Ekue
Where they differ
| Ekue | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | US sole traders, single-member LLCs, small S-corps | Small businesses in many countries |
| Categories | Mapped to Schedule C lines from day one | Chart of accounts to set up and map |
| Invoice and bill limits | None | The entry plan limits how many you can send and enter |
| Card payments | Through your own Stripe account | Through connected payment services |
| 1099-NEC totals | Yes | Yes, with setup |
| Bank connection | CSV and OFX file import | Automatic bank feeds |
| Multi-currency | No, US dollars only | Yes, on higher plans |
| Year-end pack | One download for your tax agent | Reports run one at a time |
Written from public information, October 2026. Plans and prices change; check their own site before you decide.
Why a narrower product helps
Xero has to work for a café in Auckland and an agency in London, so its defaults are general. If you file a US Schedule C, the useful default is specific: a category list that already says "Contract labor" and "Supplies", a report that totals each line of the form, and a 1099 report for the contractors you paid.
That is what Ekue starts with. Your categories are editable, but you don't have to design them before you send your first invoice.
What you get
- Estimates, invoices, credit memos and recurring invoices, paid by card through your own Stripe account.
- Bills, bill payments, vendor credits and expenses with receipts, read for you when you upload them.
- CSV and OFX import with rules, a review inbox and reconcile.
- Profit and loss on cash or accrual, balance sheet, ageing, Schedule C summary and 1099-NEC.
- A real double-entry ledger underneath, with trial balance and journal entries for your accountant.
When Xero is the better choice
Choose Xero if you trade in more than one currency, work outside the US, need automatic bank feeds, or depend on its app marketplace. Ekue doesn't try to match those.