7 best accounting software in Australia founders must know

Best accounting software in Australia: At a glance

* Pricing reflects standard Australian list prices checked in August 2026, before temporary introductory discounts. Billing periods vary by providers, and some features or payroll services may be an additional cost. Prices are subject to change, so check the provider’s pricing page before you sign up.

How we selected these platforms

We considered accounting software based on factors that are important to Australian businesses, including core accounting features, pricing, GST and BAS support, payroll capabilities, integrations, ease of use, and scalability. We also considered which types of businesses each platform is designed for, from sole traders and freelancers to growing and more complex businesses. Pricing reflects standard Australian list prices checked in August 2026, before temporary promotional discounts.

Top Accounting software in Australia

Australia has several accounting platforms designed for different business needs. The options below compare their features, pricing, and trade-offs to help founders choose the right fit.

Xero

For businesses prioritising automation and connected financial workflows, Xero is a strong contender among the best accounting software in Australia. It includes invoicing, billing, bank reconciliation, GST, BAS, payroll, and financial reports. It is designed to enable business owners and their accountants to manage financial information online, with connections accessible via the Xero App Store.

Key features offered

• Invoicing and quotes
• Bills and bill payments
• Bank connections and reconciliation
• GST tracking and BAS preparation and lodgement*
• Payroll and superannuation
• Financial reporting
• Inventory management and purchase orders
• Expense and mileage claims on eligible plans
• Multi-currency accounting on eligible plans
• Mobile apps for managing invoices, expenses, and other financial tasks
• Third-party integrations through the Xero App Store

*GST tracking and BAS preparation, with BAS lodgement available for eligible users.

Pricing

• Ignite: AUD $37/month; includes up to 20 invoices, five bills, and payroll for one person, plus bank reconciliation, GST tracking, and BAS lodgement.
• Grow: AUD $78/month.
• Comprehensive: AUD $107/month.
• Ultimate 10: AUD $143/month.
• Ultra: AUD $500/month

Note: These are Xero's standard Australian monthly rates before temporary 80% promotional discounts.

MYOB

MYOB is an Australian accounting platform with cloud and desktop-based products for sole traders, small businesses, and more established businesses. Its products cover accounting, invoicing, GST and BAS, payroll, expenses, inventory, reporting, and job management, with features varying by product and plan.

MYOB also offers Solo, a mobile-first accounting product for sole traders, while MYOB Business and AccountRight are designed for broader business needs.

Key features offered

• Invoicing and quotes
• Income and expense tracking
• Bank connections and reconciliation
• GST tracking and BAS preparation and lodgement for eligible users
• Payroll, superannuation, and Single Touch Payroll (STP), where supported
• Expense and receipt management
• Inventory and order management on eligible products
• Financial reporting and cash-flow management
• Job and project tracking
• Timesheets and rostering on eligible products
• Multi-currency on eligible products
• Browser and mobile access, with desktop software available through AccountRight

Pricing

• MYOB Business Lite: AUD $315/year after the introductory offer. Designed for sole traders and small businesses. Payroll is available as an add-on at AUD $3 per employee/month.
• MYOB Business Pro: AUD $70/month after the introductory offer. Includes accounting functionality for small and medium-sized businesses, with payroll available as an AUD $3 per employee/month add-on.
• AccountRight Plus: AUD $165/month after the introductory offer. Includes payroll and inventory functionality for established businesses.
• AccountRight Premier: AUD $210/month after the introductory offer. Adds capabilities for businesses that need features such as multiple currencies.

Its range of plans makes MYOB worth considering when comparing the best accounting software for medium-sized businesses in Australia.

Pricing note: MYOB currently offers promotional discounts on selected plans. These offers may change or expire, so check MYOB’s pricing page for the latest rates.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is cloud-based accounting software for Australian businesses. It covers income and expenses, invoicing, bank feeds, GST, BAS, reporting, and cash-flow planning, with higher plans adding capabilities such as multi-currency, inventory, project management, and budgeting. It also provides browser and mobile access and allows accountant access across its plans. This makes it a top contender for businesses seeking the best online accounting software in Australia.

Key features offered

• Invoicing and quotes
• Income and expense tracking
• Automated bank feeds and reconciliation
• GST tracking and electronic BAS lodgement*
• Receipt capture and expense tracking
• Cash-flow planning and financial reporting
• Multi-currency from the Essentials plan
• Inventory tracking, project management, and budgeting from the Plus plan
• Mobile app
• Third-party integrations
• Payroll through QuickBooks Payroll, powered by Employment Hero

*GST tracking and BAS preparation, with electronic lodgement available where supported and eligible.

Pricing

• Simple Start: AUD $33/month; supports one user plus accountant access.
• Essentials: AUD $60/month; supports three users and adds recurring transactions, multi-currency, and supplier and bill management.
• Plus: AUD $84/month; supports five users and adds inventory tracking, project management, and budgeting.
• Advanced: AUD $125/month; supports 25 users and adds custom permissions, automated workflows, custom reporting fields, advanced reporting capabilities, and data backup and restore.

