Comparison · May 2026
Wedge vs Xero
Xero is the accountant's favourite. It is a powerful cloud accounting platform with deep bookkeeping, an enormous app marketplace, and tight integrations with UK accountancy firms. Wedge is a WhatsApp-native invoicing tool built for the moment a tradesperson finishes a job and wants to send a professional invoice without opening a laptop. They solve different problems.
Wedge
RecommendedWhatsApp-native invoicing for UK tradespeople. 1% per paid invoice (capped at £50), no subscription, no app to install.
- 1% per paid invoice, capped at £50 — pay only when you get paid
- Send invoices from WhatsApp in under 60 seconds
- AI handles line items, VAT, and trade-specific details
- CIS, staged payments, retentions, qualifications all built in
- No login, no dashboard required — runs in WhatsApp
Xero
Cloud accounting platform with strong bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, and an extensive UK accountant network.
- Subscription from £16/month (Starter, capped invoices) to £47/month (Premium)
- Bank feed reconciliation and full general ledger
- Marketplace of 1,000+ third-party apps
- Multi-currency on Premium
- Deep accountant-collaborator workflows
Side-by-side comparison
Feature-by-feature breakdown of Wedge versus Xero.
| Feature | WedgeRecommended | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | None — ever | £16–£47 per month |
| Invoices capped on cheapest tier | Unlimited | Starter capped at 20 invoices/month |
| Pricing model | 1% per paid invoice (max £50) | Flat monthly fee regardless of volume |
| Pay only when you get paid | ||
| Send invoices via WhatsApp | ||
| AI parsing of plain-English job descriptions | ||
| App download required | Just WhatsApp | Web + mobile app |
| Setup time to first invoice | Under 60 seconds | 30–60 minutes onboarding + chart of accounts |
| VAT (standard, reduced, zero, reverse-charge) | ||
| MTD-compliant | ||
| CIS-aware invoicing for subcontractors | Manual setup or add-on | |
| Staged payments and retentions for builders | Manual line-item workaround | |
| Trade qualifications shown on invoice (Gas Safe, NICEIC) | Manual template work | |
| Stripe card payments included | 1% all-in (max £50) | Separate processing fees |
| Automatic late-payment reminders | ||
| Bank feed reconciliation | ||
| Multi-currency invoicing | Premium tier only | |
| Accountant collaborator access | Export records on request | |
| Built specifically for UK trades | Generic accounting platform |
When Xero is the right tool
If your accountant uses Xero, you have multiple revenue streams to reconcile, you need multi-currency, or you are running a business with significant inventory and bookkeeping complexity — Xero is excellent. The marketplace alone is a serious moat: there is a Xero integration for almost everything.
Where Xero is over-engineered for tradespeople
The Starter tier at £16/month caps you at 20 invoices and 5 quotes per month. If you exceed that — which most active sole traders do — you are pushed to £33/month. £33 × 12 = £396/year before you have invoiced anyone. Compared with Wedge, where 100 invoices at an average £200 each costs £200/year (1% of £20,000) and the per-invoice fee is capped at £50 even on big jobs, Xero is more expensive at typical sole-trader volumes unless you genuinely use the deeper accounting features.
How Wedge fits alongside Xero
Wedge does not replace Xero for businesses that need full bookkeeping. The two tools sit naturally side by side: send invoices from WhatsApp via Wedge, then import the invoice records into Xero monthly for reconciliation and accountant review. Many Wedge users keep their existing accountant and Xero subscription — Wedge just removes the friction of getting an invoice out the door from a job site.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Wedge if
- You are a tradesperson and want invoices out from your phone in under a minute
- You bill fewer than 20 invoices a month or are pushed onto Xero's £33+ tier you do not need
- You want CIS, staged payments, retentions, and trade qualifications handled automatically
- You hate paying flat fees on slow months
- Your accountant lives in Xero — feed Wedge invoice exports into Xero monthly
Choose Xero if
- Your accountant requires Xero and you collaborate with them weekly
- You need multi-currency invoicing (Premium tier)
- You rely on the Xero app marketplace for inventory, payroll, or industry-specific add-ons
- You have substantial bookkeeping needs beyond invoicing
- Bank feed reconciliation is a daily part of how you run the business
Send your first invoice in 60 seconds
Use Wedge alongside Xero or on its own. 1% per paid invoice, capped at £50 — no subscription, no monthly fee.
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See how Wedge compares to other invoicing and accounting tools.