If you've been using MYOB Essentials or MYOB AccountRight, you've probably noticed that MYOB's product lineup looks different from what it did a few years ago. Both products have been retired for new customers and replaced by a single platform: MYOB Business.
For existing users, the transition has been gradual and mostly invisible. Your current software still works. Your data is intact. But if you're setting up a new business, outgrowing your current plan, or wondering whether this is the right time to switch to Xero, you need to understand what MYOB Business actually is, what it costs, and whether it's still the right choice for your business.
This guide covers the full picture: what changed, which MYOB Business plan suits which type of business, current pricing, what existing users need to do (if anything), and an honest comparison with Xero so you can make an informed decision.
MYOB has been a fixture of Australian small business accounting for over 30 years. During that time, the product range evolved from desktop-only software to a split offering: MYOB Essentials (a simpler, cloud-based option for smaller businesses) and MYOB AccountRight (a more powerful platform with desktop and online capability for larger or more complex operations).
The problem with maintaining two separate products was fragmentation. Businesses that started on Essentials and grew past its capabilities had to migrate to AccountRight, which meant learning a different interface, transferring data, and essentially starting over with a new program. It was a pain point that pushed many growing businesses toward Xero instead.
MYOB's solution was to consolidate both products into a single platform: MYOB Business. New customers can no longer purchase Essentials or AccountRight as standalone products. Instead, they choose from a range of MYOB Business plans that scale from sole trader basics up to multi-currency, multi-location complexity.
The promise is straightforward: one platform that grows with your business, so you never have to migrate between MYOB products again. Your financial history stays in one place regardless of which plan you're on.
MYOB Business offers five plans. Current pricing (as at March 2026, subject to change and promotional discounts):
Solo by MYOB is a mobile-only app for sole traders and freelancers. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, basic reporting, and Tap to Pay. It's limited to one user and doesn't support payroll, quotes, or migration to other MYOB plans. Pricing is approximately $11 per month.
MYOB Business Lite is the entry-level web-based plan for small businesses. It includes invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, GST tracking, basic reporting, and job tracking. It supports unlimited users (with access controls) and integrates with your accountant or bookkeeper's software. Pricing starts from approximately $34 per month, though promotional rates are often lower for the first few months.
MYOB Business Pro adds payroll (including STP Phase 2 compliance), inventory management, time billing, and more advanced reporting. It's designed for businesses with employees who need a complete accounting and payroll solution. Pricing starts from approximately $63 per month.
MYOB Business AccountRight Plus retains the desktop-and-online hybrid capability from the old AccountRight product. It's for businesses that need offline access, advanced inventory, budgeting, time billing, and more complex reporting. Pricing starts from approximately $150 per month.
MYOB Business AccountRight Premier adds multi-currency support, multi-location tracking, and the ability to manage multiple businesses from one account. It's the most comprehensive plan. Pricing starts from approximately $195 per month.
There's also a standalone Payroll Only plan at approximately $12 per month for businesses that only need payroll processing without the full accounting suite.
The pricing gap between plans is significant. A sole trader on Solo pays $11 per month. A complex business on AccountRight Premier pays $195 per month. The key question for most SMEs is whether the features in the higher tiers justify the cost, or whether a different platform (particularly Xero) offers better value at the same price point.
If you're currently using MYOB Essentials or MYOB AccountRight, the immediate impact is minimal.
Your existing subscription continues to work as it always has. You can still upgrade or downgrade within your current product line. Your data, settings, and integrations remain unchanged.
The practical changes are:
You cannot purchase MYOB Essentials or AccountRight for a new business. Any new entity you set up needs to go on the MYOB Business platform. If you run multiple businesses and one is on Essentials while another needs to be on MYOB Business, you'll be managing two different interfaces.
If your business outgrows MYOB Essentials, your upgrade path now goes through MYOB Business rather than to AccountRight. The good news is that MYOB Business is designed to handle this transition more smoothly than the old Essentials-to-AccountRight migration. The bad news is that there may still be data migration steps depending on your setup.
If you're on AccountRight and happy with it, there's no urgency to change. MYOB has indicated continued investment in the AccountRight Plus and Premier tiers within the MYOB Business framework.
This is the question most Australian SME owners are really asking. MYOB and Xero are the two dominant accounting platforms in Australia, and the choice between them affects everything from daily bookkeeping efficiency to how easily your accountant or bookkeeper can work with your data.
Here's an honest comparison based on what matters to most small business owners.
Xero has consistently been praised for its clean, intuitive interface. It's designed for business owners who aren't accountants, with a dashboard that makes bank reconciliation, invoicing, and reporting accessible without training.
