XO Report vs Scott's Add-ins
Looking for a Scott's Add-ins alternative for Xero in Excel? Scott's is the established Xero Excel integration with years of proven reliability, but at $39/month for Pro + $12 per additional organization, it scales painfully for multi-org accountants. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide whether XO Report is the right Scotts Add-ins alternative for your workflow.
Scott's Add-ins
Strengths
- Longest track record in the market (established and trusted)
- Comprehensive documentation and support
- Access to Journals / GL transaction data
- Wide range of Xero data types supported
- Proven reliability over many years
- Covers both Xero and QuickBooks
Limitations
- Pro plan required for full functionality ($39/mo): the $20/mo Basic plan is one user and two functions (=SCOTT.GL, =SCOTT.DESC) only
- Additional orgs cost $12 each (adds up quickly)
- Balance sheets can be inaccurate for multi-currency organizations: Scott's own guidance says it works "not so well for Balance Sheet accounts"
- Slow first-time setup: a one-time build of your organization's transaction history that can take "a few minutes or a couple of hours" before you can start
XO Report
Why Choose XO Report
- Built for accountants who outgrew Scott's pricing curve at 5+ Xero orgs
- Unlimited users on ALL plans
- All functions included from $9.90/mo
- Built only for Xero
- One-click tables and reports from the task pane that can list several organisations together in one table, with an organisation name column
- Multi-period financial reports
- Up to 84% cheaper at scale
- Reliable multi-currency balance sheets: figures come straight from Xero's own reports, so foreign-currency balances match what Xero shows
- No setup wait and nothing pre-built: connect and pull your numbers right away
Pricing: Scott's Add-ins Pro is $39/month for the first organization plus $12/month for each additional organization, with unlimited users. A Basic plan costs $20/month for the first organization (plus $12 per additional organization) but is limited to one user and two functions (=SCOTT.GL and =SCOTT.DESC). XO Report is up to 84% cheaper at scale.
Price Comparison
| Orgs | XO Report | Scott's Add-ins | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.90 | $39 | 75% |
| 5 | $29.90 | $87 | 66% |
| 10 | $29.90 | $147 | 80% |
| 50 | $99.90 | $627 | 84% |
Choose Scott's Add-ins if:
- •You need access to Journals / GL transaction data
- •You value the longest track record and established support
- •You're already using Scott's and it works for your workflow
Choose XO Report if:
- •You manage multiple Xero organizations
- •You want the lowest cost (especially at scale)
- •You want one-click tables and reports as well as formulas
- •You need multi-period financial reports
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scott's Add-ins better than XO Report?
It depends on your needs. Scott's Add-ins has a longer track record and access to Journals/GL data. XO Report is significantly cheaper (up to 84% at scale) and adds one-click tables and reports from the task pane alongside its formulas. Both are solid choices.
Does Scott's Add-ins work on Mac?
Scott's Add-ins supports both Windows and Mac Excel. Some users report better performance on Windows. XO Report also supports both platforms as a web-based add-in.
How much cheaper is XO Report vs Scott's Add-ins?
XO Report is up to 84% cheaper at higher org counts. For 50 orgs: XO Report is $99.90/mo vs Scott's Add-ins Pro at $627/mo, a savings of over $6,300/year.
Is XO Report a true Scott's Add-ins alternative?
Yes. Both are Excel add-ins for live Xero data, and both can report across several Xero organisations. XO Report focuses on lower cost as you add organisations and on one-click tables and reports; Scott's focuses on its track record and Journals/GL access. The right alternative depends on whether cost at scale or Journals matters more for your workflow.
How do I migrate from Scott's Add-ins to XO Report?
Install XO Report from Microsoft AppSource or the Xero App Store, connect your Xero orgs during the 14-day free trial (up to 10 orgs), and rebuild reports using =XO.BALANCE / =XO.PROFIT / =XO.BUDGET formulas. Keep Scott's installed during the trial to verify outputs side-by-side, then remove once XO matches.
Why would I look for a Scott's Add-ins alternative?
The most common reason is pricing: Scott's Pro at $39/mo + $12 per additional org scales to $627/mo at 50 orgs vs XO Report at $99.90/mo at 50 orgs.
Is Scott's Add-ins accurate for multi-currency organizations?
Scott's own guidance notes the add-in works well for profit & loss accounts but "not so well for Balance Sheet accounts" in a multi-currency Xero organization. For example, receivables and payables show in your home currency, which can differ from your actual balance sheet when you have foreign-currency invoices. XO Report takes its balance figures straight from Xero's own reports, so foreign-currency balances match what Xero shows.
Is Scott's Add-ins slow to set up?
The first time you connect an organization, Scott's runs a one-time build of your transaction history that, by its own documentation, "could take a few minutes or a couple of hours" depending on your transaction volume, and you wait for an email before you can start. XO Report has no build step: connect during the free trial and start pulling numbers immediately.
For a broader overview of how XO Report fits into the Xero-to-Excel workflow, see our complete Xero to Excel guide.
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