MYOB vs Reckon

AU/NZ heritage payroll + accounting brand — tight bundle, STP Phase 2 native

MYOB is AU/NZ's heritage accounting + payroll brand — competes with Xero in the local market. Strongest fit for AU trades businesses already on MYOB accounting. STP Phase 2 native, AU award interpretation, full ATO compliance.

Pros

• + AU/NZ heritage brand with deep local compliance
• + Tight bundle with MYOB accounting
• + STP Phase 2 + ATO compliance native
• + Mature AU award interpretation

Cons

• − UX dated vs modern Xero
• − Best value if already on MYOB accounting
• − Less cross-market relevance

Long-standing AU accounting/payroll brand — low-cost, STP Phase 2, payday-super ready

⚠ AU review sites (2025–2026) carry recurring complaints of forced subscription upgrades / large price increases and an upfront-annual-billing, no-refund policy.

An Australian publicly-listed company with 30+ years in AU accounting/payroll, positioned explicitly as a cheaper MYOB/Xero alternative at the SMB/micro end. Its current lineup (Reckon One payroll, Payroll App, Payroll Premier) targets sole traders and small teams wanting cheap, ATO-compliant STP without a full accounting suite — a fit for the solo operator or small crew that just needs compliant payslips, leave and STP.

Pros

• + Genuinely Australian (ASX-listed, 30+ years, AU-hosted data)
• + STP Phase 2 compliant + ATO-registered across all payroll products
• + Explicitly "Payday Super ready for 1 July 2026"
• + Very low entry pricing (~$16/mo for up to 4 employees) + standalone mobile app

Cons

• − Reviews call the software dated vs Xero/MYOB
• − Repeated complaints of forced upgrades + steep price jumps
• − Upfront annual billing + a no-refund stance
• − No meaningful built-in award interpretation (weak for award-heavy shift trades)