Country guide · NZ prices checked on official pages, 19 October 2026
Best Accounting Software in New Zealand 2026: Xero vs MYOB vs Hnry
Disclosure: The Xero button in this guide is an affiliate link (marked “partner link”). If you click through and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We don’t have affiliate relationships with MYOB or Hnry. Learn more.
Quick answer
New Zealand is a three-way choice. Xero is the most complete: every plan tracks and files GST, payroll is included from Grow, and there are no per-user fees. MYOB is the budget pick for businesses with staff: Lite is NZ$315 a year, and payroll costs NZ$3 a month per employee. Hnry isn’t software you run yourself. It’s an accounting service for sole traders that charges 1% + GST of self-employed income, capped at NZ$1,500 + GST a year. QuickBooks and Zoho Books don’t have NZ editions.
Prices exclude GST and come from each provider’s official New Zealand page (19 October 2026). We haven’t run hands-on tests, so there are no star ratings here. For other countries, compare small business accounting software by country.
NZ options at a glance
| Option | Price (excl. GST) | GST | Payroll | Offer when checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Ignite $37 · Grow $89 · Comprehensive $117 · Ultimate $135 a month | Track and file GST returns on every plan | Optional on Ignite ($4/person); included for 1 / 5 / 10 people on Grow / Comprehensive / Ultimate | 80% off for 3 months, or one month free |
| MYOB | Lite $315/yr · Pro $585/yr · AccountRight Plus $100/mo · Premier $120/mo | Track GST and lodge reports with IR | $3/month per employee (up to 2 on Lite) | 50% off the first year on Lite and Pro; 14-day trial |
| Hnry | 1% of self-employed income, capped at $1,500/yr | Handled as part of the service | Not for employers (sole traders) | No subscription, no card required |
Xero: best all-rounder
Xero is built for New Zealand: every plan tracks and files GST returns, and there are no per-user licence fees. Ignite (NZ$37) allows 20 invoices and 5 bills, with payroll as an optional extra at NZ$4 per person. Grow (NZ$89) removes the caps and includes payroll for 1 person, expense claims for 1 user, and JAX auto-categorisation of bank transactions. Comprehensive (NZ$117) adds payroll for 5 people, multiple currencies and budgets. Ultimate (NZ$135) covers 10 people, with project tracking and KPI analysis.
Extra payroll people cost NZ$4 a month (NZ$2 on Ultimate), and auto-reconcile is an NZ$8 option on Ignite. Trade-offs: Ignite’s caps are tight, and Grow is a big jump in price. See our Xero review.
See Xero’s NZ offer (partner link, opens in a new tab)
MYOB: best value with staff
MYOB’s two cloud plans are sold yearly. Lite (NZ$315 a year) covers unlimited invoices and quotes, up to 2 connected bank accounts, and payroll for up to 2 employees. Pro (NZ$585 a year) adds unlimited bank accounts, receipt capture and payroll for unlimited employees. Payroll costs NZ$3 a month + GST per employee on every plan, and includes automated payday filing and PAYE and KiwiSaver calculations. AccountRight Plus (NZ$100 a month) adds unlimited inventory and priority support. Premier (NZ$120) adds multiple currencies and a second business.
Trade-offs: full inventory management (unlimited inventory and stocktakes) starts on AccountRight Plus, and multi-currency needs Premier. More on MYOB in our Australia guide and Xero alternatives.
Hnry: for sole traders who want it done for them
Hnry works differently. Instead of a subscription, it takes 1% + GST from every payment into your Hnry account, capped at NZ$1,500 + GST a year. Hnry says that covers the software and its accounting service: taxes calculated and filed, expense management, and support from its sole-trader accountants. If you’re not earning, you don’t pay.
Our calculation: the cap is reached at NZ$150,000 of self-employed income. Below that, you pay 1%, so NZ$600 + GST a year on NZ$60,000. That’s more than MYOB Lite or Xero Ignite, but it includes an accountant, which the software plans don’t. Hnry is for sole traders, not businesses with employees.
What it costs: three examples
| Situation | Xero | MYOB | Hnry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, NZ$60k income, low volume | Ignite: NZ$444/yr | Lite: NZ$315/yr | NZ$600/yr, accountant included |
| Business with 3 employees | Grow + 2 extra people: NZ$97/mo (NZ$1,164/yr) | Pro + 3 employees: NZ$693/yr | Not suited |
| Needs multiple currencies | Comprehensive: NZ$117/mo | Premier: NZ$120/mo | — |
Our calculations from regular list prices, excluding GST and first-year discounts. MYOB Pro: NZ$585 + (3 × NZ$3 × 12). Xero Grow: NZ$89 + (2 × NZ$4), since 1 person is included.
QuickBooks, Zoho Books and FreshBooks in NZ
None of these three has a New Zealand edition. Intuit’s NZ address returns a “page not found”, so Kiwi businesses would use QuickBooks’ global plans, billed in USD (from US$21 a month). Zoho Books’ Global edition (from US$12 a month, with a free plan) doesn’t include localised tax features. FreshBooks doesn’t list NZD pricing. In practice, that means no built-in GST filing with IR, which is why we focus on Xero and MYOB here. See Zoho Books and QuickBooks reviews for their global plans.
Which one should you choose?
- Sole trader who wants taxes handled: Hnry.
- Sole trader who wants cheap DIY software: MYOB Lite (NZ$315 a year), or Xero Ignite if your accountant uses Xero.
- Small business with employees: MYOB Pro is cheapest, and Xero Grow or Comprehensive if you want payroll bundled with no per-user fees.
- Imports, exports or foreign-currency clients: Xero Comprehensive or MYOB Premier.
Weighing up more factors? Use our how to choose accounting software checklist, or compare Australian options if you trade across the Tasman.
FAQ
Which accounting software is made for New Zealand?
Xero and MYOB both sell dedicated NZ plans that handle GST and payroll. Hnry is an NZ accounting service for sole traders who want their taxes handled rather than doing the books themselves.
How much does Xero cost in NZ?
Xero NZ costs NZ$37 (Ignite), NZ$89 (Grow), NZ$117 (Comprehensive) or NZ$135 (Ultimate) a month, excluding GST. When we checked, new customers could get 80% off for 3 months or one month free.
Is MYOB cheaper than Xero in NZ?
Usually, yes. MYOB Lite is NZ$315 a year and Pro NZ$585 a year (excl. GST), against Xero Ignite at NZ$444 a year. With staff, MYOB payroll is NZ$3 per employee a month, while Xero bundles payroll into Grow (NZ$89 a month) and above.
Does QuickBooks work in New Zealand?
There’s no QuickBooks New Zealand edition. Businesses in NZ would use QuickBooks’ global plans, billed in USD, which don’t include NZ GST filing.
