Softwr

Software · head to head

Xero vs Zeplin

Xero logo

Xero

Software

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Software

Design handoff and developer collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zeplin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Xero the Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Zeplin covers Design specs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Xero and Zeplin actually diverge.

Attributes where Xero and Zeplin differ
AttributeXeroZeplin
Starting price$13/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20062014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Xero

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

Only in Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Xero

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

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Xero
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Xero
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot Xero

Where each one falls short

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

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

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Xero if

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

Choose Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is Xero or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Xero starts at $13/month and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Xero or Zeplin?
Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $13/month for Xero and Free for Zeplin.
Does Xero or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Xero runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Zeplin for free?
Yes. Zeplin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is Xero best used for?
Xero is most often used for small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliation, bill payment and purchase order management, sharing books with an accountant or bookkeeper. Of those, small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliation and bill payment and purchase order management are not what Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can Xero do that Zeplin cannot?
Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle SOC2, 2FA.
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