Cantant: The best Xero alternative for your business

When choosing between Cantant and Xero for your business's accounting needs, the best option depends on whether you prioritize simplicity and time-saving features or require a more comprehensive, customizable, and scalable solution with a broader ecosystem. Both platforms are solid choices, but their strengths cater to different types of business owners.

Pricing

Cantant is generally the more affordable choice, with a lower entry price and more flexible options for multi-user and multi-business management on its team plan. Xero is a more expensive platform but offers a 30-day free trial.

• Cantant: Offers a free version and a budget-friendly entry-level plan at $10/month. Its team plan at $25/month supports up to 7 users and 3 businesses, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses or those managing multiple ventures

• Xero: Does not have a free version but offers a free trial. Its paid plans start at a higher price point, with the Starter plan at $29/month (USD) and the Standard plan at $46/month. The number of users included depends on the plan, and while it supports multiple organizations, you need to subscribe to a separate plan for each one, which can increase costs.

Reporting and real-time updates

Cantant focuses on providing quick, actionable insights for busy business owners who may not have a financial background. Xero, on the other hand, provides a wider range of detailed reports and customization options, which is excellent for businesses that need to perform in-depth analysis.

• Cantant: Its strength lies in its simplicity. It provides straightforward reports on things like best-selling products by profit, fastest-growing expenses, and overspending alerts. It's built to give entrepreneurs the information they need without the complexity of traditional accounting reports.

• Xero: Offers a comprehensive suite of reports, including profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Users can also create custom reports and apply formulas to analyze performance against key performance indicators (KPIs). While this provides more depth, it can be overwhelming for users who simply need a quick summary.

Invoicing, Suppliers, and Customers

Both platforms offer the essential tools for managing invoicing and customer relationships. They allow users to create and send professional, branded invoices, track payments, and capture receipts.

Ease of use and customer support

Both Cantant and Xero are designed with user-friendliness in mind. Cantant is praised for its highly intuitive and simple interface, while Xero is well-regarded for being a beautifully designed and powerful cloud-based solution.

• Cantant: Prioritizes an intuitive and simple user experience. It's built for business owners who want to get their accounting done quickly so they can focus on other aspects of their business.

• Xero: While also considered easy to use, its extensive features and customization options can result in a slightly steeper learning curve for beginners compared to Cantant.

When it comes to customer support, both platforms offer support. Xero, however, does not offer inbound phone support. Instead, users are directed to an extensive online knowledge base and can request a call back if needed. Cantant offers direct live customer support.

Conclusion: Which one is right for you? 🤔

The choice between Cantant and Xero depends on your business's specific needs and your personal preference for complexity versus simplicity.

• Choose Cantant: if you are a small business owner, solopreneur, or freelancer who prioritizes ease of use and fast, clear financial insights. If you want a straightforward, time-saving tool with a low monthly cost and the ability to manage multiple businesses easily, Cantant is the better fit.

• Choose Xero: if your business requires more advanced features like payroll management, deep customization, and extensive integrations with other software. If you're willing to invest more for a scalable, powerful accounting solution with a vast ecosystem, Xero is the superior choice.