Plan access as your team grows
Map who needs to enter data, approve spending and see reports. Include occasional users, not just full-time office staff. Try those roles in the proposed plan and check the cost of adding people as the business grows.
ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE, EXPLAINED
Xero vs QuickBooks.
Xero and QuickBooks Online are both worth assessing through real bookkeeping tasks. A trial becomes much more useful when your bookkeeper, owner and other users all test the activities they will perform.
Compare the essentialsWHERE TO START
Test the way your team works.
Begin with team access, payroll and reporting, then check the apps your business already relies on. Compare the total setup for your business rather than treating two similarly priced plans as equivalent.
An editorial guide based on provider information, reviewed . Features and prices can change; check the linked plans before buying.
Xero vs QuickBooks at a glance
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 | XeroOfficial plans ↗ | QuickBooksOfficial plans ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Products in this guide | Xero Australia | QuickBooks Online Australia |
| How you work | Cloud accounting accessed through a browser. | Online accounting accessed through a browser. |
| People accessing the books | No per-user licence fees; some feature allowances still apply. | User limits vary by plan; accountant access is additional. |
| Payroll packaging | People included and additional charges depend on the plan. | Optional paid add-on powered by Employment Hero. |
| Check before subscribing | Check invoice limits, payroll headcount and feature usage. | Check user limits, inventory and multicurrency by tier. |
For the full feature details, see Xero product information and QuickBooks product information. Confirm plan inclusions, usage charges and payment fees directly.
Check the complete app connection
If you use a shop, booking system or payment platform, follow a real transaction into the accounts. Check fees, refunds and the final bank deposit. Confirm who resolves a broken connection and whether the app subscription is included in your estimate.
Use a reporting question as a trial task
Choose a question such as which job earned the most after costs. Ask your bookkeeper to show how they would answer it in each setup. Consider the preparation time, the meaning of each figure and whether the owner can repeat the process without help.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Your questions, answered.
Will my connected apps work with both?
Check each app and the exact integration directly. A logo on an integrations page does not tell you which data moves, how often it syncs or whether additional fees apply.
Which is easier to learn?
Use the same short list of tasks in both trials and ask the people doing the work. The best fit for your team depends on familiarity, training and the complexity of your records.
Find help with your chosen software.
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.