Choosing between MYOB and Xero starts with the work behind your accounts: who enters transactions, who runs payroll and which reports you actually use. Compare the plans that cover those jobs, rather than the brand names alone.
Compare the essentialsStart by naming the MYOB product you mean. A move from AccountRight to Xero deserves a different assessment from a choice between two browser-based plans. If the existing system works, ask what specific problem a switch would solve.
An editorial guide based on provider information, reviewed . Features and prices can change; check the linked plans before buying.
Compare the specific Australian products below. “Depends on plan” means you need to check the chosen tier, not that a feature is unavailable.
| What matters | MYOBOfficial plans ↗ | XeroOfficial plans ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Products in this guide | MYOB Business | Xero Australia |
| How you work | Lite/Pro: browser. AccountRight: Windows software plus browser access. | Cloud accounting accessed through a browser. |
| People accessing the books | Unlimited user profiles on Lite, Pro and AccountRight. | No per-user licence fees; some feature allowances still apply. |
| Payroll packaging | Lite/Pro: per-employee add-on. AccountRight Plus: included. | People included and additional charges depend on the plan. |
| Check before subscribing | Check bank-account limits and the exact AccountRight edition. | Check invoice limits, payroll headcount and feature usage. |
For the full feature details, see MYOB product information and Xero product information. Confirm plan inclusions, usage charges and payment fees directly.
List the tasks you perform in the desktop application, including any specialised reports, stock processes and imports. Ask your bookkeeper to demonstrate those same tasks in the proposed Xero setup. A clean demonstration is more useful than a promise that a feature exists somewhere in an app marketplace.
Run one ordinary month through each trial: create an invoice, record a supplier bill, match a payment and review outstanding balances. Invite the person who will maintain the books. Compare how easily you can correct an error and understand what changed, not just how quickly the first invoice is created.
Build your quote around the people you expect to pay over the next year. Include the subscription, any employee charges, timesheet tools and bookkeeping time. Ask how leave balances and employee records would be checked during a move, and who will approve the first pay run.
There is no universal winner. A useful decision depends on the exact plans, your existing processes and the people maintaining the records. Test your recurring work before choosing.
Ask your bookkeeper to propose a cutover date and explain the reconciliation work. A convenient date is one where balances, open invoices and payroll records can be checked, rather than a date selected only to claim a discount.
Browse businesses listing platform support, then confirm their experience with your exact product and the work you need. A listing is not a software certification.