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Xero vs MYOB vs Afirmo vs Hnry: which suits your NZ business?
Four ways to do the books in New Zealand, compared on NZ prices, GST and tax returns, payroll, ACC and who each one suits, from sole traders to growing teams.
The short answerXero and MYOB are accounting software: you keep the books and you or your accountant file the returns. Afirmo and Hnry also file your IRD returns for you. Hnry suits sole traders who want tax, GST and ACC paid as they earn, for 1% of income (capped at $1,500 + GST a year). Afirmo suits sole traders and small companies who want software and an accountant in one. Xero suits businesses with staff or growth plans, and MYOB has the cheapest entry plan.
At a glance
| Feature | Xero | MYOB | Afirmo | Hnry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Growing businesses with staff, or anyone whose accountant already uses Xero | Small businesses wanting a low-cost plan, or Windows desktop accounting | Sole traders and small companies wanting software and returns filed in one | Sole traders and contractors who want tax handled as they earn |
| Price | From $37 a month + GST (Ignite) | From $35 a month + GST (Business Lite) | From $70 a month + GST, 12-month term (Boost) | 1% of income + GST, capped at $1,500 + GST a year |
| What it is | Accounting software | Accounting software | Software plus an accountant who files your returns | An accounting service with its own business account |
| GST returns | You file, connected to IRD (all plans) | You lodge with IR (all plans) | Filed for you on GST plans (Rocket and up) | Calculated, paid and filed for you |
| Income tax return | You or your accountant | You or your accountant | One business return a year, filed for you | Filed for you |
| Payroll | Ignite: $4 per person. Grow, Comprehensive, Ultimate include 1, 5 or 10 people, then $2–$4 each | $3 per employee per month on every plan (Lite: up to 2) | Add-on: $10 per employee per month + $150 setup | Not offered |
| Payday filing and KiwiSaver | Automatic | Automatic | Not detailed on Afirmo's site | No payroll; KiwiSaver from your earnings via allocations |
| ACC levies | Not covered | Not covered | Not mentioned | Paid for you as you earn |
| Bank feeds | Yes (some direct feeds cost extra) | Lite: up to 2 accounts; Pro and up: unlimited | Linked bank accounts | No feeds: income is paid into your Hnry account |
| Inventory | Basic tracked items; apps for more | Up to 10 items on Lite and Pro; unlimited on AccountRight Plus | Not listed | Not offered |
| Contract | Monthly, cancel any time | Monthly or yearly, no lock-in | 12-month commitment | No subscription |
| Trial | No free trial; intro offers for new customers | 14-day free trial | 30-day trial | No trial: no income, no fee |
| Based | Global, since 2006 | Australia and NZ, since 1991 | NZ-based team | Wellington, since 2017 |
Prices and features checked on 7 November 2026 on each company's own website. They change, so check before you sign up.
Which should I pick?
You're a sole trader and you hate tax admin
Hnry
Income tax, GST, ACC and student loan come off each payment as it lands, and Hnry files your returns. It doesn't do payroll, so it's not for employers.
You want your own books, but someone else to file the returns
Afirmo
Software plus a registered tax agent filing your GST and income tax returns, for sole traders and small companies. It's a 12-month commitment, and payroll is an add-on.
You have staff, or you're planning to grow
Xero
Payroll is included for 1 to 10 people depending on plan, payday filing is automatic, and over 1,000 apps connect to it. Most NZ accountants know it well.
You want the cheapest software with payroll, or desktop accounting
MYOB
Business Lite is $35 a month + GST, payroll is $3 per employee, and AccountRight runs on Windows if you'd rather not be fully in the cloud.
The full comparison
These four aren't all the same kind of thing, and that's the first decision. Xero and MYOB are software: you keep the books, and you or your accountant file the returns. Afirmo and Hnry bundle in the accountant: they file your returns with Inland Revenue for you.
Software or service?
- Pick software (Xero or MYOB) if you like being in control of your numbers, you have staff, or you already have an accountant you trust.
- Pick a service (Afirmo or Hnry) if you'd rather not think about tax at all, and your business is simple: a sole trader, a contractor or a small company.
Hnry goes furthest. Your income is paid into a Hnry account, and Hnry takes out income tax, GST, ACC and student loan as each payment lands. There are no bank feeds or reconciliations, because the money comes straight through Hnry.
What does each cost a sole trader?
