Quick answer
For most Australian sole traders under $50,000 in revenue, Zoho Books Free ($0, with GST and BAS) is the cheapest start. For paid plans, MYOB Solo costs $99 a year, Reckon One Accounting Plus lists at $27 a month, and Xero Ignite is $37. Prices checked 11 November 2026.
How we compared: every price and plan limit on this page was read from the vendor’s own Australian pricing page on 11 November 2026. We have not run hands-on tests of these products for this article, so we do not describe how they feel to use. Rules come from the ATO. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. See our editorial policy.
Which accounting software is best for an Australian sole trader?
It depends on three things: whether you are registered for GST, how many invoices you send, and whether you pay anyone. Here is the shortlist by situation. Monthly prices are what each vendor lists after its intro offer ends.
| Best for | Software | From (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Free, revenue under A$50,000 | Zoho Books Free | $0 |
| Lowest paid price with BAS reporting | Reckon One Accounting Plus | $27 listed ($2.70 for the first 6 months) |
| Phone-only invoicing | MYOB Solo | $99 a year after first-year offer |
| Tax handled for you | Hnry | 1% of income plus GST, capped at $1,500 plus GST a year |
| Entry plan with BAS lodgement, billed yearly | MYOB Business Lite | $26.25 ($315 a year) |
| Entry plan with BAS lodgement, monthly | QuickBooks Simple Start | $35.99 |
| Entry plan with BAS lodgement, monthly | Xero Ignite | $37 |
If you outgrow an entry plan, the next steps are Xero Grow at $78 a month, QuickBooks Essentials at $66 and MYOB Business Pro at $70. We compare those in our small business roundup.
How much does each option cost for a year?
List price per year, after any intro discount ends. Xero and QuickBooks bill monthly, so we multiplied by 12. MYOB shows yearly pricing for Solo and Lite.
| Plan | Per month | Per year | Users / main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books Free | $0 | $0 | 1 user plus 1 accountant, revenue under A$50,000, up to 1,000 invoices a year |
| Reckon One Accounting Plus | $27 (listed) | $324 | Unlimited users, GST tracking and BAS reporting |
| Hnry | 1% of income | $400 on $40,000 of income | Capped at $1,500 a year, plus GST |
| MYOB Solo | n/a (yearly plan) | $99 | 1 user, phone app only, up to 2 bank accounts |
| MYOB Business Lite | n/a (yearly plan) | $315 | Up to 2 bank accounts, payroll is an add-on |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | $35.99 | $431.88 | 1 user |
| Xero Ignite | $37 | $444 | Up to 20 invoices a month, 5 bills, payroll for 1 person |
| QuickBooks Essentials | $66 | $792 | 3 users |
| Xero Grow | $78 | $936 | Payroll for 2 people |
New customers can pay far less at first. Xero’s page offers 80% off for the first 3 months (Ignite $7.40, Grow $15.60) and a one-month-free option. QuickBooks’ page shows 70% off for 6 months, which takes Simple Start to $10.80 a month, and a 30-day free trial. MYOB advertises a discounted first year on Solo and Lite. These offers change, so check the terms at sign-up.
Which one should you pick?
- You send a few invoices a month and are not GST-registered: MYOB Solo is the lowest cost. It is a phone-app product for one user, with unlimited quotes and invoices and GST tracking.
- You are GST-registered and want to lodge BAS in the software: compare MYOB Business Lite, QuickBooks Simple Start and Xero Ignite. All three list BAS lodgement on their pages.
- You send more than 20 invoices a month: Xero Ignite is capped at 20, so look at Xero Grow or one of the other two.
- You will hire soon: payroll works differently on each. Xero includes payroll for a set number of people per plan (1 on Ignite, 2 on Grow). MYOB charges $5 a month per employee as an add-on. QuickBooks adds payroll as a separate step at checkout.
Do you need to be registered for GST?
The ATO says a business must register for GST when its GST turnover is $75,000 or more, and taxi or ride-sourcing drivers must register regardless of turnover. Below that, registration is optional. This matters for software because BAS lodgement is only useful once you are registered.
What must your invoices include?
For a GST-registered business, the ATO’s tax invoice rules (page updated 18 September 2026) say a sale of $82.50 or more needs enough information to show: that it is a tax invoice, your identity, your ABN, the date, a brief description with quantity and price, the GST amount (or the statement “Total price includes GST” when GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total), and the extent to which each sale is taxable. Sales of $1,000 or more also need the buyer’s identity or ABN. Good software fills these in for you, but you are responsible for checking them.
