Xero vs MYOB — which is cheaper?

It depends on what you need. Xero Starter ($35/mo) looks cheap until you add payroll ($10/mo extra) and outgrow invoice limits. MYOB AccountRight Plus ($70/mo) is more expensive on day one but includes STP payroll for up to 4 employees. For a sole trader with no staff, Xero often wins on price. For a small business with 2-4 employees, MYOB is usually equal or cheaper once you factor payroll in.

I'm a tradie. Should I use Xero or MYOB?

Most working AU tradies use a field-service app (ServiceM8 or simPRO) for jobs + quotes, and pair it with Xero OR MYOB for the books. Either accounting platform integrates with both field apps. Pick Xero if you don't have employees yet or your accountant already uses it. Pick MYOB if you have multiple employees on award payroll and want phone support included.

Can I switch from Xero to MYOB (or back)?

Yes, but it's real work. Both platforms can export and import via CSV / OFX, but reconciliation history, attachments, and integrations usually have to be reset. Most operators only switch at the end of a financial year and engage a bookkeeper to run the migration. Don't switch mid-quarter.

What about Hnry or Rounded instead?

Both are lighter, sole-trader-focused alternatives. Hnry routes your invoices through them and handles GST/tax/super automatically (1% capped at $1,500/yr). Rounded is freelancer-shaped invoicing + accounting ($23.95/mo). Either beats Xero or MYOB on simplicity for a solo operator with no employees. See our 4-way comparison for the full picture.

How was this comparison put together?

We compared the two dominant AU accounting platforms across pricing, payroll, BAS, integrations, mobile, and support — focusing on the criteria that actually matter to small business operators in Australia. Pricing accurate as of April 2026; both providers change plans, so check current rates before signing up.

Head-to-head

Xero vs MYOB: which accounting software wins in Australia?

The two dominant AU accounting platforms. Different histories, different strengths, different price shapes. Here's the head-to-head: pricing, payroll, integrations, BAS, support — with a clear winner per use case.

In this comparison

The structural difference (cloud-first vs payroll-first).
13-row side-by-side feature comparison.
Pricing math: when each one wins on cost.
Clear winner per use case + FAQ.

Jump to verdict ↓

Last updated

30 April 2026

Format

Head-to-head + verdict

Tools compared

2 (Xero, MYOB)

The structural difference

Different histories, different strengths

If you only read one paragraph: Xero is cloud-first accounting with a massive AU integration ecosystem. MYOB has decades of AU payroll DNA and includes STP + awards out of the box on its mid tier. That history drives almost every other comparison.

Xero

Accounting software for growing businesses

Xero — cloud-native, ecosystem winner

Built cloud-first from day one. Polished mobile app, biggest AU accountant adoption, largest integration ecosystem (ServiceM8, simPRO, POS, e-commerce). Payroll is an add-on, not native.

RecommendedVisit Xero →

Best for service businesses + most AU SMBs

MYOB

Accounting + payroll for Australian SMBs

MYOB — payroll DNA, AU awards baked in

Long-running AU presence with deep payroll, STP, super, and awards baked into the mid-tier price. Heavier interface; better suited to trade and retail businesses running multiple employees.

RecommendedVisit MYOB →

Best for trades / retail with AU payroll

Side-by-side

13 rows of honest comparison

Pricing accurate as of the last update date. Both providers change plans and the exact tier you need can vary — confirm before you subscribe.

