Xero Pricing Canada 2026: Plans, Costs & What CPAs Actually Recommend

If you've Googled "xero pricing canada," you've probably landed on Xero's own pricing page and thought: Okay, but what does this actually cost me once I factor in add-ons, taxes, and the stuff they don't mention upfront?

Fair question. As a CPA who sets up and manages Xero for dozens of Canadian businesses, I'll walk you through exactly what each plan costs, what's included (and what isn't), and which plan I actually recommend based on your business size and complexity.

All prices below are in Canadian dollars (CAD), exclusive of GST/HST. Pricing verified against xero.com/ca as of February 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Xero offers three plans in Canada: Starter ($25/mo), Standard ($55/mo), and Premium ($75/mo)
• All plans include unlimited users, Hubdoc, and bank connections — no per-seat fees
• The Standard plan is the best value for most Canadian small businesses
• Current promo: 90% off for 6 months — effectively $2.50–$7.50/mo to start
• Watch for hidden costs: payment processing fees, third-party payroll, and optional add-ons

Xero Pricing Plans in Canada (2026)

Xero offers three subscription tiers in Canada. Here's what each plan costs and includes:

Feature	Starter	Standard	Premium
Monthly Price	$25 CAD	$55 CAD	$75 CAD
Promo Price (3 mo)	$2.50	$5.50	$7.50
Invoices & Quotes	20/month	Unlimited	Unlimited
Bills	5/month	Unlimited	Unlimited
Bank Reconciliation	20 transactions/mo	Unlimited	Unlimited
Bank Connections	✓	✓	✓
Hubdoc (Receipt Capture)	✓	✓	✓
Short-Term Cash Flow	✓	✓	✓
Bulk Reconcile	—	✓	✓
Multi-Currency	—	—	✓
Analytics Plus	—	—	✓
Unlimited Users	✓	✓	✓

Starter Plan — $25/month

The Starter plan is Xero's entry-level option, designed for brand-new businesses or sole proprietors with minimal transaction volume. At $25 CAD per month, it's affordable but comes with hard limits: 20 invoices, 5 bills, and 20 bank reconciliations per month.

Who it's for: Freelancers, sole proprietors, or pre-revenue startups who send fewer than 20 invoices per month and have simple accounting needs.

My honest take: Most businesses outgrow this plan within 3–6 months. If you're already operating and have regular clients, skip straight to Standard. The $30/month difference saves you the hassle of upgrading mid-quarter.

Standard Plan — $55/month

The Standard plan is where Xero really shines for Canadian businesses. Unlimited invoicing, unlimited bill entry, unlimited bank reconciliation, and bulk reconcile — this is the plan we recommend to the vast majority of our clients.

Who it's for: Growing businesses with regular invoicing, multiple bank accounts, and a need for proper financial reporting. This covers most Canadian SMEs: consultants, agencies, professional services, retail, and e-commerce.

My honest take: At $55/month, this is the sweet spot. You get everything you need for day-to-day accounting without paying for multi-currency features most domestic businesses don't use.

Premium Plan — $75/month

The Premium plan adds multi-currency support and Analytics Plus on top of everything in Standard. If you invoice clients in USD, EUR, or other currencies — or if you pay international suppliers — this is the plan you need.

Who it's for: Businesses with international clients or suppliers, import/export operations, and companies that need advanced cash flow forecasting through Analytics Plus.

My honest take: Only upgrade to Premium if you genuinely deal in multiple currencies. If all your business is in CAD, Standard gives you everything you need for $20/month less.

What's Included in Every Xero Plan

Regardless of which plan you choose, every Xero subscription in Canada includes:

• Unlimited users — Add your bookkeeper, accountant, and team members at no extra cost. This is a major advantage over QuickBooks Online, which charges per-user fees on most plans.
• Hubdoc — Xero's built-in document capture tool. Snap photos of receipts, forward bills via email, and Hubdoc automatically extracts the data and files it in Xero.
• Bank connections — Connect directly to major Canadian banks (TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, and others) for automatic transaction imports.
• Short-term cash flow forecasting — A basic but useful view of your expected cash position based on invoices and bills.
• Mobile app — Full-featured iOS and Android apps for invoicing, expense capture, and bank reconciliation on the go.
• Xero-to-Xero network — Send invoices directly to other Xero users for faster payment processing.
• 24/7 online support — Email and chat support available around the clock.

Xero Add-On Costs

Beyond the base subscription, Xero offers optional add-ons that may increase your total cost:

Add-On	Price (CAD/month)	What It Does
Xero Expenses	From $5/active user	Expense claims and reimbursement workflow
Xero Projects	From $10/active user	Time tracking, project costing, job profitability

Important note on payroll: Xero does not offer built-in Canadian payroll. You'll need a third-party integration like Wagepoint or Rise People, which typically cost $20–$40/month plus per-employee fees. For more detail, see our guide on managing payroll taxes in Canada.

