Best Xero alternatives for freelancers & agencies (2026)

Xero manages your books and keeps your accountant organized, but the tool exists on the accounting side of the business, not the client side. There are no proposals to win the client, no contracts to protect the work, no project management to deliver it, and no client portal where clients see progress without emailing you, so freelancers still need three or four other tools to run a single client engagement from start to invoice.

Plutio handles the accounting and connects it to everything before the invoice: when a client agrees to work, a proposal goes out, the signed contract opens the project, time tracked against tasks flows directly into the invoice, and the client checks progress in a branded portal at your domain without asking for updates.

Six Xero alternatives compared by pricing, features, and who they actually fit, so you can choose without testing each one yourself.

Last updated February 2026

4.6

TLDR (summary)

Best Xero alternative in 2026: Plutio ($19/month vs Xero Starter at $39/month, Standard at $70/month). Xero is where your accountant logs in to reconcile bank transactions and prepare financial reports. Freelancers using Xero for those tasks still need separate tools for proposals, contracts, project management, and client communication before the invoice ever gets generated.

Why freelancers switch: Xero is built for accountants managing books, not for freelancers managing the client relationship that generates those books. There are no proposals, no contracts, no project management, and no client portal. Xero covers the accounting side, but the client work side runs across tools that don't share data.

Why Plutio is the best alternative: Proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and a branded client portal all connect from one account. When a client signs the proposal, Plutio opens the project from a template, assigns tasks, and queues onboarding steps. When the project wraps up, tracked time becomes invoice line items with no copying between apps. The accounting side stays in Xero if needed, and everything else runs in Plutio.

Other alternatives on this page: FreshBooks (simpler invoicing for freelancers, no proposals or projects), QuickBooks (accounting alternative with similar gaps), Bonsai (freelancer proposals and contracts, basic project tools). Full comparison below.

What is Xero and what does it do?

Xero is cloud accounting software built for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers. Xero handles bank reconciliation, invoicing, expense claims, payroll, and financial reporting, with a strong footprint in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and growing use in the US. The Starter plan ($39/month) handles 20 invoices and 5 bills per month. Standard ($70/month) removes those limits. Premium ($95/month) adds multi-currency support.

Xero is built around accountant access: business owners run their books there, and the accountant logs in remotely to review, advise, and file. For keeping reconciled books that an accountant can work with, Xero covers what most freelancers need to hand to an accountant at tax time. Bank feeds pull in automatically, transactions get categorized, and VAT or GST reporting runs at the end of each period.

Xero handles:

Bank feed integration and transaction reconciliation
Invoicing and online payment collection via Stripe or GoCardless
Expense claims and receipt capture with Hubdoc
Payroll in supported countries (UK, AU, NZ, US)
VAT/GST reporting and financial statements for accountant access
Multi-currency invoicing on Premium plan

Xero covers the accounting side thoroughly. But the freelancer workflow that generates the revenue starts much earlier, with proposals and client agreements before the first invoice is ever prepared.

What are Xero's limitations for freelancers?

Xero covers accounting from the moment revenue enters the books. The freelancer workflow that generates that revenue starts long before: scoping the project, writing a proposal, getting the contract signed, managing the deliverables, and tracking the hours that will eventually appear on the invoice. Xero has no tools for any of those steps.

The Starter plan caps at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, which is a meaningful limit for freelancers with active client lists. Moving to Standard ($70/month) removes the cap but still provides no proposals, contracts, project management, or client portal. Multi-currency, which many international freelancers need, sits behind the Premium plan at $95/month.

The result? Xero is where the accountant works, not where the freelancer works. A freelancer still needs a proposal tool, a contract tool, a project management tool, and a time tracker before any income shows up in Xero to be reconciled.

Common gaps include:

No proposals with online approval or e-signature
No contracts or agreement management
No project or task management for delivering client work
No time tracking tied to specific tasks and projects
No client portal where clients check project status and communicate
Starter plan limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills per month

Freelancers look for alternatives when they realize they're paying $39-95/month for a tool their accountant uses twice a year, while the actual day-to-day client work runs across four other apps.

Xero is excellent for accounting and my accountant loves having access, but it's not a tool I actually work in. I still need separate tools for proposals, project management, and time tracking. Xero only sees my business at invoice and tax time.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Consultant

What a complete Xero alternative needs

A complete Xero alternative should keep the invoicing and accounting side while adding what comes before it in the freelancer workflow. The gap in Xero is not the books. Everything that matters to a freelancer happens from the first client conversation to the moment income enters the ledger, and Xero covers none of that. A full alternative connects those earlier steps to the accounting outcome.

The goal is one account where the client record, the agreed scope, the project, and the payment all live together, so nothing gets lost between apps and invoicing reflects the actual work completed.

A strong alternative should include:

Invoicing and payment collection that connects to tracked time and project scope
Proposals with online approval and embedded contracts, so client sign-off triggers the project automatically
Contract management with e-signature tied to the project record
Project and task management for delivering the work, with timelines and deadlines visible to both sides
Time tracking at the task level so hours flow into invoice line items without manual copying
A client portal at your own domain where clients see project progress, shared files, and invoices without emailing for updates
Multi-currency invoicing for international freelancers without a premium plan tier requirement
Branding throughout all client-facing documents so the portal and invoices reflect your business

The difference is between an accounting tool that records what happened and a business management tool that runs the work generating that revenue.

#1. Plutio, top all-in-one Xero alternative in 2026

Xero records the income that the client relationship generated. The relationship itself (scoping, proposing, delivering, communicating) runs in other tools. When a new project starts, the same context gets reconstructed in Asana, the same client details get re-entered in a proposal tool, and the same hours get tracked in Toggl before anyone copies them into an invoice. None of that context passes into Xero.

Plutio starts where the client relationship starts. The proposal goes out with scope, pricing, and contract terms in one document. When the client signs, the project opens automatically from a saved template. Tasks come from the scope. The client portal opens with their project visible. Time tracked against those tasks becomes invoice line items at billing time.

What this actually looks like

A client agrees to a new engagement. In Plutio:

A proposal goes out with the scope, pricing, and payment terms built in
The client reads, signs the embedded contract, and pays the deposit from a single link
The project opens from a template with tasks matching the agreed scope
The client portal goes live with their project timeline and shared files
Time tracked against tasks accumulates through the project lifecycle
At billing time, those tracked hours convert into invoice line items automatically
The invoice goes out through Plutio, and payment lands via Stripe or PayPal without a separate payment processor setup

The proposal, contract, and tracked time all live in the same account, with no separate tools and no copying time entries by hand.

