Xero vs MYOB Australia: Plans, Payroll and Practical Differences

Xero and MYOB can both support Australian small-business bookkeeping, but “MYOB” needs a product name before the comparison is useful. MYOB Business Lite and Pro are browser products; AccountRight adds a Windows workflow and different operational capabilities.

Choose the named plan that covers your invoices, employees, bank accounts, currencies and stock. There is no reliable rule that one brand is always cheaper or automatically keeps every business compliant.

Compare the required plans

Xero's Australian standard monthly plans are Ignite $37, Grow $78, Comprehensive $107 and Ultimate 10 $143, including GST. Payroll employee allowances and features change by tier. Ignite has invoice and bill limits, and foreign-currency accounting starts at Comprehensive. Xero's current plans.

MYOB Business Lite lists $35 monthly or $315 annually and Pro $70 monthly at standard pricing. Lite connects up to two bank accounts and supports up to two employees, with payroll charges per employee; Pro expands capacity. AccountRight Plus starts at a different price point, $165 monthly. Confirm taxes, billing and extra-service terms on MYOB's plan page.

These figures were checked 9 September 2026. Don't compare an annually prepaid equivalent with an ordinary monthly subscription and call the result a universal saving.

Payroll: calculate at your actual headcount

Xero includes different employee allowances across its plans. MYOB Business charges $3 per employee per month, subject to Lite or Pro capacity. AccountRight's payroll packaging is different again.

Write the complete quote at today's headcount and at the size you expect after the next hires. Include any owner on payroll, setup, support and payment services.

Both workflows still need correct employee records and review. A product's payroll capability does not establish that your particular pay run is accurate. Ask who checks corrections and how the resulting accounting entries are reconciled.

Stock and jobs: distinguish Business from AccountRight

If detailed stock or job work is the reason to consider MYOB, have the vendor demonstrate it in the named product. Don't assume a capability shown in AccountRight is available in Lite.

AccountRight needs Windows for setup and some functions despite browser access. A Mac-based team should test its actual tasks before buying. Use the MYOB Business vs AccountRight guide.

For Xero, test the native workflow first and identify any stock or operational add-on required. A document-capture app is not automatically an inventory-management system. Follow the inventory checklist in both demonstrations.

Feeds, BAS and adviser access

Check your bank and account type rather than relying on a generic claim that one brand has better feeds. In each trial, match a supplier payment to an existing bill and verify that it hasn't created a second expense.

Both Xero and MYOB Business advertise BAS-related lodgement capabilities. Correct setup, reviewed figures, submission and payment remain separate responsibilities. Keep actual lodgement evidence.

Ask your own adviser which product they can support and what the service includes. Broad statements that nearly every accountant prefers one brand do not tell you whether your adviser can help with a particular stock or payroll problem.

Which should you trial first?

Start with the product closest to the work you need. A service business sharing records and using connected apps can begin with Xero and MYOB Business Pro. An owner with fewer accounts and employees can check Lite against the relevant Xero tier. A stock-focused Windows operation should include AccountRight.

Read the Xero workflow guide and MYOB Business guide, then repeat a quote, part payment, supplier bill, transfer and report task in both.

Use the comparison and cost calculator to include required extras and migration. A working system with accurate records is not worth replacing solely for a short discount.

Key takeaways

• Name the MYOB product and compare complete plans on the same billing basis.
• Price payroll at current and expected headcount.
• Demonstrate stock, device access and adviser handover before deciding.

Where to get help

Use the vendors' official support and ask your bookkeeper to assess the trial reports. The switching checklist covers balances, history and the archive if you decide to move.