Freelancing in Romania has grown steadily in recent years. More professionals are leaving traditional employment to work independently, whether as developers, designers, marketers or consultants.
But one of the biggest challenges freelancers face is dealing with accounting, taxes, and compliance.
That’s where platforms like Xolo and SOLO come in. Both strive to simplify freelancing life, but they do so in very different ways. In this guide, we’ll compare Xolo vs SOLO across cost, compliance, services, usability and scalability, so you can decide which one fits your freelance journey best.
If you’re new to freelancing, start here: The beginner’s guide to becoming a freelancer in Romania.
Xolo vs SOLO: Quick Overview
|
Feature |
Xolo |
SOLO |
|
Business model |
Operate without a company (Xolo Go) or with full EU company setup & management (Xolo Leap) |
Focused on PFA (authorized freelancer) setup & management in Romania |
|
Invoicing |
Local & international clients; VAT handled; multi-currency |
e-Factura compliance, local invoicing |
|
Accounting & taxes |
Automated compliance, filings, reporting |
Tax declarations for PFA |
|
Setup effort |
No company needed with Xolo Go; fast online company registration with Xolo Leap |
Full assistance with PFA setup & ongoing obligations |
|
Target users |
Freelancers with international clients or looking for global reach |
Freelancers working locally under PFA |
|
Scalability |
Easy to upgrade from invoicing-only (Go) to full company (Leap) |
Limited to PFA structure, less suited for scaling internationally |
Do you need a company to use Xolo or SOLO?
One of the most-searched freelancer questions in Romania is: “Do I need to register a company to invoice clients?” The ease of use associated with company-free invoicing solutions has become quite the mainstream choice, especially in Europe.
With Xolo Go, you don’t. You can issue invoices legally without registering as a PFA or SRL, perfect for occasional projects.
With SOLO, you need to register a PFA (Persoană Fizică Autorizată). SOLO helps set this up, but it means you’re formally self-employed from the start.
If your clients are mostly international, Xolo offers a smoother solution. If you plan to work only in Romania under a PFA, SOLO may be a solid fit!
Comparing the pricing of Xolo vs SOLO
Pricing is often a key decision when choosing a platform –– especially if you’re just starting out or need a service occasionally.
While a great service may come at a slightly higher cost, it’s important to ensure your needs are met and able to be scaled.
- Xolo Go: Free to set up, pay only a small percentage per invoice.
- Xolo Leap: Monthly subscription, includes company setup, accounting, and tax reporting.
- SOLO: Subscription model tailored to PFA freelancers, covering accounting and ANAF filings.
Xolo Go is the lowest-cost option if you want to test freelancing. SOLO is affordable for PFAs, but less flexible for occasional freelancers. Xolo Leap is a reasonably-priced solution for young, growing and established EU businesses.
Range of Services
Xolo Go and Leap
✔️ Invoicing (local & international)
✔️ Expense tracking
✔️ Bookkeeping & VAT reporting
✔️ Tax compliance
✔️ Human customer support
SOLO
✔️ PFA registration
✔️ Invoicing with e-Factura
✔️ Automated declarations
If you want a global freelancing toolkit, Xolo wins. If you only want a local compliance partner for PFA, SOLO is focused on exactly what you need.
Xolo and SOLO’s compliance and legal structure
Freelancers often have unique needs when choosing a service provider for their invoicing or admin needs, but compliance often remains a constant.
Both SOLO and Xolo place importance on compliance in each aspect of their service offerings. For freelancers based in Romania, the two offer rather different packages:
Xolo provides two levels of compliance –– Xolo Go is a simple invoicing service offering legally-compliant invoices without the need to register a business. Xolo Leap provides help in establishing an EU-registered company and is ideal for those who wish to register a business and scale it.
SOLO is focused chiefly on PFAs. They’ll guide you through e-Factura, ANAF reporting and monthly tax declarations in Romania.
Important: Romania has strict e-Factura rules for B2B invoices (from 2024). SOLO is tailored for this. Xolo, on the other hand, ensures compliance for cross-border freelancers.
FAQs: Xolo vs SOLO
❓ Which platform is cheaper for beginners?
Xolo Go is cheaper if you only send a few invoices. SOLO is cost-effective for PFAs with regular clients.
❓ Can I invoice internationally with SOLO?
Technically yes, but SOLO is built around Romanian PFAs. For smooth international invoicing, Xolo is more robust.
❓ Which is better for e-Factura compliance?
SOLO is designed for Romanian e-Factura. Xolo is stronger for EU-wide compliance.
❓ Can I switch from SOLO to Xolo later?
Yes — but it means deregistering your PFA. With Xolo, you can start light and upgrade without switching providers.
Can you scale with both companies easily?
Xolo: Start with invoicing through Go → upgrade to Leap for full business setup → scale internationally as you grow!
SOLO: Limited to the PFA model. If you outgrow it, you may need to start fresh with another setup.
Which service should freelancers in Romania choose?
If you want an all-in-one solution that scales with your business and is built for international clients, Xolo offers a fleet of tools from invoicing, compliance, accounting and unbeatable support. Xolo also offers freelancers a lot of resources –– like a beginner’s guide to freelancing in Romania –– and honest comparison articles with local service providers like Keez and a similar comparison article with local service provider FAFactura.ro.
Choose SOLO if you’re committed to freelancing under a Romanian PFA and want local compliance made simple.
If you’re serious about growing a freelance business beyond Romania, Xolo is the more flexible, future-proof option.
🚀 Ready to simplify freelancing? Get started with Xolo today.