Why this matters for international freelancers

Multi-currency is a real need for freelancers in the UK, EU, Australia, and Canada who bill clients in different currencies. In Xero, multi-currency sits behind the Premium plan at $95/month. In Plutio, invoicing runs in any currency from the $19/month plan. There is no premium tier requirement for international billing.

Why this matters for agency use

Agencies billing multiple clients across different projects need more than accounting. White-labeling the client portal at a custom domain, managing separate portal logins per client, and tracking team time across projects are features that Xero doesn't offer. Plutio handles all three. Each client gets a portal at your domain, and team members get role-based access to specific projects without seeing unrelated client data.

Switching from Xero

Xero exports clean CSV data from the Reports section. Client lists, invoice history, and transaction records all export with consistent field names, so moving the client list into Plutio takes under an hour. For ongoing tax accounting, many freelancers keep Xero for their accountant and run Plutio for the client-facing work. The Zapier integration connects the two if you want income records to flow automatically. Plutio has been around for over 10 years with pricing that has stayed flat and a record built on direct feedback from freelancers across the UK, US, and Australia.

Switching to Plutio meant I could finally stop switching apps. The project, the invoice, and the client portal are all in one place with my branding throughout.
Kelly WadeCreative Director

#2. FreshBooks, freelancer-focused invoicing, no proposals or project management

FreshBooks handles invoicing, time tracking, expense tracking, and client retainers for freelancers and small service businesses. For someone leaving Xero because the accounting-first interface feels heavier than needed, FreshBooks presents the billing side with a cleaner interface aimed at people who send invoices rather than reconcile ledgers.

FreshBooks limits active clients by plan: five on Lite ($19/month), fifty on Plus ($33/month). There are no proposals or contracts, and project management consists of a basic tasks feature without Gantt charts, dependencies, or timelines. Growing freelancers hit the client cap and then the feature ceiling at similar points.

FreshBooks works for freelancers who want invoicing and time tracking without Xero's full accounting complexity.

FreshBooks caps active clients per plan tier, has no proposals or contracts, and offers no project management beyond basic task lists. Freelancers with more than five active clients pay more just to add a name to the list.

FreshBooks is cleaner than Xero for invoicing, but the client limit was a problem as soon as I grew past the Lite plan. And I still needed Asana and a separate proposal tool for the actual project side of the work.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Copywriter

#3. QuickBooks, US-focused accounting alternative, same core limitations

QuickBooks Online is the US market's dominant accounting software and a common Xero alternative for freelancers outside the UK and Australia. QuickBooks Solopreneur ($20/month) handles income and expense tracking, tax estimates, and basic invoicing for US self-employed freelancers, while Simple Start ($35/month) removes the two-invoice-per-month cap on the lower tier.

The freelancer workflow problem is the same as Xero: QuickBooks handles accounting but has no proposals, no contracts, no project management, and no client portal. Switching from Xero to QuickBooks solves a regional preference issue but doesn't add the tools freelancers actually need to manage clients day to day.

QuickBooks works for US-based freelancers who want accounting software with strong domestic tax support and a large network of bookkeeper integrations.

QuickBooks has the same core gaps as Xero for freelancers: no proposals, no contracts, no project management, and no client portal. Switching between them solves an accounting preference, not a workflow problem.

I switched from Xero to QuickBooks thinking I'd get more freelancer-friendly features, but it's the same core problem. I still need five other apps to actually manage my clients. Neither tool covers the project side.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Designer

#4. Bonsai, freelancer contracts and invoicing, US-centric tax features

Bonsai handles proposals, contracts, invoicing, and US tax reporting in one tool built for independent contractors. For a freelancer leaving Xero because they want proposals and contracts alongside billing, Bonsai addresses those gaps directly with a workflow built around getting clients signed and paid.

Bonsai focuses on US freelancers. Bonsai built those tax features for US self-employment (1099 tracking, Schedule C prep, quarterly estimates), which makes them less useful for UK, Australian, or European freelancers. Project management is a basic task list with no Gantt charts or task dependencies. The client portal is minimal, covering document access rather than live task and progress status.

Bonsai works for US-based solo freelancers who want proposals, contracts, and invoicing in one tool without the accounting complexity of Xero.

Bonsai's tax features are US-only, which limits its value for international freelancers, and project management is a basic list view with no Gantt charts, dependencies, or real-time client portal.

Bonsai made getting contracts and invoices out much easier. But the task management is very basic and the client portal is really just document sharing. I still use a separate tool for managing the actual project.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Strategist

#5. Wave, free accounting and invoicing, very limited beyond billing

Wave offers free accounting and invoicing for freelancers and small businesses in the US and Canada. For someone looking to leave Xero primarily because of the monthly cost, Wave removes that cost for the core accounting and invoicing features. Bank feeds, expense tracking, and basic invoicing come at no charge.

Wave has no proposals, no contracts, no project management, and no client portal beyond the core accounting. Time tracking requires a paid add-on, payment processing charges per transaction, and customer support is limited on the free tier. Wave is also primarily US and Canada-focused, which narrows its value for international freelancers leaving Xero specifically for global invoicing support.

Wave works for US or Canadian freelancers who need free accounting and invoicing and don't need proposals, contracts, or project management.

Wave has no proposals, contracts, project management, or client portal, and its international support is limited compared to Xero. Freelancers managing active projects still need multiple additional tools alongside Wave.

Wave is hard to argue with for the price. But beyond basic bookkeeping and sending invoices, it's not useful for managing client projects. No proposals, no contracts, no way for clients to see what's happening. It's accounting-only.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Bookkeeper

#6. HoneyBook, client intake and booking, not an accounting replacement

HoneyBook handles client inquiry, proposals, contracts, invoices, and basic project communication for creative freelancers. HoneyBook focuses on the intake side of the business: inquiry, proposal, contract, and deposit collected in a single sequence built for photographers, event planners, and creative service providers.

HoneyBook is not an accounting replacement. There's no bank reconciliation, no VAT or GST reporting, no financial statements, and no accountant access. Freelancers who replace Xero with HoneyBook typically end up needing a separate accounting tool anyway, and still need a separate accounting tool alongside HoneyBook. Project management in HoneyBook covers task lists and project stages, but there are no Gantt charts, dependencies, or live task-level status for clients.

