Introduction
Xero is a leading cloud-based accounting software tailored for small businesses, freelancers, and larger companies needing financial management solutions. However, with four pricing plans, choosing the right one can be tricky (one thing to note, there are always offers, keep a look out for these!!!)
In this guide, we break down Xero’s Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive, and Ultimate plans—analyzing features, pricing, pros and cons, and who each plan is best for.
Xero Pricing Plans Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price (Varies by Region) | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite | £16 | Basic invoices & bills, bank reconciliation | Freelancers, new businesses |
| Grow | £33 | Unlimited invoices & bills, bulk reconciliation | Small businesses |
| Comprehensive | £47 | Payroll, multi-currency, advanced reports | Growing & international businesses |
| Ultimate | £59 | Payroll for larger teams, analytics, advanced features | Larger businesses |
Xero Plan Breakdown: Features & Value
1. Xero Ignite – Best for Freelancers & New Businesses
- Price: £16/month
- Features:
- Send quotes and 20 invoices
- Enter 10 bills
- Bank reconciliation
- Basic reporting
- Pros: Affordable, easy to use, great for getting started
- Cons: 5-invoice limit is restrictive, no payroll or multi-currency
- Best for: Freelancers, sole traders, small startups
2. Xero Grow – Best for Small Businesses Scaling Up
- Price: £33/month
- Features:
- Unlimited invoices & bills (5 free £0.20 per additional)
- Bulk bank reconciliation
- Basic analytics tools
- Pros: Removes invoice limits, better transaction handling
- Cons: No payroll, no multi-currency
- Best for: Small businesses managing frequent transactions
3. Xero Comprehensive – Best for Growing Businesses & International Use
- Price: £47/month
- Features:
- Multi-currency support
- Payroll for up to 5 people
- Advanced analytics & reporting
- Pros: Payroll included, handles multiple currencies
- Cons: Payroll is limited to 5 people, price increase
- Best for: Businesses expanding or working with international clients
4. Xero Ultimate – Best for Larger Businesses
- Price: £59/month
- Features:
- Payroll for up to 10 people
- Advanced business analytics
- All features from Comprehensive
- Pros: Great for growing teams, high-level insights
- Cons: Higher cost
- Best for: Larger businesses needing payroll & analytics
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ignite (£16) | Grow (£33) | Comprehensive (£47) | Ultimate (£59) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices & bills | 30 per month (10 bills 20 invoices) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bank Reconciliations | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multi-currency | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Payroll | ❌ | ❌ | Up to 5 | Up to 10 |
Which Xero Plan Should You Choose?
- For freelancers/startups: Ignite is the cheapest but has invoice limits.
- For small businesses: Grow removes invoice limits and allows bulk reconciliation.
- For expanding businesses: Comprehensive is ideal for payroll & multi-currency.
- For larger teams: Ultimate gives the most payroll flexibility & analytics.
Final Verdict & Recommendations
| Best for… | Recommended Plan |
|---|---|
| Freelancers & small businesses | Ignite |
| Growing businesses | Grow |
| Multi-currency users & expanding teams | Comprehensive |
| Large businesses & high-volume payroll | Ultimate |
Xero offers a free trial, so you can test it before committing!