Which is better for freelancers and consultants in Australia? It depends on what you care about, so here are both answers and the arithmetic under them.
Zoho Books and PayPal takes three of the four lenses and Xero and Stripe none, and one is too close to call. The differences that decide it are Works with the rest to Xero and Stripe and Price to start and Quick to set up to Zoho Books and PayPal.
| If you care most about | Xero and Stripe | Zoho Books and PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Best all-rounderZoho Books and PayPal by 9 | 67 | 76 |
| Best on a budgetZoho Books and PayPal by 21 | 53 | 74 |
| Easiest to startZoho Books and PayPal by 14 | 67 | 81 |
| Best as you growToo close to call, 2 apart (Zoho Books and PayPal is nominally ahead) | 76 | 78 |
Xero and Stripe splits the work across Xero and Stripe. Zoho Books and PayPal splits the work across Zoho Books and PayPal.
| Category | Xero and Stripe | Zoho Books and PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | ||
| Accounting |  Xero |  Zoho Books |
| Invoicing | ||
| Invoicing | Xero | Zoho Books |
| Taking payments | ||
| Taking payments |  Stripe |  PayPal |
Greyed-out rows use the same tool on both sides. A category is one job a stack has to do; a tool is one product you sign up for.
The price to actually launch, the catches that come with it, and what you give up by picking one over the other.
Proper books, with what is usually the cheaper way to take a card. Xero keeps the accounts and sends the invoices; Stripe collects the money and hands it back to Xero.
One monthly bill plus a cut of every payment.
A freelancer who wants books an accountant will recognise, and low card fees.
Free books and a payment method every client knows. The lowest fixed cost of any stack here, with the fees paid only when you get paid.
PayPal takes the biggest cut of the payment tools, especially in the US and New Zealand.
A new freelancer who wants no monthly bill at all to begin with.