Best Xero Projects Alternative

Xero Projects vs NextMinute

Comparing Xero Projects vs NextMinute? See why builders and tradies choose NextMinute as a simpler, stronger Xero Projects alternative.

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The best Xero Projects alternative for residential trades

NextMinute is for builders and tradespeople who run real-world jobs.

While Xero Projects is a light add-on for tracking time and costs inside Xero, NextMinute gives you full job and crew management built for residential construction – quotes, schedules, site diaries, photos, timesheets, variations, progress claims and back-costing by stage.

It plugs straight into Xero (and MYOB/QuickBooks if you use them), so you still get the accounting you love, with a trade-ready job system that actually works for your crew on site.

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NextMinute Screenshot - Job management on mobile

NextMinute vs Xero Projects

NextMinute

Xero Projects

Built for builders & tradies – Designed for residential construction jobs with stages, site work and crews.
Add-on for any business – Generic project/time tracking inside Xero, not trade-specific.
Construction-grade job costing – Live actual vs estimate by job and stage across labour, materials and equipment.
Basic project profitability – Simple margin view per project, without construction stages or WIP detail.
Full job & crew management – Plan jobs, schedule teams, track site diaries, POs, variations and progress claims.
Light project costing – Tracks time and expenses against projects, but doesn’t run day-to-day job operations.
Site-first mobile app – Crew can see schedules, log timesheets, add notes and photos, and update jobs from their phones.
Mobile for time & expenses – Mainly used to record time and costs, not to manage jobs or teams on site.
Accounting your way – Deep two-way integrations with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks for invoices and supplier bills.
Xero only – Works inside Xero; no direct MYOB or QuickBooks option.
Done-for-you onboarding & local support – We import data, set up jobs and train your crew with AU/NZ-based, trade-savvy support.
Generic global support – Online help and courses for all Xero users, not tailored to construction workflows.

Mobile App Comparison

NextMinute offers a powerful mobile app designed for teams, allowing your crew to log time against a job, capture site photos, manage job tasks, and access essential job documents from anywhere. The app is user-friendly, ensuring that your on-site team can update job progress in real-time, reducing the risk of miscommunication and delays.

Xero Projects, while having a mobile app, primarily focuses on financial management tasks such as logging time, tracking expenses, and viewing financial summaries. It’s more suitable for business owners or managers who need to monitor project finances on the go rather than for a construction crew who require extensive job management features.

Key Takeaway: NextMinute’s mobile app is more comprehensive and better suited for construction teams, while Xero Projects offers a lighter app focused on financial management.

NextMinute iPhone App

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"Highly recommend using NextMinute! The software is great. It is very easy to use and very adaptable for all different types of trades...Signing up to NextMinute was one of the best business decisions we made."

Taisha Stephens, Phoenix Renovations & Building

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Common Questions

Is NextMinute meant to replace Xero Projects, or can I use them together?

NextMinute is designed to take over the job and project side of things, while Xero keeps doing your accounting. You use NextMinute for quoting, scheduling, timesheets, job costing and claims, and it sends invoices, bills and payroll data through to Xero. So for most builders and tradies, NextMinute replaces the need for Xero Projects altogether.

Job Management For Tradies
What can I do in NextMinute that I can’t do in Xero Projects?

NextMinute lets you actually run the job day-to-day. You can plan stages, schedule your crew, capture site notes and photos, manage POs and variations, and see live job costs as you go. Xero Projects is mainly for tracking time and expenses against a project in Xero, not managing real-world work on site.

How does job costing in NextMinute compare to the profitability view in Xero Projects?

Xero Projects shows whether a project made money overall based on time and expenses. NextMinute gives a deeper construction view: actuals versus estimates by stage, across labour, materials and equipment, so you can see exactly where a job is on or off track and fix problems before the final invoice.

Financial Reporting Software For Tradies
Will my timesheets and supplier invoices still flow through to Xero if I switch to NextMinute?

Yes. Timesheets entered in NextMinute can feed both job costing and Xero payroll, and supplier invoices can sync between NextMinute and Xero so your job costs and accounts stay aligned. Customer invoices raised in NextMinute also push straight into Xero for sending and reconciliation.

Timesheet App For Builders & Tradies
How hard is it to move from Xero Projects to NextMinute, and what help do I get?

Switching is straightforward. Our team helps import your key data, set up jobs and templates, connect Xero and train both office staff and the crew. Onboarding and ongoing support are included in your plan, with local help on hand whenever you need it.

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