Xero rota scheduling and timesheet app for UK businesses
The best-rated Xero timesheet app and rota scheduling add-on. Create staff rotas, track time, and send approved timesheets directly to Xero Payroll UK — no spreadsheets, no double handling.
- Winner of Xero's Top Roster App 2024
- Best Xero App store reviews
- Simple but powerful Xero integration
Why RosterElf is the top Xero rota scheduling add-on
Why businesses rate us #1 on the Xero App Store
With a 4.9-star rating from 89 reviews, here's what customers love:
- Faultless Xero integration — Timesheets sync seamlessly every time.
- Saves 8+ hours a week — Less time on rota scheduling and payroll admin.
- Easy to use — Drag-and-drop rota scheduling staff enjoy.
- Exceptional support — Fast, helpful support during UK business hours.
Xero timesheet app: sync timesheets in one click
Approved hours flow straight to payroll
When you approve timesheets in RosterElf, they're ready to send to Xero immediately. As a purpose-built Xero timesheet app, RosterElf eliminates copying, spreadsheets, and manual data entry.
Pay rates, overtime and penalties are already calculated — Xero receives clean, accurate data every time.
Pay rates calculated before they reach Xero
Overtime, statutory rates and compliance — sorted
RosterElf applies your pay rules and WTR compliance checks to every timesheet before syncing to Xero. Weekend rates, bank holidays, overtime — all calculated automatically.
Your payroll team receives accurate, compliant data without needing to calculate rates themselves.
Employee data and time tracking stay in sync
Changes sync automatically
Add an employee in Xero and they appear in RosterElf. Update pay rates and they sync across. Leave balances stay current.
No duplicate data entry, no mismatched records — just one source of truth across both systems.
Does Xero have a rota app?
No. Xero does not include a built-in rota or shift scheduling tool. While the Xero Me app allows employees to view payslips and submit leave requests, businesses that employ shift workers need a dedicated Xero rota app and timesheet app to manage schedules, track time, and send approved timesheets to payroll.
That's why Xero recommends using a third-party rota scheduling add-on like RosterElf — a Xero-approved integration that connects scheduling, time tracking, and payroll in one seamless workflow.
Comparing Xero rota apps? See our independent comparison guide reviewing payroll sync accuracy across platforms.
What Xero can't do alone
Xero is powerful accounting software — but it was never designed to handle rota scheduling, time tracking, or workforce management. Here's where businesses hit the wall:
No timesheet app
Xero's built-in timesheets are basic data entry — no clock-in/out, no automatic time capture, no mobile app for staff. You need a dedicated Xero timesheet app to track hours properly.
No shift scheduling
You cannot create rotas or assign shifts in Xero. Businesses need a separate rota scheduling app to build schedules and notify staff.
No pay rate compliance
Xero doesn't calculate overtime, bank holiday rates, or statutory pay rates. Without pay rate compliance, your team manually applies UK employment law rules.
No GPS clock-in
Xero has no location-based time tracking. Staff working across multiple sites need a Xero time tracking add-on with GPS verification.
No labour cost forecasting
Xero shows costs after the fact. You can't see projected labour costs while building a rota or before approving timesheets.
No staff availability
Xero can't collect employee availability or handle shift swaps. Managers are left guessing who's free — leading to no-shows and last-minute scrambles.
RosterElf fills every gap. Rota scheduling, Xero timesheets, time tracking, WTR compliance, and payroll sync — all in one platform that connects directly to Xero.
How Xero rota apps work with payroll
Connect RosterElf to Xero in minutes and let approved timesheets flow directly to payroll — no double entry, no exports, no errors.
Connect to Xero
Link your Xero account in a few clicks. RosterElf syncs employees, pay rates and leave balances automatically.
Approve timesheets
Review and approve timesheets in RosterElf with compliant pay rates already calculated.
Sync to payroll
Send approved timesheets to Xero with one click. Pay runs are ready to process instantly.
Popular rota apps that integrate with Xero
Several Xero rota add-ons are available in the UK. Here's how they compare:
RosterElf
Deep Xero Payroll UK sync, WTR & wage compliance, UK-timezone support.
Deputy
Strong scheduling UX, global focus, widely used in UK.
Planday
Popular in UK hospitality, modular pricing, per-feature add-ons.
RosterElf is consistently rated as the best Xero rota add-on for UK businesses due to its deep payroll integration, WTR compliance, and responsive support.
