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Software · head to head

Trello vs Xero

Trello logo

Trello

Software

Organize anything, together

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xero logo

Xero

Software

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Trello has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Trello free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace; 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: Trello covers Kanban boards, Xero covers Bank reconciliation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Trello and Xero actually diverge.

Attributes where Trello and Xero differ
AttributeTrelloXero
Starting priceFree$13/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacosWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20112006

Identical on both: 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 Trello

  • Kanban boards
  • Cards & lists
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Activity feed
  • Due dates & reminders
  • File attachments
  • Comments & mentions
  • Power-Ups ecosystem

Only in Xero

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Trello

  • Project trackingnot Xero
  • Content calendarsnot Xero
  • Sales pipelinesnot Xero
  • Onboarding processesnot Xero
  • Personal task managementnot Xero

Xero

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

Where each one falls short

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

Trello

  • Free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • Free tier automation capped at 250 monthly Butler runs
  • No offline access; web-based platform requires internet connection
  • Advanced views (timeline, table, dashboard) not available on Standard plan
  • SSO only available on Enterprise 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

Trello

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 boards/workspace
    • Up to 10 collaborators
    • 250 monthly Butler automation runs
  • Standard$5/user/month
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited Power-Ups
    • 1,000 monthly Butler runs
  • Premium$10/user/month
    • All Standard features
    • Timeline, table, dashboard, calendar views
    • Unlimited automation
  • Enterprise$17.5/user/month
    • All Premium features
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • SSO and user provisioning

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 Trello if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want cards & lists.
Trello 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 Trello or Xero better?
Neither clearly leads. Trello 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, Trello or Xero?
Trello has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Trello and $13/month for Xero.
Does Trello or Xero run on more platforms?
Trello runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Trello for free?
Yes. Trello has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is Trello best used for?
Trello is most often used for project tracking, content calendars, sales pipelines, onboarding processes. Of those, project tracking and content calendars are not what Xero is typically brought in for.
What can Trello do that Xero cannot?
Trello covers Kanban boards, Cards & lists, Drag-and-drop interface, Activity feed. Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims. Both handle SOC2, ISO27001, 2FA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Trello: What are the free tier limitations for Trello?

Trello Free supports up to 10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards, 250 monthly Butler automation runs, and up to 10 Power-Up attachments. Limited to 10 collaborators per workspace.

Source
Trello: What features are included in the Standard plan?

Standard ($5-6/user/month) adds unlimited boards, custom fields, advanced checklists, 1,000 monthly automation runs, list colors, and calendar view access.

Source
Trello: Does Trello offer SSO and on which plan?

SSO through Atlassian Guard is included only on the Enterprise plan ($17.50/user/month or $210/year per user).

Source
Trello: How many file attachment options are available?

Free tier includes 2 Power-Ups per board, Standard adds unlimited Power-Ups, and Premium and above offer full Power-Up marketplace access with custom integration options.

Source
Trello: Is there offline access to Trello boards?

Trello is a web-based application requiring internet connection. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android but do not support true offline editing.

Source
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Related pages

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