Xero alternative
Looking for a Xero alternative?
Xero is powerful UK accounting software that files your tax straight to HMRC — built for growing businesses and the accountants who support them. If you want ready-made UK contract templates and a simpler setup for your first years freelancing, here's how TrustSolo compares — honestly, including where Xero is the better fit.
Who Xero is built for
- Sole traders and growing small businesses that want full bookkeeping — bank feeds, expenses, reporting — in one place.
- Freelancers who want their Making Tax Digital and VAT returns actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- Anyone who works with an accountant or bookkeeper — Xero is what many of them use.
- Businesses that will grow into multi-currency, projects, expenses or payroll.
At a glance
| Dimension | Xero | TrustSolo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Ignite £16/mo + VAT (80% off for the first 6 months); higher plans £37–£65/mo + VAT; one month free | £14/mo (Solo), everything included; 30 days free, no card |
| Built for the UK | Yes — HMRC filing built in (MTD for Income Tax and VAT) | Yes — built for UK freelancers |
| Contracts included | No ready-made contract templates — accounting and invoicing focus | Yes — discipline-specific UK templates you send and e-sign |
| Tax help | Files MTD for Income Tax and VAT directly to HMRC | Plain-English estimate (Income Tax + Class 4 NI) — not a filing tool |
| Sending limits | Entry Ignite plan caps you at 20 invoices a month — extras save as drafts until you upgrade | No monthly limit on invoices or contracts |
| Accounting & bookkeeping | Full accounting — bank feeds, expenses, VAT, reports, payroll add-on | Tracks income from paid invoices and estimates the tax to set aside — not full bookkeeping (no bank feeds, expenses or VAT) |
Xero is full accounting software that files your tax to HMRC, so it does more overall than TrustSolo. The comparison above focuses on what matters most when you're starting out.
Prices and features verified as of July 2026 — check Xero's site for the latest.
Sources: Xero UK pricing plans; Xero Ignite plan; Xero Making Tax Digital (VAT + Income Tax); Xero MTD for Income Tax; Xero offer details
Where TrustSolo differs
- Ready-made UK contract templates, organised by discipline — send and e-sign — where Xero doesn't provide contract templates.
- No monthly sending limits: Xero's entry Ignite plan caps how many invoices you can send before you have to upgrade, where TrustSolo doesn't.
- Pared back to your first years: contracts, invoicing, payment links and a tax estimate, without a full accounting suite you may not need yet.
Everything you get with TrustSolo
- Customisable UK contract templates — you can send and sign online
- A lightweight client CRM — contacts, notes, contracts and invoices linked in one place
- Invoices with automatic payment reminders
- Stripe-powered card payment links — with your bank details included as a backup
- Income tracking and a plain-English tax estimate — (Income Tax + Class 4 NI)
Stay with Xero if…
- You want your Making Tax Digital and VAT returns actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- You want full bookkeeping — bank feeds, expenses, reporting — in one place.
- You work with an accountant or bookkeeper who uses Xero.
- You expect to grow into multi-currency, projects, expenses or payroll.
Who TrustSolo suits
- UK freelancers in their first years who want to set up properly — a contract, an invoice with a payment link, and an idea of the tax to set aside — without an accounting degree.
- People who value ready-made contracts and simplicity over a full bookkeeping suite.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TrustSolo cheaper than Xero?
- TrustSolo is a little cheaper, as it happens. Xero's entry Ignite plan is £16/month plus VAT — around £19 once VAT is added — against TrustSolo's £14, with an introductory discount for the first six months. But price isn't the main difference: it's ready-made UK contract templates, no monthly sending limits, and a tool pared back to what you need in your first years.
- Does Xero include contracts?
- It doesn't provide ready-made contract templates. Xero is accounting software built around bookkeeping and filing your tax to HMRC, so you'd bring your own contract. TrustSolo includes discipline-specific UK contract templates you can send and e-sign. (Templates are starting points, not solicitor-reviewed.)
- Does Xero limit how many invoices I can send?
- On its entry Ignite plan, yes — it caps the number of invoices and bills you can process each month, and extras save as drafts until you upgrade to a higher plan. TrustSolo doesn't limit how many invoices or contracts you send.
- Can TrustSolo file my tax like Xero?
- No. Xero is HMRC-recognised software that files your Making Tax Digital and VAT returns. TrustSolo gives you a plain-English estimate of your Income Tax and Class 4 NI so you know what to set aside — it doesn't file your return, and it isn't MTD-filing software.
- Can I try TrustSolo alongside Xero?
- Yes. TrustSolo has 30 days free and no card required, so you can see whether it fits before moving anything.
Explore more
Set up properly, from day one
Contracts, invoices and payment links built for UK freelancers in their first years.