HoneyBook works for creative freelancers who want a client booking and intake flow: inquiry to signed contract to deposit in one sequence.

HoneyBook has no accounting features, no bank reconciliation, and no financial reporting. Freelancers replacing Xero with HoneyBook usually still need a separate accounting tool alongside it.

HoneyBook solved the proposal and contract problem, but I still needed my accountant to reconcile the books and file taxes. I ended up paying for HoneyBook and a separate accounting tool. It didn't actually replace Xero.
VR
Verified ReviewerWedding Photographer

The verdict: Why Plutio is the best Xero alternative

Xero was built for accountants managing small business books: bank feeds reconcile automatically, financial reports are available for remote access, and accountants log into client accounts to advise and file.

For freelancers, the accounting side represents maybe 10% of the actual weekly work. The other 90% is finding clients, scoping projects, writing proposals, getting contracts signed, delivering work, communicating with clients, and tracking hours before finally generating the invoice that Xero will record. Xero has no tools for any of that 90%.

Plutio builds around the full client lifecycle. The comparison table shows the specific gaps side by side. When a client agrees to a project, the proposal goes out, the contract gets signed, the project opens, time tracks against tasks, and the invoice generates from those hours. The accounting side stays available through Xero if the accountant needs it, or Plutio's own reporting handles simpler income tracking at $19/month.

What changes when you switch from Xero to Plutio?

Freelancers who move from Xero report three consistent changes in how the week feels:

The client relationship starts in one place. In a Xero-plus-tools setup, a new client touches at least four apps before the first invoice gets raised: a proposal tool, a contract signing tool, a project management tool, and a time tracker. Each app holds a separate piece of the client relationship. In Plutio, the same client record connects to the proposal, the contract, the project, and the invoice from the first touchpoint.
Invoices stop being a manual assembly job. Getting from tracked hours to a final invoice in Xero typically means exporting time from a tracker, cross-referencing the scope, typing line items into an invoice template, and attaching the document to an email. In Plutio, time tracked against project tasks becomes invoice line items automatically. The invoice matches the work because both live in the same system.
Clients stop arriving by email for project status. Xero has no client-facing component beyond the invoice and payment link. Every status question, file request, or progress update request arrives by email. In Plutio, clients access a branded portal at your domain and see project status, files, and invoices without needing to ask.

How does Plutio compare to Xero on price and features?

The value comparison starts with what each plan covers. Xero Starter at $39/month provides accounting, reconciliation, and 20 invoices per month. Standard at $70/month removes the invoice cap. Premium at $95/month adds multi-currency. None of those tiers include proposals, contracts, project management, or a client portal.

A freelancer running Xero alongside the tools needed to fill the gaps typically runs: Xero ($39) plus a proposal tool ($40-50/month for PandaDoc or Proposify), project management (Asana at $10/month), and time tracking (Toggl at $10/month). The combined cost runs $99-109/month across four apps that don't share client data or pass information between each other.

Plutio Core at $19/month covers CRM, proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals from one account. Multi-currency invoicing runs on all plans without a premium tier requirement.

G2 and Capterra reviews of Xero from freelancer users show a consistent pattern: high marks for accounting accuracy and accountant access, low marks for usefulness to the person actually delivering the client work. Reviewers note that Xero requires additional tools before it fits into a freelancer's day-to-day workflow.

Which tool wins? The feature and pricing comparison

What Xero includes: Bank reconciliation, invoicing and payment collection, expense claims, payroll (UK/AU/NZ/US), VAT/GST reporting, financial statements, accountant access, and multi-currency on Premium. Starter at $39/month; Standard at $70/month; Premium at $95/month.

What Xero lacks: Proposals with online approval, contracts with e-signature, project and task management for deliverables, time tracking tied to tasks and invoice generation, and a client portal where clients see project progress without emailing.

What Plutio adds: All of the above, plus white-labeled portals at your own domain, multi-currency invoicing on all plans, automated project creation from signed proposals, and time entries that become invoice line items automatically. All at $19/month.

The math: Xero Starter ($39) plus proposal tool ($45) plus Asana ($10) plus Toggl ($10) = $104/month for four tools with no shared client data. Plutio = $19/month for everything connected.

The deciding question: Is the main gap in your business the accounting records, or is it the work between landing the client and generating the invoice?

How do you migrate from Xero to Plutio?

Xero's data export covers client records, invoice history, and transaction data. Most freelancers moving to Plutio keep Xero active for their accountant and run Plutio alongside it for 2-4 weeks before fully transitioning. Keeping both active through one VAT or tax period lets the books stay clean while the new client workflow gets established in Plutio.

Start your free Plutio trial: Sign up at plutio.com. The 14-day free trial includes full feature access. Use the trial period to build your first proposal template and project template before moving active clients.
Export your Xero contact list: Go to Contacts in Xero, filter by type, and export as CSV. The export includes names, emails, billing addresses, and tax numbers. Invoice history exports from the Invoices section separately.
Import clients into Plutio: Upload the contact CSV to Plutio's CRM. The importer maps Xero contact fields to Plutio fields. Existing invoice history can be added as opening balances or reference notes on each client record.
Build your proposal template: Draft your standard scope, pricing structure, and payment terms in Plutio. Proposals and contracts share one document, so clients approve and sign from a single link without a separate DocuSign step.
Set up project templates: Create project templates for your most common project types. Each template includes task lists, milestones, file folders, and default deadlines. When a proposal gets approved, the project opens automatically using the matching template.
Configure multi-currency invoicing: Set default currencies per client for international billing. Plutio handles currency conversion and displays invoice amounts in the client's currency without an additional plan upgrade.
Set up your branded portal: Add your domain, logo, brand colors, and email templates. The client portal goes live at your domain, not at plutio.com. Clients see your brand throughout: proposals, invoices, portal login, and project updates.
Connect payment processing: Link Stripe or PayPal for payment collection. Clients pay invoices and proposal deposits directly from the portal or from payment links in emails.
Run Xero and Plutio in parallel briefly: Keep Xero active through your current VAT or tax period. New client work runs in Plutio from the first new project, while work in progress wraps up through the existing setup.
Hand off accounting if needed: If your accountant uses Xero, keep the Xero connection for their access and export income summaries from Plutio for reconciliation. The Zapier integration lets invoice data pass from Plutio to Xero automatically if both remain active.

Need help with the setup? Start your free trial and connect with the support team through the built-in live chat. The support team answers setup questions the same day.

