Looking for an alternative to Xero? Here are the best invoicing tools to consider — ranked by cost, features, and Australian compliance.
InvoiceSonic beats Xero on 6 features (vs 5 the other way) and is free for unlimited Australian-compliant tax invoices. No signup required for PDF download, native ABN and GST handling.
MYOB is the Australian incumbent for SMB accounting — battle-tested, ATO-integrated, but priced and built like enterprise software. InvoiceSonic is a free, modern invoice generator that ships in secon…
QuickBooks Online is a powerful US-built accounting platform with an Australian edition. It is feature-rich but pricey and built for growing teams, not solo freelancers. InvoiceSonic is free, AU-focus…
Both are free. Wave is a great free option globally but has weak Australian localisation — no native ABN field, no auto-GST formatting, and AU payment processing is limited. InvoiceSonic is purpose-bu…
FreshBooks is a polished, US-built invoicing-and-accounting tool that started focused on freelancers. It is well-designed but pricey and AU-localisation is weaker than local options. InvoiceSonic is f…
Both are Aussie-built. Invoice2go is mobile-first with a paid app model; InvoiceSonic is web-first, free, and faster to use without signup. Invoice2go suits tradies billing on-site from their phone; I…
Hnry and InvoiceSonic solve different problems. Hnry is a managed service — they handle PAYG, GST, super, and tax filings for you in exchange for 1% of income. InvoiceSonic is a free invoice generator…
Both are free to create invoices. PayPal's value is that clients can pay you instantly with PayPal — but the 2.6% + AU$0.30 transaction fee adds up, and the invoice templates are generic and limited. …
For most Australian freelancers and small businesses, InvoiceSonic is the most cost-effective alternative — free unlimited invoices with ATO-compliant GST handling. For accounting-heavy needs, Xero and MYOB are common upgrades. The right choice depends on whether you need invoicing only (InvoiceSonic) or full bookkeeping (Xero/MYOB).
AU$35/month even on the Starter plan Many users only need invoicing, not a full accounting suite, so they downgrade to a focused tool.
Yes — InvoiceSonic is free for unlimited invoices with no signup required. Wave is also free but has weak Australian localisation (no native ABN field, no automatic "Tax Invoice" formatting).
Most invoicing platforms let you export clients and invoice history as CSV. The actual data migration is usually under an hour. The longer task is reconfiguring templates, payment terms, and any integrations. For invoicing-only workflows, the switch is straightforward.
Yes — many businesses use a free generator like InvoiceSonic for routine invoicing while keeping their accountant's tool (e.g., Xero) for the books. This is a common cost-saving pattern.
InvoiceSonic is built Australia-first with native ABN, ATO "Tax Invoice" formatting, and automatic 10% GST. Xero, MYOB, and Invoice2go are also AU-focused. FreshBooks, Wave, and PayPal Invoicing handle GST manually and may not auto-format ATO requirements.