Xero
The accounting system most AU tradies end up on. How the free trial works, how much Xero really costs once you add payroll, and whether it's worth it.
Starting from
$35/mo
Free trial
30 days
Free plan
No
Overall rating
4.4/5 (3,200)
“Integrates with nearly everything and your accountant probably already uses it, just know the price keeps creeping up and support can be hard to reach.”
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Overview
Xero is the accounting layer that sits under most modern AU trade businesses. Built in New Zealand and deeply integrated into the Australian accounting ecosystem, it connects directly with Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus, Simpro, and most other job management platforms, invoices flow through automatically, payments reconcile, and BAS reports generate at quarter-end without manual effort. Most tradies start on the free trial, then work out how much Xero actually costs once payroll and add-ons stack onto the base plan.
Why it matters for tradies: The real value of Xero isn't in the accounting, it's in the automation. When your job management tool pushes invoices to Xero and Xero marks them paid when money hits your account, you've eliminated a full loop of manual entry. Your bookkeeper spends hours instead of days at BAS time.
AU-specific strengths: Xero has deep integration with the ATO (BAS lodgement, STP Phase 2 payroll reporting), Australian banks (bank feed connections), and AU accounting firms. If your accountant is in Australia, they almost certainly use or prefer Xero.
The platform's weakness is that it's an accounting tool, not a business management tool. It doesn't replace job management software, and some tradies make the mistake of trying to use it as their primary operational system.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Integrates with almost every job management tool used by AU tradies
- ✓Bank feeds and auto-reconciliation save hours of manual entry every week
- ✓BAS lodgement and STP payroll are built in, your ATO obligations are covered
- ✓Your accountant will thank you for using it
- ✓30-day free trial gives you real time to evaluate it
Watch out for
- ✕Customer support is primarily community-based, direct phone support is limited
- ✕Starter plan transaction limits are frustrating if you're busy
- ✕Inventory module is too basic for businesses with serious stock management needs
- ✕Price increases over the past few years have been noticeable
Best for
Every trade business that has an ABN, this should be in virtually every tradie's tech stack.
Not ideal for
Businesses that genuinely need desktop/server-based accounting (very rare); larger enterprises who need NetSuite-level ERP.
Key Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Ratings
3,200 reviews
Source: Capterra
Checked April 2026
Pricing
20 invoices, 5 bills/month
Unlimited invoices & bills
Unlimited + multi-currency
Prices are AUD per month, billed monthly. Payroll add-on is additional. Verify current pricing at xero.com/au/accounting-software/pricing.
Technical
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