Xero vs MYOB 2026: Which Is Better for Australian Businesses?
6
minute read
10
sections
October 16, 2026
last updated
Janak Uparkoti
reviewed by
So, you’re running a business in Australia and it’s come down to Xero or MYOB. Your accountant might use one, your old boss used the other, and every comparison you read seems to have picked a winner before it started.
Don’t worry. I’ll give you the honest version: what each one costs today, where each one is genuinely better, and which one I’d pick for different kinds of business.
How I put this comparison together
I’m an accountant and I use Xero myself, but my Xero account is the US edition, so Australian features like BAS lodgement and payroll come from Xero’s Australian website. I haven’t used MYOB myself. Everything about MYOB here comes from MYOB’s own Australian pricing and help pages. Prices are in AUD and were checked on 16 October 2026. Here’s how I test software.
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never decides the recommendation. Read the full disclosure.
The short answer
- Choose Xero if you want a cloud-only system with lots of connected apps (especially for an online store), several people in the books, and payroll for a small team bundled into the plan.
- Choose MYOB if you want the lowest entry price (Solo or Lite), a desktop option (AccountRight), or your bookkeeper already runs your payroll in MYOB.
- Either way, ask your accountant which one they work in. In Australia that often settles it.
Xero vs MYOB at a glance
| Xero | MYOB | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (AUD) | $37/month (Ignite) | $99/year (Solo, mobile app only) or $315/year (Lite) |
| Typical small-business plan | Grow, $78/month | Pro, $70/month |
| Payroll | Included: 1 person on Ignite, 2 on Grow, 5 on Comprehensive | $3 per employee a month on Lite and Pro (changing 1 November 2026); included on AccountRight Plus |
| Users | Unlimited on every plan | 1 on Solo; unlimited on Lite, Pro and AccountRight |
| Desktop option | No, cloud only | Yes, AccountRight |
| Multi-currency | Comprehensive ($107) and up | AccountRight Premier only |
| GST and BAS | Every plan | Every plan (Solo tracks GST) |
| Intro offer | 80% off for 3 months | Varies by plan: 60–70% off for 3–12 months |
Xero pricing in Australia
Xero’s Australian plans are different from its US plans, and every plan now includes some payroll. Here’s the current lineup:
| Plan | First 3 months | Then (AUD/month) | Payroll included | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite | $7.40 | $37 | 1 person | Enter up to 5 bills; basic document capture; 30-day cash-flow forecast |
| Grow | $15.60 | $78 | 2 people | Automated bill entry, dashboards, 60-day forecast |
| Comprehensive | $21.40 | $107 | 5 people | Multi-currency, full document capture, 90-day forecast |
| Ultimate 10 | $28.60 | $143 | 10 people | Projects, KPI analysis, 180-day forecast |
| Ultimate 20 | $36 | $180 | 20 people | As Ultimate 10 |
| Ultimate 50 | $50 | $250 | 50 people | As Ultimate 10 |
Every plan includes GST tracking, BAS lodgement and automated superannuation. The cap that catches people is Ignite’s 5 bills a month. Enter a sixth supplier bill and you’re upgrading.
For the current offer and how to check it, see my Xero Australia offer guide.
MYOB pricing in Australia
| Plan | Regular price (AUD) | Who it suits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | $99/year | Sole traders who run everything from a phone | Mobile app only, 1 user, tracks GST (no BAS lodgement) |
| Lite | $315/year | Small businesses with up to 2 employees | Up to 2 connected bank accounts; payroll $3 per employee a month |
| Pro | $70/month | Small to medium businesses with staff | Unlimited bank accounts; payroll $3 per employee a month |
| AccountRight Plus | $165/month | Established businesses with stock and regular pay runs | Desktop and web; unlimited payroll included; priority 24/7 chat |
| AccountRight Premier | See MYOB | Businesses needing multi-currency or several companies | Adds multiple currencies and another business |
MYOB payroll prices change on 1 November 2026
MYOB says the per-employee payroll price on Lite and Pro changes from 1 November 2026. Check MYOB’s pricing page for the new figure before you budget for a team.
