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Accounting · head to head

Fortnox vs Xero

Fortnox logo

Fortnox

Accounting

Swedish cloud accounting and business platform for bookkeeping, invoicing and payroll

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xero logo

Xero

Accounting

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fortnox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fortnox corporate packages alone span at least 7 named tiers (Mini through Stor+) priced from 209 kr/man to 919 kr/man, and add-on programs are billed separately per module (SEK); Xero the Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fortnox and Xero actually diverge.

Attributes where Fortnox and Xero differ
AttributeFortnoxXero
Starting priceFree$13/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Api
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fortnox

Nothing recorded that Xero does not also cover.

Only in Xero

  • Bank reconciliation
  • Invoicing
  • Bill payment
  • Expense claims
  • Financial reporting
  • Inventory tracking
  • Project tracking
  • Mobile apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fortnox

  • Registering Swedish corporations with guided formation assistancenot Xero
  • Selling unpaid invoices to improve cash flownot Xero
  • Managing multiple client businesses from bureau dashboardnot Xero
  • Integrating payroll with Swedish banking automationnot Xero

Xero

  • Small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliationnot Fortnox
  • Bill payment and purchase order managementnot Fortnox
  • Sharing books with an accountant or bookkeepernot Fortnox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fortnox

  • Corporate packages alone span at least 7 named tiers (Mini through Stor+) priced from 209 kr/man to 919 kr/man, and add-on programs are billed separately per module (SEK)
  • The Fortnox Access verification tier is priced by transaction volume, rising from 9 kr/man at zero verifications to 199 kr/man at 1000+ verifications (SEK), so cost is not fixed and scales with usage

Xero

  • The Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending
  • Invoices created by connected app partners count against the Early plan invoice limit
  • Multiple currencies, project time and cost tracking, employee expense and mileage claims and industry benchmarking are restricted to the top Established plan at $90 per month
  • Cash flow forecasting is capped at 30 days on Early and 60 days on Growing, with 180 days only on Established
  • Payroll is not included in any plan and costs an extra $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor through Gusto
  • Inventory Plus is a paid optional add-on rather than part of any plan
  • The advertised 90% off applies only to the first 6 months, after which the regular $25, $55 or $90 monthly price auto-renews
  • The introductory discount excludes add-ons, usage charges and payment fees
  • Payment fees apply to online invoice payments and to bill payments other than standard domestic ACH, and are billed on top of the subscription
  • Subscriptions are billed monthly with no annual payment option, and after upgrading you must wait one month before downgrading to a cheaper plan
  • Xero states subscription prices are increasing from October 1, 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Fortnox

Free
  • New Company TrialFree
    • 6-month free trial for newly started businesses

Xero

$13/month
  • Early$13/month
    • Send 20 invoices
    • Enter 5 bills
    • Reconcile bank transactions
  • Growing$37/month
    • Unlimited invoices & bills
    • Bulk reconcile transactions
    • Short-term cash flow
  • Established$70/month
    • Everything in Growing
    • Use multiple currencies
    • Track projects

Which should you pick?

Choose Fortnox if

  • You want to start without paying.
Fortnox review

Choose Xero if

  • You need bank reconciliation.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want invoicing.
Xero review

Questions people ask

Is Fortnox or Xero better?
Neither clearly leads. Fortnox starts at Free and Xero at $13/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fortnox or Xero?
Fortnox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fortnox and $13/month for Xero.
Does Fortnox or Xero run on more platforms?
Fortnox runs on Web. Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Fortnox for free?
Yes. Fortnox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is Fortnox best used for?
Fortnox is most often used for registering swedish corporations with guided formation assistance, selling unpaid invoices to improve cash flow, managing multiple client businesses from bureau dashboard, integrating payroll with swedish banking automation. Of those, registering swedish corporations with guided formation assistance and selling unpaid invoices to improve cash flow are not what Xero is typically brought in for.
What can Fortnox do that Xero cannot?
Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fortnox: Does Fortnox offer a free trial?

Yes, newly started businesses receive their first six months in Fortnox at no cost, followed by subscription-based pricing.

Source
Fortnox: What pricing tiers does Fortnox offer?

Fortnox offers tiered subscription packages that vary by module (accounting, invoicing, payroll) but specific pricing details are not listed on the main website.

Source
Fortnox: How can I find Fortnox pricing information?

Detailed pricing is available on the packages page (/paket), through a purchasing guide tool at buy-guide.fortnox.se, or by contacting sales representatives directly.

Source
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