Xero vs MYOB for tradies: which accounting software fits a trade business?

Every trade business ends up needing accounting software. Once you’re registered for GST, you need to reconcile your bank account, code your GST and lodge a BAS every quarter, and doing that from a shoebox of receipts gets old fast.

In Australia, the two names most accountants and bookkeepers use are Xero and MYOB. Both are capable. The right choice depends on how big you are, whether you have staff, which job app you use and, honestly, what your accountant prefers.

Prices below are from each company’s Australian pricing page, checked in October 2026. Both regularly run introductory discounts, so we’ve listed the regular price you’ll pay once the offer ends.

Prices side by side (checked October 2026)

Swipe the table sideways to see every column

Read the fine print on the cheapest plans. Xero Ignite limits you to entering five bills and has invoice limits, which a busy tradie can hit quickly. MYOB Solo is a mobile app for one user that tracks GST but doesn’t lodge your BAS, and MYOB says you can’t move from Solo to another plan later. So check it suits before you start.

Xero for tradies

Xero is a New Zealand company and it’s very widely used by Australian small businesses, bookkeepers and accountants. It’s cloud-only, works in any browser and has a decent mobile app.

Why tradies like it:

• Integrations. ServiceM8, Tradify and Fergus all sync with Xero. So do many other trade apps. If you plan to add a job app, a payroll tool or a supplier invoice scanner later, there’s a good chance it connects to Xero.
• Bank reconciliation. Bank feeds bring in transactions daily, and Xero suggests matches. Its newer plans list automatic categorising for high-confidence transactions.
• Payroll included. Even Ignite includes payroll for one person, which covers your first apprentice.
• Accountant access. Your accountant or bookkeeper can log in to your file directly, which saves emailing reports back and forth.

The downsides:

• Price climbs. The useful plans for a growing business, Grow and Comprehensive, are $78 and $107 a month. Over a year that’s a real cost.
• Ignite limits. Five bills is very few if you buy materials from suppliers on account.
• Project tracking costs more. Xero’s project tracking, which helps with job costing, sits in its higher plans from $143 a month. If you use a job app, that app usually handles job costing anyway.

See Xero plans and the current offer → Affiliate link. Opens the merchant site in a new tab.

MYOB for tradies

MYOB is Australian and has been around for decades. Plenty of older trade businesses and their accountants have used it for years. It now offers a browser-based range (Solo, Lite and Pro) and AccountRight Plus, which includes desktop software for Windows.

Why tradies like it:

• Price for sole traders. Lite at $315 a year is cheaper than a year of any Xero plan we saw. If you’re one person with simple books, that matters.
• Job tracking built in. MYOB says Lite and Pro track a job’s progress, profit and loss, and expenses. Billing by time and job budgets need AccountRight Plus or above.
• Payroll pricing. At $3 a month per employee, payroll on Lite and Pro is cheap for one apprentice. Lite covers up to two employees.
• Unlimited user profiles on Lite, Pro and Plus, so your accountant, bookkeeper or partner can log in without extra cost.

The downsides:

• Solo is limited. It’s one user on a phone, it doesn’t lodge BAS, and you can’t upgrade from it to another plan.
• Plan structure is confusing. Solo, Lite, Pro, AccountRight Plus and Premier have different apps and features. Compare the table on MYOB’s page carefully.
• Fewer trade app connections. The main job apps do connect to MYOB (ServiceM8, Tradify and Fergus all list it), so check that any other add-ons you plan to use (payroll, supplier invoice scanning, reporting) connect to MYOB before you commit.

See MYOB plans → Affiliate link. Opens the merchant site in a new tab.

How each works with your job app

If you use a job management app, your accounting software mostly sits in the background. Quotes, jobs and invoices live in the job app, and they sync across along with payments.

Based on each vendor’s Australian pricing pages in October 2026:

• ServiceM8 lists Xero, QuickBooks Online and MYOB.
• Tradify lists Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online.
• Fergus lists Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB.

So both options will work. The difference is in the detail: how items, GST codes, payments and timesheets come across. Test the sync with a few real invoices during both free trials. If you haven’t picked a job app yet, see our ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus comparison.

Whichever you use, the quarterly job is the same. Our BAS and GST routine for tradies covers the due dates and what to check before you lodge.

Which should you choose?

Choose Xero if:

• you use, or plan to use, a job management app and other add-ons
• you’ll have staff on payroll soon
• your accountant or bookkeeper works mainly in Xero
• you’re happy to pay a bit more for payroll included and wide app support

Choose MYOB if:

• you’re a sole trader with simple books and want the lowest yearly cost (Lite)
• you want basic job tracking inside your accounting software
• your accountant already uses MYOB and can set it up for you
• you want Windows desktop software (AccountRight Plus)

Choose neither yet if you’re under the GST threshold, not registered for GST, and only sending a few invoices a month. A spreadsheet and a separate bank account can carry you for a while. Just don’t leave it until the week before your tax return is due.

For more detail on each, read our full Xero review and MYOB review. If you also want to weigh up QuickBooks, see the best accounting app for sole traders.

Before you sign up

1. Ask your accountant which they prefer. They’ll do your year-end work in it, and some offer discounted subscriptions through their practice.
2. Use the free trial with real transactions. Connect your bank feed and reconcile a month.
3. Check the intro offer end date. Xero’s 80% discount runs for three months, then the full price applies. MYOB’s offers vary by plan.
4. Think a year ahead. If you’ll take on an apprentice, factor in payroll.
5. Don’t switch mid-year if you can help it. Moving software at 30 June is far cleaner than in the middle of a quarter.

New to all this? Our sole trader setup guide covers when to register for GST and how BAS works.