Research & Sources

All comparisons and pricing on this page reflect research conducted in February 2026. Pricing is verified from official product pages and cross-referenced with user reviews and third-party analysis.

Pricing verification sources

Plutio: Official pricing
Xero: Official US pricing, Capterra reviews, G2 reviews
FreshBooks: Official pricing
QuickBooks: Official pricing
Bonsai: Official pricing
Wave: Official pricing
HoneyBook: Official pricing

Verification methodology

Feature data is verified from official product documentation and cross-referenced with G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius user reviews. Pricing updates monthly based on published rates. If any information is out of date, please let us know and we'll investigate immediately.

What is the best Xero alternative for freelancers in 2026?

Compare pricing, invoicing, project management, proposals, and client portal capabilities.

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	$21/month (Lite, 5 clients)	$38/month (Simple Start), promo: 50% off for first 3 months	$15/month (Basic, $9/month annual)	$36/month (Starter, $29/month annual)	Free plan (2 users). Paid plans from $12/seat/month (Essential, $9/seat annual)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No free plan (30-day trial)	No free plan (30-day trial)	No free plan (trial available)	No free plan (7-day trial)	Free plan for up to 2 users
Trial period	14-day free trial	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	30-day free trial	30-day free trial	7-day free trial	7-day trial + 60-day money-back guarantee	7-day free trial on paid plans
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic project tracking with profitability focus	Basic project tracking (Plus plan and above, limited to budgets and time)	Basic project and task management	Projects with task lists and pipeline	Full project management with Kanban, Gantt, task lists, milestones, and dependencies
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Team member permissions (Admin, Manager, Employee)	No project-level roles or permissions	4 fixed roles (PMs cannot view financials)	5 team roles with project access control	Role-based access control with customizable permissions per project
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No task boards (list-based tracking only)	No Kanban, Gantt, or calendar views	Strictly restricted to 1 board per project	You cannot use task boards	Multiple task boards per project with Kanban view
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No embeddable project views	No embeddable boards	Embedding live project boards is not supported	You cannot embed project views	No embeddable project boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Clients can view documents in portal only	No sharable boards	Portal access only (no public read-only links)	You can share projects via the client portal only	No shared or public project links
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No project stages or milestones	No custom project statuses	Milestones with Gantt chart visualization	You can use pipeline stages, but they are predefined	Project milestones with Gantt chart visualization and dependencies
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Estimates and invoices connect (no contracts)	Projects link to invoices and expenses (no proposals or contracts)	Manual linking (no automatic project integration)	Integrated via Smart Files	Invoices and contracts linked to projects (Documents Builder, Dec 2025). No native proposals yet
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom project fields	No custom project fields	Text, number, date, URL (no filtering)	Basic custom fields	Custom fields on projects and tasks
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No Kanban boards	No Kanban board	Kanban view (limited customization)	You cannot view tasks in a kanban board	Kanban board view for projects and tasks
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No table view for tasks	Transaction list view within projects	Basic table view (no bulk editing)	You cannot view tasks in a table	Table view available
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Task list view available	Transaction list view within projects	Simple list view with basic sorting	You can view projects in a list	List view available
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Calendar shows events, not tasks	No calendar view	Calendar view for tasks and deadlines	You can see bookings on a calendar	Calendar view for tasks and deadlines
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No Gantt charts	No Gantt chart	Gantt chart with drag-and-drop	You cannot view work on a gantt chart	Gantt chart with dependencies and milestones
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No subtasks	No subtask support	Nested subtasks supported	You cannot split tasks into subtasks	Subtasks with checklists
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No email-to-task conversion	No email to task	No email-to-task conversion	Not supported (email sync only)	Email integration available (no direct email-to-task)
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Team discussion on projects	No task management system	Comments stay attached to tasks only	You cannot comment on tasks	Comments and @mentions on tasks
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Files can be attached to projects	No task management system	File attachments (no file manager)	You can share files, but not attach them to tasks	File attachments on tasks
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No task priorities	No task management system	No priority levels	You cannot set task priorities	Task priority levels
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No task labels or color coding	No task management system	No color coding (labels only)	You cannot label or color-code tasks	Labels and color coding on tasks
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Tasks can be assigned to team members	No task assignees	One assignee per task (no multi-assign)	You cannot assign tasks to multiple people	Multiple assignees per task
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Project templates available	No task templates	Task templates with dependencies	You cannot reuse task templates	Task and project templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No task-level permissions	No task-level permissions	Project-level only (no task-level)	You cannot set permissions per task	Role-based task access control
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No task dependencies	No task dependencies	Waiting on, Blocking, Related to	You cannot link tasks together	Task dependencies with Gantt visualization
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No recurring tasks	Recurring transactions only (not tasks)	Daily, weekly, monthly, milestones	You cannot create recurring tasks	Recurring tasks supported
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom task fields	No custom task fields	Custom fields (text and number only)	Basic custom fields	Custom fields on tasks
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Timer and manual time entry	Built-in time tracking (Essentials plan and above)	Timer and manual time entry	Basic time tracking (manual entry on desktop, stopwatch on mobile)	Built-in time tracking at project and task level
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Time tracked per service, not per task	Time tracked per service item and project (not per task)	Limited to task-level only (no subtask tracking)	Project-level only, no task-level tracking	Time tracking per task
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Time tracked per project and client	Time tracked per project (Plus and Advanced plans)	Time tracked per project	Time tracked at project level	Time tracking per project
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Billable and non-billable hours supported	Billable and non-billable time categorization	Billable and non-billable categorization	Billable time tracking available	Billable hours tracking
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Time entries convert to invoices	Add billable time directly to invoices	One-click invoice from time entries	Invoice from time logs (desktop only)	Convert billable time to invoices
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Detailed time reports available	Detailed time reports available	Detailed timesheet reports	Basic time logs per project	Timesheet reports available
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Team time tracking on higher plans	Team timesheets with weekly view (Essentials plan and above)	Per-member timesheets with locking	Team members can log time on shared projects	Team timesheet overview
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Estimates only (not full proposals)	Estimates only (not full proposals)	Customizable proposals with e-signatures	Smart files combine proposals and contracts	Basic proposal/estimate creation (no interactive builder)
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No visual proposal builder	No visual proposal builder	Visual editor (no true drag-and-drop)	You can edit sections, not free drag-and-drop)	No drag-and-drop proposal builder
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Estimate templates available	Estimate templates available (not full proposals)	Industry templates plus custom templates	You can use proposal templates	Basic estimate templates (limited customization)
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No proposal view tracking	No proposal view tracking	Real-time view tracking	You can see when a proposal is viewed	No real-time proposal analytics
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No in-proposal messaging	No in-proposal messaging	No live chat in proposals	You cannot chat inside proposals	No live messenger on proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Estimate to invoice only	Estimate to invoice only	Proposal-contract link only (no scheduler)	Complete Smart Files flow	No proposal-specific automation
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Convert estimates to invoices	Convert estimates to invoices	Auto-generate invoice from accepted proposal	Accepted proposals create invoices	Convert estimates/proposals to invoices with one click
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No packages or add-ons	No packages or add-ons	Packages with single, multi-select options	You can offer packages and add-ons	No packages or add-ons in proposals
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Static pricing only	Static pricing only	Static pricing only (no client selection)	Pricing updates dynamically	No interactive pricing tables
