Xero's free trial lasts 30 days. Xero's offer terms say the trial expires after 30 days, or earlier if you buy a subscription before then, and to keep using Xero afterwards you choose a plan and enter your payment details. The trial edition has some limited features, and if you cancel during the trial you lose access to that organisation, so export your data first.
Xero is the accounting software I hear about most from small business owners in the UK and Australia, and it's popular in the US too. The trial is long enough to run a real month of bookkeeping through it, which is the only test that counts. Here's how it works, country by country, and the two rules that catch people out.
Xero free trial: the facts
| Question | Xero's answer |
|---|---|
| Length | 30 days, or less if you buy a plan before then |
| Features | The terms say features in the free trial edition are limited |
| Card to start? | To continue after the trial, you buy a subscription and enter payment details in Xero |
| More than one business? | Yes; you can add as many organisations as you like, with a plan or a 30-day trial for each |
| Bought a plan already? | If you elected to buy a paid subscription, you're not eligible for a free trial |
| Combine with other offers? | No; promotional pricing and free trials can't be combined |
How to start the Xero free trial
- Go to Xero's website for your country and choose the free trial option.
- Create your login and add your business as an organisation.
- Connect a bank account so transactions start flowing in, then reconcile a few to see how it feels.
- Raise a real invoice and record a real bill during the trial.
- Before day 30, decide on a plan, or export your data if you're walking away.
Xero's UK and Australian FAQs both include a question about bank feeds not working during a trial, and Xero's answer is to contact its support team. If your bank doesn't connect straight away, ask them early rather than losing a week of your 30 days.
Rule one: export before you cancel
This is the one I'd underline. Xero's FAQ says that if you cancel your subscription, you won't be able to access that organisation afterwards, so it recommends exporting your data out of Xero first. Its FAQ goes further: if you cancel your subscription during a free trial, you won't be able to reactivate that subscription. That's the difference from a paid plan, where Xero says you can get access to the data again for up to seven years by reactivating the subscription, unless you ask for it to be deleted.
In practice that means two things. If you've entered real transactions and you're not staying, export your reports and contacts before you cancel. And if you might come back, don't cancel the trial just to tidy up; let it run out while you decide.
Rule two: one month's notice once you pay
After the trial, Xero is a monthly subscription that renews until you cancel. Xero's terms say that to cancel a paid subscription you must give one month's notice, from inside your account, and you'll still be charged for that notice period. Plan your exit a month ahead, not on the renewal date.
You can also upgrade a pricing plan at any time, but Xero says you can only downgrade once you've been on a plan for 30 days. So if you're unsure, start on the smaller plan and move up, rather than the other way round.
The US one-month offer is different
Don't confuse the free trial with Xero's promotions. Xero's US offer terms describe promotional pricing for new business-edition customers that needs an accepted credit or debit card, one subscription per subscriber, and can't be combined with a free trial. After the offer period, the same one-month notice to cancel applies. If you see an offer instead of a trial, read its terms before you sign up.
Paying for Xero after the trial
Xero's UK and Australian FAQs say it takes Visa or Mastercard debit and credit cards, Maestro debit cards or direct debit. Subscriptions renew monthly until cancelled, and the notice rule above applies from your first paid month, so set up the plan you'd really keep rather than the biggest one on offer.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
What to test in your 30 days
- Bank feeds: do your accounts connect and categorise cleanly?
- Invoicing: can you send an invoice that looks like yours, and get paid from it?
- Bills and receipts: how quickly can you log a month of expenses?
- Reports: can you find the profit and loss and the tax figures your accountant asks for?
- Your accountant: ask whether they already work in Xero, because that often decides it.
If you're still comparing, I've put Xero side by side with a UK favourite in FreeAgent vs Xero, and rounded up Xero alternatives if it isn't the right fit.
My verdict
The Xero free trial gives you 30 days, which is enough to run a real month of bookkeeping if you start with your bank feeds on day one. Just remember the two rules: export before you cancel, because a cancelled trial can't be reactivated, and once you're paying, give a month's notice. Do that and the trial is a low-risk way to find out whether Xero suits your business.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Xero free trial?
30 days. Xero's terms say the trial expires after 30 days, or earlier if you buy a subscription before then.
Is the Xero free trial the full product?
Not entirely. Xero's offer terms say features in the free trial edition are limited.
What happens to my data if I cancel my Xero trial?
Xero says you won't be able to access that organisation after cancelling, so export your data first. It adds that a subscription cancelled during a free trial can't be reactivated.
Can I try Xero for more than one business?
Yes. Xero says you can add as many organisations as you like and choose a plan or a 30-day free trial for each one.
How do I cancel Xero after the trial?
Cancel from inside your Xero account. Xero's terms say you must give one month's notice and you'll be charged for the notice period.
