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How much does Xero cost in Canada?
Xero costs $25, $60 or $80 a month CAD in Canada for Starter, Standard and Premium, before GST/HST, with unlimited users and Hubdoc included. Through our Xero referral link a new organization gets 80% off for 6 months with no code ($5, $12 or $16 a month). Payroll is not in any plan; Wagepoint adds it from $20 a month plus $4 per employee.
Partner offer
Xero is 80% off for 6 months through our link
On a new Xero organization, any plan. No code: sign up with the form on the page our link opens.
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. For a breakdown of which plan offers the best value, read the plan-by-plan breakdown below, or compare Xero against QuickBooks and FreshBooks in our best accounting software for Canada guide.
All prices below are in Canadian dollars (CAD), exclusive of GST/HST. Xero pricing and both discounts verified at xero.com/ca on 26 September 2026, QuickBooks pricing against quickbooks.intuit.com/ca on 26 September 2026.
Xero's current new-customer offer
Every term is on our Xero discount for Canada page; in short, there are two versions of the same new-customer offer. Through our Xero referral link a new organization gets 80% off Starter, Standard or Premium for 6 months with no code: $5, $12 or $16 a month instead of $25, $60 or $80. On xero.com/ca, Xero's own public promotion is 80% off for 3 months, for customers in Canada buying their first organization. Both revert to Xero's standard rates when the offer period ends, neither can be combined with another offer, and the landing page our link opens currently shows the 6-month offer running to 31 March 2027.
Three extra months at the promotional price are worth $60 on Starter, $144 on Standard and $192 on Premium against the public 3-month offer, because months four to six bill at $5, $12 or $16 instead of $25, $60 or $80. The discount attaches only if you complete the signup on the page the link opens. The coupon-site codes that do not work, and our verification log, are on our Xero discount page.
How do Xero's plans compare in Canada?
Xero offers three subscription tiers in Canada. Here's what each plan costs and includes:
| Feature | Starter | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $25 CAD | $60 CAD | $80 CAD |
| With our link (80% off, 6 months) | $5.00 | $12.00 | $16.00 |
| Invoices & Quotes | 20/month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bills | 5/month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bank Reconciliation | Included | Included | Included |
| Bank Connections | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hubdoc (Receipt Capture) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Short-Term Cash Flow | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| JAX Auto-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 and 5 bills a month. Bank reconciliation is included, but JAX auto-reconcile needs Standard or Premium.
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, $60/month
The Standard plan is where Xero really shines for Canadian businesses. Unlimited invoicing and bill entry, JAX auto-reconcile, a 60-day cash flow forecast, custom dashboards and 3 budgets. 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 $60/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, $80/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 caps users by plan (1 on Lite and EasyStart, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus, 25 on Advanced).
- Hubdoc, included with Xero Starter, Standard and Premium while connected. Snap photos of receipts, forward bills via email, and Hubdoc automatically extracts the data and files it in Xero.
- Bank connections, Direct feeds from BMO (business online banking, not available in Quebec) and CIBC (CIBC charges $5 a month), and from Scotiabank through Flinks (small-business day-to-day accounts, no credit cards); aggregator feeds for many other banks; and statement file import where no feed exists.
- 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 a month, more for extra active users | Expense claims and reimbursement workflow |
| Xero Projects | From $10 a month (one active user included), more for extra active users | Time tracking, project costing, job profitability |
How much does Xero payroll cost per month in Canada?
Xero has no built-in Canadian payroll, so the payroll cost is the price of the app you connect. Xero's Canadian payroll page says to "start with Xero's core accounting features" and then "connect the third-party apps that work best for your small business payroll," naming Wagepoint, Payment Evolution and Payworks; the Xero App Store's Canadian payroll category also lists Rise People, Knit, Humi, Rippling and Deel. Our pick is Wagepoint, which posts each pay run into Xero and handles the CRA remittances and year-end T4s. At wagepoint.com on 20 September 2026: Lite is $20 a month plus $4 per employee or contractor for one pay run a month; Core is $40 plus $6 per person for unlimited runs; both come with a 14-day trial. So Xero Standard with Wagepoint Lite for five people is $60 plus $40, or $100 a month before tax ($52 a month during the six discounted months). Sign up through our link and Wagepoint sends you a $50 gift card. If you want payroll in the same login as your books, QuickBooks Online sells it in Canada as a separate add-on; our payroll software comparison prices the options, and our guide on managing payroll taxes covers the remittance rules.
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 (Xero's published Stripe fees for Canada are 2.9% + C$0.30 per domestic card payment and 3.7% + C$0.30 for international cards; GoCardless pre-authorized debit is 0.75% + $0.40 per transaction, capped at $3). 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 $7.80/month.
