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Tallyfinch vs Xero
Xero is a full online accounting platform with bank feeds, payroll add-ons and an advisor network. Tallyfinch is a simpler desktop app for simple books, bought once.
| What | Tallyfinch | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 once, then $5 a month for updates. | USD, billed monthly, excluding taxes: Early $27 a month, Growing $59 a month, Established $97 a month. Xero sometimes runs a discount for new customers' first months. |
| Where your data is kept | In a file on your own computer. Nothing is stored on our servers. | Cloud: Xero says it replicates your data "between data centres in different locations" and that data is "backed up and protected online in the cloud", with encryption. This is from Xero's Australian security page; no hosting provider is named. |
| Devices | Mac and Windows. One user on one computer. | Online accounting used in a web browser, plus the Xero Accounting app "available on iOS and Android devices, including iPads and tablets" (iOS 16 or higher for full compatibility). The app is free for active Xero accounts. |
| Getting your transactions in | Imports bank statements and reconciles them. No automatic bank feed. | Yes. Bank feeds from "thousands of US banks" pull transactions in, and the data is read-only; Yodlee is named as a third-party feed connector for some banks, and OFX, QIF, QBO, QFX, CSV or PDF statements can be imported. |
| If you stop paying | The app keeps working and your books stay yours. You stop getting updates. | Direct subscribers can terminate with one month's notice, with no refund. After that, the organisation "is archived and the data submitted or created by you is no longer available to you"; you can reactivate by paying the subscription fees, or ask Xero to remove the data completely. |
| What it leaves out or adds | Not included: Payroll, sales tax filing, inventory costing, several users, cloud access and a mobile app. It is built for simple books. | Advertised strengths: The Early plan allows quotes and 20 invoices and 5 bills.; Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, costs "$36 a month + $6 per employee/contractor" on every plan.; Auto-reconcile is a $5.00/month option on Early and included on Growing and Established.. |
Xero details from its own pages, checked 2026-10-31: source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4, source 5. Prices and features change, so confirm on their site. Xero is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated with it.
Choose Xero if
You need bank feeds, payroll, several users, many integrations, or an accountant who works in Xero with you.
Choose Tallyfinch if
You run simple books alone, import statements happily, and want a one-time price with your books on your own computer.
FAQ
Questions about switching
What is the main difference between Tallyfinch and Xero?
Xero is a full online accounting platform with bank feeds, payroll add-ons and an advisor network. Tallyfinch is a simpler desktop app for simple books, bought once.
Is Tallyfinch a Xero replacement for a growing business?
Usually not once you need payroll, several users or bank feeds. It is built for sole proprietors and small service businesses.
What happens to my data if I stop paying?
Tallyfinch keeps working and your books stay in your file. You just stop getting updates.
Who should choose Xero?
Choose Xero if you need bank feeds, payroll, several users, many integrations, or an accountant who works in Xero with you.
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