Best Shopify + Xero integration: Full comparison

Laura Tien June 04, 2024

Article E-Commerce

A Shopify to Xero integration can save e-commerce businesses hours of manual accounting work and reduce the number of errors. However, finding the best one for your business can be difficult, especially with so many options to choose from. This guide will help you compare the benefits and considerations of the top solutions on the Xero App Store and Shopify App Store.

We’ll start by detailing the common features you should expect in any reliable Shopify to Xero accounting integration. Then, we’ll delve into the specifics of each option including ratings, pricing, pros and cons. You’ll find a comprehensive table summarizing these insights at the end.

What features can you find in all Shopify to Xero integrations?

Though each Shopify to Xero accounting integration will have different features, there are a few that you should expect to find in all options you consider. These include:

• Sync Shopify sales, payments, fees and taxes to ensure your financial data is complete and up-to-date
• Back sync data to help you catch up on your books
• Matches transactions from Shopify to the bank feed for faster reconciliation
• Offers Xero integrations for any other sales channels you use so that you can keep all your data in one place

To start, all integrations should be able to sync sales, related fees and sales taxes from Shopify to Xero. You’ll find that some solutions will sync these as an invoice and others will sync these as a journal entry. There are also variances in how often syncs occur. It could be per order, per day and/or per Shopify payout.

Next, you may have months worth of Shopify data that you need to get synced to Xero. Hence, an integration should allow you to backsync historical data. If you need this feature, double check that it’s offered on the specific plan you choose. Certain providers will charge an additional fee for historical sync as well.

Part of every business’s accounting processes is reconciliation. This involves matching up the data in your accounting software to your bank statements. A Shopify to Xero integration should automatically match the synced invoice/journal entry to the Shopify payout deposited in your bank account. This requires the integration to appropriately account for Shopify fees since Shopify deducts fees from the payout amount.

Last but not least, if you sell on multiple channels or may consider doing so in the future, make sure the integration provider you choose offers a range of integrations. For example, this can include Xero integrations to POS systems, marketplaces, and other e-commerce platforms.

Full comparison of top integrators

Amaka

Xero App Store rating: 5 ★, 1202 reviews

Pricing:

Free plan available

Premium plan starts at $18/month (7-day free trial)

Benefits and considerations:

The Shopify to Xero integration by Amaka is the top-rated option available on the Xero App Store. Unlike other options on the market, you’re able to choose whether you want to sync one invoice per Shopify order or sync a daily summarized invoice. The sync will include all details related to sales, payments, fees, COGS, refunds, shipping, gift cards, and more.

Since there is usually a delay between making a sale and the Shopify payout actually being deposited in your bank account, Amaka’s integration uses a clearing account to temporarily show sales numbers. Once the payout is deposited, the synced invoices will match up to the payout amount for fast-tracked reconciliation.

Additionally, you have a range of customisation options available. For example, you can control what accounts different kinds of sales and payments are mapped to. Plus, you can choose how the synced invoice is broken down. It can be categorized by product, category or location.

Over 85,000 small businesses and accounting professionals around the world trust Amaka. We have 1,150+ 5-star reviews as a result of our easy-to-use integrations and unlimited, ongoing support. The support team are Xero-certified, CPA-trained and available around-the-clock through video call and help desk.

A2X

Xero App Store rating: 5 ★, 649 reviews

Pricing:

Starts at $29/month (Free trial available)

Benefits and considerations:

A2X’s integration syncs Shopify sales to Xero in the form of a journal entry. There is one journal entry for each Shopify payout and it includes an overview of revenue, fees, taxes and returns. Journal entries are matched to transactions in the bank feed for sped up reconciliation.

You can customize if the journal entry is broken down by SKU, product type or country. Similarly, you can use your existing chart of accounts or customize a new set.

Take into consideration that you don’t have the option to sync one journal entry for each order. On top of that, the summarized journals are only synced after the Shopify payout is deposited, meaning your Xero data isn’t updated daily through a temporary clearing account.

Link My Books

Xero App Store rating: 5 ★, 477 reviews

Pricing:

Starts at $17/month (14-day free trial)

Benefits and considerations:

With Link My Books, a summarized journal entry is synced to Xero for every Shopify payout. The sync will have an overview of sales, fees and taxes. For faster reconciliation, the journal will automatically match up to the bank feed.

There are some customisation options available, however, it may not be extensive enough for all businesses. For instance, you can’t sync a journal for each order and you can’t customize how the journal is broken down. Separately, since journal entries are only synced for each Shopify payout, there will be a delay in your Xero data. Clearing accounts aren’t used to temporarily show sales amounts.

Parex

Xero App Store rating: 5 ★, 187 reviews

Pricing: Starts at $10/month (7-day free trial)

Benefits and considerations:

Parex allows you to choose between syncing a summarized invoice per Shopify payout or an invoice per order. The invoice synced to Xero will include fees, taxes, COGS, refunds, shipping, products, customers and more. They offer custom account mapping options for the sync.

