Heads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through links on this site. It never changes your price or our picks. How we make money
๐Ÿ’ผ Updated for Payday Super (1 July 2026)

Spend less time on the books and stay on the right side of the ATO.

Super now has to reach your employees' funds within 7 business days of payday. Good software makes that, Single Touch Payroll and BAS almost automatic. Find the plan that fits your business in 30 seconds.

  • ๐Ÿ“† Payday Super is live
  • ๐Ÿงพ BAS & GST built in
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ Payroll included
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Rules from the ATO
โœ… Ratings from ProductReview & Capterra
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ AU pricing incl. GST

The rules your software needs to handle

Australian small businesses have more payroll and tax obligations than ever. These are the ones software takes off your plate.

Payday Super

From 1 July 2026, each employee's super must be received by their fund within 7 business days of payday (ATO). Sending it on day 7 isn't enough.

Single Touch Payroll

Payroll has to be reported to the ATO each pay run through STP-enabled software.

GST & BAS

Once turnover hits $75,000 you must register for GST. Accounting software tracks GST and helps you lodge your BAS.

Bank feeds

Automatic bank feeds and reconciliation save hours each month and cut errors.

Receipts on the go

Snap receipts and bills on your phone so expenses land in the right place.

Cash flow at a glance

Higher plans add cash-flow forecasts and multi-currency for growing businesses.

Our picks, by who they suit best

Xero suits most small businesses doing their own books. Employment Hero is worth a look once HR, rostering and onboarding become a headache.

Side-by-side comparison

The numbers that matter, with sources. Prices change often, so treat them as a guide and confirm at checkout.

Xero planPrice/monthPeople paidKey limits & extrasBest for
Ignite$37120 invoices and 5 bills a monthSole traders starting out
Grow$782Unlimited invoices and billsSmall service businesses
Comprehensive$1075Multi-currency, 90-day cash-flow forecastGrowing teams, importers
Ultimate 10 / 20$143 / $18010 / 20Projects, KPIs, longer forecastsEstablished SMEs
Ultimate 50 / 100$250 / $30050 / 100As aboveLarger payrolls
Xero AU standard prices incl. GST after the 1 July 2026 change. Sources: xero.com/au/pricing-plans and australiansmallbusiness.com.au, checked 14 Nov 2026.

Read the full buying guide โ†’

Honest pros and cons

Including the stuff the ads leave out, taken from owner reviews and our research.

Xero

๐Ÿ‘ What we like

  • Very strong bank feeds and reconciliation
  • Payroll included on every plan
  • Huge ecosystem of apps and Aussie accountants

๐Ÿ‘Ž Watch out for

  • Prices rose on 1 July 2026
  • ProductReview reviewers report limited live support
  • Ignite caps invoices and bills each month

Employment Hero

๐Ÿ‘ What we like

  • HR, onboarding and payroll in one place
  • Rated 4.4/5 on Capterra AU
  • Built around Australian awards

๐Ÿ‘Ž Watch out for

  • Monthly minimum spend (reported $100)
  • More than a sole trader needs
  • Pricing depends on modules, so get a quote
Free tool

Xero plan picker + Payday Super due-date checker

Answer three questions to see which Xero plan fits and what your first year costs. Then check exactly when super must land for any payday.

Open the plan picker โ†’

How to choose in 3 steps

Count people paid

Payroll limits are the main thing separating Xero plans.

Check invoice volume

Under 20 invoices and 5 bills a month? Ignite may be enough.

Think a year ahead

Hiring soon or importing? Pick the plan you will need, not the cheapest today.

Free ยท No spam

Get the Payday Super checklist

A simple checklist to make sure your super lands on time, plus tips for setting up payroll in Xero.

We'll only email you about this topic. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.

Quick answers

How much does Xero cost in Australia?
Ignite $37, Grow $78 and Comprehensive $107 a month, with Ultimate plans from $143 (incl. GST, from 1 July 2026). New customers can get 80% off the base plan for the first 3 months.
What is Payday Super?
Since 1 July 2026, employers must make sure each employee's super is received by their fund within 7 business days after payday. Before this, super was paid quarterly (ATO).
Do I need payroll software as a sole trader?
If you pay no employees, you may not need payroll. Accounting software still helps with invoicing, GST and BAS.
Can I switch from MYOB or QuickBooks?
Yes. Most platforms offer conversion tools or partners. Ask your accountant to help migrate your history.

See all 6 questions โ†’

Sources & how we checked

We checked prices, ratings and rules on 14 Nov 2026 using the sources below. We summarise reviews; we never write or edit them.

  1. Xero AU pricing plans
  2. ASBG: Xero pricing Australia 2026
  3. ATO: Payday Super payment deadlines
  4. ProductReview: Xero
  5. Capterra AU: Employment Hero
  6. MerchantCompare: Employment Hero pricing