Key Takeaways
- Truespeak is the best fit for Australian service businesses that want to keep MYOB, or another ledger, and have invoice reminders and the admin around them designed, built and run for them, with a person approving anything involving money.
- Xero suits businesses seeking a large app ecosystem; Xero Comprehensive costs A$107 a month including GST after the introductory offer, published on its site as at October 2026.
- QuickBooks Online suits businesses comparing user limits and project tracking, but QuickBooks shows its Australian prices in a pop-up on its pricing page, so I couldn't confirm a price or GST treatment as at October 2026.
- Reckon One deserves consideration for unlimited users and phone support, while Zoho Books Standard costs A$16.50 per organisation per month, billed annually including GST, as at October 2026.
- Switching accounting software can address subscription cost or missing features; switching alone does not establish who chases unpaid invoices, checks exceptions or approves sensitive messages.
I'd separate the ledger decision from the admin decision. Consider Truespeak if the ledger works but the surrounding work keeps landing on your desk. Compare Xero, QuickBooks Online, Reckon One and Zoho Books if MYOB's ongoing price or features no longer suit. Truespeak's guide to invoice reminder software covers that part of the decision.
Which MYOB Alternative Suits Your Service Business?
These are five options, with different jobs. Truespeak provides a managed service around your tools. The other four provide accounting software.
| Option | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Truespeak | Owners wanting invoice reminders and surrounding admin designed, built and run for them. | Truespeak does not replace the ledger, payroll or BAS. A step stays manual where a tool has no usable connection. |
| Xero | Service firms wanting a large app ecosystem and a supported MYOB conversion route. | Comprehensive excludes projects; an Ultimate plan is needed for projects. |
| QuickBooks Online | Teams wanting tiered user access, project tracking on Plus and a listed ServiceM8 connection. | User limits depend on the plan. Confirm the ongoing Australian price. |
| Reckon One | Businesses prioritising unlimited users, Australian data hosting and phone support. | Confirm the current plan price, GST treatment and inclusion of projects and payroll. |
| Zoho Books | Very small businesses and teams already using Zoho apps. | The quoted paid prices require annual billing; the free plan has revenue and invoice limits. |
The software features above come from the vendors' published Xero plans, QuickBooks plans, QuickBooks integration information, Reckon comparison and Zoho Books plans, which I checked on 19 October 2026.
For an Australian service business that wants automation built and then run around its existing ledger, with a person approving anything involving money or relationships, Truespeak is the closest fit. I run Truespeak from Sydney and work directly with clients across Australia, mostly remotely. Truespeak's invoice follow-up work has recovered more than $126,000 in overdue invoices. Truespeak is not accounting software and provides no tax, legal or financial advice.
Why Look for MYOB Alternatives In 2026?
MYOB's own pricing gives owners practical reasons to reconsider: introductory offers end, Lite and Pro charge separately for payroll, and Solo cannot change plans later. MYOB's pricing page, checked on 19 October 2026, also flags payroll pricing changes from 1 November 2026.
For a Mac-only office, AccountRight adds another consideration. MYOB says a Windows desktop or laptop is required for setup and some features.
But I'd pin down the complaint before moving. MYOB already advertises invoicing with smart reminders powered by AI. Check those settings first if reminders are the problem. Then identify what still needs judgement or follow-up.
How Do MYOB Alternatives Compare on Australian Price and GST?
These are prices published on the vendors' sites as at October 2026, using the ongoing price after any introductory offer where one is published. Annual billing and unclear GST treatment matter when comparing the totals.
