Xero vs MYOB vs QuickBooks for Australian Tradies (2026)

If you're running a trade business in Australia, you need accounting software. The question is which one. We've tested all three — Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks — specifically for how well they work for tradies. Here's the honest verdict.

Quick Verdict

For most sole trader tradies: Xero Starter or Rounded. For tradies with employees: Xero Standard or MYOB Business. QuickBooks is a solid alternative if you want lower pricing and good project tracking.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Xero — Full Review

Xero has become the dominant accounting platform for Australian small businesses, and for good reason. It's genuinely easy to use, connects directly with most Australian bank accounts, and can lodge your BAS directly with the ATO.

Xero Pricing (2026)

MYOB Business — Full Review

MYOB is Australia's original accounting software and it's still a strong choice, particularly for tradies who employ staff. Its payroll is arguably the most robust of the three for Australian conditions, handling STP Phase 2 and complex award rates well.

QuickBooks Online — Full Review

QuickBooks is the global giant that's growing fast in Australia. It's priced aggressively and has strong job costing features that tradies running project-based work will appreciate.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Xero if: You want the best all-round package, your accountant uses it (most do), or you need a solid mobile app for invoicing on site.

Choose MYOB if: You have multiple employees and want the strongest payroll, or you prefer phone support.

Choose QuickBooks if: You're price-sensitive, run project-based work and want strong job costing, or you're already familiar with it from a previous job.

## Setting Up Tax Deductions: Which Software Handles Australian Compliance Best Tax time is where accounting software either saves you thousands or costs you thousands. For Australian tradies, the ATO's compliance requirements are strict—and they're getting stricter. Let's be blunt: missing deductions or poor record-keeping can result in penalties that dwarf your software subscription cost. **Xero** has the edge here for Australian tax compliance. The software integrates directly with the ATO through the Single Touch Payroll (STP) system, meaning your payroll data flows automatically to the Tax Office. If you're employing staff—even one apprentice—this integration is gold. Xero also tracks GST in real-time, which is essential if you're registered. The dashboard shows your GST liability month-by-month, preventing nasty surprises when a bill comes due. **MYOB** handles GST tracking competently, but the ATO integration isn't as seamless. You'll spend more time manually reconciling records. MYOB does have strong depreciation scheduling, which matters if you're capitalising tools, vehicles, or equipment over $20,000. With the current instant asset write-off at $20,000 (until June 2026), MYOB's depreciation module helps you decide whether to claim immediate write-off or depreciate assets. **QuickBooks** is the weakest here for Australian compliance. While it handles basic invoicing, its GST tracking requires more manual input, and it doesn't integrate natively with the ATO. American-designed software often means Australian tax requirements feel bolted-on rather than built-in. **The practical reality:** If you're a sole trader doing $100k-$300k annually, any of these work. If you're employing people or dealing with complex deductions—multiple vehicles, equipment leasing, subcontractor payments—Xero pulls ahead. The $30,000 superannuation guarantee cap and 11.5% super guarantee rate need tracking too; Xero handles this more smoothly than MYOB. One critical detail: the vehicle deduction at 88c/km (2025-26 rate) requires proper logbook records. None of these three software packages will create a logbook for you—you need a separate app like Tradify or manual records. However, Xero integrates with several mileage tracking apps, making the data entry easier. ## Job Costing and Quoting: Essential for Trade Profitability Most tradies don't realise that poor job costing kills profit margins silently. You quote a kitchen renovation at $12,000, spend 140 hours on it, and end up earning $60/hour after materials and overheads. Accounting software with strong job costing prevents this disaster. **Xero's** job tracking is functional but basic. You can tag invoices to jobs and see profit per job—useful for understanding which work types are actually profitable. However, the job costing module requires manual input of labour costs and overheads. You need to manually calculate your hourly rate, then log time against jobs. It works, but it's not purpose-built for trades. **MYOB** offers job costing with better automation. You can set up overhead allocation by job, and MYOB will distribute your fixed costs (vehicle, insurance, rent if you have a workshop) across jobs automatically. This gives you a clearer picture of true profitability. The quoting module is stronger too—you can create a quote in MYOB, convert it to a job, then track actual costs against the quote. This reveal-the-truth approach prevents scope creep and underquoting. **QuickBooks** has decent job costing, but again, the Australian compliance piece is weak. The reporting is less intuitive for identifying which job types lose money. **The honest assessment:** If you're doing small domestic jobs (under $5,000 each), basic job tagging in Xero suffices. If you're running multiple concurrent projects or larger jobs, MYOB's job costing module pays for itself. Consider integrating with Tradify, which syncs with both Xero and MYOB and is purpose-built for tradie scheduling and quoting. ### Feature Comparison: Quick Reference | Feature | Xero | MYOB | QuickBooks | |---------|------|------|-----------| | **ATO Integration (STP)** | ✓ Native | ✗ Manual | ✗ Manual | | **GST Tracking** | ✓ Real-time | ✓ Real-time | ✓ Real-time | | **Job Costing** | Basic (tagging) | Advanced (allocation) | Moderate | | **Invoice Customisation** | Good | Excellent | Good | | **Mobile App** | ✓ Strong | ✓ Adequate | ✓ Strong | | **Australian Support** | ✓ Native | ✓ Native | Limited | | **Learning Curve** | Moderate | Moderate | Steep | | **Price (AUD/month)** | $13–$65 | $25–$80 | $22–$105 | --- ## FAQ: Australian Tradies' Most Common Questions --- **Bottom line for Australian tradies:** Choose Xero if you value ATO compliance and mobile accessibility. Choose MYOB if you run multiple concurrent jobs and need stronger job costing. Don't choose QuickBooks unless you have specific integration requirements. And before you choose any of them, ensure your accountant supports your choice—compatibility beats features every time.