Xero
$35/mo est.
- Entry plan
- $35/mo (Ignite)
- Users included
- Unlimited
- AU payroll
- Yes
- BAS/GST
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Yes
- Est. monthly cost
- $35/mo
Xero
Cloud accounting built for Australian small business, with payroll included on every plan and the largest local accountant network.
- Entry plan
- $35/mo (Ignite)
- Users
- Unlimited
- Payroll
- Included
- Bank feeds
- Yes
Best for
Most Australian small businesses. Market leader with the largest app ecosystem and accountant network.
Pricing breakdown
Every fee we track, grouped by where it applies.
Last verified 24 May 2026.
Strengths and trade-offs
Pros
- Payroll included on all plans
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Largest AU accountant and bookkeeper network
- Direct BAS lodgement and STP Phase 2
Cons
- Ignite plan caps invoices at 20/mo
- Pricing has risen in recent years
- Phone support only on higher plans
About Xero
Xero is a New Zealand-born cloud accounting platform and the market leader for Australian small business. Plans run from $35/mo (Ignite) to $115/mo (Comprehensive), all in AUD, with payroll included on every plan from June 2025. It offers unlimited users, direct BAS lodgement to the ATO, reliable bank feeds, and the largest advisor network in Australia. The entry Ignite plan caps invoices at 20 per month, so growing businesses usually move up to Grow.
Xero was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand.
How Xero compares
Side-by-side with the closest alternatives by estimated cost.
Subscription plus payroll add-on, based on the entry plan with no employees. Processing fees not included.
QuickBooks Online
$33/mo est.
- Entry plan
- $33/mo (Simple Start)
- Users included
- 1 (Simple Start)
- AU payroll
- Yes (add-on)
- BAS/GST
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Yes
- Est. monthly cost
- $33/mo
MYOB
$26/mo est.
- Entry plan
- $26/mo (Lite)
- Users included
- 1 (Lite)
- AU payroll
- Yes ($2/emp/mo)
- BAS/GST
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Yes
- Est. monthly cost
- $26/mo
FreshBooks
$23/mo est.
- Entry plan
- USD $23/mo (Lite)
- Users included
- 1 + collaborators
- AU payroll
- No
- BAS/GST
- Limited
- Bank feeds
- Yes
- Est. monthly cost
- $23/mo
Common questions about Xero
The same questions Australian merchants ask before signing up.
Xero does not publish a standard rate in Australia. Pricing is quoted based on your business size, industry, and card mix. Request a quote on their site, or use our free fee calculator to compare against providers that do publish rates.
Contract terms for Xero are not publicly listed. Confirm with their sales team before signing.
Xero settlement times are not publicly listed.
Xero AMEX pricing in Australia is not publicly listed. Ask their sales team whether AMEX acceptance and rates are included.
Xero does not advertise least-cost routing for Australian merchants. If you take a lot of contactless debit, compare against providers that do support it on our comparison page.
Xero is best suited to most australian small businesses. market leader with the largest app ecosystem and accountant network. To see how it stacks up for your specific volume and card mix, try our free fee calculator.
We may earn a commission when you click through to Xero and sign up, where a commercial arrangement is in place. This never affects ranking, the data we publish, or the comparisons we make on this page. Read our terms for the full picture.
We may earn a commission when you click through to a provider. This never affects ranking or data shown. Read our terms.
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Compare Xero
Compare Xero against every other Australian provider on price, contract terms, and features.