Hidden Costs to Watch

Xero's published pricing is straightforward, but there are a few costs that catch businesses off guard:

• Payment processing fees — If you enable Stripe or GoCardless payments on your Xero invoices, you'll pay standard processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for credit cards). These fees are charged by the payment provider, not Xero.
• Third-party integrations — Popular add-ons like A2X for e-commerce, Dext for advanced receipt capture, or payroll apps each carry their own monthly fees.
• Migration costs — If you're switching from another platform, converting your chart of accounts, historical data, and open invoices can take time. Consider working with a Xero-certified advisor (like us) to handle the migration cleanly.
• Training time — While Xero is intuitive to learn, there's still a learning curve. Budget a few hours for your team to get comfortable with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and reporting workflows.
• GST/HST on the subscription — Xero's listed prices exclude tax. Add 13% HST (Ontario) or your applicable provincial rate to the monthly cost. On the Standard plan, that's an extra ~$7.15/month.

Current Xero Promotions in Canada

Xero regularly runs promotional offers for new subscribers. Here's the current deal:

Heads up: Standard and Premium plan prices are increasing from April 1, 2026. If you're on the fence, locking in now at the current rate (with the 90% promo on top) is the smart move.

Xero vs QuickBooks: Pricing Comparison

Wondering how Xero stacks up against QuickBooks Online in Canada? Here's a side-by-side look at monthly pricing:

	Xero	QuickBooks Online
Entry Plan	Starter — $25/mo	Simple Start — $21/mo
Mid Plan	Standard — $55/mo	Essentials — $42/mo
Top Plan	Premium — $75/mo	Plus — $63/mo
Users Included	Unlimited	1 / 3 / 5
Multi-Currency	Premium only	All plans
Built-in Payroll	No (third-party)	Yes (add-on)
Hubdoc / Receipt Capture	Included	Included

The bottom line: QuickBooks appears cheaper on sticker price, but once you add extra users ($11–$13/user/month on QBO), Xero's unlimited-user model often works out more affordable for teams of 3 or more. For a deeper dive, read our full Xero vs QuickBooks Canada comparison.

Which Xero Plan Should You Choose?

Here's our straightforward recommendation based on business type:

Business Type	Recommended Plan	Why
Freelancer / Side hustle	Starter ($25)	Low volume, simple needs
Sole proprietor (active)	Standard ($55)	Unlimited invoicing, proper reporting
Small business (1–10 staff)	Standard ($55)	Best value, covers all core needs
E-commerce business	Premium ($75)	Multi-currency for USD sales
Import/export business	Premium ($75)	Multi-currency is essential
Multi-entity corporation	Standard or Premium	Separate subscription per entity

Pro tip: If you're unsure, start with Standard. You can always upgrade to Premium later if you begin invoicing in other currencies — and Xero prorates the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Xero cost per month in Canada?

Xero offers three plans in Canada: Starter at $25 CAD/month, Standard at $55 CAD/month, and Premium at $75 CAD/month. All prices exclude GST/HST. New subscribers can get 90% off for the first 6 months with the current promotion.

Is Xero free for small businesses?

Xero does not offer a permanently free plan, but you can start with a free 30-day trial on any plan. After the trial, the 90% off promotion reduces costs to as low as $2.50/month for 6 months — making it very affordable to evaluate.

Does Xero include payroll in Canada?

No. Unlike QuickBooks Online, Xero does not include built-in Canadian payroll. You'll need a third-party integration like Wagepoint ($20+/month) or Rise People. However, these dedicated payroll platforms often provide superior Canadian compliance features, including ROE filing and T4 generation.

Can I use Xero for multiple businesses?

Yes, but each business requires its own Xero subscription. There's no "multi-org discount" anymore — each entity is billed separately. The good news is that you can manage multiple organizations from a single Xero login, and your accountant can access all of them through their advisor dashboard.

Is Xero worth the price for a Canadian business?

For most Canadian SMEs, yes. Xero's unlimited users, included Hubdoc, strong bank connections, and clean interface make it excellent value — especially on the Standard plan. The main consideration is whether you need built-in payroll (advantage: QuickBooks) or prefer unlimited users and a better app ecosystem (advantage: Xero). See our detailed analysis of whether Xero is worth it.

What happens after the Xero promotional period ends?

After the 6-month promotional period, your subscription automatically renews at the full list price (e.g., $55/month for Standard). Xero will notify you before the promotional rate expires. You can downgrade, cancel, or continue at the standard rate — no long-term commitment is required.

Final Verdict

Xero pricing in Canada is competitive and transparent. For most Canadian businesses, the Standard plan at $55/month offers the best balance of features and value. Add the current 90% off promotion, and you're looking at just $5.50/month for your first six months — hard to beat.