The best Xolo alternatives for solopreneurs (2026)
Xolo is the default for a borderless EU solo — but not for everyone. The best Xolo alternatives compared: 1Office, Companio, pure company formation, local sole-trader setups and US LLCs — by what you actually need.
Solopreneur (20 years) · marketer & investor · 20 June 2026 · 4 min read
Xolo is the default many borderless solopreneurs reach for: an Estonian e-residency company plus accounting, run in English from one app. It’s genuinely good — but it isn’t the only option, and it isn’t the right one for everyone. Maybe you want a cheaper bundle, just the company without the subscription, no Estonian company at all, or a US entity instead. Here are the real Xolo alternatives, sorted by what you actually need — not a generic list.
Not legal or tax advice. Providers, features and pricing change — confirm current details on each vendor’s page before deciding.
First: what is Xolo actually replacing for you?
Xolo bundles two things — company formation and ongoing accounting/VAT/filings — for an Estonian e-resident, in English. The right alternative depends on which of those you need:
- Want both, just different/cheaper → 1Office or Companio.
- Want only the company (DIY or own accountant) → a pure formation service.
- Don’t need an Estonian company at all → a local sole-trader setup.
- Want a US entity instead → Firstbase or doola.
- Want only the accounting → an accounting tool.
1. 1Office — the established corporate-services alternative
1Office
1Office forms and runs Estonian companies for e-residents with English accounting — the same core job as Xolo — but as part of a broader corporate-services firm (formation, accounting, legal address, virtual office) that also serves larger companies. That can mean more hands-on, human service.
Best for: a solo who wants a fuller corporate-services partner rather than a self-serve app. Trade-off: less solo-tuned than Xolo’s one-person-business product; compare current pricing.
2. Companio — the founder-friendly, often-cheaper bundle
Companio
Companio offers the same e-residency-company-plus-accounting bundle in English, frequently positioned on price and founder-friendliness for small, borderless one-person businesses.
Best for: a solo who wants the Xolo model at a keener price point. Trade-off: smaller than the incumbents; verify exactly what’s included at each tier.
3. Just the company — a pure formation service
If you’re happy to do your own books (or already have an accountant), you don’t need the bundle — form the company and run the accounting separately, which is often cheaper. The honest comparison of formation options is in the best company-formation services for EU solopreneurs, and the structure decision behind it is sole trader vs OÜ vs freelance.
4. No Estonian company at all — go local
The quiet truth: many solos reach for Xolo without needing an Estonian company in the first place. If you live and are taxed in one country, a local sole-trader/freelancer setup is usually simpler and cheaper — see whether e-Residency is even worth it for you, then the local route in your country’s guide (e.g. Germany, France, Italy, Spain). For the books, the accounting & bookkeeping software roundup.
5. A US entity instead — Firstbase or doola
If your customers, payment rails or banking point at the US rather than the EU, the real alternative isn’t another Estonian provider — it’s a US LLC.
Firstbase
Forms and maintains a US LLC for non-residents (EIN, registered agent, compliance), the US-side mirror of what Xolo does for Estonia.
doola
Similar US-LLC formation with bookkeeping add-ons. Weigh the US route against staying EU in US LLC vs your home country before committing.
At a glance
| Alternative | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Xolo (incumbent) | EE e-residency company + accounting, solo-tuned app | The default borderless solo |
| 1Office | EE company + accounting, fuller corporate services | Wanting a hands-on partner |
| Companio | EE company + accounting, keener price | Same model, cheaper |
| Pure formation | Company only, you do the books | DIY / have an accountant |
| Local sole trader | No EE company at all | Taxed in one country, simple |
| Firstbase / doola | US LLC for non-residents | US-facing business |
How to choose
- Same as Xolo, different provider → 1Office (more service) or Companio (cheaper).
- Only need the company → a formation service.
- Don’t need an EE company → go local; read is e-Residency worth it first.
- US-facing → Firstbase / doola.
- Only the accounting → the accounting & bookkeeping roundup.
The honest takeaway: Xolo is excellent for the borderless solo who wants company and accounting handled in one English app — and the best “alternative” is often realising you need less than the full bundle. Start from what you actually need, and compare current pricing before you commit. The deep-dive on Xolo itself is in the Xolo review.