Kelo vs Xero's built-in reminders
Xero already sends reminders. So why is the invoice still unpaid?
Xero has free, automated invoice reminders and you should turn them on. But they run on one schedule for every customer, say the same thing to everyone, and never tell you which unpaid invoice actually needs you this week. For a lot of owners the reminders go out and the invoice still sits there. That gap, deciding who to chase and saying it like a human, is what Kelo fills. Kelo sits alongside Xero's reminders, it does not replace them.
| Xero's built-in reminders | Kelo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included in your Xero plan | Free to see what you are owed; £99/mo to act |
| Reminder schedule | One org-level schedule for all customers | Per customer, prioritised by value and days late |
| Tells you who to chase first | No, it reminds everyone equally | Yes, the single client worth chasing first |
| The message | Generic templated reminder | Drafted in your voice, you approve before it sends |
| Sends from | Your Xero org, as a branded reminder | Your own inbox, reads like a personal note |
| Escalation for the deadbeat tail | None | Statutory interest owed + letter before action |
| Before the due date | Reminders are for overdue invoices | Pre-due nudges to get paid on time |
Xero's built-in reminders figures taken from their published pricing page and checked on 6 September 2026. Pricing in this category changes often, verify before deciding.
Xero reminders alone are enough if
You just want a basic automated nudge on overdue invoices and you are happy for it to be generic and identical for every client. It is free, it is built in, and for a business with few debtors and no relationship sensitivity it does a fine job. Turn it on before you pay for anything: Settings, then invoice reminders. If that gets you paid, you do not need Kelo.
Add Kelo if
The reminders go out and invoices still sit unpaid, or you hold back from the automated reminder because it does not sound like you and these are relationships you care about. Kelo looks at everything outstanding, tells you the one client worth chasing first this week, and drafts a message in your voice that you approve and send from your own inbox, so it lands like a personal note rather than a system email.
The difference is deciding and wording, not sending
Xero's reminders are a broadcast: one schedule, one template, sent to everyone with an overdue invoice. That is genuinely useful and free, and it is the right first step. But a broadcast cannot tell you that the £8,000 invoice 40 days late from your biggest client matters more this week than three small ones, and it cannot write to that client the way you would.
Kelo does the two things the broadcast cannot: it decides (one number, the one action worth taking, ranked by value and days late) and it words it (a draft in your voice you approve). Nothing sends without you, and it reads like you wrote it, because in effect you did.
So this is not really Kelo instead of Xero reminders. Leave the reminders on for the long tail. Use Kelo for the invoices where a generic nudge is not going to be what gets you paid.
Common questions
Does Xero chase overdue invoices automatically?
Yes. Xero has free built-in invoice reminders you can switch on in settings. They send automatically on a schedule you set at the organisation level, and you can set a minimum amount and exclude specific contacts. They are worth turning on. What they do not do is prioritise which invoice needs chasing first or vary the message per client.
Are Xero invoice reminders enough on their own?
For some businesses, yes. If you have few debtors and are happy with a generic automated nudge, the built-in reminders may be all you need. Owners tend to reach for something more when the reminders go out but invoices still sit unpaid, or when the client relationship means a generic system email is the wrong tool.
Does Kelo replace Xero reminders?
No, and it does not try to. Keep Xero reminders on for the routine long tail. Kelo adds the judgement layer on top: which client to chase first, and a message drafted in your voice for the invoices where that matters. They work well together.
Can I use Kelo and Xero reminders at the same time?
Yes. Kelo connects to Xero read-only and never changes anything in your account, including your reminder settings. Many owners leave the automated reminders running and use Kelo for the invoices worth a personal, prioritised chase.
See your own number first.
Two minutes, no account. Then decide whether Kelo or Xero's built-in reminders fits what you actually need.
See my stuck revenueAlso compared: Chaser, Paidnice, Satago, QuickBooks reminders
Kelo is operated by a sole trader registered in England.
Business address available on request. [email protected], replies within one working day.