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Scheduling & Booking · head to head

Setmore vs Xero

Setmore logo

Setmore

Scheduling & Booking

Free appointment scheduling and customer management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xero logo

Xero

All industries

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Setmore has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Setmore free plan limited to 4 users maximum; 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: Setmore covers Unlimited appointments, Xero covers Bank reconciliation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Setmore and Xero actually diverge.

Attributes where Setmore and Xero differ
AttributeSetmoreXero
Starting priceFree$13/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
CategoryScheduling & BookingAll industries
Founded20082006

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

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 Setmore

  • Unlimited appointments
  • Online booking
  • Calendar synchronization
  • Customer database
  • Email reminders
  • SMS reminders
  • Mobile app
  • Custom branding

Only in Xero

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

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

Setmore

  • Online appointment and booking managementnot Xero
  • Service provider scheduling platformnot Xero
  • Customer communication via email and SMS remindersnot Xero

Xero

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

Where each one falls short

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

Setmore

  • Free plan limited to 4 users maximum
  • Free plan limited to 200 appointments per month
  • Live receptionist add-on limited to US only
  • Custom enterprise pricing not published

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

Setmore

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Setmore review.

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 Setmore if

  • You need unlimited appointments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online booking.
Setmore 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 Setmore or Xero better?
Neither clearly leads. Setmore 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, Setmore or Xero?
Setmore has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Setmore and $13/month for Xero.
Does Setmore or Xero run on more platforms?
Setmore runs on Web, iOS, Android. Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Setmore for free?
Yes. Setmore has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is Setmore best used for?
Setmore is most often used for online appointment and booking management, service provider scheduling platform, customer communication via email and sms reminders. Of those, online appointment and booking management and service provider scheduling platform are not what Xero is typically brought in for.
What can Setmore do that Xero cannot?
Setmore covers Unlimited appointments, Online booking, Calendar synchronization, Customer database. Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims. Both handle Stripe, Data encryption.
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