Xero vs Board

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Our analysts compared Xero vs Board based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Board Software Tool

Product Basics

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses. It streamlines bookkeeping tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and payroll, all accessible from any device. Xero boasts user-friendly interfaces and automated features, saving time and simplifying financial management. Popular features include online invoicing with reminders, bank feeds for automatic transaction import, and customizable reports for insights into cash flow and profitability. While Xero caters well to various industries, its strengths lie in freelancer/contractor work, startups, and service-based businesses. Pricing scales with business size and complexity, starting at a monthly subscription for basic accounting needs and increasing with additional features and users. Compared to some competitors, Xero offers a robust mobile app, strong integrations with third-party tools, and a focus on user experience. However, it may lack advanced inventory management or complex accounting functions suited for larger enterprises. Ultimately, Xero's value proposition lies in its ease of use, automation, and scalability, making it a popular choice for small businesses seeking a streamlined and efficient accounting solution.

Pros:
  • Cloud-based access anywhere
  • Easy invoicing and expense tracking
  • Automated bank reconciliation
  • User-friendly interface
  • Mobile app for on-the-go use
Cons:
  • Learning curve for new users
  • Limited inventory management
  • No built-in payroll (separate fee)
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited phone support
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Board Intelligent Planning Platform is a business planning tool that gives companies of all sizes resources to empower themselves and develop better, future-proof practices. It’s especially useful to businesses that have financial, supply chain, sales and operations, and merchandise and retail planning needs.

The software utilizes the Microsoft Azure cloud to give users access from any connected device and uses a low-code customization environment so even the least experienced programmer can optimize its workflow for whatever their company requires.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Collaborative planning
  • Data visualization tools
  • Flexible reporting options
  • Scalable for future growth
Cons
  • Limited free plan features
  • Can be expensive for large teams
  • Learning curve for advanced features
  • May not integrate with all software
  • Limited customization options
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$15 Monthly
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$10,000 Quote-Based
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Affordable Payroll: Take advantage of the free trial to see how much time automated data entry can save and assess if the solution is a good fit for the business. Save countless hours on tracking expenses, calculating payments, processing payroll and more.
  • Better Interoperability: Centralize company processes and handle a wide range of functionality with more than 700 add-ons available through the app marketplace. This includes programs for CRM, e-commerce, inventory, invoicing, job tracking, payroll, time and attendance and more.
  • Centralizes Data and Processes: Organize information and put the primary software that handles day-to-day issues all in one place. Manage files to a document library where users can see originals next to updated versions. Send files to stakeholders to ensure a clear flow of information.
  • Saves Time: Eliminate tedious data entry and ensure better data integrity by cutting down on human error. Provide a clear documentation trail to ensure that the business is running ethically and save time hunting for documents when it’s time to verify the information.
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  • No Experience Required: Users of any skill level can get into Board and immediately start optimizing their business planning with a comprehensive set of tools for business intelligence, performance management and predictive analytics. 
  • All-in-One Platform: Board provides the resources to handle everything from flat-file data to ERP, with a user-friendly interface that serves expert and beginner users alike. 