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic placeholders available	Basic placeholders available	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	You can use smart fields	Dynamic variables with automatic data filling in Document Builder
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Manual expiry dates on estimates	Manual expiry dates on estimates	Manual expiry dates (no automation)	You can set proposal expiry	Expiration dates on estimates
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	PDF export included	PDF export included	Basic PDF export (limited branding)	You can download proposal PDFs	PDF export available
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No reusable content blocks	No reusable content blocks	Reusable blocks not supported (templates only)	You can reuse proposal sections	No reusable content blocks
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No e-signatures	Basic e-signature on estimates (DocuSign integration on Advanced plan)	Basic e-signatures (limited audit trail)	Clients can sign online	No e-signatures on proposals
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom proposal fields	Custom fields on Advanced plan only	Text and date custom fields only	Basic custom fields	Custom variables and fields available in Document Builder
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Contracts not supported	QuickBooks Online does not handle contracts	Legally vetted templates with e-signatures	Smart files combine contracts and invoices	Contract creation via Documents Builder (Dec 2025). E-signatures not yet available
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No contract builder	No contract builder	Visual editor (no full drag-and-drop)	You cannot visually build contracts	Template-based Documents and Contracts Builder (Dec 2025)
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No e-signatures	No e-signatures on contracts	Legally binding e-signatures	Contracts support legal e-signatures	No e-signatures (must use third-party)
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not supported	No multi-signature support	Multiple signers and recipients	You can collect multiple signatures, with fixed roles	No multi-signature support
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No contract templates	No contract templates	Industry-specific and custom templates	You can use contract templates	Reusable document templates with on-brand designs and HTML editor
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No contract reminders	No contract reminders	Auto-reminders (stop after 16 days overdue)	You can send automatic reminders	No contract auto-reminders
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No contract variables	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	You can use smart fields in contracts	Dynamic variables with automatic data filling from CRM and other modules
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not supported	No contract automation triggers	Contract & proposal triggers only	Contracts can trigger workflows	No contract automation triggers
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Email notifications when viewed	Invoice and estimate view notifications only	Basic email notifications (no detailed tracking)	You receive contract notifications	No contract view notifications
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No contract signatures or certificates	Basic PDF download (limited certificate)	You can download signed PDFs	No e-signature or signature certificates
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No signer data fields	Standard fields only (name & email)	You cannot customize signer fields	No custom signer data fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No contract features	Custom fields (contact info only)	Basic custom fields	Custom variables available in Document Builder templates
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Full invoicing with online payments	Full invoicing with online payments (credit card, ACH, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo)	Invoicing with multiple payment options	Invoices with instant online payments	Create and send invoices with online payment collection
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Customizable invoice branding	Customizable invoice branding with logo, colors, and layout	Limited branding (logo and colors only)	You can brand invoices	Branded invoices with company logo and colors
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Template-based editor only	Template-based editor only	Pre-built templates (no drag-drop)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Invoice editor (not drag-and-drop)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Fully customizable line items	Fully customizable line items with products/services catalog	Line items (no advanced customization)	You can edit line items	Customizable line items on invoices
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Discounts supported	Discounts supported	Discounts (percentage or fixed, no tiered)	You can apply discounts	Discounts on invoices
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Custom tax rates	Automated sales tax calculation	Basic tax configuration (no automation)	You can set tax rates	Tax configuration on invoices
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	ACH bank payments supported	ACH bank payments supported	ACH via Bonsai Payments (US, UK, CA, AU only)	You can accept bank transfers	No ACH payment support
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Stripe payments supported	QuickBooks Payments built-in (Stripe via third-party integration)	Stripe payments supported	You can accept payments via Stripe	Stripe integration for payments
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Square not integrated	Square integration for sales sync (not direct invoice payments)	Not supported	You cannot accept payments via Square	Square integration for online invoice payments
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	PayPal payments supported	PayPal and Venmo payments on invoices	PayPal payments supported	You cannot accept payments via PayPal	PayPal integration for payments
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Partial payments supported	Partial payments supported	Partial payments (manual milestone setup)	You can accept partial payments	Basic partial payment support
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Manual setup required	Recurring invoices only (no structured installment plans)	Payment plans (limited automation)	You can split invoices into payments	No payment plan support
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Recurring invoices supported	Automated recurring invoices with flexible schedules	Weekly, biweekly, monthly, yearly recurrence	You can schedule payments, not subscriptions	Basic recurring invoice support
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Retainers available on Plus plan	Recurring invoices only (no subscription portal)	Recurring invoices (no subscription portal)	You cannot manage subscriptions	No subscription management
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Automated late payment reminders	Automated late payment reminders	Automated reminders (stop after 16 days)	Payment reminders send automatically	Automated payment reminders
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Invoice templates available	Reusable invoice templates available	Templates available (limited customization)	You can reuse invoice templates	Reusable invoice templates
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Multi-currency supported	Multi-currency supported (Essentials plan and above)	Multi-currency (manual exchange rates)	You can use one account currency only	Multiple currency support
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Limited automation	Recurring transaction automation (custom workflows on Advanced only)	Payment & form triggers only	Contracts can trigger workflows	Basic invoice automation (limited triggers)
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Email notifications when viewed	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid	Email notifications (no real-time tracking)	You receive contract notifications	Basic invoice view tracking
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Full expense tracking with receipts	Full expense tracking with receipt scanning, bank sync, and auto-categorization	Expense tracking (auto-categorization via bank sync)	You cannot track expenses	Built-in expense and revenue tracking with profit reports
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Deposit invoicing supported	Deposit invoicing supported	Deposits supported (manual collection)	You can request deposits	Basic deposit support
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Time to invoice conversion	Add billable time directly to invoices	Time-to-invoice (manual confirmation required)	There is no time to convert	Convert billable time to invoices
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom invoice fields	Custom fields on sales forms (3 fields on Plus, more on Advanced)	Text and date custom fields only	Basic custom fields	Basic custom fields on invoices
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No unified inbox	No unified inbox	A unified client inbox is not supported	Messages and emails live in one inbox	No centralized unified inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No email integration	No email integration (notifications only)	Send-only (no inbox sync)	You can sync your email	Email integration with IMAP sync (Gmail, Outlook, and more)
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No live chat	No live chat	Not supported	You cannot add live chat to your site	No live chat widget
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No direct messaging	No direct messaging	Direct messaging is not supported	You cannot DM teammates	Built-in instant messenger with group channels, @mentions, and file sharing
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Project discussions available	No project messaging	No in-app project messaging	Messages are tied to projects	Comments and @mentions on projects (no dedicated conversations)
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No team channels	No team channels	Team chat is not supported	You cannot create team channels	Custom user groups for targeted team communication (Focus Group Collaboration)
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No channels	Not supported	Channels are not supported	Custom user groups by department or project team for targeted communication