MYOB Business has improved significantly from the old Essentials interface. It now has the more polished look of AccountRight with cloud-first design. However, some workflows (particularly around payroll and inventory) have more steps than their Xero equivalents.
If ease of use is your primary concern, Xero generally has the edge for business owners doing their own bookkeeping. If you have a dedicated bookkeeper or finance team, the interface differences matter less.
MYOB has traditionally been strong on payroll, particularly for Australian businesses with complex award structures. MYOB's payroll handles STP Phase 2 reporting, leave calculations, super processing, and time billing natively.
Xero's payroll is functional and has improved substantially, but some bookkeepers find MYOB's payroll more intuitive for award interpretation and complex pay runs. For businesses with straightforward payroll (salaried employees, standard super), both platforms handle the job well.
With Payday Super coming in July 2026, the payroll capability of your chosen platform becomes more important. Both MYOB and Xero have announced Payday Super readiness, but it's worth confirming with your provider that same-cycle super processing is fully supported before the deadline.
Xero has a significantly larger app marketplace. If you use third-party tools for inventory, project management, CRM, or ecommerce, Xero's integration options are broader. This matters if your business relies on tools like Shopify, HubSpot, Stripe, or industry-specific software.
MYOB has a growing integration ecosystem but it's smaller than Xero's. If your business is primarily accounting, invoicing, and payroll without heavy third-party integrations, MYOB's native features may be sufficient.
In Australia, Xero has the larger share of accountant and bookkeeper users. Xero claims over 100,000 accounting and bookkeeping partners globally, with a strong Australian presence. This means if you switch accountants or bookkeepers, the next one is more likely to be proficient in Xero than MYOB.
That said, MYOB remains well-supported among Australian accounting professionals. The difference is more about the breadth of choice than about capability.
For a business needing invoicing, bank reconciliation, GST, and basic reporting (no payroll), Xero's Starter plan is $29 per month. MYOB Business Lite is approximately $34 per month.
For a business needing payroll, Xero's Standard plan is $47 per month. MYOB Business Pro is approximately $63 per month.
For more complex needs, Xero's Premium plan is $70 per month (includes multi-currency). MYOB Business AccountRight Plus is $150 per month, and AccountRight Premier (with multi-currency) is $195 per month.
At the basic and mid-tier levels, Xero is generally cheaper. At the complex end, MYOB's AccountRight tiers offer capabilities (particularly offline access and certain inventory features) that Xero doesn't match, but at a significantly higher price.
For most Australian SMEs with straightforward accounting needs and a preference for a large integration ecosystem, Xero offers better value and a more widely supported platform.
For businesses with complex payroll requirements, those needing offline access, or those with existing MYOB setups where the cost of migration outweighs the benefit, MYOB Business remains a strong choice.
If you're starting from scratch and don't have a strong reason to choose MYOB, Xero is the safer bet for most small businesses in 2026. If you're already on MYOB and it's working well, switching purely for the sake of switching rarely makes sense.
Stay on MYOB if: your current setup works, your bookkeeper or accountant is proficient in MYOB, your payroll is complex and well-configured, and you don't need integrations that MYOB doesn't support.
Consider migrating to Xero if: you're setting up a new business and want the largest ecosystem, your bookkeeper or accountant recommends it, you're on MYOB Essentials and finding it limiting (rather than upgrading within MYOB), or you need integrations that are only available on Xero.
Consider migrating to MYOB Business if: you're on an older MYOB product and need to modernise, you want to keep your MYOB data history intact while accessing newer features, or you need the desktop/offline capability that AccountRight Plus offers.
Migration between accounting platforms is never trivial. It involves data transfer, chart of accounts mapping, bank feed setup, integration reconfiguration, and a reconciliation period where both systems run in parallel. Budget 2 to 4 weeks for a clean migration with professional support.
If you're considering a switch, our bookkeeping team can assess your current setup and advise on the most cost-effective path. We work across both Xero and MYOB and can manage the migration without disrupting your operations.
If you're starting a new business on MYOB Business, here are the essentials to get right from day one.
Choose the right plan. Don't overbuy features you won't use. If you're a sole trader with no employees, Solo or Lite is sufficient. If you have employees, you need Pro at minimum. Only consider AccountRight Plus or Premier if you need offline access, advanced inventory, or multi-currency.
Set up your chart of accounts correctly. MYOB provides default chart of accounts templates, but these rarely match your actual business structure. Customise your chart of accounts before you start entering transactions. Getting this right at the start prevents months of recoding later. For guidance, see our chart of accounts setup guide.
Connect your bank feeds immediately. MYOB Business supports direct bank feeds from most Australian banks. Set these up on day one so transactions flow in automatically. Manual data entry is the biggest time sink in bookkeeping and the most common source of errors.
