Xero vs MYOB 2026: Which Is Better for Australian Businesses?
Xero vs MYOB for Australian businesses: AUD prices, payroll costs by team size, BAS, users, inventory and a desktop option compared by an accountant.
So, you’re 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.
Here’s the straight version: what each costs today in Australian dollars, where each is genuinely better, and which I’d pick for different kinds of business. Spoiler: price alone won’t settle it, because the two are closer than you’d think.
Quick answer
- Choose Xero if you want cloud-only software with 1,000+ connected apps (especially for an online store), fast bank reconciliation, and payroll for a small team bundled into the plan.
- Choose MYOB if you want the cheapest start (Solo $99 a year, Lite $315 a year), a desktop option (AccountRight), built-in inventory, or you’re paying 5 or more staff.
- For 2 employees, Xero Grow ($936 a year) and MYOB Pro ($960) cost almost the same. Above that, MYOB Pro gets cheaper.
- Ask your accountant which one they work in. In Australia, that often decides it.
How I put this together
I’m an accountant and use Xero myself, but my 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 Australian pricing and product pages. Prices are in AUD and were checked on xero.com/au and myob.com/au on 1 November 2026. Some links are affiliate links, which never decide the recommendation. See how I test software and the disclosure.
Xero vs MYOB at a Glance
| Xero | MYOB | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (AUD) | $37/month (Ignite) | $99/year (Solo, mobile 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, up to 50 on Ultimate | $5 per employee a month on Lite (up to 2) and Pro; unlimited on AccountRight Plus |
| Users | Unlimited on every plan | 1 on Solo; unlimited on Lite, Pro and AccountRight |
| Bank accounts | Unlimited | Up to 2 on Solo and Lite; unlimited on Pro and up |
| Desktop option | No, cloud only | Yes, AccountRight |
| Inventory | Basic tracked items; apps for more | Order management on Lite and Pro; full inventory on AccountRight Plus |
| Multi-currency | Comprehensive ($107) and up | AccountRight Premier only |
| GST and BAS | Every plan | Lite and up (Solo tracks GST only) |
| Intro offer | 80% off for 6 months (partner link) | Up to 70% off for 3 to 12 months, by plan |
Xero Pricing in Australia
Xero’s Australian plans differ from its US plans: every plan includes payroll for a set number of people, plus GST tracking, BAS lodgement and automated superannuation.
| Plan | AUD/month | First 6 months (80% off) | Payroll included | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite | $37 | $7.40 | 1 person | Enter up to 5 bills a month; 30-day cash-flow forecast |
| Grow | $78 | $15.60 | 2 people | Automated bill entry, dashboards, 60-day forecast |
| Comprehensive | $107 | $21.40 | 5 people | Multi-currency, expenses for 5 users, 90-day forecast |
| Ultimate 10 | $143 | $28.60 | 10 people | Projects, analytics, 180-day forecast |
| Ultimate 20 | $180 | $36 | 20 people | As Ultimate 10 |
| Ultimate 50 | $250 | $50 | 50 people | As Ultimate 10 |
Drawn from the table above. Lowest price highlighted.
The cap that catches people is Ignite’s 5 bills a month. Enter a sixth supplier bill and you’re upgrading to Grow.
On Grow with the partner offer, you pay $15.60 a month for six months ($93.60), then $78 a month ($468). That’s $561.60 in year one, then $936 a year.
Partner offer · checked 1 Nov 2026
80% off Xero for 6 months
For organisations new to Xero in Australia. No code needed: the discount applies when you sign up through the link.
Signing up before 3 November 2026?
Xero’s own Australian offer is 90% off for the first 3 months with code DC90626310AU, ending at 11:59pm AEDT on 2 November 2026. Over a full year, the 80%-for-6-months partner offer saves more on every plan. Compare both on the day. More in 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, up to 2 bank accounts, tracks GST (no BAS lodgement) |
| Lite | $315/year | Small businesses with up to 2 employees | Unlimited users, up to 2 bank accounts, payroll $5 per employee a month |
| Pro | $70/month | Small to medium businesses with staff | Unlimited bank accounts, payroll $5 per employee a month, unlimited sales orders |
| AccountRight Plus | $165/month | Established businesses with stock and regular pay runs | Desktop and web, unlimited payroll, full inventory and stocktake |
| AccountRight Premier | See MYOB | Multi-currency or several companies | Adds multiple currencies and another business |
| Payroll Only | $20/month | Businesses that only need pay runs | Up to 4 employees |
MYOB’s per-employee payroll price on Lite and Pro is now $5 a month, up from $3, so older comparisons undercount it. MYOB’s intro offers vary by plan, from 60% to 70% off for 3 to 12 months.