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No @mentions	No @mentions	Not supported	You cannot mention teammates	@mentions in comments
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No read receipts	No read receipts	Read receipts are not supported	You can see when clients read messages	No message read receipts
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No chat feature	No chat feature	Share files and links in portal messages	You can share files in messages	Content sharing in instant team chats
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No shared inbox	No shared inbox	Not supported	Team email is not shared	No shared email inbox
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No inbox in app	No inbox feature	Not supported	Mobile inbox available	No inbox mobile app
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No inbox sync	No inbox feature	Not supported	Email replies sync to conversations	No email reply to inbox
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic file storage in projects	File attachments on transactions (no centralized file manager)	Project document storage with client access	Files exist per project only	File storage on projects (no dedicated file manager)
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No folder organization	No folder organization	Project-level only (no granular)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Project-based file organization (no advanced folder system)
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No folder permissions	No folder permissions	Project-level only (no granular)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Project-level permissions apply to files
People folders	Group files by person when needed	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not supported	No people folders	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No people-specific folders
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Files organized by project	Files organized within project transactions	Project-based file sections in portal	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Files organized within projects
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic file previews	Basic file previews for receipts and documents	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	In-app file previews
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom file fields	No custom file fields	Contact info only (no CRM fields)	You can add custom fields	No custom file data fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No document editor	No built-in document editor	No built-in document editor	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Knowledge base with rich text pages
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No file comments	No file comments	No file commenting system	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Comments on knowledge base pages (not on files)
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No bulk actions	No bulk file actions	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No bulk file actions
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic search	Basic search across transactions	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Basic file search within projects
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Dropbox and Google Drive integrations	Google Drive and Dropbox integrations	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive integrations
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic sharing via portal	Account-level role-based access	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Project-level sharing controls
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No shareable file links	No shareable file links	Portal sharing only (no direct file links)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No dedicated file sharing links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No scheduling features	QuickBooks Online does not have scheduling	Booking pages with calendar sync	Scheduler with intake forms	No scheduling or booking system
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No booking pages	No booking pages	Custom branding on booking pages	Branding options are limited	No booking pages
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No availability management	Event types with availability windows	You can control availability	No availability management
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No buffer times	Buffer times (no daily limits)	You can add buffer times	No buffer time settings
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No meeting types	Custom event types with different durations	You can offer multiple session types	No meeting type configuration
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Calendar sync for late payments only	No calendar sync for scheduling	Calendar sync (Google and Outlook only)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No calendar sync for scheduling
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No booking confirmations	Email customization (limited template control)	Confirmation customization is limited	No booking confirmations
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No booking system	Redirect supported (basic URL redirect)	You cannot redirect after booking	No booking system
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No booking automation	Booking triggers (limited action types)	Contracts can trigger workflows	No booking automation
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No meeting reminders	Auto-reminders (email only, no SMS)	Meeting reminders send automatically	No meeting reminders
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Timezone support for invoicing	Account timezone setting only	Timezone detection (basic support)	Timezones adjust automatically	No timezone detection for booking
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No paid appointments	Require payment to book via Bonsai Payments or Stripe	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No paid appointments
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No booking forms	Custom intake questions and forms on booking events	Booking forms are fixed	No custom booking forms
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No booking limits	Notice periods (no per-event daily limits)	You can set booking limits	No booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No scheduling controls	Clients can reschedule or cancel from confirmation email	Clients can reschedule or cancel	No rescheduling controls
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No workflow builder	Custom workflows (Advanced plan only, $275/month)	Contract, proposal, invoice, form triggers	AI-powered workflow builder with branching	Automation rules (no visual workflow builder)
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Limited payment and invoice triggers	Bank rules and transaction triggers (custom workflows on Advanced only)	Contract signed, proposal accepted, form filled	You can automate actions with workflows	Trigger-based automation rules
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Recurring invoices only	Recurring transactions only (no independent schedule workflows)	Not supported	Workflows cannot repeat on a schedule	No schedule-based automation
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No multi-step automation	Multi-condition workflows (Advanced plan only)	Not supported	Workflows can include multiple steps	Multi-step business processes with stages and automated actions
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No conditional logic	Conditional approval workflows (Advanced plan only)	Not supported	Branching exists, but options are limited	No conditional branching
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Payment reminder delays	Payment reminder delays only	Not supported	You can delay workflow steps	No delay-based actions
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No record automation	Auto-create recurring invoices and transactions	Auto-create (projects and clients only)	Creation actions are limited	Create and update records via automation
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not supported	Duplicate estimates and transactions manually	Not supported	Items cannot be duplicated automatically	Move records (no duplicate action)
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not supported	Manual deletion and voiding only	Not supported	Items cannot be deleted via automation	Archive records (no auto-delete)
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Limited webhook support	Full REST API and webhooks via Intuit Developer Platform	Webhooks (outgoing only, no incoming)	You cannot use APIs or webhooks	API access and webhooks
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Automated invoice and reminder emails	Automated invoice and reminder emails	Logo & colors (no custom domain)	Workflows can send emails	Send email notifications via automation
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No automated comments	No automated comments	Not supported	You cannot post comments via automation	Leave comments via automation rules
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic activity history	Audit trail tracks all user actions and changes	Not supported	You cannot view automation logs	No complete automation logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic invoice placeholders	Basic invoice placeholders	Not supported	You can use smart fields	No auto-fill variables
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Clients link to invoices and projects	Invoices link to projects and customers (limited cross-entity scope)	Not supported	Forms, bookings, and payments trigger workflows	Basic cross-entity links (CRM to projects)
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No form builder	No form builder	Branded intake and questionnaire forms	Questionnaires with limited styling	Basic form creation (limited field types)
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form builder	Form editor (no true drag-and-drop)	You cannot visually build contracts	Basic form builder (not full drag-and-drop)
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Form templates with auto-CRM sync	You cannot reuse form templates	Basic form templates
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Custom fields (limited field types)	You can add custom fields	Limited custom field types
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Conditional logic (limited complexity)	Fields cannot change based on answers	No conditional logic in forms
