Frequently asked questions

01. Why is Xero making a change to their pricing model and Developer Terms and Conditions?

• Designed to meet developers where they are in their app development journey, we are transitioning to five tiers: Starter, Core, Plus, Advanced, Enterprise based on connections and data consumption via the Xero APIs. This change will make it easier to move through the tiers and access benefits as you grow and scale, while also making it clearer for developers to forecast and control their pricing. Changes to app tiers and pricing model changes will take effect on 2 March, 2026. 

• The update to the Xero Developer Terms and Conditions, provides developers with clarity about the use of our Developer Platform, including prohibitions on using API data for AI/ML training and certain automated tools. We’re also updating our Developer Platform Commercial Terms, which consolidates the existing Xero App Store Terms and Xero Certified Integration Terms, to reflect the new pricing model. If you registered as a Xero developer on or after 4 December, 2025, these revised terms apply to you immediately. If you registered before this date, this version of the terms will apply to you from 2 March, 2026.

02. What is changing?

Beginning on 2 March, 2026, we will be moving to a commercial tiering model based on connections and Xero API usage. Xero will no longer be pricing based on a revenue-share model 

We are revising our Xero Developer Platform Terms and accompanying Commercial Terms to support this new model and, importantly, clarify that API data may not be used to train AI/ML models. 

03. What are the new tiers, connection limit, monthly cost and Xero API usage limits for each tier?

04. What is the key update in the Xero Developer Platform Terms and Conditions regarding AI?

The primary update prohibits the use of data obtained through Xero’s APIs to train or contribute to the creation of any AI or machine learning model. This is to bolster user trust and data security.

05. When do the new Xero Developer Platform Terms take effect?

If you registered as a Xero developer on or after 4 December, 2025, these revised Developer Terms will apply to you straight away. If you registered before 4 December, 2025, this version of the terms applies to you from 2 March, 2026. Key changes to our terms and conditions include: 

• A new prohibition on using API data to train AI/ML models.

• Clarifying that apps must not use bots or browser extensions to undermine our security controls or simulate user actions.

• Updated commercial terms, consolidating the existing Xero App Store Terms and Xero Certified Integration Terms, to reflect the new pricing model.

06. Are there any apps that are excluded from this?

Yes, there are a handful of types of apps that are excluded from this new pricing model, all as determined by Xero. The new Terms and Conditions apply to everyone.

App types excluded from the new pricing model include: 

• Apps using custom connections - these apps remain on the same commercial terms for custom connections. More information can be found here. 

• Conversion apps (apps that convert data from other accounting platforms to Xero) are excluded from this model and do not incur pricing fees. 

• Franchise apps are excluded from this model and do not incur pricing fees. 

• Apps created and implemented for specific private business use are excluded, as determined by Xero.

• Applications on bespoke commercial terms.

07. How do I understand my app’s total connections and API usage to estimate fees so I know how much I will need to pay?

It is important that you understand your current total connection counts and volume of data consumed via the Xero API so you can forecast your new pricing, disconnect inactive connections and optimise your app’s API consumption. 

Total connections:

• The most reliable way to track connected companies is by leveraging the connections API endpoint. More information on how to manage your app’s connections can be found on the Xero Developer site here, including how to remove inactive connections. 

• While not a real-time API call, Xero also provides high-level data in the developer console via the “My Apps” Dashboard. Log into the Xero Developer Portal and go to the My Apps section. This dashboard provides general information, including analytics on API traffic, and can help you monitor overall usage patterns, which often correlates with the number of connections.

• If you want to clean up connections, there is also a new "manage your connections" feature available in the Xero Developer Portal that will enable you to easily disconnect inactive connections.

Xero API Egress Usage report:

• The API Egress Usage report displays your app's daily and monthly API data consumption, enabling you to

  • Track Usage: Monitor your monthly API data egress for the current period, with granularity down to daily usage

  • Analyze Trends: Review daily and monthly usage patterns to identify peak activity and optimise your API calls.

  • Forecast Tier: Determine which pricing tier would suit your app based on your total monthly API data egress volume.

App optimisation opportunities:

• Beginning in January, we will enable additional resources via content and educational webinars to help you on the optimisation journey. We recommend you complete any optimisations ahead of the roll out of the new pricing tiers. 

08. What is API Egress volume?

API Egress Volume: is the metric used in the usage report. The API egress volume includes your app consumption across all Xero APIs, with the exception of the Organisation endpoint.

09. How does the platform calculate API egress volume?

The platform calculates API egress volume using the standard binary system (1 GiB = 230 bytes). The API egress usage report displays this metric in GB (Gigabyte) for simplicity. It is important to understand that this unit is technically equivalent to a GiB (Gibibyte).

