There are three ways to connect Xero to Excel: manual export, a custom-built connector, or a purpose-built two-way add-in. Manual export is free but always out of date. Custom connectors are technically possible, but Xero's API costs and setup make them tough to justify, and they're one-way and tied to one login.

If you do your real work in Excel but your data lives in Xero, you've got a gap to bridge. There are a few ways to connect Xero to Excel, and they're not equal.

Can you connect Xero to Excel for free?

Yes, manual export is free and built in. Run a report in Xero, export to CSV or Excel, then format it and drop it into your workbook. For a one-off number it's fine. The catch is that it's a snapshot. The moment a client posts a transaction, your export is out of date. There's no link back either, so anything you change in Excel stays in Excel. Best for occasional, one-off pulls.

Can you connect Xero to Excel with Power Query or a connector?

Not in a way that holds up. It's technically possible to pull Xero data through a custom-built connector, but Xero’s API access comes with security requirements and costs that make a proper build hard to justify for most firms. On top of that, setup takes real technical know-how, the connection is usually one-way (read-only), and it's often tied to one person's login. When they're out, someone has to rebuild it. For most firms it isn't worth the setup or the cost.

Is there a Xero add-in for Excel?

Yes. RadiusCore is an Excel add-in that connects Microsoft Excel directly to Xero, with two-way data sync. Pull a report into your workbook, refresh with a click, and push changes back. Connect each client once, shared across the firm. It handles multiple organisations, so multi-entity clients aren't a special case. More than 450 accountants and 10,000+ Xero entities run on it.

Which way is right for you?

If you only pull Xero data now and then, manual export is fine. A custom connector can give you read-only reporting, but Xero's API cost and setup mean it rarely pays off. If your firm lives in both tools and you want the data current, shared, and flowing both directions, a purpose-built add-in holds up. The line most firms cross is the team line.

How much does it cost?

Manual export is free and built into Xero. Custom connectors are prohibitively expensive once you add up the development and Xero API costs. RadiusCore's Excel add-in starts at $75/month, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card required.

FAQ

• Can Excel connect to Xero directly? Yes, with an Excel add-in like RadiusCore, so you can pull reports, refresh, and push changes back without exporting files by hand.

• Can you push data from Excel back to Xero? With manual export and most connectors, no. A two-way add-in like RadiusCore lets you push changes back.

• Do you need to be technical to connect Xero to Excel? Manual export takes manual work. Connectors take real technical setup, plus Xero's API hurdles. A purpose-built add-in is built for accountants and doesn't need IT.