These are the standard monthly prices currently shown on QuickBooks Australia's pricing pages before the advertised 70% discount for 6 months. You can get a 30-day free trial if you don’t opt for the 70% discount.

Rounded

Rounded is Australian-made online accounting and invoicing software designed specifically for freelancers and sole traders. It focuses on the core financial needs of solo businesses, including invoicing, expense tracking, GST, BAS preparation, tax reporting, and time tracking. It uses cash accounting rather than accrual accounting, making it better suited to simpler businesses than businesses with more complex accounting requirements.

Key features offered

• Customisable quotes and invoices
• Online invoice payments
• Automatic overdue-invoice reminders
• Recurring invoices and expenses
• Time and project tracking
• Expense and receipt capture
• Bank feeds and credit-card feeds on Pro
• AI-assisted expense categorisation on Pro
• GST tracking and pre-filled BAS on Pro
• Tax estimates and financial reports
• Accountant access
• Multi-currency invoicing
• Desktop, iOS, and Android access

Pricing

• Starter: AUD $23.95/month or AUD $264.95/year. Includes invoicing, payments, reminders, time tracking, expense tracking, tax estimates, and reporting.
• Pro: AUD $29.95/month or AUD $329.95/year. Adds bank feeds, AI expense categorisation, Stripe income tracking, automatic GST tracking, pre-filled BAS, and superannuation tracking.
• Free trial: 14 days with no credit card required.

NetSuite

NetSuite is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that integrates financial management and other business functions. Provides accounting and financial management, inventory, order management, procurement, project management, and reporting. Its OneWorld features also serve enterprises that manage many subsidiaries, entities, and currencies.

Key features offered

• Financial management and general ledger
• Accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Invoicing and billing
• Financial reporting and analytics
• Multi-currency accounting
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Inventory management
• Order management and fulfilment
• Procurement
• Project management and accounting
• Expense and timesheet management
• Multi-subsidiary and consolidated financial management
• Business intelligence and real-time reporting

Pricing

• Custom quote: NetSuite does not publish a standard Australian monthly subscription price. Pricing depends on the products, modules, users, and configuration required.

So, founders comparing the best accounting software for medium-sized businesses in Australia should assess total implementation and operating costs.

Reckon One

Reckon One is cloud-based accounting software for Australian small businesses, with tools for invoicing, expenses, bank feeds, GST/BAS reporting, cash-flow management, budgeting, inventory, and project management. It also offers separate payroll plans that connect with its accounting software. This is an option for founders to compare the best small business accounting software in Australia.

Key features offered

• Income and expense tracking
• GST tracking and BAS reporting
• Bank connections and reconciliation
• Invoicing and online payments
• Cash-flow reporting
• Budgeting
• Financial reports
• Inventory management
• Timesheets
• Project management
• Mobile invoicing
• Payroll through separate Reckon Payroll plans
• ATO-related payroll and STP functionality through Reckon Payroll

Pricing

• Accounting Plus: AUD $24/month at the standard rate; designed for small businesses.
• Accounting Premium: AUD $46/month at the standard rate; designed for larger businesses.
• Payroll Essentials: AUD $16/month for up to four employees.
• Payroll Plus: AUD $32/month for up to 10 employees.
• Payroll Premium: AUD $60/month for unlimited employees.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is an online accounting and invoicing app for freelancers, the self-employed, and small enterprises. It includes invoicing, payments, costs, time tracking, bookkeeping, reporting, client management, and payroll through an accessible payroll add-on.

Key features offered

• Professional invoicing and estimates
• Online payments
• Recurring invoices and payment reminders
• Expense tracking and receipt scanning
• Bank account imports and reconciliation
• Time and mileage tracking
• Double-entry accounting
• Financial and tax-time reporting
• Project and client management
• Accountant access
• Mobile apps
• Third-party integrations
• Payroll integrations or add-ons

Pricing

• Lite: AUD $29/month; supports up to five billable clients.
• Plus: AUD $43/month; supports up to 50 billable clients.
• Premium: AUD $60/month; supports unlimited billable clients.
• Select: Custom pricing for businesses with more complex requirements.
• Payroll: Available through separate payroll integrations or add-ons; costs vary by provider and setup.

FreshBooks is currently offering 50% off for three months, so the prices above are the standard Australian rates before the promotion.

Benefits of using accounting software

Accounting software helps founders cut down on mundane finance labour and gives them a clearer picture of the financial situation of the organisation.

• Automate bookkeeping: Reduce manual data entry and repetitive accounting activities like recording and categorising transactions.
• Monitor income and expenses: Organise company transactions and track where money is made and spent.
• Simplify invoicing and payments: You can create, send, and track invoices, and some platforms even allow you to accept online payments and send payment reminders.
• Reconcile bank transactions: Link bank feeds and match transactions to accounting records to keep financial data up-to-date.
• Improve cash-flow visibility: Monitor money coming in and going out to better understand the business's cash position.
• Generate financial reports: Use reports to review revenue, expenses, profitability, and other financial measures.
• Support tax and compliance: Track GST and maintain records needed for tax and reporting obligations. Some Australian platforms also support BAS preparation or lodgement.

