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Accounting · head to head

sevdesk vs Xero

sevdesk logo

sevdesk

Accounting

German accounting and invoicing software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xero logo

Xero

Accounting

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only sevdesk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: sevdesk the free Kostenlos plan caps invoices and e-invoices at just 3 per month, forcing an upgrade to the Rechnung plan for unlimited invoicing; 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 sevdesk and Xero actually diverge.

Attributes where sevdesk and Xero differ
AttributesevdeskXero
Starting priceFree$13/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Api
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: 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 sevdesk

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.

sevdesk

  • Scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactionsnot Xero
  • Creating VAT advance returns and filing with tax authoritiesnot Xero
  • Generating XRechnung format invoices mandatory for B2B by 2025not Xero
  • Recording bank transactions automatically across 4000+ supported banksnot Xero
  • Managing unlimited invoices with automatic sales tax calculationsnot Xero

Xero

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

Where each one falls short

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

sevdesk

  • The free Kostenlos plan caps invoices and e-invoices at just 3 per month, forcing an upgrade to the Rechnung plan for unlimited invoicing
  • API access and cost center tracking are reserved for the top Buchhaltung Pro tier at EUR 13.95 to EUR 34.90/month depending on commitment length, not included in the mid-tier Buchhaltung plan

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

sevdesk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Permanently free with no credit card required
    • Up to 3 invoices/e-invoices monthly
    • Unlimited contact creation
  • Rechnung (Invoice Plan)$11.9/month
    • Regular: €11.90/month, discounted to €4.45/month on 24-month term
    • Unlimited invoices, offers, e-invoices, and payment reminders
  • Buchhaltung (Accounting Plan)$25.9/month
    • Recommended plan
    • Regular: €25.90/month, discounted to €9.95/month on 24-month term
    • Bookkeeping features, AI-powered receipt capture, tax filing
  • Buchhaltung Pro (Accounting Pro)$34.9/month
    • Regular: €34.90/month, discounted to €13.95/month on 24-month term
    • Cost center analysis, REST-API access, business financial analysis (BWA)

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 sevdesk if

  • You want to start without paying.
sevdesk 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 sevdesk or Xero better?
Neither clearly leads. sevdesk 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, sevdesk or Xero?
sevdesk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for sevdesk and $13/month for Xero.
Does sevdesk or Xero run on more platforms?
sevdesk runs on Web. Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use sevdesk for free?
Yes. sevdesk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is sevdesk best used for?
sevdesk is most often used for scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactions, creating vat advance returns and filing with tax authorities, generating xrechnung format invoices mandatory for b2b by 2025, recording bank transactions automatically across 4000+ supported banks. Of those, scanning receipts via mobile app and matching to transactions and creating vat advance returns and filing with tax authorities are not what Xero is typically brought in for.
What can sevdesk do that Xero cannot?
Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

sevdesk: How much does sevdesk cost?

sevdesk offers a free plan and three paid tiers. Invoice Plan starts at €11.90/month (€4.45/month on 24-month), Accounting Plan at €25.90/month (€9.95/month on 24-month), and Accounting Pro at €34.90/month (€13.95/month on 24-month).

Source
sevdesk: What is included in sevdesk's free plan?

The free plan allows creation of up to 3 invoices/e-invoices monthly, unlimited contact creation, and access to support materials. No credit card is required.

Source
sevdesk: What add-ons are available for sevdesk?

sevdesk offers optional add-ons priced €3.90-€19.90/month including premium layouts, additional users, inventory management, and time tracking. Premium services such as setup consultations start at €24.90.

Source
sevdesk: Does sevdesk offer a promotional discount?

Yes, sevdesk advertises up to 50% discount through a time-limited Black Cyber Deal offering 60% off all plans. Additionally, all paid plans include 24-month term options with significant savings (up to 62% discount).

Source
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