SME Software Infographic

Competition for Australia’s small accounting businesses is heating up, as eight different software accounting packages by seven different opponents duke it out for the top spot. But with so many different features and an ever-changing market, it can be difficult for companies to choose the right one. Read on to see the positives and negatives of each system, and find out which ones are dominating today.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • +

    • Easiest to use and most innovative
    • Leader among micro and small businesses (1-20 staff)

  • -

    • Still missing a basic inventory
    • Can handle only a limited number of transactions (around 1000 a month)

  • +

    • Handles much higher number of transactions than Xero
    • Automatically adjusts PayPal fees for e-tailers

  • -

    • Smaller third-party program ecosystem than Xero

  • +

    • Steady performer from a well-known brand
    • Recently added optical character recognition of bills and invoices

  • -

    • Bank rules for transactions not as easy to set up as Xero

  • +

    • Most customisable dashboard
    • Most powerful mobile app

  • -

    • Slow development - still waiting on advanced features for most of its modules

  • +

    • Runs many parts of your business from one database
    • Cost comparable to Xero

  • -

    • Interface not as easy to use as dedicated small business apps

  • +

    • Powerful program that can handle complex inventory

  • -

    • Only just launched, so few partners likely to know how to implement it

  • +

    • User-driven interface simplifies accounting for business owners

  • -

    • Difficult to compete with established players

  • +

    • Strong interface
    • "Money bar" keeps business focused on cash flow

  • -

    • Small ecosystem of apps


1 Xero includes Xero cashbook and Xero Ledger in total.

2 [operates in AU/NZ only] AccountRight is a desktop program that saves its data file to the cloud.

3 Saasu doesn't reveal customer numbers anymore

4 Users not businesses

Reckon One No user information reported

                                                    Related links: Learn more about the SME Software brawl 
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