Best Accounting Software for Tradies Australia — 2026 Comparison

The right accounting software saves you 5+ hours a week on paperwork. Here's the honest comparison of Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks and free options — rated specifically for tradies (not office workers).

Top Pick: Xero ($29/mth)

Best for: Tradies who want a simple, mobile-friendly system. Xero has the best mobile app and integrates with most tradie job management software (Tradify, ServiceM8, AroFlo).

• Unlimited invoices & quotes (with ABN & GST)
• Automatic bank feeds (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ)
• BAS lodgement directly from app
• Receipt capture (photo on phone → auto-categorised)
• Payroll for up to 5 employees included
• Mobile app rated 4.7★ on App Store

Runner-Up: QuickBooks ($16/mth)

Best for: Sole traders on a budget. Cheaper than Xero with similar features. Best value for tradies just starting out.

• Lower price ($16/mth starter plan)
• Same bank feeds & BAS lodgement
• Receipt capture & mileage tracking
• Payroll included on higher tiers
• Slightly clunkier mobile app (4.3★)

MYOB Business ($27/mth)

Best for: Tradies who want phone support. MYOB has Australian-based phone support — Xero and QuickBooks are online-only.

• Phone support (real humans in Australia)
• Strong payroll features
• BAS & IAS lodgement
• Slightly dated interface
• Fewer integrations with tradie job apps

Free Options for Tradies

• Wave: Truly free accounting. No BAS lodgement (not ATO-compliant for GST). OK for non-GST sole traders.
• Thriday: Australian, AI-powered. Free tier includes BAS lodgement. Limited features on free plan.
• Spreadsheet: Google Sheets or Excel. Free but no automation. Fine for first 6 months.

What Tradies Actually Need (Not Office Features)

• Mobile receipt capture (you're on-site, not at a desk)
• Simple invoicing with ABN & GST line items
• BAS calculation automatically (quarterly BAS is mandatory)
• Job costing (track profit per job, not just total)
• Integration with your tradie job app (Tradify, ServiceM8, AroFlo)