Zoho Books vs QuickBooks vs Xero vs FreshBooks for Indian SMBs
For most Indian SMBs in 2026, Zoho Books is the practical winner. QuickBooks no longer sells to new customers in India, while Xero and FreshBooks are global tools that do not handle Indian GST filing or e-invoicing on their own. Pick based on whether you bill mostly in INR with GST, or mostly abroad in foreign currency.
Which Accounting Software Actually Fits an Indian SMB?
In 2026, Zoho Books is the obvious option for most Indian SMBs, as QuickBooks is no longer available for new Indian customers, and Xero and FreshBooks don't support GST returns or e-invoicing independently. That one fact alters the whole comparison.
The majority of the “best accounting software” articles you will find are written for the US, Canada, UK or Southeast Asia. They are big fans of QuickBooks and Xero. This ranking is not applicable in the Indian reality where GST, e-invoicing and software availability are the determining factors.
This Zoho Books vs QuickBooks vs Xero comparison is just for Indian small and medium businesses. We will examine what is available here, what is supported natively by GST, and the actual cost of each tool in plain terms.
At ZoFlowX, we set up these systems for Indian businesses every week, so the view here is from real implementation work, not a feature sheet.
Is QuickBooks Still Available for Indian Businesses in 2026?
No, QuickBooks Online is not offered to new customers in India. Indian sign-ups for Intuit were halted from July 2022 and Intuit's QuickBooks products and services were completely withdrawn from India on 30 April 2023. It is impossible for new Indian SMBs to subscribe to it.
This is more important than any feature debate. If you can't legally purchase or receive support for a tool in your country, then it's not an option, regardless of how well it scores in a global review.
Both Zoho and Tally provided migration assistance and discounts to QuickBooks users who were left behind when Intuit left. A lot of those businesses switched to Zoho Books and remained.
In this guide, we use QuickBooks as a reference only. For an Indian SMB, the choice is between Zoho Books, Xero and FreshBooks.
Why Does GST Compliance Decide the Winner for Indian SMBs?
In India, accounting software is only useful if it can manage GST end to end. It is not about the pretty dashboard, it is about native GST returns, e-invoicing (IRN), e-way bills and TDS. This is where global tools fall short.
Here is what an Indian SMB actually needs the software to do on its own:
- ➤ Generate GST-compliant invoices with CGST, SGST and IGST split correctly.
- ➤ Create IRN e-invoices and push them to the government portal.
- ➤ Produce e-way bills for goods movement without a separate tool.
- ➤ Help you file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B from your own books.
- ➤ Track TDS so it does not become a year-end mess.
Zoho Books does all of this natively as it is built in India by an Indian company. Xero and FreshBooks are designed for other markets and GST needs to be added on as an add-on or manually by a chartered accountant.
How Do Zoho Books, Xero and FreshBooks Compare for Indian SMBs?
Zoho Books is the best option for day-to-day GST work in INR. Xero is ideal for exporters who invoice in foreign currency, while FreshBooks is perfect for freelancers who invoice overseas clients. The table below spells it out in a simple way.
| Software | Available in India? | GST & e-invoicing | Pricing | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books | Yes, built in India. | Native GST, e-invoicing, e-way bills, TDS. | In INR, free plan up to ₹9,999/mo. | GST-registered Indian SMBs and Zoho users. |
| QuickBooks Online | No, withdrawn for new users in 2023. | Was GST-ready, now unavailable here. | Not sold in India. | No longer an option for Indian SMBs. |
| Xero | Yes, global product. | No native Indian GST; needs add-ons or a CA. | In USD, roughly $20 to $80/mo. | Exporters and multi-currency billing. |
| FreshBooks | Yes, global product. | No native Indian GST; invoicing-first. | In USD, roughly $9.50 to $55/mo. | Freelancers and solo service providers. |
Xero is a good global tool, but lacks native Indian GST localisation, meaning no GSTR portal filing, no IRN e-invoicing and no TDS built in. You would have to pay for the software and then pay a CA on top of that.
For a business that bills in INR and files GST, Zoho Books is the cloud platform we set up most often, and it is the Online accounting software we implement and support for SMBs across India.
How Much Does Zoho Books Cost in India?
Zoho Books India pricing begins at ₹0 for businesses with turnover of less than ₹25 lakh and goes up from ₹899 to ₹9,999 per organisation per month. The pricing is in INR and no currency conversion or surprise on your card.
