Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Xero | MYOB | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $16/mo (Starter) | $13/mo (Lite, payroll extra) | $15/mo (Simple Start) |
| Most Popular Plan | $49/mo (Standard) | $40/mo (Business) | $30/mo (Essentials) |
| BAS Lodgement | ✅ Direct to ATO | ✅ Direct to ATO | ✅ Direct to ATO |
| Payroll (AU) | Included (Standard+) | Add-on ($10/mo+) | Included (Essentials+) |
| Bank Feeds | ✅ All major AU banks | ✅ All major AU banks | ✅ All major AU banks |
| Inventory | Basic (all plans) | Advanced (Business+) | Basic (Plus+) |
| Mobile App | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| App Marketplace | 1000+ integrations | ~200 integrations | ~600 integrations |
| Multi-currency | ✅ (Standard+) | ✅ (Business+) | ✅ (Essentials+) |
| Accountant Access | Free advisor login | Free advisor login | Free accountant login |
Prices as of early 2026. Check each provider for current pricing and promotional offers.
Xero — Best for Most Small Businesses
Xero dominates the Australian market. Over 60% of AU accountants recommend it. Its strengths:
- Best app ecosystem — 1000+ integrations. Whatever niche tool you need (job management, CRM, inventory), there's a Xero integration.
- Beautiful UX — Clean, intuitive interface. Bank reconciliation is genuinely fast.
- Payroll included from Standard plan ($49/mo) — STP Phase 2 compliant, super auto-processing.
- Accountant favourite — Your accountant almost certainly uses Xero. Makes tax time seamless.
Downsides: Starter plan is limited (20 invoices/5 bills per month). Standard plan at $49/mo isn't cheap for sole traders.
Best for: Growing businesses with employees, anyone who wants the biggest app ecosystem, businesses that work closely with an accountant.
MYOB — Best for Payroll-Heavy Businesses
MYOB has been in Australian businesses since the floppy disk era (1991). It knows AU compliance inside out:
- Deepest AU payroll — Award interpretation, leave management, STP Phase 2. Handles complex award conditions better than Xero/QBO.
- MYOB Lite at $13/mo — Cheapest entry for basic invoicing + BAS. Good for sole traders who just need invoices and GST tracking.
- Strong for trades & construction — Job costing and inventory features suit tradies and builders.
- AU phone support — If you want to talk to a human in Australia, MYOB is your best bet.
Downsides: Interface feels dated compared to Xero. Fewer third-party integrations. Payroll is an add-on cost ($10+/mo) on top of base plan.
Best for: Businesses with complex award payroll (hospitality, retail, construction), anyone who values phone support, loyal MYOB users who know the system.
QuickBooks — Best Budget Option for Sole Traders
Intuit's QuickBooks is the global giant that's been steadily growing in Australia:
- Aggressive pricing — Often runs 70-90% off for the first few months. Simple Start at $15/mo is very capable.
- Simplest onboarding — If you've never used accounting software, QuickBooks is the easiest to learn.
- Good mobile app — Receipt capture, mileage tracking (great for rideshare drivers), and invoice creation on the go.
- Global ecosystem — If you have international dealings, QuickBooks handles multi-currency well.
Downsides: Smallest AU market share = fewer accountants know it. Some AU-specific features lag behind Xero/MYOB. Customer support can be hit-or-miss.
Best for: Sole traders on a budget, rideshare/gig economy workers, businesses with international operations, new business owners who want simplicity.
Which Should You Choose?
| If you are... | We recommend | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, simple needs | QuickBooks Simple Start | Cheapest, easiest to learn |
| Tradie / builder | MYOB Business | Job costing, award payroll, inventory |
| Rideshare / gig worker | QuickBooks | Mileage tracking, simple BAS, low cost |
| Growing business (2-20 staff) | Xero Standard | Best ecosystem, payroll included, accountant favourite |
| Hospitality / retail (complex awards) | MYOB + Payroll | Best award interpretation |
| Freelancer / consultant | Xero Starter or QuickBooks | Clean invoicing, minimal features needed |
| eCommerce | Xero Standard | Shopify/WooCommerce integrations |
All Three Handle BAS
The good news: all three platforms can lodge BAS directly to the ATO. They all categorise transactions for GST automatically (with bank feed rules), calculate your G1/G2/G3 fields, and submit electronically. For most small businesses, this alone is worth the subscription — it turns a stressful quarterly chore into a 10-minute review.
Our Free Tools Complement Any Platform
Our toolkit is designed for quick calculations and lookups — the stuff you need answered in 5 seconds without logging into your accounting software. Use our GST calculator to quickly check a quote, our ABN lookup to verify a supplier, or our tax calendar to check when your next BAS is due.