Which accounting software is best for your business?

The right accounting software depends on your business structure, size, and financial needs:

• Best for most small businesses: Look for core bookkeeping, invoicing, bank reconciliation, GST, and reporting features.
• Best for sole traders: Prioritise simple, affordable tools for invoicing, expenses, and tax tracking.
• Best for businesses with employees: Choose software with integrated payroll and employee management.
• Best for inventory-heavy businesses: Look for strong inventory tracking, purchasing, and sales features.
• Best for service businesses: Prioritise invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and project management.
• Best budget option: Compare pricing against the features your business actually needs.
• Best for complex or enterprise operations: Look for advanced reporting, integrations, automation, multi-entity support, and scalable controls.

What to Look for in the Best Accounting Software in Australia

The best accounting software in Australia should fit the way your business operates today while giving you enough room to grow. For founders, the right choice comes down to more than price. Consider the following before choosing a platform.

Core Accounting and Cash Flow

Look for software that can track income and expenses, produce financial statements and reports, and give you a clear view of your cash position. These capabilities form the foundation of small business accounting software in Australia.

Invoicing and Payments

Check whether the platform supports invoice creation, recurring invoices, and payment tracking. Some platforms also offer online payment options, which can help businesses get paid without relying on separate tools.

Bank Feeds and Reconciliation

Automatic bank feeds can bring transactions into your accounting system. Transaction matching and reconciliation then help keep your accounting records aligned with your bank activity.

Payroll and Super

If you have employees, check whether the software supports payroll, Single Touch Payroll (STP), leave management, superannuation, and employee records. Also check whether payroll is included or charged separately.

Inventory

Product-based businesses may need stock tracking, purchase orders, and inventory reporting. Check the level of inventory functionality available on the specific plan rather than assuming every platform offers the same capabilities.

Integrations

The best online accounting software in Australia should work with the other systems your business relies on. Look for integrations with banking, payroll, payments, e-commerce, expense management, and other business applications.

Scalability

As your business expands, so do your accounting demands. Before choosing software, consider user limits, transaction volumes, reporting capabilities, inventory requirements, numerous entities, automation, and workflow features.

Mobile and Cloud Access

Browser-based access and mobile apps deliver financial information to founders and finance teams anywhere. If you need access for more than one person, check the user permissions and collaboration options.

Australian Tax and Compliance Features

For Australian businesses, check how the platform handles GST, BAS, ATO-related functionality, STP where applicable, and record-keeping. These requirements can vary by business structure and circumstances, so confirm that the software supports the obligations relevant to your business.

Integrate your accounting software with Aspire to gain control over business spending

Accounting software helps founders track and report financial activity. But growing organisations also need to monitor how money gets spent. Aspire includes corporate cards, spend limits, budgets, approval controls, and employee expense claims to help companies manage spending before it appears in the books. It also connects with accounting platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite to assist in connecting spending data with accounting operations.

When evaluating the best accounting software in Australia, Aspire can supplement your accounting platform, not replace it, offering expanding businesses greater control and visibility over day-to-day spending.

Conclusion

The best accounting software in Australia is not one product for all businesses. Before choosing a platform, founders should consider the size and complexity of the business, compliance concerns, scalability, and total cost. Whatever type of business you run, be it a sole trader, small business, or growing company, the right accounting software should work for you. Aspire can then help manage business spending as a complement to that.

FAQs

What are some popular accounting software options in Australia?

QuickBooks, Xero, and MYOB are some of the most popular accounting software programs in Australia, especially for small businesses. However, the way companies use the software varies by size, industry, and accounting needs.

What is the best home accounting software in Australia?

If you run a business from home as a sole trader, Rounded can be a good choice if you mainly need invoicing, expense tracking, GST and BAS preparation, tax estimates, and time tracking. If your home-based business needs more extensive accounting functionality or is growing beyond the needs of a sole trader, Xero and MYOB are worth considering.

Is MYOB or Xero better?

Neither is superior to the other. Xero is great for organisations that want a wide range of online accounting and connectors, while MYOB has solid Australian accounting, payroll, and business-management tools.

What are the top 5 accounting software?

Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online, Reckon One, and Rounded are among the accounting platforms Australian businesses can consider, depending on business size and requirements.

How much does accounting software cost?

Australian accounting software typically ranges from around AUD $20 to over AUD $100 per month, depending on features, users, and business complexity.

Which one should I choose between Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks?

For most Australian small businesses, Xero is a strong all-round choice. Choose MYOB if payroll or inventory is a priority, while QuickBooks is worth considering if its features and pricing better match your business needs.

Is there free accounting software in Australia?

Yes, some platforms offer free plans or trials, but the seven accounting platforms compared in this guide are primarily paid products. Free options typically come with feature or usage limitations, so they may not suit businesses with more complex accounting needs.