Flow vs Xero
Simple invoicing vs comprehensive accounting. Find the right solution for your UK business.
Two Different Philosophies
Flow is a specialised invoicing platform built for UK businesses that want to create professional invoices quickly and efficiently. Starting at £7/month with a free plan, Flow focuses exclusively on invoicing workflows, making it perfect for freelancers, consultants, and small service businesses.
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that provides comprehensive financial management, from invoicing to payroll, inventory, and financial reporting. Starting at £15/month, Xero is designed for businesses that need complete accounting functionality.
The fundamental question is: Do you need a full accounting system, or just a way to invoice clients? Many UK businesses, especially freelancers and small service providers, only need invoicing but end up paying for accounting features they never use.
Focused vs Comprehensive
Flow: Simplicity First
Flow believes that invoicing shouldn't be complicated. By focusing solely on invoicing, we've created a platform that's:
- More affordable: £7/month with a free plan vs £15/month starting price - save £8/month (£96/year)
- Faster to learn: Get started in minutes, not days
- Easier to use: No overwhelming menus or complex workflows
- UK-specific: Built-in CIS support for construction businesses
- Free plan: Try before you commit
Perfect for: Freelancers, consultants, small service businesses, and anyone who primarily needs to invoice clients and track payments.
Xero: Complete Accounting
Xero is a powerful accounting platform that handles your entire financial workflow:
- Full accounting: P&L, balance sheets, cash flow statements
- Bank feeds: Automatic transaction import from banks
- Payroll: Integrated payroll management (extra cost)
- Inventory: Track products and stock levels
- Multi-user: Team access with different permission levels
Perfect for: Businesses that need full accounting, inventory management, payroll, and comprehensive financial reporting with team collaboration.
Key Differences for UK Businesses
Pricing & Value
Flow: Starting at £7/month with a free plan available. You only pay for invoicing features you'll actually use.
- • Free: 10 invoices/month
- • Starter: £7/month - Unlimited invoices
- • Professional: £15/month - Unlimited invoices
Xero: Starting at £15/month with no free plan. You pay for accounting features even if you only need invoicing.
- • Starter: £15/month - 20 invoices
- • Standard: £30/month - unlimited invoices
- • Premium: £45/month - multiple currencies
Bottom line: If you only need invoicing, Flow saves you £8-38/month compared to Xero. That's £96-456 per year!
UK-Specific Features
For UK businesses, especially in construction, Flow offers unique advantages:
Flow Advantages
- CIS Support: Built-in Construction Industry Scheme compliance with automatic deduction calculations (0%, 20%, 30%)
- UK-Based: Company and support team based in the UK, understanding local needs
- GDPR Compliant: Data stored in UK/EU servers
Xero Features
- No CIS support for construction businesses
- NZ-based company with strong UK presence
- Excellent VAT support for UK businesses
Learning Curve & Setup Time
Flow is designed for simplicity. Most users are creating invoices within 2-5 minutes of signing up.
- • Intuitive interface focused on invoicing
- • Minimal setup required
- • No accounting knowledge needed
- • Quick onboarding process
Xero is comprehensive but requires time to learn and set up properly.
- • Steeper learning curve
- • More setup and configuration needed
- • May require accounting knowledge
- • Extensive training resources available
Which Solution Fits Your Business?
Choose Flow If...
- You're a freelancer or consultant
You primarily need to invoice clients and track payments. You don't need full accounting features.
- You work in UK construction
Flow is the only platform with built-in CIS support. Xero doesn't offer this essential feature for construction businesses.
- You want to try before buying
Flow offers a free plan with 5 invoices/month. Xero requires payment from day one.
- You have an accountant
Your accountant handles the books. You just need to generate invoices and track payments.
- Budget matters
Save £10-30/month compared to Xero while getting everything you need for invoicing.
Choose Xero If...
- You need full accounting
You want P&L statements, balance sheets, and comprehensive financial reporting in one platform.
- You manage inventory
You sell products and need to track stock levels and cost of goods sold.
- You need automatic bank feeds
You want transactions automatically imported from your bank accounts.
- You handle your own books
You're comfortable with accounting software and want everything in one place.
- You have multiple users
You need team access with different permission levels (Flow is single-user focused).
Quick Feature Comparison
| Feature | Flow | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ||
| Starting Price | £7/mo | £15/mo |
| UK CIS Support | ||
| Invoice Creation | ||
| Quote Management | ||
| Client CRM | ||
| Full Accounting | ||
| Bank Feeds | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Inventory | ||
| Multi-User | ||
| Ease of Use |
Need Just Invoicing? Start with Flow
If you only need invoicing, why pay for accounting features you won't use? Try Flow free and see how simple invoicing can be.
14-day free trial • Cancel anytime