MYOB and QuickBooks Online are both capable Australian accounting platforms, but they appeal to different owners. MYOB has decades of local history, phone support and a powerful AccountRight tier for inventory heavy businesses. QuickBooks, from Intuit, is an affordable cloud platform known for strong reporting. The decision turns on price, inventory depth and how you like to get support.
The plans, and who each is built for
The table above estimates your cost from your own invoice count and headcount. The table below is the point in time plan line up. Plans as of June 2026; we verify these against provider pricing every month.
| Plan tier | MYOB | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $26/mo (Business Lite) | $33/mo (Simple Start) |
| Mid | $47/mo (Business Pro) | $55/mo (Essentials) |
| Top | $150/mo (AccountRight) | $85/mo (Plus) |
| Users included | 1 (Business Lite) | 1 (Simple Start) |
| Payroll | $2/emp/mo (Lite and Pro) | Add-on (Employment Hero) |
| BAS and GST | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory | Deep (AccountRight) | Yes (Plus) |
| Support | Business hours AU phone | Business hours AU |
| Best for | Cheapest entry, phone support, inventory | Lower cost top plan, strong reporting |
Pricing and plans compared
MYOB is the cheaper way in: Business Lite is $26 a month against QuickBooks Simple Start at $33, and Business Pro at $47 undercuts Essentials at $55. The picture reverses at the top, where MYOB's AccountRight is $150 a month against QuickBooks Plus at $85. AccountRight costs more because it carries desktop grade inventory and job tracking that QuickBooks does not match, so you are paying for capability rather than the same thing at a higher price.
Payroll differs too. MYOB charges $2 per employee a month on its Lite and Pro plans, while QuickBooks runs payroll as a paid add-on through Employment Hero. For a small headcount the difference is modest, but it is worth folding into the total. The calculator above does that for you across both invoice count and staff numbers.
Who each one is built for
MYOB suits two groups: cost conscious operators who want the lowest entry price and value Australian phone support, and inventory heavy businesses such as wholesalers and trades that need AccountRight's stock control and job costing. Its decades in the market also mean many local bookkeepers know it well.
QuickBooks suits cloud first businesses that want strong reporting, multi currency and project tracking, and like that those features arrive on Plus at $85, below MYOB's top tier. It is a strong fit for service businesses that care more about reporting than deep inventory.
Australian compliance: BAS, GST, STP and awards
Both are built for Australian compliance and are evenly matched. Each prepares and lodges your BAS, tracks GST automatically, and reports Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 to the ATO, and both handle PAYG and superannuation. Compliance will not separate them, so let price, inventory and support guide the choice.
Switching and migration
Both support migration in either direction, bringing across your chart of accounts, contacts and history. Switch near the end of a BAS quarter so your reporting periods stay clean, and reconcile both files for one overlap month before you retire the old one. Moving a large inventory catalogue from AccountRight is the one area to plan carefully.
Ratings, integrations and support
In our review scoring MYOB rates 4.3 out of 5 and QuickBooks 4.2. MYOB's strengths are its inventory depth on AccountRight, receipt capture and Australian phone support. QuickBooks counters with strong reporting, project and multi currency tools on Plus, and a lower price at the top end. Both connect to the mainstream apps a small business uses.
Pros and cons for this matchup
MYOB wins on the cheapest entry plan, local phone support and AccountRight's inventory and job tracking depth, but its top tier is dearer and it charges per employee for payroll. QuickBooks wins on a lower priced top plan, strong reporting and project and multi currency tools, but limits users on the entry plan and charges separately for payroll.
The verdict
Choose MYOB if you want the lowest starting price, prefer Australian phone support, or need AccountRight's deeper inventory and job tracking. Choose QuickBooks Online if you are cloud first, want strong reporting and project tools, and like that its top plan costs less than MYOB's. Both clear the compliance bar comfortably, so put your invoice count and headcount into the calculator above and let the numbers, inventory needs and support style decide.