The Xero Alternative for Freelancers and Sole Traders (2024)

vs.

Rounded is the easier, more affordable accounting app made just for creatives, consultants, and other self-employed Aussies.

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Only the features you need

Using Xero to manage finances as a sole trader is like using a flamethrower to light a candle.

Rounded keeps it simple with just the tools you need to invoice faster, get paid on time, track expenses, and be prepared for tax time. No complicated extras.

Designed for you, not your accountant

Unlike Xero, you won’t have to pay for training or spend hours learning the ropes. Our intuitive design and responsive support help you master Rounded in minutes.

Built for your budget

Xero can be very expensive – especially when you start including the cost of their add-on features.

Rounded has everything you need for less than 1 coffee a week. Plus, with little to no learning curve, our users typically recoup the yearly cost in 6-8 weeks via time saved on business admin.

See our pricing and plans.

How do Rounded and Xero compare?

Xero is ideal for accountants and businesses with employees. But if you’re solo, you’re likely overspending on features you’ll never use.

Unlimited invoicing

Rounded lets you send unlimited invoices, no matter which plan you choose.

Xero’s Starter Plan has an invoice limit so eventually you’ll have to upgrade your plan and spend an extra $34 each month.

included

$65/month or more

AI expense tracking

Both Rounded and Xero have a helpful bank feed that imports income and expenses.

But only Rounded’s proprietary AI will learn as you categorise your expenses and make suggestions for future expenses, saving you hours.

With Xero, you’ll have to spend a lot of time creating rules to help the system categorise your expenses. It’s fiddly and time-consuming.

included

Faster bank feed setup

You won’t have to wait up to 4 days for your bank feed to become active. Rounded will import all your data in just a few minutes.

included

Snap and store receipts at no extra cost

With Rounded, you can take a picture of receipts and attach them to expenses for easy storage. You’ll never have to worry about missing out on a deduction again thanks to lost or damaged receipts.

You can do this with Xero too – if you pay an extra $5 a month.

included

Add on $5/month

Know how much tax you owe in an instant

Rounded’s automatic calculator lets you see how much tax you owe anytime, right on the dashboard.

To check how much tax you owe with Xero, you’ll have to do the maths yourself or go searching through financial reports.

included

Do your BAS in minutes

If you’re GST registered, Rounded will calculate and track your GST. When it’s time to lodge your Business Activity Statement (BAS), you’ll have all the information you need to get it done in a couple of minutes.

Submitting your BAS with Xero is a headache – and often requires support or training from an accountant.

Time tracking included at no extra cost

Rounded is the only sole trader accounting software that offers time and project tracking on every plan. Track all your time inside the app and then invoice with a click. Seamless!

To use Xero’s time tracking, you’ll need to pay another $10 a month on top of your subscription.

included

Add on $10/month

Invoice in any currency (without paying 265% more)

Expand your client base outside of Australia and work with clients around the globe. Rounded lets you invoice in any currency.

Xero only offers this feature on their Premium 5 plan – so you’ll need to spend $85 a month if you want to work with international clients.

included

$85/month or more

Fast and friendly customer support

To get help from Rounded, just shoot us a quick in-app message and we’ll be happy to lend a hand. We typically get back to you in about 30 seconds during business hours.

To get help from Xero, you’ll need to fill in a form describing your problem and wait to get an email back. With an average response time of 2 hours, you’ll be waiting a while!

included

Average Monthly Cost

Rounded has everything you need for less than the cost of one coffee a week ($21/month).

Xero can be very expensive – especially when you start including the cost of their add-on features ($65/month).

