Sage Intacct vs Xero: we compare which is better for an SME

A comparison of Sage Intacct vs Xero is a worthwhile step for any organisation that’s weighing up its next accounting tool. Whether you’re already using one of these solutions and are evaluating your options, or you’re looking to move from another such as Sage 50 or QuickBooks, this guide has been written to help you understand whether either of these two popular solutions can serve your needs.

So, ‘your needs’: what exactly are they? Establishing this is the best place to start if your business is considering a new financial management or enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution – we’d recommend that you spend some time mapping your technology requirements, or begin your thinking with a free diagnosis call with one of our friendly consultants. Nonetheless, it can still be helpful to understand in broad terms what’s possible with the solutions on the market.

That’s why, in this guide, we’ve put the spotlight on Sage Intacct vs Xero, comparing them based on:

• Features
• Financial management
• Scalability
• Pricing
• Long-term success

Hopefully you’ll find this instructive in your research. If you need any advice, we’re here to help – contact us to book a chat.

Sage Intacct vs Xero – an overview

Before we go under the bonnet, let’s begin with a short overview of what Sage Intacct and Xero do – and for whom they do it.

• Sage Intacct is a best-in-class cloud financial platform, enhancing accounting powered by AI-powered tools designed to scale with you. A huge range of additional broader business capabilities are possible due to Intacct’s modular structure and ease of integration. You’ll cut time to close, streamline processes, and make smarter decisions – it’s ideal for organisations handling growing volumes or complexity.
• Xero is a leading cloud-based accounting software designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It simplifies financial management by giving you tools for managing your invoicing, expense tracking, payroll and more. Xero is one of the best and most popular choices when it comes to accounting software for smaller businesses. Many companies will see something like this as a logical next step up from doing all the accounts in spreadsheets.

At Thinc we believe in being open – and it’s only right that we’re upfront with you when we say that we’re an award-winning Sage partner with a skilled Intacct team. But we’re not tied to Sage solutions. We offer ERP from SAP and Microsoft, as well as a host of addons, integrations and bespoke development. We’re proud of our independence and, in 30 years of supporting ambitious SMEs, we’ve never recommended a solution that isn’t right for an organisation’s needs. Our guidance here is based on our own experience of business growth and the rankings of trusted sources such as using G2, TrustRadius and SelectHub.

So, let’s dive in with an initial look at the features of Intacct vs Xero. Please note: where you see the letters ‘EC’, this is to indicate ‘extended capability’. This means that the features are not included as standard but may be possible through Sage and Xero’s marketplaces.

Xero vs Intacct – core and extended features

Intacct vs Xero – a side-by-side comparison of strengths and weaknesses

Now you know a little more about the core and extended capabilities of Sage Intacct and Xero, let’s go a bit deeper. We’ll now compare their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to some of the main considerations we hear about from SMEs.

To do this, we’ve compared Intacct vs Xero across four categories that are key to your success with either solution: financial management, scalability, pricing and long-term success.

If you’d like to talk about your specific requirements, our team are ready for your call.

Xero vs Sage Intacct  – how the financial features compare

At their core, Sage Intacct and Xero are tools that empower the financial team. So how do they compare as accounting software – what are the unique strengths and weaknesses of each? Let’s take a look.

Scalability of Intacct vs Xero

If your organisation is growing, or has plans to, then the ability of your system to keep pace is important to consider. Here’s how Sage Intacct and Xero compare on their scalability.

Price of Sage Intacct vs Xero

For a small or medium-sized business, the pricing and payment model of a given solution matters. Whether you can tailor the system to your needs and get the value you get in return for your investment becomes increasingly important as your business grows in size or complexity. Let’s compare Xero vs Sage Intacct on price.

Long-term success potential of Xero vs Sage Intacct

When evaluating investment in Intacct vs Xero, you won’t be thinking just about what comes out of the box. You’ll want to consider how the system will adapt to your evolving needs, the ability to get your people up and running and upskill them in the future, and what’s out there in terms of expertise and strategic consultancy.

Sage Intacct vs Xero – a thought from Thinc

Ethan Jude is Senior Business Advisory Consultant at Thinc. He talks to hundreds of SMEs a year at events around the country, helping them to make sense of the technologies out there. We asked him for his thoughts on Sage Intacct and Xero.

“Choosing between Xero and Sage Intacct is really a choice between simplicity and scalability. If you’re a lean organisation that requires a more efficient way of working than hopping between spreadsheets, then Xero is a fantastic tool – well-priced and easy to use.

“Sage Intacct enters the equation when organisations are thinking longer-term, when demands on the finance team increase, or indeed the team has matured and aims to be a driver of greater value across the business.  Indeed, many of the people I meet who are considering Intacct are in fact using solutions like Xero, but are reaching the point where more efficiency is required, for example through automated processes.

“So, it then becomes a question of value. Xero is certainly more affordable and will serve a small business well for as long as it can, whereas an investment in Intacct makes more sense when you start to understand the returns it enables. You are also getting so much more out of the box than with Xero, as well as a much stronger range of integrations with other systems such as CRM.

“Ultimately, the finance system you choose needs to be the right fit for where you are now, but flexible enough to be right for where you’re headed. That’s why at Thinc we spend time listening to you, learning what matters to you and your team – and only after connecting in this way will we begin to look into solutions.”

Need more advice on Sage Intacct?

We hope that this guide has given you some clarity on how Sage Intacct and Xero compare. If you’d like to know a little more about Sage Intacct, here are some additional resources you may find useful:

• Sage Intacct pricing – a downloadable guide and quick ROI calculator to help you understand Intacct’s value
• The true ROI of Sage Intacct: how to justify your investment
• Sage Intacct for your business: frequently asked questions
• Financial planning and forecasting with Sage Intacct Planning
• Sage Intacct case study: Cydar Medical
• Five signs you’ve outgrown Xero

If you’re ready to talk about Sage Intacct, then our friendly team is here to discuss your requirements. Book a Sage Intacct meeting today.