  • Adaptable Use Cases: Financial planning and analytics, accounting reporting and consolidation, supply chain planning and management, and merchandise and retail planning can all be handled and optimized using Board’s robust set of corporate and departmental modules. 
  • Customizability: Board gives businesses the ability to not only handle processes out of the box, but also to create custom workflows and modules for their specific needs. 
  • Self-Service Analytics: Gain insights into business performance, forecast trends and develop better strategies without sophisticated IT knowledge or assistance. 
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  • Payroll Processing: Provide payroll across 50 states. See when payments are due, track them and ensure on time payment. Analyze accounts payable with a quick view, schedule advanced payments and make batch payments.
  • Banking: Connect to the right bank to track and facilitate transactions daily. Keep an eye on the flow of money through a secure connection that goes directly into the solution.
  • Expense Management: Seamlessly track and manage expense claims. Access real-time data and reports that provide insight into patterns and trends. Record costs, see and approve claims, view overall spending and dole out reimbursements. Capture receipts to monitor employee spending and verify costs.
  • Project Management: Integrate with other workflows to facilitate financial project management. Provide a quote for client work before you begin to track time, costs, profitability and other variables for an accurate invoice.
  • Customer History: Use smart lists and contacts to contact details, emails, past sales, emails, invoices, past payments and more when working with a partner or client.
  • Mobile App: Let users track bank transactions, send invoices, access supplier details and more, from any mobile device.
  • Inventory Management: Undertake basic inventory management, including taking inventory, seeing what was bought or sold, look at reports on how well items are doing and get invoices and orders.
  • Gusto Integration: Calculate and pay taxes, deductions and employees through an integration with the accounting software Gusto. Simplify compliance and keep on top of industry updates.
  • Other Capabilities: Processes payment in multiple currencies, calculates sales taxes, tracks purchase orders, manages files and does several other administrative tasks.
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  • Adaptable Platform: Board Intelligent Planning Platform can be deployed in a variety of ways depending on specific business needs, and utilizes a proprietary in-memory technology and HTML5 web platform to remain fast and usable regardless of how it’s deployed. 
    • Granular Security: A multi-layer security system provides full control over who has access to what information on a cell-by-cell basis.
    • Metadata Gateway: The software translates data sources into simple, easy-to-read views and imports data into its own format automatically.
  • Powerful Analytics: Board provides automatic and manual analytics features for users of all experience levels to make sense of data and inform future decisions. 
    • Drag-and-Drop Analysis: Build robust analyses from company financial data by simply dragging and dropping information into a visual environment, with built-in machine learning capabilities to handle the more difficult, technical side of analysis. 
    • Multidirectional Drilldown: Create drill paths in any direction, between reports or back to source systems for the most in-depth analysis possible. 
  • Robust Planning: Enter data and use it to determine future plans with Board’s complete set of ERP tools. 
    • Simplified Metrics: Users can create Excel-like formulas to define specific custom metrics and apply them to any of the software's databases. 
    • Real-time Adjustments: Change data metrics and models without affecting user operations. This gives businesses maximum control over planning and forecasting as events unfold. 
  • Business Modeling: Define workflows and onboard employees to ensure maximum organizational efficiency. 
    • Customized Rules: Create and customize boundaries and guidelines for their workflows. Users can also set criteria to help generate more precise predictions. 
    • Adaptive Aggregation: Flexible data aggregation can be performed at any time, automatically adapting data and metrics to new dimensions. 
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Product Ranking