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 | Lite, $20/mo (1 user, no accountant access); EasyStart, $30/mo |
| Mid Plan | Standard, $60/mo | Essentials, $70/mo (3 users); Plus, $110/mo (5 users) |
| Top Plan | Premium, $80/mo | Advanced, $220/mo |
| Users Included | Unlimited | 1 (Lite, EasyStart) / 3 (Essentials) / 5 (Plus) / 25 (Advanced) |
| Multi-Currency | Premium only | Essentials ($70) & up |
| Payroll | No (third-party app) | Add-on, sold separately (from $30 + $5 per employee) |
| Hubdoc / Receipt Capture | Included | Included |
| Current promotion (Oct 2026) | 80% off for 6 months (partner link) | 80% off for 8 months (partner link: new customers, Canadian businesses, payroll not included); 90% off for 6 months (Intuit site, Buy Now only) |
The bottom line: Xero is now meaningfully cheaper than QuickBooks at comparable tiers. Xero Standard ($60) undercuts QuickBooks Essentials ($70, 3 users) and Plus ($110), and Xero Premium ($80) is roughly a third of QuickBooks Advanced ($220). Xero also includes unlimited users on every plan, while QuickBooks caps you at 1 (Lite and EasyStart), 3 (Essentials), 5 (Plus) and 25 (Advanced). On promotions the first year goes the other way for small teams: through both partner links, as of October 2026, QuickBooks Essentials (3 users) is $392 for the year against $432 for Xero Standard, and EasyStart $168 against $180 for Starter, while Intuit's own 90% off for 6 months makes Lite $2 and EasyStart $3 a month for those six months. From year two Xero is cheaper again. QuickBooks still wins on payroll in the same login (a paid add-on), and in our experience more Canadian bookkeepers learned on it, but on price past the first year and on users, Xero is the better value for most small businesses. If QuickBooks fits your business better, our QuickBooks discount page has the partner offer's terms. For users, payroll, GST/HST and support side by side, read our full Xero vs QuickBooks Canada comparison.
Which Xero plan fits your business?
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 ($60) | Unlimited invoicing, proper reporting |
| Small business (1–10 staff) | Standard ($60) | Best value, covers all core needs |
| E-commerce business | Premium ($80) | Multi-currency for USD sales |
| Import/export business | Premium ($80) | 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 upgrade to Premium later if you begin invoicing in other currencies, and move back to a cheaper plan 1 month after the upgrade.
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 $60 CAD/month, and Premium at $80 CAD/month, all before GST/HST and all with unlimited users and Hubdoc. Through our referral link new organizations get 80% off for 6 months with no code; Xero's own public promotion on xero.com/ca is 80% off for 3 months.
Can I get Xero cheaper than the list price?
Yes. Through our referral link a new organization gets 80% off Starter, Standard or Premium for 6 months with no code, which is $5, $12 or $16 a month. Xero's own public promotion on xero.com/ca is 80% off for 3 months. Ours is for organizations new to Xero; Xero's public promotion is for customers in Canada buying their first organization on xero.com. Both revert to standard rates afterwards.
Is Xero free for small businesses?
No, Xero has no free plan. It offers a 30-day free trial, but the partner offer applies when you sign up with the form on the page our link opens (Xero's terms say you must sign up on that page), and the free-trial button on that page is a separate path. Through the form, a new organization pays $5, $12 or $16 a month for 6 months on Starter, Standard or Premium, then $25, $60 or $80.
Does Xero include payroll in Canada?
No. Xero has no Canadian payroll of its own (QuickBooks Online sells its payroll as a separate add-on). Xero's Canadian payroll page points to third-party apps and names Wagepoint, Payment Evolution and Payworks; the Xero App Store also lists Rise People, Knit and Humi. These dedicated payroll platforms handle CRA remittances and T4s well, and the pay run posts into Xero automatically.
How much does Xero payroll cost per month in Canada?
The cost of the payroll app you connect, since Xero has none built in. Wagepoint is $20 a month plus $4 per employee or contractor on Lite (one pay run a month) or $40 plus $6 per person on Core. A five-person business on Xero Standard with Wagepoint Lite pays $100 a month before tax, or $52 during the six months at 80% off.
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 want payroll in the same login (advantage: QuickBooks, as a paid add-on) 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?
Your subscription keeps renewing monthly at the regular price, for example $60 a month for Standard. There is no annual contract, but cancelling a paid Xero subscription takes one month's notice and Xero bills you through the notice month, so give notice about a month before the offer ends if you plan to stop. You can move to a cheaper plan 1 month after an upgrade.
Final Verdict
Xero pricing in Canada is competitive and transparent. For most Canadian businesses, the Standard plan at $60/month offers the best balance of features and value. Add the 80% off for 6 months through our referral link, and you're looking at $12.00/month for your first six months, then $60.
Sebastien ProstCPA, Ex-CRA
Licensed CPA with 10+ years of experience, including work with the Canada Revenue Agency. Founder of LedgerLogic, a cloud accounting firm serving Canadian SMEs. Xero Certified Advisor.