What You Really Pay, Including Payroll
Because Xero bundles payroll into the plan and MYOB charges per employee, the cheaper option flips as your team grows.
| Team | Xero | MYOB | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, no staff | Ignite: $444 | Lite: $315 (Solo: $99) | MYOB |
| 2 employees | Grow: $936 | Pro: $960 (Lite: $435) | MYOB Lite, or Xero vs Pro |
| 5 employees | Comprehensive: $1,284 | Pro: $1,140 | MYOB |
| 10 employees | Ultimate 10: $1,716 | Pro: $1,440 | MYOB |
So MYOB is cheaper at both ends: for a tiny business on Lite, and for a larger team on Pro. Xero Grow and MYOB Pro are neck and neck for two staff. The real decision is features and your accountant, not a few dollars a year.
Where Xero Is Stronger
Connected apps
Xero connects with over 1,000 apps. For an online store, Stripe or Square payments, or inventory software, that’s usually the deciding factor. Selling on Shopify? Read Xero for ecommerce.
Bank reconciliation
This is Xero’s strongest area: bank lines come in, Xero suggests matches, and bank rules handle the repeats. It’s quick to learn and hard to get wrong.
Cloud only, unlimited bank accounts
Everything runs in the browser and app, with unlimited users and bank accounts on every plan. There’s no desktop file to back up or roll over at year end.
Multi-currency sooner
Xero includes multi-currency from Comprehensive ($107 a month). MYOB only offers it on AccountRight Premier.
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 $444 a year. For a sole trader or a tiny business, that’s a real saving. Just note Solo is phone-only and doesn’t lodge BAS.
Payroll for bigger teams
At $5 per employee, MYOB Pro undercuts Xero from about five staff upwards, and AccountRight Plus includes unlimited payroll.
Inventory and a desktop option
MYOB has order management on Lite and Pro, and full inventory with stocktakes on AccountRight Plus. AccountRight also runs on the desktop, which some established businesses and bookkeepers still prefer.
An Australian-built product
MYOB has been around in Australia for decades, and plenty of local bookkeepers know it inside out.
Which One Should You Choose?
| Your business | My pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, phone only | MYOB Solo | $99 a year, if you don’t need BAS lodgement |
| Sole trader or tiny business | MYOB Lite | $315 a year with BAS and payroll for up to 2 |
| Online store or app-heavy setup | Xero Grow | The app ecosystem and reconciliation |
| Service business, 2 to 4 staff | Xero Grow or MYOB Pro | Similar price; pick on features and your accountant |
| 5+ staff, regular pay runs | MYOB Pro or AccountRight Plus | Cheaper payroll at scale |
| Selling in other currencies | Xero Comprehensive | Multi-currency at $107 a month |
| Want desktop software | MYOB AccountRight | The only desktop option of the two |
Check these before you decide
- Ask your accountant or bookkeeper which one they use. A familiar file saves you fees.
- Count your staff for next year, not today.
- Count your supplier bills. Xero Ignite stops at 5 a month.
- List the apps you rely on (store, payments, inventory) and check each connects.
- Use the free trial with real data: connect a bank account, reconcile a month and run a BAS report.
Free tool · 4 quick steps
Still torn? Get a personal shortlist
Answer four quick questions about your business and see which accounting software fits your size, budget and apps.
My Verdict
For most growing Australian small businesses, especially online sellers, I’d lean towards Xero: the app ecosystem, quick reconciliation, unlimited users and payroll built into the plan make day-to-day bookkeeping easier.
But MYOB is the smarter pick if price is everything (Lite is hard to beat), you pay five or more staff, you hold stock, 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.
Partner offer · checked 1 Nov 2026
Try Xero for $15.60 a month on Grow
80% off any plan for your first 6 months, for organisations new to Xero.
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, against $37 a month for Xero Ignite. For two employees, Xero Grow ($936 a year) and MYOB Pro ($960) are almost level. From about five employees, MYOB Pro is cheaper.
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.
How much is MYOB payroll?
$5 per employee a month on Lite (up to 2 employees) and Pro. AccountRight Plus includes unlimited payroll, and MYOB Payroll Only costs $20 a month for up to 4 employees.
Can both lodge BAS?
Xero includes BAS lodgement on every Australian plan. MYOB Lite, Pro and AccountRight lodge BAS; Solo tracks GST only.
Does Xero have a desktop version?
No. Xero is cloud only. If you want desktop software, MYOB AccountRight is the option.
Can I move from MYOB to Xero?
Yes. Conversion services can bring your MYOB data across, and many Australian bookkeepers do these moves. Plan it for the start of a quarter so your BAS periods stay clean.
Comparing more widely? See the best accounting software for small business, Xero vs QuickBooks, the Xero review or everything in the Xero Resource Center.