Clearing accounts are used to hold a record of sales before you receive the Shopify payout. Once it hits your account, transactions are automatically matched for easier reconciliation.

However, there is minimal ongoing support with email being the only contact option available.

Synder

Xero App Store rating: 4.7 ★, 131 reviews

Pricing:

Starts at $48/month (15-day free trial)

Benefits and considerations:

Synder’s integration gives you the option to sync a daily summarized journal entry or one entry per Shopify order to Xero. The sync will include fees, taxes, shipping, discounts, customers, products and more. You can customize product mapping and rules. Journal entries are automatically matched to transactions from your bank feed for faster reconciliation.

Factors to consider include the higher than average subscription cost, limited support options and lack of multi-location support.

Xero

Xero App Store rating: 3 ★, 98 reviews

Pricing: Starts at $22/month in AU/NZ and £11 in UK (30-day free trial), 

Free in USA/CA/SG/ROW

Benefits and considerations:

Xero offers their own Shopify integration that syncs a summarized invoice on a daily basis. It includes fees, taxes, discounts, shipping, gift cards and more. To ensure your data is up-to-date even before Shopify payouts are deposited, clearing accounts are used to temporarily show a record of your sales.

A major drawback to consider is the integration does not automatically match up transactions in Xero to those in the bank feed. This is because Shopify payouts are deposited with fees subtracted. Xero’s integration does not take this into account appropriately. Moreover, consider that the integration does not sync COGS or offer multi-location functionality.

Support for the integration is only available through Xero’s forum.

Shopify to Xero integration comparison table

INTEGRATION	BENEFITS	CONSIDERATIONS
Amaka (5 ★, 1202 reviews) Free plan available Premium plan starts at $18/month (7-day free trial)	Choose from summarized daily invoice OR individual invoices for each order synced Fees, taxes, COGS, discounts, shipping, gift cards, tips, refunds and more included Custom account mapping Group by product, category and location Clearing accounts hold a record of sales before Shopify payouts hit your bank account Shopify payouts are automatically matched to bank transfers Unlimited and ongoing, round-the-clock support from Xero-certified, CPA-trained Integration Specialists through help desk and video call	Does not sync customer details and stock levels
A2X (5 ★, 649 reviews) Starts at $29/month (Free trial available)	Journal summary for each Shopify payout Fees, taxes, returns, COGS and more included Group by SKU, product and country Custom account mapping Shopify payouts are automatically matched to bank transfers	Can’t sync individual journals for each order No clearing account, meaning data isn’t up to date Does not sync customer details and stock levels Ongoing support through email and chat only
Link My Books (5 ★, 477 reviews) Starts at $17/month (14-day free trial)	Summarized invoice for each Shopify payout Fees, taxes, COGS, refunds and more included Custom account mapping Shopify payouts are automatically matched to bank transfers	No clearing account, meaning data isn’t up to date Does not sync customer details and stock levels Ongoing support through email and chat only
Parex (5 ★, 187 reviews) Starts at $10/month (7-day free trial)	Choose from summarized invoice for each Shopify payout OR individual invoices for each order synced Fees, taxes, COGS, refunds, payments, shipping, products and customers included Custom account mapping Clearing accounts hold a record of sales before Shopify payouts hit your bank account Shopify payouts are automatically matched to bank transfers	Ongoing support through email only
Synder (4.7 ★, 131 reviews) Starts at $48/month (15-day free trial)	Choose from summarized daily journal entry OR individual entries for each order synced Fees, taxes, discounts, shipping, SKUs, customer details and more included Custom account mapping Clearing accounts hold a record of sales before Shopify payouts hit your bank account Shopify payouts are automatically matched to bank transfers	Higher subscription cost No grouping by location/multi-location functionality Ongoing support through email, chat and phone only
Xero (3 ★, 98 reviews) Starts at $22/month in AU/NZ and £11 in UK (30-day free trial) Free in USA, CA, SG and ROW	Summarized daily invoice Fees, taxes, discounts, shipping, gift cards and more included Clearing accounts hold a record of sales before Shopify payouts hit your bank account	Known to sync amounts that do not match up to the bank feed (Shopify fees are not handled correctly) Does not sync customer details, COGS and stock levels No grouping by location/multi-location functionality Ongoing support through forum only

Getting professional help with your accounting integration

Whether you’re an e-commerce business or accounting professional, you can get help with Amaka integrations by booking a support session or reaching out via the help desk. Additionally, we offer the Managed Reconciliation Service where we take care of monitoring and reconciling transactions, identifying and resolving discrepancies, and providing regular reports.

For e-commerce businesses that are seeking additional assistance from an accountant or bookkeeper, we suggest working with an accounting professional with expertise in technology. The right choice should be able to help you with selecting a Shopify to Xero integration as well as with setting it up.

Key takeaways on the best way to integrate Shopify and Xero

Ultimately, finding the best way to integrate Shopify and Xero will depend on factors such as your business transactions volume, budget, preferences and more. Every app comes with its own pros and cons that you will need to consider. Regardless, investing in a reliable integration is crucial to freeing up the time spent on manual work.