MYOB’s intro offers vary a lot by plan, from 60% off for 3 months on AccountRight to 70% off for 12 months on Lite, and they currently run until 15 January 2027 unless MYOB changes them.
What a small team really pays
Prices are easier to compare with a real example. Take a business with two employees, ignoring intro offers:
| Option | Plan cost | Payroll for 2 | Total per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero Grow | $78 × 12 = $936 | Included | $936 |
| MYOB Pro | $70 × 12 = $840 | $3 × 2 × 12 = $72 (current price) | $912 |
| MYOB Lite | $315 | $72 (current price) | $387 |
So for a very small business, MYOB Lite is the cheapest by a long way. Between the two “proper” plans, Xero Grow and MYOB Pro land within about $25 a year of each other, before MYOB’s payroll price change. That means the decision should come down to features and your accountant, not price.
Where Xero is stronger
Connected apps
Xero connects with over 1,000 apps. For an online store, a payments setup like Stripe or Square, or inventory software, that’s usually the deciding factor. If you sell on Shopify, read Xero for ecommerce.
Unlimited users, cloud only
Every Xero plan includes unlimited users, and it’s all in the browser and app. There’s no desktop file to back up or roll over at the end of the financial year.
Bank reconciliation
This is where Xero shines: bank lines come in, Xero suggests matches, and bank rules handle the repeats. Here’s my own account:
Where MYOB is stronger
Lowest entry price
Solo at $99 a year and Lite at $315 a year are far cheaper than Xero Ignite at $37 a month. For a sole trader or a tiny business, that’s a real saving.
A desktop option
AccountRight runs on the desktop as well as the web. Some established businesses, and some bookkeepers, still prefer that.
Payroll at scale
AccountRight Plus includes unlimited payroll. If you have a larger team and want everything in one long-established Australian product, it’s worth pricing up against Xero’s Ultimate plans.
Things to check before you choose
- Ask your accountant or bookkeeper which one they use. A familiar file saves you fees.
- Count your staff for next year, not today. Xero’s payroll is tied to the plan; MYOB’s is per employee.
- Count your supplier bills. Xero Ignite stops at 5 a month.
- List the apps you rely on (store, payments, inventory) and check each connects to the software you pick.
- Use the free trial with real data: connect a bank account, reconcile a month, and run a BAS report.
My verdict
For most growing Australian small businesses, I’d lean towards Xero: unlimited users, the app ecosystem, and payroll built into the plan. That’s especially true if you sell online.
But MYOB is the sensible pick if price is everything (Lite is hard to beat), you want desktop software, or your bookkeeper already runs your payroll in it. Neither is a bad choice. The wrong choice is the one your accountant can’t work with.
Comparing more widely? See the best accounting software for small business, Xero vs QuickBooks or everything on the Xero Resource Center.
Frequently asked questions
Is Xero or MYOB cheaper in Australia?
MYOB is cheaper to start: Solo is $99 a year and Lite $315 a year. Xero starts at $37 a month. For a small team, Xero Grow and MYOB Pro end up close once you add MYOB’s payroll fee.
Does Xero include payroll in Australia?
Yes. Every Australian plan includes payroll for a set number of people: 1 on Ignite, 2 on Grow, 5 on Comprehensive, and 10, 20 or 50 on the Ultimate plans.
Can both lodge BAS?
Xero includes BAS lodgement on every Australian plan. MYOB’s Lite, Pro and AccountRight plans track GST and lodge BAS; Solo tracks GST only.
Can I move from MYOB to Xero?
Yes. Conversion services can bring your MYOB data across, and many Australian bookkeepers do these conversions. Plan the move for the start of a quarter so your BAS periods stay clean.
