Xero vs Botkeeper

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

Botkeeper 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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Botkeeper is a bookkeeping automation solution that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide bookkeeping and pre-accounting functions to accounting firms and their clients.

It eliminates duplicate entry and manual errors associated with manual bookkeeping. Its human-assisted artificial intelligence functions help accounting professionals make well-informed decisions with meaningful visualizations and analysis of important financial data.
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$15 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$155/Entity, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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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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  • Easy Deployment: Flexible platform that comes with a wide range of third-party application integrations that streamline deployment.  
  • High Data Security: Ensures data security by applying 256-bit data encryption, ensuring the user’s data is safe during storage and transmission. 
  • Simplified Reporting: Without restricting any data capabilities, it offers unlimited custom reports to give businesses the freedom to track all financial activities.  
  • Extensive Functions: The ScanBot tool lifts financial data directly from receipt photos. Save, view and customize documents with the document manager and generate reports with the report builder. 
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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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  • Integration: Securely connect financial and non-financial data with one click. Saves time, reduces cost and eliminates the possibility of errors. 
  • Bank Authorization: Get real-time access to bank feeds for complete transparency into bank and credit accounts. No more pestering clients for authentication.  
  • Invoice Management: ScanBot streamlines and simplifies invoice management with automation. Scan and upload receipts, invoices, expenses and sales contracts to sync them directly with the client’s books.  
  • Automated Transaction Categorization: Based on the client’s historical data, it automatically categorizes data with machine learning.  
  • Customizable Dashboard: The customizable dashboard provides helpful financial and non-financial data insights on a single centralized platform. Create a report with data visually tailored to the client’s needs. 
  • Fixed Asset Management: Track and monitor fixed assets to lower maintenance costs and boost operational efficiency.  
  • Spend Management: Gain visibility into cash flows, reduce procurement costs, regulate compliance and boost operational efficiency.  
  • Expense Tracking: Manage and report business expenses, travel requests and reimbursements.  
  • Cash Management: Ensure optimum utilization of the organization’s liquid resources by collecting, handling and controlling where the cash is coming from.  
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Product Ranking

#3

among all
Accounting Software

#134

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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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 4652 reviews
Great User Sentiment 135 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.

88%
of users recommend this product

Botkeeper has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 135 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.4 (17)
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4.3 (339)
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4.33 (2132)
4.44 (68)
4.3 (1877)
4.4 (67)
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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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Ease of Use: Users praise Botkeeper's intuitive design and straightforward interface, making it easy to navigate and manage financial tasks, even for those without a strong accounting background.
Affordability: Botkeeper's pricing is often cited as a major advantage, offering a cost-effective solution compared to traditional bookkeeping services or hiring in-house staff.
Reliability: Users appreciate Botkeeper's consistent performance and accuracy in handling financial data, ensuring that their books are up-to-date and reliable.
Security: Botkeeper's robust security measures provide users with peace of mind, knowing that their sensitive financial information is protected from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Scalability: Botkeeper's ability to adapt to the changing needs of businesses as they grow is a significant benefit, allowing users to easily scale their accounting processes without outgrowing the platform.
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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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Limited Functionality for Accounting: Some users have noted that Botkeeper's features are not as comprehensive as other accounting software, particularly for tasks like managing accounts payable and receivable.
Cost Concerns: Botkeeper's pricing structure, which is often subscription-based, has been cited as a drawback for some businesses, especially smaller ones with limited budgets.
Learning Curve: Despite being marketed as user-friendly, some users have reported a steep learning curve when initially navigating and utilizing Botkeeper's platform.
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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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Is Botkeeper the keeper of your business's financial sanity? Last year, users gave Botkeeper mixed reviews. Some users found Botkeeper's automated bookkeeping features, like invoice processing and expense tracking, to be a major time-saver, freeing them up to focus on other aspects of their business. They also appreciated the software's user-friendly interface and integrations with popular accounting software. However, other users reported experiencing technical glitches and inconsistencies in the software's performance. Some users felt that Botkeeper's customer support was lacking, with slow response times and difficulty getting issues resolved. A key differentiating factor for Botkeeper is its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate bookkeeping tasks. This AI-powered approach is designed to improve accuracy and efficiency, but some users found that the AI was not always reliable and required manual intervention. Overall, Botkeeper seems best suited for small business owners who are comfortable with technology and looking for a way to automate basic bookkeeping tasks. However, businesses with more complex accounting needs or those who require highly responsive customer support may want to consider other options.

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