Feature	Xero	MYOB
Cheapest paid plan	~$35/mo (Starter — limited invoices/bills)	~$29/mo (Lite — no payroll on this tier)
Mid-tier plan most SMBs use	~$80/mo (Standard — unlimited invoices, no STP)	~$70/mo (AccountRight Plus — STP, payroll, jobs)
Payroll + STP	Add-on (~$10/mo extra) for STP & employees	Built into AccountRight tiers — STP, super, awards
BAS lodgement	Direct lodgement to ATO	Direct lodgement to ATO
Accountant ecosystem	AU's largest — every accountant supports it	Long-running AU presence, also widely supported
Bank feeds	Most AU banks, strong reliability	Most AU banks, occasional lag
Integrations	Largest ecosystem in AU — ServiceM8, simPRO, POS, e-commerce	Smaller, but covers the main AU trades + retail stack
Inventory + jobs	Basic; needs third-party for serious inventory	Native on higher tiers; suits product + project businesses
Multi-currency	On higher tiers	On higher tiers
Mobile app	Polished iOS/Android, used heavily by tradies	Functional, less loved than Xero's
Onboarding curve	Gentler — most operators find their way solo	Steeper — usually want a bookkeeper for setup
Customer support	Chat + email, no phone on cheap tiers	Phone support included on most tiers
Best for	Service businesses, fast-growing SMBs, anyone with an accountant	Trades / retail with employees on AU award payroll

Verdict

Pick by use case, not by hype

Verdict

Pick Xero if…

• You're a service business (consultant, agency, designer, trades pre-payroll).
• Your accountant already uses Xero (true for most AU accountants).
• You integrate heavily with other tools (ServiceM8, simPRO, Stripe, POS, etc.).
• You want a polished mobile experience.

Visit Xero →

Verdict

Pick MYOB if…

• You have multiple employees on AU award rates — STP, super, leave loading.
• You want phone support included rather than only chat.
• You're a product / inventory business that needs job tracking on the same platform.
• Your accountant or bookkeeper prefers MYOB.

Visit MYOB →

FAQ

Common questions

Xero vs MYOB — which is cheaper?: It depends on what you need. Xero Starter ($35/mo) looks cheap until you add payroll ($10/mo extra) and outgrow invoice limits. MYOB AccountRight Plus ($70/mo) is more expensive on day one but includes STP payroll for up to 4 employees. For a sole trader with no staff, Xero often wins on price. For a small business with 2-4 employees, MYOB is usually equal or cheaper once you factor payroll in.
I'm a tradie. Should I use Xero or MYOB?: Most working AU tradies use a field-service app (ServiceM8 or simPRO) for jobs + quotes, and pair it with Xero OR MYOB for the books. Either accounting platform integrates with both field apps. Pick Xero if you don't have employees yet or your accountant already uses it. Pick MYOB if you have multiple employees on award payroll and want phone support included.
Can I switch from Xero to MYOB (or back)?: Yes, but it's real work. Both platforms can export and import via CSV / OFX, but reconciliation history, attachments, and integrations usually have to be reset. Most operators only switch at the end of a financial year and engage a bookkeeper to run the migration. Don't switch mid-quarter.
What about Hnry or Rounded instead?: Both are lighter, sole-trader-focused alternatives. Hnry routes your invoices through them and handles GST/tax/super automatically (1% capped at $1,500/yr). Rounded is freelancer-shaped invoicing + accounting ($23.95/mo). Either beats Xero or MYOB on simplicity for a solo operator with no employees. See our 4-way comparison for the full picture.
How was this comparison put together?: We compared the two dominant AU accounting platforms across pricing, payroll, BAS, integrations, mobile, and support — focusing on the criteria that actually matter to small business operators in Australia. Pricing accurate as of April 2026; both providers change plans, so check current rates before signing up.

If you want the broader picture

Comparison

Best invoicing software for AU sole traders

The full 4-way comparison — Hnry, Rounded, Xero, MYOB — with verdict cards and pricing.

Read →

Comparison

Best job management software for AU tradies

ServiceM8 vs simPRO with the Xero/MYOB pairing context. Most tradies use both layers.

Read →

Calculator

Employee Cost Calculator

Estimate the true cost of an AU employee — useful before you scale up payroll.

Read →

Disclosure + disclaimer

How this comparison was put together

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you click through and start a paid plan, BizTools.au may earn a small commission. The commission does not change the price you pay and does not influence which side of the verdict wins.

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