Quick answer
Xero Canada costs $25, $60 or $80 a month for Starter, Standard and Premium, with 80% off for 3 months. QuickBooks Canada’s page shows EasyStart, Plus and Advanced with large intro discounts, and Lite at $20. Prices in CAD before tax, checked 11 November 2026. FreshBooks, Wave and Sage are not yet verified.
How we compared: every price and plan limit on this page was read from the vendor’s own Canadian pricing page on 11 November 2026, and GST/HST rules come from the Canada Revenue Agency. All prices are in Canadian dollars before taxes. We have not run hands-on tests of these products for this article, so we do not describe how they feel to use. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. See our editorial policy.
What is the best accounting software in Canada?
This guide covers the two Canadian pricing pages we have been able to verify so far, Xero and QuickBooks. We will add FreshBooks, Wave and Sage when we have verified their Canadian prices, and we will say so here when we do. Until then, treat this as a price check on two platforms rather than a full roundup.
| Best for | Software | From (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer or sole trader, up to 20 invoices a month | Xero Starter | $25 |
| Growing business, no invoice cap listed | Xero Standard | $60 |
| Solo user, core bookkeeping and GST/HST tracking | QuickBooks EasyStart | see table |
| Up to 5 users, inventory and budgeting | QuickBooks Plus | see table |
How much does Xero cost in Canada?
All prices are in Canadian dollars per month, before applicable taxes, from Xero’s Canadian pricing page.
| Plan | Intro price (first 3 months) | Regular price | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | $25 | Quotes and 20 invoices, 5 bills entered, 30-day cash flow forecast |
| Standard | $12 | $60 | Invoices and quotes with no stated cap, automated bill entry, 60-day forecast, 3 budgets |
| Premium | $16 | $80 | Multiple currencies, 180-day forecast, KPI and ratio analysis, budgeting |
Xero says there are no per-user licence fees. Extras include auto-reconcile on Starter at $5 a month (included on Standard and Premium), employee expense and mileage claims from $5 a month, and project time and costs from $10 a month. Smart Document Capture through Hubdoc is included on all three plans while connected to your subscription. Payroll is listed as a feature but the page gives no payroll prices.
| Plan | First year (3 months at intro price, then regular) | Year at regular price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $240 | $300 |
| Standard | $576 | $720 |
| Premium | $768 | $960 |
How much does QuickBooks cost in Canada?
QuickBooks Canada’s pricing page shows a “was” price and a heavily discounted current price for each plan. The page describes the offer as about 90% off for 6 months, while its own FAQ says 50% off for the first few months, so the offer terms on the page are inconsistent. The prices below are the “was” prices shown on the page on 11 November 2026, before taxes.
| Plan | Price shown as ‘was’ per month | Users | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $20 | 1, no accountant access | No payroll or Intuit Intelligence |
| EasyStart | $30 | 1, accountant access | Core bookkeeping, bank feeds, invoicing, sales tax, mileage, receipt capture |
| Essentials | Not shown in the table | Up to 3 (per FAQ) | Bill management, multi-currency, time tracking |
| Plus | $110 | Up to 5, accountant access | Adds inventory, budgeting, project profitability, classes (up to 40) |
| Advanced | $220 | Up to 25, accountant access | Adds forecasting, custom reports, workflow automation, batch invoices |
The page lists a 30-day free trial, and its FAQ says no credit card is required for the trial. It also says the large promotional discounts apply only to “Buy Now”, not the free trial. GST/HST tracking is described on the page, but PST support is not mentioned.
When do you need to register for GST/HST?
The Canada Revenue Agency says most businesses are small suppliers if they do not exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. A calendar quarter runs from the first day of January, April, July or October for three months. The CRA also says the threshold is tested within a single quarter: if you exceed $30,000 in one quarter, the effective date of registration is no later than the day of the supply that made you exceed it. Read the full rules on the CRA’s page, which was last modified on 16 June 2026. Software helps you track sales, but registration is your responsibility.
How do you choose?
- Count your invoices and bills. Xero Starter caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills entered.
- Count your users. QuickBooks plans are limited to 1, 3, 5 or 25 users. Xero says it has no per-user fees.
- Check tax support. Ask each vendor to confirm how GST/HST and any provincial sales tax are handled for your province.
- Write down the price after the offer. Set a reminder before the discount ends.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Xero cost in Canada?
Xero’s Canadian page lists Starter at $25, Standard at $60 and Premium at $80 a month in Canadian dollars, before taxes. New customers get 80% off the base plan for the first 3 months. Year one on Starter works out at $240 by our arithmetic.
What are QuickBooks Online’s Canadian plans?
QuickBooks Canada’s pricing page shows EasyStart, Plus and Advanced, with user limits of 1, 5 and 25, and an FAQ says Essentials covers up to 3 users. It also lists a Lite plan at $20 with 1 user. Confirm the current price for your plan at sign-up.
When do I need to register for GST/HST in Canada?
The CRA says most businesses are small suppliers if they do not exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. If a single supply takes you past $30,000 in one quarter, you must start charging from that supply. Check the CRA page for your situation.
Does Xero Canada handle GST/HST?
Xero’s Canadian pricing page says its prices exclude applicable taxes, but it does not describe GST/HST features on that page. Check with Xero or your accountant that your tax setup is supported before you rely on it.
Is there a free trial for Canadian accounting software?
Xero’s page lists access to all features for 30 days, plus a one month free option. QuickBooks lists a 30-day free trial and says no credit card is required, but its FAQ says the big promotional discounts apply only if you choose Buy Now rather than the trial.
Which Canadian software is best for a freelancer?
On the two vendors we have verified, Xero Starter at $25 a month limits you to 20 invoices and 5 bills, while QuickBooks EasyStart covers core bookkeeping, invoicing, sales tax and mileage for 1 user. Test both free before paying, and ask your accountant what they prefer.
Update log: 11 November 2026. Xero and QuickBooks Canadian pages read; FreshBooks, Wave and Sage still to verify. Next check: December 2026.
Sources: Xero Canada pricing, QuickBooks Canada pricing, CRA: when to register for and start charging the GST/HST. Prices checked 11 November 2026.