl": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/simple-start/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "multicurrency",
      "title": "Foreign-currency transactions with up to three QuickBooks users",
      "xeroPlanId": "xero-comprehensive",
      "quickbooksPlanId": "quickbooks-essentials",
      "reason": "Compare the first checked multicurrency tiers: Xero Comprehensive and QuickBooks Essentials. Essentials includes three business users plus accountant access. Their other allowances differ, including payroll.",
      "trial": "Enter a foreign-currency invoice, a payment at a different exchange rate and a supplier bill. Check the resulting gain or loss with your accountant.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/comprehensive/",
        "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/essentials/"
      ],
      "plans": [
        {
          "id": "xero-comprehensive",
          "name": "Comprehensive",
          "product": "Xero",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 55,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 5.5,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 660,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 363,
          "renewalYearGbp": 660,
          "sourceUrl": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/"
        },
        {
          "id": "quickbooks-essentials",
          "name": "Essentials",
          "product": "QuickBooks Online",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 38,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 3.8,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 456,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 250.8,
          "renewalYearGbp": 456,
          "sourceUrl": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/essentials/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "projects",
      "title": "A team that needs project cost tracking",
      "xeroPlanId": "xero-ultimate",
      "quickbooksPlanId": "quickbooks-plus",
      "reason": "Xero Ultimate includes Projects for 10 active users. QuickBooks Plus lists project profitability and includes five business users plus accountant access. Compare the actual tracking workflow before treating these tiers as equivalent.",
      "trial": "Build one sample project with time, a supplier cost and a customer invoice. Compare how each system allocates costs and presents the margin.",
      "sourceUrls": [
        "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/ultimate/",
        "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/plus/"
      ],
      "plans": [
        {
          "id": "xero-ultimate",
          "name": "Ultimate",
          "product": "Xero",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 70,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 7,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 840,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 462,
          "renewalYearGbp": 840,
          "sourceUrl": "https://www.xero.com/uk/pricing-plans/"
        },
        {
          "id": "quickbooks-plus",
          "name": "Plus",
          "product": "QuickBooks Online",
          "standardMonthlyGbp": 56,
          "introductoryMonthlyGbp": 5.6,
          "introductoryMonths": 6,
          "standardYearGbp": 672,
          "eligibleFirstYearGbp": 369.6,
          "renewalYearGbp": 672,
          "sourceUrl": "https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/plus/"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}