6 reasons to use RosterElf with Xero
One-click sync
Send approved timesheets to Xero instantly. No exports, no uploads, no manual entry.
Pay rate compliance
Rates are calculated using UK employment law rules before they reach Xero. Support your WTR compliance efforts automatically.
Save hours on time tracking
Eliminate double entry and manual timesheet processing. With built-in time tracking that syncs to Xero, payroll takes minutes, not hours.
Employee sync
Staff details, pay rates and leave balances stay in sync between RosterElf and Xero.
Accurate data
No transcription errors, no miskeyed hours. What's approved is exactly what syncs.
Cost visibility
See labour costs in real time as you build your rota. Know exactly what payroll will be before it runs.
What businesses say about Xero rota scheduling and timesheets
Ian Corney
Oct 2023
"We switched to RosterElf and are so pleased we did. Their integration with Xero is faultless. Rostering and payroll consistently runs smoothly now."
Moving to RosterElf?
Thinking of moving to RosterElf? It's super easy! Our team is here to support you every step of the way, from importing employees from Xero to setting up rotas and training you on payroll integration.
Learn moreXero accountants love RosterElf
Accountants and bookkeepers are increasingly recommending RosterElf for their small business clients due to its easy-to-use interface and seamless Xero integration.
Learn moreBraden Whelpdale
Jul 2024
"As an accounting firm we have been using RosterElf for our small business clients and cannot speak highly enough of it. Our clients love how easy it is to use and the integration with Xero is a winner."
Rachel Dorig
Jul 2023
"I absolutely love it! And what a fantastic support team! A very special thanks to Stacy! You are one of a kind with your beautiful Irish accent. Thank you for making these process a breeze of fresh air. And what a great product. I cannot recommend it enough. The time investment to setup RosterElf is very small and overweights the time saved in only a few pay-runs. Loved how easy it was to connect to Xero. To no surprise to me. That what happens, when great teams collaborate. We do highly recommend RosterElf."
Xero rota integration help
At RosterElf, customer support is at the heart of everything we do. We provide fast, responsive assistance to ensure that our users always get the help they need, while our seamless Xero integration simplifies scheduling and payroll processes, saving businesses time and reducing errors.
Learn moreWhy RosterElf is the best rota & HR app for Xero
RosterElf was built from the ground up to work seamlessly with Xero. As winner of Xero's Top Roster App 2024 and the highest-rated rota app on the Xero App Store, RosterElf delivers the tightest integration, the most reliable sync, and responsive support during UK business hours — all backed by thousands of businesses who trust us to connect their rotas to payroll every week. Whether you need a Xero rota app, a Xero timesheet app, or both — RosterElf is the only add-on you need.
Explore related features
Discover other RosterElf features that work great together
Learn how to get the most from this feature
Step-by-step guides to help you master these workflows
Start your free 15 day RosterElf trial today
Join thousands of UK businesses using RosterElf with Xero for seamless rota scheduling and payroll.
Xero and payroll guides for UK businesses
Learn more about Xero integration, payroll data preparation, and timesheet accuracy.
Xero payroll integration: data best practice
Learn what timesheet data to send to Xero payroll and what causes errors. Best practices for businesses using Xero integration.
Read article
Payroll processing bottlenecks explained
Identify payroll processing bottlenecks and speed up your pay cycles. Practical solutions for businesses simplifying payroll.
Read article
Why payroll errors usually start with bad timesheets
Learn how inaccurate timesheets cause payroll errors and disputes, and how time tracking integrations prevent costly mistakes.
Read articleXero integration FAQs
- No. Xero does not include a built-in rota or shift scheduling tool. Businesses use third-party Xero rota apps like RosterElf to create rotas, track time, and sync timesheets to Xero Payroll.
- RosterElf is one of the highest-rated Xero rota apps (4.9/5 on the Xero App Store), offering WTR-compliant scheduling, time tracking, and direct payroll sync. Timesheets export with pay rates already calculated, reducing manual corrections in Xero. Compare Xero rota apps →
- Rota apps connect via the Xero API, syncing employees, pay items, and approved timesheets directly into Xero Payroll. RosterElf is a Xero-certified add-on with deep integration.
- No. Xero requires an external rota add-on to create and manage staff schedules. The Xero Me app only allows employees to view payslips and request leave — not build rotas.