Do you need payroll or Single Touch Payroll?
If you pay employees, you report through Single Touch Payroll and need software that supports it. If you work alone, you probably do not need a payroll add-on yet. Check the ATO page for your situation.
Is there free accounting software for Australian sole traders?
Yes, with limits. Zoho Books has a Free plan that its Australian page says is for businesses with revenue under A$50,000 a year. It lists GST tracking and BAS generation, one user plus one accountant, and up to 1,000 invoices a year, and add-ons are not supported on it. If you pass A$50,000 or need more users, the next plan is Standard at A$16.50 a month billed annually, which lists 3 users and up to 5,000 invoices. Zoho lists a 14-day free trial for paid plans. Ask your accountant or bookkeeper which tool they work in before you choose.
What does Reckon One cost?
Reckon One lists three plans on its Australian pricing page: Accounting Plus at $27 a month, Accounting Premium at $50 and Ultimate at $92. It shows promotional prices of $2.70, $5 and $9.20 a month for the first 6 months, and says the offer expires on 30 November 2026 unless withdrawn earlier. All plans include unlimited users, GST tracking and BAS reporting, invoicing, bank connections and phone and chat support, with a 30-day free trial. Plus has no timesheets, projects or inventory. Payroll is an optional add-on on Plus and Premium (the price was not shown) and is included in Ultimate. Reckon also says the regular rate “may differ from the RRP today”, so confirm the post-offer price before you commit.
How does Hnry compare, and what does it cost?
Hnry is not accounting software in the usual sense. It charges 1% plus GST of every payment into your Hnry account, capped at $1,500 plus GST a year, and its page says it handles tax payments and lodgments, expenses and invoicing, with support from its sole trader accountants. Payments under $50 carry a minimum fee of $0.50 plus GST, and there is no subscription or fee to leave. The fee on $40,000 of income is $400 plus GST, on $100,000 it is $1,000, and from $150,000 it stops rising at $1,500 (all plus GST). Xero Ignite costs $444 a year at list price, so Hnry costs more once your income passes about $44,400. Whether that is worth it depends on how much you value having tax handled for you. Hnry’s pricing page does not spell out GST or BAS handling, so ask before you rely on it for that.
What about FreshBooks?
FreshBooks’ Australian pricing page lists Lite, Plus and Premium, limited by the number of billable clients (5, 50 or unlimited), with promotional prices of $14.50, $21.50 and $30 a month for 3 months against listed $29, $43 and $60, and a 30-day free trial. We could not find GST or BAS lodgement on that page, so we do not recommend it for a GST-registered Australian business unless FreshBooks confirms its Australian GST support.
What does the first year really cost?
Intro offers make the headline price misleading, because they end. Here is the first year with the offer, and the second year at list price. Always compare the second-year figure, since that is what you will pay for as long as you stay.
| Plan | Offer shown on the vendor’s page | First year | Year two (list price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero Ignite | 80% off the first 3 months ($7.40) | $355.20 | $444 |
| QuickBooks Simple Start, paid monthly | 70% off for 6 months ($10.80) | $280.74 | $431.88 |
| QuickBooks Simple Start, paid yearly | 50% off for 12 months | $194 | $387.99 |
| MYOB Solo | Discounted first year (amount varies) | Check MYOB’s page | $99 |
| MYOB Business Lite | Discounted first year (amount varies) | Check MYOB’s page | $315 |
One detail worth knowing: QuickBooks’ own page shows a yearly option at $387.99 a year after the offer, against $431.88 if you pay $35.99 a month for twelve months. That is $43.89 less for the same plan, if you are happy to pay upfront.
What does each entry plan include?
