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.
Pricing and plans compared
QuickBooks is the cheaper way in: its Simple Start plan ($33 a month) undercuts MYOB Business Lite ($35), and the gap widens up the range, with MYOB Business Pro ($70) sitting above QuickBooks Essentials. MYOB's AccountRight costs more than QuickBooks Plus, but it carries desktop grade inventory and job tracking that QuickBooks does not match, so at the top you are paying for capability rather than the same thing at a higher price. The comparison table on this page shows each plan's current price in Australian dollars.
Payroll differs too. MYOB charges $3 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: businesses that want an established Australian all-rounder with local 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 its Plus plan for less than 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.
Integrations and support
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.
For current plan pricing in Australian dollars, see the comparison table at the top of this page.
Pros and cons for this matchup
MYOB wins on its established local presence, phone support and AccountRight's inventory and job tracking depth, but it starts slightly dearer than QuickBooks, its top tier is dearer still, and it charges $3 per employee a month 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 an established local all-rounder, 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 it starts cheaper and 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.