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	Invoice and payment notifications only	Email notifications (no customization)	You can email on submission	Email notifications on form submission
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Basic automation triggers (limited actions)	Contracts can trigger workflows	Basic form automation (limited triggers)
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Embed via iframe (limited styling control)	You can embed forms	Basic form embedding
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Not supported	Field behavior is fixed	No advanced field preferences
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Not supported	Field types are limited	Basic field types (text, number, date, dropdown)
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	E-signature field (basic, no advanced options)	Forms can include signatures	No signature field in forms
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	Receipt capture via mobile app (not form-based)	Clients can upload files to projects	File uploads are limited	File upload field available
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No form feature	Not supported	You cannot redirect after submit	No redirect after form submission
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Client management included	Basic customer and vendor contact management (no pipeline or lead tracking)	CRM with Deals pipeline for leads	Pipeline with AI lead prioritization	CRM with pipeline management, lead tracking, and deal stages
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Client records only (no companies)	Customer records for individuals and companies (basic info only)	Companies (basic info only, no hierarchy)	Companies exist, but contacts come first	Organization and company management in CRM
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom client fields	Custom fields on customers (all plans)	Custom fields (text and select only)	You can add CRM fields	Custom fields on contacts
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Client activity history available	Full transaction history per customer	Activity log (projects and invoices only)	You can see full activity history	Activity timeline on contacts and deals
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No labels or grouping	Customer types and sub-customers (no tags or segmentation)	Tags (no advanced segmentation)	You can tag and segment contacts	Contact tags and segmentation
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No knowledge base	No knowledge base	Not supported	You cannot create an internal wiki	Built-in knowledge base (wiki) with rich text pages
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No rich text pages	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)	Rich text editor for wiki pages
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No nested pages	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)	Nested page structure in knowledge base
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Not applicable	No wiki feature	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)	Basic page permissions (project-level, not per-page)
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Financial dashboard only	Performance Center, custom reports, and Business Performance dashboard (Fathom removed July 2022)	Dashboard (fixed layout, no customization)	HoneyBook does not have custom dashboards	Customizable dashboards with widgets
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom dashboard builder	No custom dashboard builder	Pre-configured widgets only	Limited dashboard widgets	Drag-and-drop dashboard builder
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Financial charts available	Financial charts (P&L, cash flow, expense breakdown)	Charts (revenue and time only)	Basic charts only	Charts and graph widgets
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Key financial metrics displayed	Key financial metrics displayed	Metrics (revenue and project totals only)	Basic metrics only	Metrics and KPI widgets
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No goals widget	No goals widget	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)	No goals widget
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No notes widget	No notes widget	No notes widget	Not supported (requires integration)	Text widgets (not dedicated notes)
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No calendar widget	No calendar widget	Calendar widget (upcoming tasks only)	Calendar on dashboard	Calendar widget on dashboard
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Comprehensive financial widgets	Comprehensive financial widgets (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, A/R, A/P)	Revenue tracking (invoices only, no expenses)	Revenue & invoice tracking	Financial overview widgets (revenue, expenses, profit)
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Branding on invoices only	Branding on invoices only (cannot remove QuickBooks branding)	Documents and portal only (no admin theming)	HoneyBook branding, not white-label	White-label available on Ultimate plan (custom pricing)
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No interface customization	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)	No admin interface theming	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)	Basic theme customization (Advanced plan and above)
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No CSS customization	No custom CSS	No CSS customization	You cannot apply custom CSS	No custom CSS or stylesheet
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom login pages	No custom login pages	Branded login (fixed layout)	Login pages cannot be customized	Custom branding on login (Ultimate plan)
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Logo on emails (Premium only)	Logo on emails (limited customization)	Logo in emails (no custom templates)	You can brand outgoing emails	Email branding (Ultimate plan)
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom fonts	No custom fonts	No custom fonts	You cannot use custom fonts	No custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Logo upload supported	Logo upload on invoices and sales forms	Logo (documents and portal only)	You can add your logo	Custom logo/branding from Free plan for invoices; full white-labeling on Ultimate plan
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom domain	No custom domain	No custom domain	Not supported (requires integration)	Custom domain (Ultimate plan, custom pricing per user)
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP	Not supported (requires integration)	Custom email available on Ultimate plan (custom domain and email)
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding	Not supported (requires integration)	No embeddable workspace
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Fixed workspace structure	Fixed workspace structure	No workspace customization	HoneyBook has fixed workspace	Customizable workspace with modules
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No menu customization	Dashboard report tiles can be rearranged (limited menu control)	Fixed menu (no customization)	You cannot customize navigation	Configurable sidebar (limited menu editing)
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Fixed menus for all users	Menu varies by user role (not customizable)	Same menu for all users	Menus are the same for all users	No user-based menu configuration
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	3 fixed roles only	Custom roles on Advanced plan only ($275/month)	4 fixed roles (no custom)	You cannot define custom roles	Custom user roles with permissions
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Basic permission levels	Role-based permissions (custom roles on Advanced plan only)	Project permissions (no granular control)	Permissions are not configurable	Granular user permissions
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No SSO support	No SSO for end users (OAuth 2.0 for API only)	Email & password login only	You cannot use SSO	SSO on Ultimate plan only
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	100+ integrations available	800+ integrations in the QuickBooks App Store	Integrations (Zapier and Make only)	Zapier only	Integrations with Stripe, PayPal, Google, Slack, and more
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Zapier supported	Zapier integration supported	Zapier (limited triggers and actions)	You can connect HoneyBook to Zapier	No Zapier integration (uses Make.com, Pabbly Connect, and Apix Drive instead)
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Make.com supported	Make.com integration available	Make.com (limited modules)	You cannot connect via Make	Full Make.com integration available
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Limited Pabbly support	Possible via API	No Pabbly integration	You cannot connect via Pabbly	Pabbly Connect integration available
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Developer API available	Full REST API via Intuit Developer Platform	REST API (read-only, limited endpoints)	You cannot access an API	Full REST API access
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Limited webhook support	Webhooks supported via developer platform	Webhooks (outgoing only, limited events)	You cannot use webhooks	Webhook support
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Xero 0/199	FreshBooks 49/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199	Flowlu 91/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	iOS and Android apps	iOS and Android apps with receipt scanning and mileage tracking	Mobile apps (iOS and Android, limited features)	Full-featured iOS and Android apps	Mobile apps for iOS and Android
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Full iOS app available	Full iOS app available	iOS app (basic features only)	You can use HoneyBook on iOS	iOS app available
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	Full Android app available	Full Android app available	Android app (basic features only)	You can use HoneyBook on Android	Android app available
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No Mac desktop app	No Mac desktop app (QuickBooks Online is web-based only)	Web only (no Mac app)	There is no desktop app	No Mac desktop app (web-only + mobile)
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Xero is accounting software with no proposals, contracts, or client portal	No Windows desktop app	No Windows desktop app (QuickBooks Online is web-based only)	Web only (no Windows app)	There is no desktop app	No Windows desktop app (web-only + mobile)

