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Invio vs Xero

Invio vs Xero Which fits Australian sole traders?

Xero is excellent full accounting software - bank reconciliation, GST/BAS returns, payroll, a trusted industry standard. Invio is simple invoicing at a flat price, for sole traders who only need to quote, invoice and get paid without paying for accounting features they never open.

Free plan · No credit card · Keep your own accountant

Quick Verdict

Different tools for different needs

Xero and Invio serve different jobs. The right choice depends on whether you need full accounting or just clean invoicing.

Choose Invio if...

You mainly need to send invoices, quotes and payment reminders. You handle tax with an accountant, and you want to pay A$0 to A$19/month instead of A$37+/month for accounting features you do not use.

Choose Xero if...

You need bank reconciliation, bank feeds, BAS/GST lodgement, payroll, or your accountant needs a shared view of your books. Xero is a full accounting platform with a large Australian accountant ecosystem.

Comparison

Feature-by-feature comparison

FeatureInvioXero Ignite
Starting priceA$0/mo (Free) · A$19/mo (Pro)A$37/mo AUD (incl. GST)
Invoice limit5/mo Free · Unlimited Pro20/month
QuotesUnlimited (all plans)Yes
GST-ready tax invoicesYesYes
Automated payment remindersYes (free to start, unlimited Pro)Yes
Recurring invoicesYes (1 free, unlimited Pro)Yes (repeating invoices)
Card payments (online)Yes - Stripe built inYes - via Stripe (fees apply)
Multiple businessesYes (Growth A$49/mo)Separate subscription per org
Lead-capture widgetYes (Growth)No
Bank reconciliationNoYes
Bank feedsNoYes
BAS/GST lodgementNoYes
PayrollNoYes (plan dependent)
Expense trackingNoYes (5 bills/mo on Starter)
Accountant access portalNoYes
Made forInvoicing-only sole tradersFull accounting, any business size

Xero Ignite pricing (A$37/mo AUD incl. GST, 20 invoices/month) is as at July 2026, after Xero's 1 July 2026 AU price rise from A$35/mo - check xero.com/au/pricing-plans for the latest.

Fair Assessment

When Xero is the right choice

We want you to use the right tool, not just ours. Here is when Xero genuinely fits better.

You need bank reconciliation

Xero pulls in your bank transactions automatically and matches them against invoices and bills. If having your books balanced in real time is important - or your accountant expects a reconciled file - Xero is the right tool.

You want to lodge BAS/GST in-app

Xero can prepare and help lodge your Business Activity Statement directly. If you want to handle BAS/GST without a separate bookkeeper or accountant session, that is a Xero strength that Invio does not offer.

Your accountant uses Xero

Xero has a large accountant ecosystem. If your accountant is already set up in Xero and needs live access to your books, staying in Xero avoids friction. Invio does not have accountant-access portals.

You have employees and need payroll

Xero offers payroll (plan dependent in Australia). If you pay staff and want invoicing and payroll under one roof, Xero handles both. Invio is invoicing-only and has no payroll functionality.

Cost Example

What a year of invoicing actually costs

Take a typical sole trader - a tiler, cleaner, or consultant - sending around 10 invoices a month. They need GST-ready tax invoices, quotes, and the occasional payment reminder. They handle tax with their bookkeeper or accountant at year end.

ToolMonthlyPer year
Xero Ignite (incl. GST)A$37/moA$444/yr
Invio Free (5 invoices/mo)A$0/moA$0/yr
Invio Pro (unlimited invoices)A$19/moA$228/yr

For this sole trader, Invio Pro saves A$216 a year compared to Xero Ignite - and they get unlimited invoices versus Xero's 20/month cap. The catch is honest: Invio does not do bank reconciliation or BAS/GST lodgement. If their accountant needs those, Xero (or another accounting package) is the better fit regardless of price.

Why Invio

Why choose Invio

If you already use an accountant and just need clean, affordable invoicing, Invio is built for you.

Flat, predictable pricing

A$0 to start, A$19/month for unlimited invoices. GST included in the price, no per-user fees. You know exactly what you pay each month.

Keep your accountant, your bank

Invio does not try to replace your accountant or touch your banking. Use any accountant or bookkeeper you like, handle tax and BAS your own way, and use Invio purely for the invoicing layer.

Simple, mobile-first invoicing

Quotes, GST-ready invoices, automated reminders, recurring invoices, and card payments - without the learning curve of a full accounting suite. Invoice from your phone, get paid faster.

Run more than one Xero organisation?

Invio also connects every Xero organisation you authorise to whichever AI assistant you use - reads answered per organisation, writes held for your approval inside Invio.

FAQ

Common questions about Invio vs Xero

Is Invio a Xero alternative?
It depends what you need. Invio replaces the invoicing part of Xero - quotes, GST-ready invoices, payment tracking, reminders, card payments - at A$0 to A$19/month. It does not replace Xero's accounting features: no bank reconciliation, no GST return filing, no financial reporting. If invoicing is all you need, Invio is a leaner alternative. If you need full accounting, Xero is the right tool.
Can Invio lodge my BAS or GST return?
No. Invio produces GST-ready tax invoices (10% GST calculated and shown correctly) but does not lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) or GST returns with the ATO. For BAS lodgement you need accounting software like Xero, a bookkeeper, or an accountant. This is an intentional trade-off - Invio stays simple and low-cost by focusing purely on invoicing.
Does Invio do bank reconciliation?
No. Bank reconciliation - matching your bank transactions against invoices - is an accounting function that Invio does not provide. Xero has strong bank reconciliation. If that feature matters to you, Xero (or another accounting package) is the better fit.
Can I switch from Xero to Invio?
Yes, if invoicing is your main reason for using Xero. Many Australian sole traders who only send invoices and do not need bank reconciliation or BAS lodgement find Invio is a good fit. You would still need a separate way to handle your tax obligations - a bookkeeper, an accountant, or another tool. Invio does not import Xero data, so you would start fresh with your client list.
Is Xero too expensive for sole traders?
Xero Ignite is A$37/month AUD (incl. GST) and limits you to 20 invoices per month. For a sole trader sending fewer than 20 invoices monthly who also needs bank reconciliation and BAS/GST returns, that is reasonable value. But if you only need invoicing, you are paying for accounting power you do not use. Invio Free is A$0 for 5 invoices/month, and Pro is A$19/month for unlimited invoices.
What does Invio not do compared to Xero?
Invio does not do: bank reconciliation, bank feeds, BAS/GST lodgement, income tax calculations, payroll, expense tracking, financial reporting, or accountant access portals. Xero does all of these. Invio is deliberately invoicing-only - it keeps the product simple and the price low for sole traders who do not need full accounting.

Also comparing other AU invoicing tools? Read Invio vs Rounded.

Get Started

Start invoicing free with Invio

No accounting overhead, no credit card required. Free plan, upgrade to Pro for A$19/mo when you need unlimited invoices and unlimited automated reminders.

No credit card required • 5 free invoices/month

Invio vs Xero: Xero Alternative for Australian Sole Traders (2026) | Invio