$21 / month

$65 / month

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Unlimited invoicing Rounded lets you send unlimited invoices, no matter which plan you choose. Xero’s Starter Plan has an invoice limit so eventually you’ll have to upgrade your plan and spend an extra $34 each month.		$65/month or more
AI expense tracking Both Rounded and Xero have a helpful bank feed that imports income and expenses. But only Rounded’s proprietary AI will learn as you categorise your expenses and make suggestions for future expenses, saving you hours. With Xero, you’ll have to spend a lot of time creating rules to help the system categorise your expenses. It’s fiddly and time-consuming.
Faster bank feed setup You won’t have to wait up to 4 days for your bank feed to become active. Rounded will import all your data in just a few minutes.
Snap and store receipts at no extra cost With Rounded, you can take a picture of receipts and attach them to expenses for easy storage. You’ll never have to worry about missing out on a deduction again thanks to lost or damaged receipts. You can do this with Xero too – if you pay an extra $5 a month.		Add on $5/month
Know how much tax you owe in an instant Rounded’s automatic calculator lets you see how much tax you owe anytime, right on the dashboard. To check how much tax you owe with Xero, you’ll have to do the maths yourself or go searching through financial reports.
Do your BAS in minutes If you’re GST registered, Rounded will calculate and track your GST. When it’s time to lodge your Business Activity Statement (BAS), you’ll have all the information you need to get it done in a couple of minutes. Submitting your BAS with Xero is a headache – and often requires support or training from an accountant.
Time tracking included at no extra cost Rounded is the only sole trader accounting software that offers time and project tracking on every plan. Track all your time inside the app and then invoice with a click. Seamless! To use Xero’s time tracking, you’ll need to pay another $10 a month on top of your subscription.		Add on $10/month
Invoice in any currency (without paying 265% more) Expand your client base outside of Australia and work with clients around the globe. Rounded lets you invoice in any currency. Xero only offers this feature on their Premium 5 plan – so you’ll need to spend $85 a month if you want to work with international clients.		$85/month or more
Fast and friendly customer support To get help from Rounded, just shoot us a quick in-app message and we’ll be happy to lend a hand. We typically get back to you in about 30 seconds during business hours. To get help from Xero, you’ll need to fill in a form describing your problem and wait to get an email back. With an average response time of 2 hours, you’ll be waiting a while!
Average Monthly Cost Rounded has everything you need for less than the cost of one coffee a week ($21/month). Xero can be very expensive – especially when you start including the cost of their add-on features ($65/month).	Try Free Now $21 / month	$65 / month

See all Rounded features

Easy Invoicing Simple, professional invoicing on mobile and desktop. Customise your templates, receive online payments and set automatic reminders for your clients.
Stress-free tax reporting Always know how much tax you’ll pay with our built-in calculator, designed specifically for Australian sole traders.
AI-powered expense tracking Easily track your business expenses and store receipts digitally. Securely connect your bank and let our AI do the data entry.
Built-in time tracking Accurately capture every second spent on work – whether you’re in your home office, on-site with a client, or out and about.

I found Xero far too complicated and expensive for more than 5 invoices per week - Rounded has it all - for just a small yearly fee - instant help online chat, simple user interface and they take suggestions seriously and update the program as they go.

Sarah Turner Camera Assistant

Perfect for a sole trader business. Easy to learn. Easy to use and has a similar experience between desktop and mobile.

Chris Rulewski Singer and Songwriter

Just brilliant. Does everything I need as a sole trader. No complicated rubbish, just the important stuff you need to keep your business running. Great support too. Highly recommended for Aussie micro businesses.

Leonie Waldron Chameleon Copywriting & Content Marketing

I have recommended Rounded to a number of people and have actually shown them how it all works; I can’t speak highly enough of this very accessible software particularly for small business owners.

Andrea Lovell

After trying out a few competitors (including the big one that starts with X) and finding them way too OTT for my needs, I'm so glad I came across Rounded. Rounded has made my finance admin so much easier I'm a graphic designer mostly doing service work, with a few products that I sell as well. Rounded makes tracking income and expenses super easy to do and see how my income goals are tracking. I use the invoice feature too and love it - especially after years of DIY excel spreadsheets and InDesign invoices! Being able to see if an invoice is overdue and quickly email a reminder to the client is a great feature. I also love that I can quickly find the $ info I need for my BAS and give my accountant access to Rounded for the yearly tax return. I also love that because Rounded is an Australian company they know what GST is all about. Highly recommended!