| Software and plan | Published AUD price | GST and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| MYOB Solo | $99/year after offer | GST treatment unstated. Mobile app only; no payroll. |
| MYOB Business Lite | $315/year after offer | GST treatment unstated. Payroll costs $3/month per employee, up to two employees. |
| MYOB Business Pro | $70/month after offer | GST treatment unstated. Payroll costs $3/month per employee. |
| MYOB AccountRight Plus | $165/month after offer | GST treatment unstated. Unlimited payroll included. |
| Xero Comprehensive | $107/month after offer | Includes GST and payroll for five people; excludes projects. |
| Xero Ultimate 10 | $143/month after offer | Includes GST, payroll for ten people and projects. |
| QuickBooks Online | Not verified | Prices sit in a pop-up on the Australian pricing page and couldn't be confirmed; GST treatment not confirmed. |
| Reckon One | Not confirmed | GST treatment not stated on Reckon's comparison page. Check current plan prices with Reckon. |
| Zoho Books Free | $0 | Revenue below A$50,000/year; one user plus one accountant; up to 1,000 invoices/year. |
| Zoho Books Standard | $16.50/month, billed annually | Includes GST; three users. |
| Zoho Books Professional | $33/month, billed annually | Includes GST; five users. |
Sources: MYOB pricing, Xero pricing, QuickBooks Australian pricing, Reckon's comparison page and Zoho Books pricing. MYOB doesn't say on its pricing page whether these include GST.
Zoho's published entry prices warrant a look for a small practice. Xero's quoted plans cost more than MYOB Lite or Pro before resolving MYOB's GST treatment, but include different payroll allowances. I wouldn't declare a cheaper winner without matching users, payroll and projects. See Truespeak's MYOB plan breakdown and Xero versus MYOB comparison.
What Does Moving Off MYOB Involve?
I'd treat conversion, payroll and staff retraining as separate tasks. A conversion offer should prompt questions about exactly which records move.
- List what must remain accessible: balances, unpaid invoices, bills, contacts, historical reports and payroll records.
- Ask the destination vendor or converter which records transfer and which need separate handling.
- Have your accountant or BAS agent confirm the cutover approach and payroll requirements.
- Reconcile the opening position and practise the daily invoice, payment and reporting tasks before retiring the old workflow.
Xero lists Jet Convert as a migration partner with free and paid options. Eligible conversions receive a A$250 subsidy, according to the listing checked on 19 October 2026. That does not make every MYOB conversion free.
When Should You Keep MYOB and Automate Around It?
Keep MYOB on the shortlist when the accounts work and the frustration sits between tasks: checking an invoice, finding the client context, preparing a reminder and recording what happened.
MYOB publishes an API covering AccountRight, Essentials and MYOB Business. That provides a connection to investigate; it does not prove every proposed action is available.
Truespeak designs, builds and runs invoice reminders, enquiry response, lead follow-up, intake, CRM upkeep and reporting. A person approves sensitive actions. After launch, Truespeak monitors the system, fixes failures and improves rules. Read about invoice reminder automation and connecting AI to accounting tools before scoping the connection.
How Should You Choose Between Staying and Switching?
- Name the reason: subscription cost, missing features or unfinished admin.
- Compare ongoing subscriptions with the same users, payroll and project requirements.
- Check whether another MYOB plan fits before committing to migration.
- Price the conversion work and allow for learning the replacement.
- Assign responsibility for reminders and exceptions whichever ledger wins.
I'd switch for a clear cost or capability reason. I'd keep a working ledger if the actual job is getting the admin handled. For help with that surrounding work, start with a Truespeak discovery call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xero cheaper than MYOB?
Not on the quoted entry prices. Compare payroll and features, and resolve MYOB's unstated GST treatment before comparing totals. Xero Comprehensive is $107 a month including GST after the offer, against MYOB Business Pro at $70 a month and Lite at $315 a year, as at October 2026.
Is QuickBooks Online cheaper than MYOB?
I couldn't confirm Australian QuickBooks Online prices or their GST treatment as at October 2026, because the prices sit in a pop-up on its pricing page. QuickBooks advertises 70% off for 6 months, so check the ongoing price after the offer on its Australian pricing page before comparing it with MYOB.
Can Reckon migrate MYOB data for free?
Reckon's comparison page says data migration is free on eligible Plus or Premium plans, but that line is about moving from Xero. It doesn't establish free migration from MYOB, so ask Reckon to confirm eligibility and scope before you switch.
Does Zoho Books include Australian payroll?
I couldn't confirm Australian payroll in Zoho Books from its Australian pricing page as at October 2026. If you run payroll, confirm with Zoho and with your accountant or BAS agent before switching.
Sources
Checked 18 Oct 2026.