Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks? All three are excellent — but the right fit depends on your business. Here's a practical comparison from a bookkeeper who works in all of them every day.
The big three at a glance
Over 75% of Australian small and mid-size businesses now use cloud accounting software. The market leaders here are Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online — and honestly, you can run a great business on any of them. The differences are in the details.
Xero
Loved for its clean, intuitive interface and excellent bank feeds. Xero is a favourite among small businesses and advisors, with a huge ecosystem of add-ons. Strong all-rounder, especially if you value ease of use.
MYOB
A long-established Australian platform with deep payroll and accounting capability. MYOB suits businesses that want robust, locally-focused features and have been in the Australian ecosystem for years.
QuickBooks Online
Competitively priced with strong reporting and a clean experience. Often a great value option for smaller businesses and sole traders.
How to choose
Rather than asking "which is best?", ask:
- How complex is your payroll? Heavy award interpretation may steer the choice.
- What does your accountant or bookkeeper use? Working in the same platform makes collaboration seamless.
- What add-ons do you need? POS, job management, rostering and inventory all have preferred integrations.
- What's your budget? Plans vary by features and user numbers.
The best software is the one that's set up correctly and actually used. A perfectly chosen platform that's a mess still gives you bad numbers.
Don't forget Employment Hero, NetSuite & Comrad
For payroll and HR, Employment Hero is increasingly popular. Larger or specialised businesses may run NetSuite (ERP) or industry systems like Comrad. Maree works across all of these, so whatever you're on, you're covered.
Let's get your software working for you
Maree can recommend, set up or clean up your accounting software and keep it running. See our accounting software services or ask Maree which platform suits your business.
Need a hand with this? Maree offers a free, no-obligation consultation. Get in touch →