Configure your GST settings. Make sure your BAS reporting method (cash or accrual), GST registration status, and default tax codes are set correctly. Getting this wrong creates GST errors that compound every quarter and are painful to unwind at BAS time. Use our simplified BAS calculator to estimate your first quarter's obligation.
Set up payroll before your first pay run. If you have employees, configure payroll details (awards, pay rates, leave entitlements, super funds, STP, and STSL withholding for employees with study loans) before running your first pay. Fixing payroll errors after the fact is significantly more time-consuming than getting it right initially.
Invite your accountant or bookkeeper. MYOB Business allows you to share access with your advisor at no extra cost. Set up their access with appropriate permissions from day one so they can review your work, assist with BAS, and catch errors early.
Can I still use MYOB Essentials?
If you're an existing MYOB Essentials customer, yes. Your subscription continues to work as it always has. However, MYOB Essentials is no longer available for new customers. Any new business you set up will need to use the MYOB Business platform.
What happened to MYOB AccountRight?
AccountRight's functionality has been incorporated into MYOB Business as the AccountRight Plus and AccountRight Premier plans. Existing AccountRight users can continue using their current subscription. New customers purchase the equivalent MYOB Business plan.
How much does MYOB Business cost?
MYOB Business plans range from approximately $11 per month (Solo) to $195 per month (AccountRight Premier). The most commonly used plans for small businesses are Lite (approximately $34 per month) and Pro (approximately $63 per month). Promotional pricing is frequently available for the first few months. Current pricing is available at myob.com/au/pricing.
Is MYOB or Xero better for Australian small businesses?
Both are capable platforms. Xero generally offers better value at the basic and mid-tier levels, has a larger integration ecosystem, and is more widely used among Australian accountants and bookkeepers. MYOB is stronger for complex payroll, offers offline capability through AccountRight, and may be the better choice for businesses with existing MYOB data they want to preserve. The right choice depends on your specific needs, your accountant's preference, and whether you need integrations that favour one platform over the other.
Do I need to migrate from MYOB Essentials to MYOB Business?
Not immediately. Your existing MYOB Essentials subscription continues to work. However, if your business outgrows Essentials or if you set up a new business entity, the upgrade path goes through MYOB Business. Planning for an eventual transition is prudent, but there's no forced migration deadline for existing users.
Can MYOB Business handle Payday Super?
MYOB has announced Payday Super readiness across its Business plans. Confirm with MYOB that your specific plan supports same-cycle super processing before the 1 July 2026 deadline. If you're on an older version of Essentials or AccountRight, you may need to update to access Payday Super features.
How long does it take to migrate from MYOB to Xero (or vice versa)?
A clean migration typically takes 2 to 4 weeks with professional support. This includes data transfer, chart of accounts mapping, bank feed setup, integration reconfiguration, and a reconciliation period. DIY migrations take longer and carry higher risk of data errors. Budget for some overlap where both systems run in parallel.
Does MYOB Business integrate with my other software?
MYOB Business has a growing app marketplace, though it's smaller than Xero's. Common integrations include payment processors, inventory management, point of sale, and CRM tools. Check the MYOB App Marketplace for your specific needs before committing. If your business relies heavily on third-party integrations, compare available options between MYOB and Xero before deciding.
Scale Suite delivers embedded finance and human resource services for ambitious Australian businesses. Our Sydney-based team integrates with your daily operations through a shared platform, working like part of your internal staff but with senior-level expertise. From complete bookkeeping to strategic CFO insights, we deliver better outcomes than a single hire, without the recruitment risk, training time, or full-time salary commitment.
We work across both Xero and MYOB and can help you choose, set up, or migrate between platforms. Drop the team a message or book a free 30-minute call.
We review and check articles periodically. At time of writing, all data and sources were current and accurate. MYOB Business pricing reflects publicly available information as at March 2026 and is subject to change. Xero pricing reflects publicly available plans for Australian users. This article is general information only and does not constitute financial or business advice. Scale Suite is a Xero Certified Advisor. We also support clients using MYOB.
Sources:
MYOB Business Plans and Pricing (myob.com/au/pricing); MYOB Community Introducing MYOB Business announcement; Xero Plans and Pricing (xero.com/au/pricing); Capterra MYOB Business reviews; GetApp MYOB Business Software overview 2026.
Scale Suite delivers embedded finance and human resource services for ambitious Australian businesses.Our Sydney-based team integrates with your daily operations through a shared platform, working like part of your internal staff but with senior-level expertise. From complete bookkeeping to strategic CFO insights, we deliver better outcomes than a single hire - without the recruitment risk, training time, or full-time salary commitment.
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