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Software · head to head

Hubstaff vs Xero

Hubstaff logo

Hubstaff

Software

Time tracking and team management for remote teams

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xero logo

Xero

Software

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hubstaff billed per seat; the pricing page's own proration example states the Team plan costs $10 per seat per month, with fees adjusted when seats are added or removed mid-cycle; Xero the Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending
  • They diverge on capability: Hubstaff covers Time tracking with timer, Xero covers Bank reconciliation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hubstaff and Xero actually diverge.

Attributes where Hubstaff and Xero differ
AttributeHubstaffXero
Starting price$5.99/month$13/month
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, WindowsWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20122006

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Hubstaff

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • GPS location tracking
  • Screenshots
  • Reports and analytics
  • Team management

Only in Xero

  • Bank reconciliation
  • Bill payment
  • Expense claims
  • Financial reporting
  • Inventory tracking
  • Project tracking
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Both cover

  • Invoicing
  • Mobile apps

What people use each for

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

Hubstaff

  • Productivitynot Xero
  • Collaborationnot Xero
  • Task managementnot Xero
  • Organizationnot Xero

Xero

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

Where each one falls short

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

Hubstaff

  • Billed per seat; the pricing page's own proration example states the Team plan costs $10 per seat per month, with fees adjusted when seats are added or removed mid-cycle

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

Hubstaff

$5.99/month
  • FreeFree
    • Basic time tracking
    • Limited to 1 user
    • Basic reports
  • Starter$5.99/month
    • Time tracking
    • Team management
    • Reports
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • GPS tracking
    • Activity monitoring

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 Hubstaff if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Hubstaff review

Choose Xero if

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

Questions people ask

Is Hubstaff or Xero better?
Neither clearly leads. Hubstaff starts at $5.99/month and Xero at $13/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hubstaff or Xero?
Hubstaff starts at $5.99/month and Xero at $13/month.
Does Hubstaff or Xero run on more platforms?
Hubstaff runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
What is Hubstaff best used for?
Hubstaff is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what Xero is typically brought in for.
What can Hubstaff do that Xero cannot?
Hubstaff covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, GPS location tracking, Screenshots. Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Bill payment, Expense claims, Financial reporting. Both handle Invoicing, Mobile apps.
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