Here's what a GST-registered sole trader earning $80,000 a year might pay, before GST, on the regular price:
| Option | Plan | About a year | What's not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hnry | 1% of income | $800 | Nothing extra for a simple sole trader |
| MYOB | Business Lite, monthly | $420 | Your accountant's fee for the tax return |
| Afirmo | Rocket (GST-registered sole traders) | $1,080 | Extra returns or advice |
| Xero | Grow | $1,068 | Your accountant's fee for the tax return |
The software options look cheaper until you add an accountant to do your income tax return. Hnry's fee keeps rising with income until it caps at $1,500 + GST, at $150,000 a year. Intro offers come and go, so check the vendor's page on the day.
What if I have staff?
That rules Hnry out: it doesn't run payroll.
- Xero includes payroll for 1 person on Grow, 5 on Comprehensive and 10 on Ultimate, with automatic payday filing and KiwiSaver. Extra staff cost $2–$4 each a month.
- MYOB charges $3 per employee per month on every plan, also with automatic payday filing, PAYE and KiwiSaver. Lite is limited to 2 employees.
- Afirmo has payroll as a $10 per employee per month add-on, plus a $150 setup fee.
Check what a wage costs after tax with our PAYE calculator.
GST and tax returns
All four handle GST. The difference is who presses submit.
- Xero and MYOB connect to Inland Revenue so you can file GST returns from the software. Your income tax return is usually your accountant's job.
- Afirmo files GST returns on its GST plans (up to 2, 6 or 12 a year depending on plan) and one business income tax return a year, as your registered tax agent.
- Hnry files your returns whenever they're due.
Not sure if you need to register for GST? Read Do I need to register for GST? Still deciding between sole trader and company? See Sole trader or company?
Switching later
You're not stuck. Afirmo offers free migration from Xero, MYOB and Hnry, and MYOB covers the cost of moving the current and previous year's transactions from Xero, Reckon or QuickBooks. The cleanest time to switch is the end of a GST period or the financial year, 31 March.
Questions owners ask
Is Xero or MYOB better for a small business in New Zealand?
Both do the job: invoices, bank reconciliation, GST and automated payday filing. Xero's payroll is included for a set number of people per plan and it has a bigger app marketplace. MYOB's entry plan is cheaper ($35 versus $37 a month + GST), payroll is $3 per employee on every plan, and AccountRight offers Windows desktop accounting. If you have an accountant, ask which one they use; that often decides it.
Is Hnry worth it for sole traders?
It can be, if you want tax done for you. Hnry charges 1% + GST of what you earn, capped at $1,500 + GST a year, and that covers your accountant, your tax returns and paying income tax, GST, ACC and student loan as you go. The cap kicks in at $150,000 of income. It's built for sole traders, so it doesn't cover companies or staff.
How much does Afirmo cost?
Afirmo's plans are $70, $90, $130 and $175 a month + GST (Boost, Rocket, Supercharge and Supercharge Pro), on a 12-month commitment. Paying annually gives 6 months free. New customers who sign up before 30 November 2026 get half price for 12 months. Rocket and up include GST returns, and every plan includes one business income tax return a year.
Which accounting software files my GST return for me?
Afirmo and Hnry both file it for you. Afirmo's tax agent files GST returns on its GST plans, and Hnry calculates, pays and files GST as part of its service. Xero and MYOB connect to Inland Revenue so you can prepare and submit returns yourself, or your accountant can do it for you.
Do I still need an accountant with Xero or MYOB?
Not legally, but many owners use one for year-end accounts and income tax returns. Xero and MYOB keep your books and file GST, but they don't do your tax return for you. Both let you give your accountant access at no extra cost. Afirmo and Hnry include the accountant's work in their price.
Can I switch accounting software later?
Yes. Afirmo offers free migration from Xero, MYOB and Hnry, and MYOB says it covers the cost of migrating transactions from Xero, Reckon or QuickBooks for the current and previous financial years. Switching at the end of a GST period or the financial year (31 March) makes it cleaner.
How we compare
Nobody paid to be on this page or for where they appear. We don't use affiliate links here, and no company saw this page before it went live. If that ever changes, we'll label it right here. MySMB may carry sponsored content elsewhere, always marked as sponsored. This is general information, not financial advice.
Where's this from?
- Xero NZ: Pricing plans
- Xero NZ: Payroll
- MYOB NZ: Pricing
- MYOB NZ: Payroll software
- Afirmo NZ: Pricing
- Hnry: Pricing
- Hnry: Tax payments
Checked on 7 November 2026 by MySMB Editorial. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.