Xero

Cloud accounting with a large add-on marketplace.

Best for	Businesses wanting cloud accounting with trade-specific add-ons.
Pricing	Paid (tiered)
Free option	Free trial
Used for	Bookkeeping & admin, Invoicing & payments
Suits	Plumbers, Electricians, Remodelers & carpenters, General contractors
Website	xero.com

Visit Xero →

What it does

Xero is cloud accounting with a large marketplace of add-ons, which is how most trade businesses get job costing — by connecting a specialist tool on top. Unlimited users on many plans is a genuine advantage over per-seat competitors. The trade-off is that the features a contractor needs usually arrive through paid add-ons.

Where the AI actually is

AI-assisted bank reconciliation and expense handling.

Pros

• Clean interface
• Strong add-on ecosystem for job costing
• Unlimited users on many plans

Cons

• Add-ons needed for trade-specific features, which adds cost

Who it suits

Built with Plumbers, Electricians, Remodelers & carpenters, General contractors in mind. Businesses wanting cloud accounting with trade-specific add-ons.

Alternatives

• QuickBooks

  Accounting software most trade businesses end up on.

• FreshBooks

  Simple invoicing and accounting for very small businesses.

• Dext

  Receipt and invoice capture that feeds your accounts.

• Expensify

  Expense reporting with automatic receipt scanning.

Prices shown are indicative as of September 2026 and change often. Always confirm on the vendor's own site.