This is the short version, taken from each vendor’s own page. Features and limits change, so use it to shortlist, not to decide.
| MYOB Solo | MYOB Business Lite | QuickBooks Simple Start | Xero Ignite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices and quotes | Unlimited quotes and invoices | Invoices and quotes | Invoicing and payments | Invoices and quotes, up to 20 invoices a month |
| GST and BAS | GST tracking (BAS not mentioned) | Track GST and lodge BAS | GST tracking and e-lodge BAS | Track GST and lodge BAS |
| Bank accounts | Up to 2 existing accounts | Up to 2 existing accounts | Automated bank feeds | Reconcile bank transactions |
| Payroll | Not included | Add-on for up to 2 employees, +$5 a month each | Separate step at checkout | Payroll for 1 person |
| How you use it | Phone app only, 1 user | Web and MYOB Assist app | 1 user | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Trial | None listed | None listed | 30-day free trial | One-month-free option |
| Billing | Yearly price shown | Yearly price shown | Monthly or yearly | Monthly (no annual option shown) |
Three sole trader examples
1. A tradie under the GST threshold, about 10 invoices a month, no staff. You are not registered for GST, so you do not need GST tracking until you register. MYOB Solo at $99 a year is the lowest cost, and it already handles unlimited quotes and invoices from your phone. If you want a web version, MYOB Business Lite is $315 a year. Make sure every invoice still shows your ABN.
2. A GST-registered consultant, about 15 invoices a month. You need BAS lodgement, and 15 invoices sits under Xero Ignite’s 20-invoice cap. Your yearly options at list price: MYOB Business Lite $315, QuickBooks Simple Start $387.99 paid yearly, or $431.88 paid monthly, and Xero Ignite $444.
3. A growing business with 25 invoices a month and one part-time employee. Ignite stops at 20 invoices, so Xero means Grow at $78 a month ($936 a year, with payroll for 2 people). MYOB Business Lite with one employee on the payroll add-on is $26.25 plus $5, about $31.25 a month ($375 a year). QuickBooks Essentials is $66 a month, with payroll priced separately at checkout. The gap is large, so run the numbers for your own situation.
What should you check before you subscribe?
- Use the trial properly. QuickBooks lists a 30-day free trial and Xero a one-month-free option. Create a real invoice and a real expense, not a demo.
- Check your invoice against the ATO’s list. Compare the output with the fields in the section above. If your ABN or the GST line is missing, fix it before you send anything to a customer.
- Connect your actual bank. Entry plans limit how you connect accounts, so confirm yours is supported.
- Write down the renewal price. Set a reminder before the intro offer ends so the higher price does not catch you out.
- Check how you get your data out. You want to be able to take your records with you if you switch.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free accounting software for Australian sole traders?
Yes, with limits. Zoho Books’ Free plan is for businesses with revenue under A$50,000 a year and lists GST tracking, BAS generation, one user plus one accountant, and up to 1,000 invoices a year. Paid options start at $99 a year for MYOB Solo or $26.25 a month for MYOB Business Lite.
Do I need accounting software if I’m not registered for GST?
No law says you must use software. You still need to keep records and issue valid invoices. Software saves time on invoices, receipts and tax-time reports. If you are not registered for GST, a cheaper tool that only tracks income and expenses may be enough.
Which plan lets me lodge BAS from the software?
On the pages we checked, MYOB Business Lite, QuickBooks Simple Start and Xero Ignite all list GST tracking and BAS lodgement. MYOB Solo lists GST tracking but its page does not mention BAS lodgement. Confirm the current feature list on the vendor’s page before you buy.
How many invoices can I send on Xero Ignite?
Xero’s Ignite page says the plan covers up to 20 invoices a month and points to Grow for more than that. Ignite also lets you enter 5 bills. If you send more than 20 invoices or enter more bills each month, price Grow at $78 a month instead.
When must a sole trader register for GST?
The ATO says a business must register when its GST turnover is $75,000 or more. Taxi and ride-sourcing drivers must register regardless of turnover. Below the threshold, registering is optional, and if you register you generally stay registered for at least 12 months. Check the ATO page for your case.
Is Hnry cheaper than accounting software?
Hnry charges 1% plus GST of income paid into its account, capped at $1,500 plus GST a year, and handles tax payments and lodgments for you. Xero Ignite costs $444 a year at list price, so Hnry is cheaper only below about $44,400 of income. Compare on how much work you want handled.
How much does Reckon One cost for a sole trader?
Reckon One’s Australian page lists Accounting Plus at $27 a month and a promotional $2.70 for the first 6 months. All plans include GST tracking and BAS reporting and a 30-day free trial. Check the post-offer price before you commit, because Reckon says the regular rate may differ from today’s listed price.
Update log: 11 November 2026. Prices and plan limits rechecked against each vendor’s Australian pages and the ATO’s tax invoice rules. Next check: December 2026.
Sources: Xero Australia pricing, QuickBooks Australia pricing, MYOB Australia pricing, ATO: registering for GST, ATO: tax invoices. Prices checked 11 November 2026.