10. What is the overage price for API data egress?

For the Core, Plus, and Advanced tiers, the overage fee for Xero API usage egress is $2.40 AUD per GB above the included monthly allotment.

11. What is the "organisation endpoint" that is excluded from the API egress allotment?

The organisation endpoint is a GET only endpoint that returns information about the business that you’ve connected to via the API. We recognise that many integrations call this endpoint as a “keep alive” call and so we’ve made a decision to not include it as part of your egress allotment.

12. I will be on the Enterprise tier and it says I have custom pricing, when will I know what I will be charged?

Someone from the Xero team will reach out to you in January with more details on your app’s pricing. We’ll also work with you to optimise your connections and API egress to make sure you only pay for what you’re using.

13. How and when do I get charged?

The credit card you entered in the developer portal will be charged on the 1st of the month after your first month migrated and will be based on your tier pricing plus any API volume egress overages.

14. What happens if my connection numbers increase suddenly pushing me across to the next tier mid-month?

We encourage you to monitor your connection numbers as you need to apply to move between tiers and meet tier requirements before you will be moved up a tier. Your connections are capped at the tier maximums until you meet that tier's requirements.

15. How will my bill be calculated if I move up a tier mid-month?

When you move up a tier you will be billed for the lower tier until the end of the calendar month. From the start of the next calendar month you will be billed for the higher tier.

16. Can I pay by methods other than credit card?

Not at this time. The only approved billing method is by credit card.

17. When will existing apps be migrated to the new pricing model?

App migration will begin starting mid March, 2026. Existing apps will receive notice (at least) 30 days prior to their migration with details of their new tier and any required actions.

18. I have customers on XASS (Xero App Store Subscriptions), what do I need to do?

As of 4 December, 2025, we recommend you remove the ability to add additional customers to XASS billing. You will need to migrate your customers off of XASS by 1 July, 2026. This means you need to: 

1. Recommended immediate actions: 

   • Update your pricing plans: Go to the Xero Developer Portal and archive your app’s active XASS plans. More information is available here.

   • Redirect buy flow: Redirect customers to purchase via your own buy flow, removing the ability for customers to purchase via XASS from your app. 

2. Transition of existing XASS customers: Begin the transition of your current XASS customers to an alternative billing system. Due to customer consent limitations, Xero cannot share payment details for these customers. However, we can provide the customer name and contact information upon request.

3. Mandatory deadline: Ensure all of your customers are transitioned by 1 July, 2026.

19. Which tiers are required to have a Xero App Store listing?

A Xero App Store listing is required for the Enterprise tier, recommended but optional for the Plus and Advanced tiers, and not available for the Starter and Core tiers.

20. Which premium features require a security assessment and use case approval?

The Journals endpoint, Xero Practice Manager API, and Bulk Connections require a security assessment (initial and annual) and use case approval, and they are only available starting at the Advanced tier.

21. For the Journals and Xero Practice Manager API premium features, what criteria are used to grant "use case approval," and what is the typical review timeline?

Please reach out to our support team for more information about the use case approval process.

22. What is the specific process, time commitment, and primary criteria for the "App certification" requirement for the Core, Plus, Advanced, and Enterprise tiers?

More information about the Xero Developer certification process can be found here.

23. For apps created between 4 December, 2025 and 2 March, 2026 that want to publish on the Xero App Store, what are the specific details, rates, and model of the interim billing solution?

Please reach out to our support team for more information about the interim billing solution.

24. How do I move between tiers?

New apps created in the Xero Developer portal will default to the Starter tier. The Starter tier has unlimited data access to enable early innovation but is capped at 5 connections. In order to add a 6th connection, you will need to first add your payment details. Once that is complete, you will move to the Core tier. 

In order to move beyond the Core tier and access additional tier benefits, you will need to meet tier requirements. Beginning 2 March, 2026, you can apply to move between tiers within the developer portal.

25. What if I want to move down a tier?

You can request to downgrade two times per year to account for seasonality. 

Please reach out to our support team to move down a tier.

26. What if my app is seasonal?

You can request to downgrade two times per year to account for seasonality. 

27. Beyond the "Per day per org" limit listed (1000 for Starter, 5000 for the rest), are there any other app-level or global rate limits (e.g., concurrent connection limits, or overall app call limits) that developers need to be aware of within each tier?

Yes, there are some additional things to be aware of that remain consistent: 

• Concurrent Limit: 5 calls in progress at one time.

• Minute Limit: 60 calls per minute

• Daily Limit: 1,000 calls per day for starter, 5,000 calls per day for higher tiers 

• App Minute Limit: 10,000 calls per minute

28. I have more questions!

Great, we have more answers - please reach out to our support team with any questions.