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XO Report vs DataDear — Best Alternative for Xero Users Migrating in 2026

Looking for a DataDear alternative for Xero? DataDear's Xero support ended in October 2022 after Intuit's acquisition. Here's a step-by-step path for migrating from DataDear to XO Report — the Xero-native Excel add-in built for accountants who relied on DataDear.

Why DataDear is no longer available for Xero

Intuit acquired DataDear in September 2021 and the service shut down on 31 October 2022. DataDear's technology was redirected into QuickBooks Online Advanced, ending all Xero support. There is no remaining DataDear product for Xero users — only the migration paths available on this page.

Sources

App Advisory Plus — Alternative to DataDear that integrates to Xerowhoswho.mt — Founders' interview on the Intuit acquisitionIntuit — QuickBooks Online Advanced adds Excel integration

DataDear

What DataDear users will miss

  • Live two-way feed between Xero and Excel
  • Familiar Excel-based reporting pack workflow for accountants
  • Bulk post-to-Xero capability that streamlined data entry

Why DataDear no longer works for Xero users

  • Standalone service shut down on 31 October 2022; Xero refresh / sync no longer works
  • No longer listed on the Xero App Store — no install path for new Xero users
  • No further development for Xero since the Intuit acquisition (last vendor blog post: September 2021 acquisition announcement)
  • Technology is now QuickBooks Online Advanced only — not coming back to Xero per Intuit's stated direction

XO Report

Why XO Report is the natural successor

  • Built specifically for Xero (not retrofitted from a QuickBooks product)
  • Live formula-based refresh — formulas like =XO.BALANCE(...) update on recalc
  • Multi-org data in a single formula (unique vs every alternative including DataDear's historical design)
  • Listed on both Microsoft AppSource and the Xero App Store for verified-vendor trust
  • Actively maintained — shipping updates as of 2026

Pricing: XO Report starts at $9.90/month with a 14-day free trial (up to 10 organizations during the trial). Unlike DataDear, this is an actively maintained subscription product designed for the long term.

Choose XO Report if:

  • •Xero-first or Xero-only users
  • •You want a formula-based workflow (not a visual report builder)
  • •You value verified-vendor listings (Microsoft AppSource + Xero App Store)
  • •You need multi-org data in single formulas

How to migrate from DataDear

  1. Check whether XO Report fits your DataDear workflow.

    DataDear was a two-way feed between Xero and Excel — accountants used it both for pulling Xero data into Excel AND for bulk-posting data back into Xero. XO Report is read-only as of 2026: it pulls Xero data INTO Excel for reporting. If your DataDear workflow centered on bulk-posting INTO Xero (creating invoices, journals, etc.), XO Report does not replace that workflow today and you should consider an alternative tool. If your DataDear workflow was about pulling Xero data OUT into Excel for reports — read on.

  2. Install XO Report from Microsoft AppSource or the Xero App Store.

    XO Report is listed on both Microsoft AppSource and the Xero App Store — both vendor-verified channels. Pick whichever you prefer; the install CTA below takes you to the right place from this page.

  3. Connect your Xero organizations during the free trial.

    The 14-day free trial includes up to 10 Xero organizations. That is enough headroom to fully reproduce a typical DataDear reporting pack before you commit to a paid plan.

  4. Identify what you used to fetch from DataDear.

    Most DataDear workbooks pull a small, predictable set of data: profit & loss values, balance sheet rows, account balances, line-item detail, budgets, and chart of accounts. Make a quick list of which of these your workbook actually used — that list drives the next step.

  5. Map each DataDear refresh to the matching XO Report output.

    Use this outcome-based map. Wherever DataDear was pulling each piece of data, use the matching XO Report function: • Net income (P&L bottom line) → =XO.PROFIT(...) • Account balances and balance-sheet rows → =XO.BALANCE(...) • Line-item detail → =XO.LITEM(...) • Budgets → =XO.BUDGET(...) • Chart of accounts → =XO.COA(...) • Organization metadata → =XO.ORG(...) • Contacts → =XO.CONTACTS(...) • Tracking categories → =XO.TRACKING(...) • Tax rates → =XO.TAXRATES(...) • Currencies → =XO.CURRENCIES(...) • Account lookups → =XO.LACCOUNT(...) Or, for full reporting packs (P&L, Balance Sheet, aged receivables/payables, transaction listings), use the Tables and Reports mode in the task pane — that is closer in shape to what DataDear used to deliver in one click.

  6. Verify outputs match a known-good period.

    Run XO Report and your old DataDear workbook side-by-side on one known-good period. Confirm the XO.* output matches the expected values for that period before you retire the legacy workbook — this catches any mapping mistakes while you still have a reference.

  7. Retire the old workbook (or keep it as a snapshot).

    Once the XO Report version matches, archive the DataDear workbook as a static snapshot or delete it. From here on, future refreshes happen via XO Report only — no more broken DataDear refresh cells the next time Excel updates.

Install XO Report

Frequently Asked Questions

When did DataDear stop working for Xero?

DataDear shut down as a standalone service on 31 October 2022 after Intuit acquired it in September 2021. Many users only noticed when their installed copy stopped refreshing or after an Office upgrade — the Xero integration has been non-functional for years.

Will my old Excel workbooks built with DataDear still open?

Yes — only the DataDear refresh stops working. Open the workbooks as-is and replace each DataDear refresh cell with the matching XO.* formula one by one. Your layout, formatting, and downstream calculations stay intact.

What's the closest XO Report function for what I used to do in DataDear?

Use the outcome map in the migration steps above: net income → XO.PROFIT, account balances → XO.BALANCE, line items → XO.LITEM, budgets → XO.BUDGET, chart of accounts → XO.COA. For full P&L, Balance Sheet, aging, or transaction packs, use the Tables and Reports mode in the task pane. We do not claim DataDear had a matching formula syntax — only that the output matches.

Is XO Report on the Xero App Store, like DataDear was?

Yes — XO Report is listed on both the Xero App Store (apps.xero.com/app/xo-report) and Microsoft AppSource. Both listings include vendor verification, which is exactly the trust signal former DataDear users relied on.

Is there a migration discount for former DataDear users?

No specific discount. The 14-day free trial (up to 10 organizations) lets you fully test the migration before paying. The Solo plan starts at $9.90/month after the trial.

Can XO Report do the bulk post-to-Xero that DataDear did?

Honest answer: no. DataDear's two-way feed included writing data back to Xero in bulk. XO Report is read-only as of 2026 — built around pulling Xero data INTO Excel for reporting. If bulk-posting was your DataDear workflow, XO Report does not replace it today.

For a broader overview of how XO Report fits into the Xero-to-Excel workflow, see our complete Xero to Excel guide.

Sources

  1. DataDear — Acquisition announcement (September 2021)
  2. App Advisory Plus — Alternative to DataDear that integrates to Xero
  3. whoswho.mt — Founders' interview on the Intuit acquisition (June 2022)
  4. Heather Smith — Data Dear alternatives when it's no longer available outside QBO
  5. Xero Central — Replacement for Data Dear (community thread)
  6. Intuit — QuickBooks Online Advanced adds Excel integration (powered by DataDear technology)

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