Finpliq vs Xero
An honest side-by-side for UK sole traders and limited company owners. Xero is a well-built product — but it wasn't designed for UK small businesses the way Finpliq was.
The key differences
Payroll is included — not an add-on
Xero charges separately for payroll (starting at £5/month plus £1/month per employee) and routes RTI submissions through their own payroll system. In Finpliq, payroll PAYE, NI, and pension calculations are included from the Core plan, and FPS submissions go directly to HMRC without any add-on.
Multiple businesses at a fraction of the cost
Xero charges the full plan price for each business — a sole trader with a Ltd company pays £32–£65 per month per entity, with no combined view. Finpliq charges +£15/month per additional business, and shows combined income, HMRC exposure, and deadlines across all your entities on one dashboard. Xero has no equivalent.
Built by a Chartered Accountant
Xero is built by software engineers who consulted accountants. Finpliq was built by Chartered Accountants who know UK tax law. Every VAT box maps to the actual VAT100. SA103F uses real HMRC box numbers. The s455 director's loan warning fires at the correct threshold. Tax rates update when HMRC changes them — not when a software team gets around to it.
When Xero might be the better choice
- →You need a large ecosystem of third-party integrations (Shopify, Stripe, Hubspot, etc.)
- →Your accountant specifically uses Xero and you need to collaborate in real time
- →You have a large team with complex approval workflows
- →You're migrating from Xero and need a period of overlap before switching
If you're switching from Xero: Finpliq imports your Xero CSV export automatically — categories mapped, opening balance posted. You're up and running on the same day.
Try Finpliq free for 14 days
No card needed. Import from Xero in minutes. See the difference yourself.
Pricing information reflects publicly available information as of May 2026. Xero pricing may vary. Always verify current pricing at xero.com.