#3

among all
Accounting Software

#17

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 93 97 100 89 89 100 100 83 100 100 79 89 100 90 92 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 4652 reviews
Great User Sentiment 804 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

Xero has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 4652 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

89%
of users recommend this product

Board has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 804 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.4 (17)
4.8 (2)
4.3 (339)
4.4 (279)
4.33 (2132)
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4.3 (1877)
4.5 (134)
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4.6 (157)
4.3 (287)
4.3 (232)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Xero and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Integration and Extensibility and Mobile Support.

Integration and Extensibility Award
Mobile Support Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Affordable: Of all the reviews that mentioned price, over 70% felt it was well within their price range and felt satisfied.
Good Customer Service: Over 70% of reviews that mentioned the customer support said they received excellent service, especially from their reps.
Excellent Functionality: In more than 50% of all reviews that mentioned features, users were happy with its capabilities. They especially like the integrations, reconciliation process, invoices and accounting functions.
Simple and intuitive interface: Xero's clean layout and straightforward navigation make it easy for users of all skill levels to manage their finances. In over 80% of reviews that mentioned the UI, users said it was easy to navigate.
Automated tasks: Xero automates repetitive tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation, saving users valuable time and reducing errors.
Mobile app for on-the-go access: Manage your finances and stay up-to-date on your business performance anytime, anywhere with Xero's mobile app.
Customizable reports and dashboards: Gain valuable insights into your cash flow, profitability, and other key financial metrics with Xero's customizable reports and dashboards.
Multi-user access and permissions: Collaborate with team members and advisors seamlessly with Xero's secure multi-user access and permission controls.
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Collaborative Planning: Users praise Board's real-time collaboration features, enabling teams to work together seamlessly on plans and share updates instantly, boosting efficiency and alignment.
Flexible & Scalable: Many appreciate Board's adaptability to various planning needs, accommodating diverse data sets, departments, and future growth, making it a future-proof solution.
Data Visualization & Insights: Users value Board's robust data visualization tools, transforming complex data into clear dashboards and reports, aiding in informed decision-making and identifying trends.
Automation & Streamlining: Real user experiences highlight Board's ability to automate repetitive tasks and workflows, freeing up time for strategic work and analysis, improving overall planning efficiency.
Mobile Accessibility: Appreciations are shared for Board's mobile app, allowing users to access plans and data on the go, enhancing flexibility and real-time decision support.
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Limited inventory management: Xero lacks advanced inventory tracking features, making it less suitable for businesses with complex inventory needs.
Learning curve for complex features: While basic tasks are easy, some advanced features like multi-currency accounting can be challenging for non-accountants to navigate. Though the system was widely popular after implementation, users said it was old-fashioned and had a steep learning curve in 20% of reviews that mentioned the UI.
Higher cost for advanced features: Access to advanced features like payroll processing and multi-currency comes at a higher price point, potentially exceeding budgets for smaller businesses.
Limited phone support: Xero primarily relies on email and live chat for support, which may not be ideal for users seeking immediate assistance with critical issues.
Integration limitations: While offering many integrations, some key business tools may not have seamless integration with Xero, requiring workarounds or data duplication.
Invoices: While around 60% of users felt that the invoicing system worked well, around 40% said they had trouble making changes to them once they were saved.
Downgrading Issues: Around 20% of reviews that mentioned price said they had issues while trying to go to a lower pricing tier and often ended up paying a month or more at a higher rate.
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Complex Calculations: Limited transparency in formula calculations, hindering troubleshooting and advanced analysis.
Macro Restrictions: Restricted macro functionalities might constrain automation and specialized workflows.
Navigation Challenges: Unintuitive interface layout and navigation, leading to user frustration and inefficiency.
Mobile Limitations: Limited mobile app functionalities compared to desktop version, restricting accessibility.
Restricted Dashboard Design: Limited design freedom for dashboards, impacting user preferences and visual clarity.
Scalability Concerns: Performance issues reported with large datasets, potentially hindering scalability for growing companies.
Opaque Pricing Structure: Lack of clear pricing information and complex licensing tiers, making cost estimation difficult.
Limited Support Availability: Reported challenges with timely and comprehensive support responses.
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Xero’s users say it’s easy to use and has good accounting and bookkeeping capabilities. Most found the price to be acceptable, with some complaints about issues they ran into while trying to switch to a lower pricing tier. More than 70% loved the customer service and felt their representatives were extremely helpful. It has a range of features including band feeds, invoice creation, integrations and reconciliation processes. The reconciliation was particularly popular with over 80% of reviewers who mentioned it describing positive experiences. One issue with the system came in making updates to invoices after they’d been saved. Some users said they were sent prematurely to clients or claimed to have difficulties changing the data at a later date. Many also felt that the implementation process for the new platform was difficult, but that once they learned where things were they felt comfortable. This may be a good choice for small and medium businesses. Larger companies should consider a system that’s able to handle a higher volume.

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Board, an Intelligent Planning software, garners mixed reviews from users. While praised for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, some find its cost and scalability a concern. Let's delve deeper. Users appreciate Board's intuitiveness, making it accessible even to non-technical folks. Its flexibility allows tailoring the platform to specific needs, a boon for organizations with intricate planning processes or unique data demands. Additionally, Board seamlessly integrates with various data sources, simplifying information consolidation for insightful analysis. However, cost can be a barrier, particularly for smaller businesses, as Board can be pricier than competitors. Scalability concerns arise, with some users reporting performance issues when handling massive datasets. While powerful for basic planning, Board might lack the advanced features offered by competitors for highly technical users or complex scenarios. Board sets itself apart by emphasizing visually engaging and interactive reports and dashboards, aiding communication with stakeholders. Its robust mobile app empowers users to access and manage plans on the go, promoting flexibility and remote work. Ultimately, Board's strengths and weaknesses hold varying importance depending on your needs. Budget, data volume, desired features, and user requirements should be carefully considered when comparing Board to other Intelligent Planning software options. Remember, this is just a general overview, and thorough research tailored to your specific context is crucial before making a decision.

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