Enter your business details to see what each option would cost you. Prices are live from our database and shown in Australian dollars.
Most businesses look for a MYOB alternative for one of three reasons: the per-employee payroll charge adds up as the team grows, the entry plan limits users, or they simply want a wider app ecosystem. The good news is that the Australian market is mature, so there are several strong, locally compliant options. Below are our ranked picks, then a live calculator so you can cost each at your own invoice count and headcount.
What are the best MYOB alternatives?
The best alternatives to MYOB in Australia are Xero, QuickBooks Online, Reckon and Zoho Books. Xero is the closest like-for-like and the market leader, QuickBooks is the affordable all-rounder, Reckon is the budget option built in Australia, and Zoho Books is the value pick that is free under $50K turnover. Each lodges BAS and Single Touch Payroll to the ATO, so the decision comes down to price, users and how you handle payroll.
Is Xero a good alternative to MYOB?
Xero is the most direct swap from MYOB. Both are built for Australian compliance and lodge straight to the ATO, but Xero includes unlimited users and payroll on every plan, where MYOB limits the entry plan to one user and charges $2 per employee a month for payroll. The trade-off is price: Xero starts at $35 a month against MYOB's $26, and the entry Ignite plan caps invoices at 20 a month. For a growing team that runs payroll, Xero often ends up cheaper once staff are counted.
What is the cheapest alternative to MYOB?
Reckon is the cheapest, with Reckon One from $12 a month and a flat $24 a month payroll add-on that covers unlimited employees. That flat payroll fee gets cheaper per head as you grow, so it can undercut MYOB's per-employee charge for businesses with several staff. Zoho Books is the other value option, free under $50K annual turnover and $16.50 a month beyond it. Both come in under MYOB's $26 a month Business Lite plan.
How we chose
We ranked the alternatives on the things that matter when you are leaving MYOB: total monthly cost once users and payroll are counted (not just the sticker price), how well the platform handles Australian BAS, GST and Single Touch Payroll, the depth of the local app and accountant network, and how easy it is to migrate your data. Pricing is pulled live from our database and shown in Australian dollars. We are independent and not owned by any provider, so these picks weigh price, features and Australian fit, not commercial relationships.
Other options worth knowing
Beyond the four ranked picks, three platforms suit narrower cases. FreshBooks is invoicing-led and popular with freelancers, but it prices in US dollars and lacks STP Phase 2, so it is a weaker fit for Australian employers. Wave offers genuinely free core accounting for sole traders and micro-businesses, with no Australian payroll. Sage is a global platform aimed at mid-market and enterprise, with Australian pricing available by quote only. For most businesses leaving MYOB, the four picks above will be the stronger comparison.
The verdict
For most businesses leaving MYOB, Xero is the natural alternative: unlimited users, included payroll and the widest accountant network make it the safe, scalable default, and it is often cheaper than MYOB once staff are counted. If price is the priority, Reckon is the cheapest with flat payroll for unlimited staff, and Zoho Books is free under $50K turnover. QuickBooks sits in between as a strong, affordable all-rounder. Use the calculator above to see which lands cheapest for your invoice count and team size.