Question 1

Why switch from Xero to HelloBooks in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Three reasons Singapore customers cite most: 1) AI — both platforms now ship it. Xero launched its JAX agentic platform at Xerocon London on 8 July 2026, with Auto Bank Reconciliation and Smart Document Capture available now (document chasing and payment follow-ups were announced but had not shipped as of 22 July 2026), while HelloBooks runs an AI agent at 95%+ accuracy from day one. 2) The suite — HelloBooks bundles payroll (HelloTime) and Section 45 withholding computation that Xero handles via separate subscriptions or not at all. 3) Price — HelloBooks Pro is S$26/month per entity with a Free Plan to start. Both prepare the IRAS GST F5; the difference is how much automation and how many separate products it takes to get there.

Question 2

Is HelloBooks IRAS-compliant for the GST F5?

Accepted Answer

HelloBooks computes the full GST F5 from your ledger — standard-rated supplies and output tax, zero-rated, exempt, taxable purchases and input tax, and reverse charge — and lets you drill each box back to source. You review and file on the IRAS myTax Portal. Direct IRAS e-filing (and the InvoiceNow e-invoicing requirement IRAS is phasing in) is on our roadmap.

Question 3

How does migration from Xero work?

Accepted Answer

Export from Xero (Settings → Advanced → Export Data): Chart of Accounts, Contacts, Manual Journals, Invoices, Bills, Bank Transactions. Upload to the HelloBooks import tool; the mapping screen aligns Xero account codes to your HelloBooks chart before commit. Most Singapore SMEs finish in about 90 minutes; multi-year ledgers take longer.

Question 4

Is the pricing comparison accurate?

Accepted Answer

HelloBooks Singapore pricing (Pro S$26/month per entity) is set in-app. Xero's Singapore plans were Starter S$39, Standard S$70 and Premium S$95 per month when verified against xero.com on 2026-07-22. Xero changes pricing periodically and renamed its UK and AU line-ups in 2026, so re-verify current Xero Singapore pricing before deciding.

Feature	HelloBooks	Xero
Starting price (SGD)	Free Plan; Pro S$26/mo per entity with invoices within 200 transactions/year, bills and transactions	Paid tiers only — Starter S$39/mo, Standard S$70/mo, Premium S$95/mo (verified 2026-07-22); the entry plan caps usage and steps up quickly for growing businesses
AI categorisation	Built-in AI agent, 95%+ accuracy, every plan — no rule-writing	JAX Smart Document Capture and Auto Bank Reconciliation available now (Jul 2026); bank rules and Hubdoc still available
IRAS GST F5 return	Computed from your ledger — standard-rated, zero-rated, exempt, reverse charge, input tax — ready to file on myTax Portal	GST F5 supported
Reverse charge on imported services	Posted automatically on imported-service bills; OVR GST recognised on supplier invoices	Reverse charge supported via tax rates
Section 45 withholding tax	Computes S45 WHT on non-resident payments with DTA-reduced rates where a Certificate of Residence applies	No built-in Section 45 withholding computation
Payroll in the same login	HelloTime payroll, leave and attendance in the suite — one login	Payroll via a separate Xero Payroll subscription / third-party app
Multi-currency	Live FX with gain/loss postings, included on Pro at S$26/mo per entity	Multi-currency limited to the higher-tier plan
Data export at cancellation	Free CSV / QBO export, 90-day read-only window	CSV export available

The Xero alternative with AI bookkeeping built in

HelloBooks vs Xero (Singapore)

Singapore Xero switch — frequently asked

Try the Xero alternative — free