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Frequently asked questions about Xero alternatives

Can Plutio replace Xero?

Plutio replaces Xero for invoicing, billing, and client management. Plutio handles proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and a client portal from one account. For pure accounting and tax filing needs (bank reconciliation, VAT/GST reporting, accountant access), some freelancers keep Xero alongside Plutio for their accountant's use, while running all client work through Plutio.

Is Plutio cheaper than Xero?

Yes. Plutio Core is $19/month and includes proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, multi-currency support, and client portals. Xero Starter is $39/month with a cap of 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and it includes no proposals, contracts, project management, or client portal. Xero Standard ($70/month) removes the invoice cap but still lacks all those workflow features. Plutio covers the full freelancer workflow for less than Xero's entry plan.

Does Xero have proposals for freelancers?

No. Xero has no proposal templates, online approval flow, or e-signature built into the platform. Freelancers who use Xero for invoicing typically add a separate tool like PandaDoc or Proposify for proposals. Plutio includes proposals with online approval and embedded contracts in the same document, so clients review, sign, and pay from a single link without a separate app.

Does Xero have project management for freelancers?

No. Xero tracks income per project for basic reporting, but there's no task management, project timelines, Kanban boards, or Gantt charts. Delivering client work, managing deliverables, and tracking deadlines all happen outside Xero. Plutio includes full project management with boards, Gantt charts, milestones, and task dependencies from the $19/month plan.

Does Xero support multi-currency invoicing?

Yes, but only on the Premium plan at $95/month. The Starter ($39/month) and Standard ($70/month) plans limit invoicing to a single base currency. Plutio handles multi-currency invoicing on all plans from $19/month, making it a better fit for UK, EU, Australian, or international freelancers who bill clients in multiple currencies without paying a premium tier price.

Is it hard to switch from Xero to Plutio?

Xero exports contact lists and invoice history as CSV files. Most freelancers import their client list into Plutio in under an hour. For accounting records that an accountant needs, many freelancers keep Xero active for that purpose and run Plutio for all client-facing work. The Zapier integration connects both if you want invoice data to flow between them automatically.

Can clients see their project progress with Plutio?

Yes. Plutio includes a branded client portal at your own domain. Clients log in to see project status, completed and open tasks, shared files, invoices, and messages. The portal shows your logo, colors, and domain throughout, so clients see your brand, not Plutio's. Xero has no client-facing portal where clients check project status. The only client-facing element is the invoice and payment link sent by email.

Does Plutio work well for UK and Australian freelancers?

Yes. Plutio works in any country, supports any currency, and integrates with Stripe and PayPal for global payment processing. For UK freelancers managing VAT records, Plutio's invoice history and income reports provide the data needed for quarterly returns. For Australian freelancers, GST-inclusive invoicing runs without a separate setup. Xero remains an option alongside Plutio for accountants who specifically need Xero access for filing.

What integrations does Plutio support?

Plutio connects to 5,000+ apps through Zapier, including Xero itself if you want to keep Xero for accounting while using Plutio for client management. Native integrations include Stripe, PayPal, Google Calendar, and email services. Plutio has a REST API for custom integrations. The Xero connection through Zapier lets invoice data pass between the two systems if both stay active.

Does Plutio have a mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps for tracking time, managing projects, communicating with clients, and sending invoices. The apps sync in real-time with the web platform. Xero's mobile app focuses on expense capture, bank feeds, and invoice approval, but has no project management, proposals, or client portal features.

Is Plutio good for agencies as well as solo freelancers?

Yes. Plutio supports multi-user teams with role-based permissions, shared project workspaces, and team-level time tracking per project. Agencies can assign tasks to team members, track time per person, and manage multiple branded client portals from one account. Xero supports multiple users on Standard and Premium plans but has no project delivery or client management features for the agency workflow.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features, including proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and the client portal. No credit card is required to start. Build a proposal template, send a test invoice, and explore the client portal before choosing a plan.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio includes complete white-labeling: a custom domain for the client portal, your logo and brand colors on all client-facing pages, custom email templates with your own SMTP, and CSS customization to match your exact brand guidelines. Clients see your brand throughout. Xero does not offer white-labeling, and Xero branding appears on all accountant-shared documents and the platform interface.

Does Plutio have AI features?

Yes. Plutio's AI assistant can draft proposals from project briefs, suggest task breakdowns, and flag overdue items automatically. Xero has added AI features for transaction categorization and expense matching within the accounting module, focused on the bookkeeping side rather than client management or project work.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. Data in Plutio is encrypted, private, and never used to train AI models. You can export your full data at any time, so you're never locked in. Plutio has been running for over 10 years with consistent data handling. If you decide to leave, project data, client records, and invoice history export cleanly as CSV files.

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The complete Xero alternative

All the invoicing Xero handles, plus the proposals, projects, and client portal it doesn't

From proposal to signed contract to delivered project to final invoice, all from one place. From $19/month.

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Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

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