Here is the current India pricing at a glance.
| Plan | Price (per org, per month) | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ₹0 (turnover under ₹25 lakh) | Freelancers and solo owners, 1 user plus 1 accountant. |
| Standard | ₹899 | Small businesses, up to 3 users, 1 GSTIN. |
| Professional | ₹1,499 | Growing SMBs needing inventory and 2 GSTINs. |
| Premium | ₹2,999 | Larger teams wanting vendor portal and more automation. |
| Elite | ₹5,999 | Advanced inventory and multi-branch operations. |
| Ultimate | ₹9,999 | High invoice volume and advanced analytics. |
Plans and limits are subject to change, please check the live numbers on Zoho's official pricing page in India before subscribing. A lot of small businesses can be covered for a long time with the free plan.
If you want to see how the platform fits a small team in practice, we walk through it in our guide on setting up Zoho Books for a small business the right way.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Zoho Books for Indian SMBs?
Zoho Books wins on GST handling, INR pricing, and a free tier, but its best value shows up when you also use other Zoho apps. Here is the honest balance.
- ➤ Pro: genuine free plan and low entry pricing.
- ➤ Pro: direct GST filing, e-invoicing and e-way bills.
- ➤ Pro: clean interface and strong mobile app.
- ➤ Con: best value only if you use other Zoho apps.
- ➤ Con: fewer non-Zoho integrations than QuickBooks or Xero.
For a business that runs sales, support, and finance in one place, that Zoho ecosystem link is a real advantage. For a business that lives inside non-Zoho tools, it is something to weigh.
When Should an Indian SMB Pick Xero Instead?
Choose Xero if the majority of your income is generated from exports and you invoice clients in USD, EUR, GBP or AED. One of Xero's key features is its multi-currency functionality, making it ideal for IT exporters, SaaS companies, and agencies with international clients.
The compromise is GST. Xero does not have an inbuilt Indian GST filing or IRN e-invoicing, so you will rely on a chartered accountant or a bridge tool to remain compliant. There are some India CA firms who bundle this with Xero and charge a monthly fee.
So Xero may be the right choice, but primarily for businesses that are export focused where foreign currency is a reality and a CA is already handling GST separately.
Is FreshBooks a Good Fit for Indian Freelancers and Service Firms?
FreshBooks is ideal for freelancers and small service businesses in India that primarily invoice clients abroad and require a simple, quick billing solution. It's invoicing-first, time tracking and clean client-facing invoices.
But like Xero, it does not do Indian GST natively. FreshBooks is not enough to take you through the process of raising GST invoices, filing GSTR returns, or generating e-way bills. It is not for use by a sole trader who bills overseas, it is not for GST registered products or trading businesses.
FreshBooks is typically not the best option if you're a GST-heavy, INR-based business, despite the pretty invoices.
Which Accounting Software Is Best for Your Indian SMB?
Match the tool to how you bill, not to brand fame. Use this quick rule of thumb.
- ➤ Mostly INR sales with GST: choose Zoho Books.
- ➤ Mostly exports in foreign currency, with a CA on GST: consider Xero.
- ➤ Solo freelancer billing overseas clients: FreshBooks can work.
- ➤ Already using Zoho CRM or Inventory: Zoho Books is the natural fit.
- ➤ Coming off QuickBooks India: migrate to Zoho Books.
For the large majority of Indian SMBs, that lands on Zoho Books. It is the one option that is sold here, priced in INR, and built for GST without extra tools.
Key takeaway: If you bill in INR and file GST, Zoho Books is the practical winner. Xero and FreshBooks make sense mainly for export billing in foreign currency, and QuickBooks is no longer available to new Indian businesses.
Conclusion
The Zoho Books vs QuickBooks vs Xero question has a clear answer once you add the India filter. QuickBooks is off the table for new users here, Xero and FreshBooks need help to handle GST, and Zoho Books was built for exactly this market.
The smart choice is to select the one that fits your billing reality and then configure it correctly to ensure that GST, e-invoicing and reporting are in place from day one. The setup is more important than the logo on the login screen.
If you want a second opinion on your specific case, working with a certified Zoho consulting partner in India saves a lot of trial and error.
You can also send us your requirement, email info@zoflowx.com, or call +91 8190009222, and we will point you to the right fit.
Ready to set up GST-ready accounting the right way?
Talk to our team and get Zoho Books configured for your business from day one. Email info@zoflowx.com or call +91 8190009222.
Book a Free Consultation💭Final Thoughts
Good accounting software should be quiet. It files your GST, tracks your cash, and stays out of the way. For most Indian SMBs in 2026, the tool that does that without fuss is the one built for India in the first place.
About the Author
A
Arul Raj
Director at ZoFlowX & Founder of Inboxist
Director at ZoFlowX (Zoho Authorized Partner) and Founder of Inboxist (Klaviyo Silver Partner), specializing in Email Marketing, Deliverability, Marketing Automation, and CRM with 14+ years of experience.
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