Looking for a QuickBooks alternative?
Reckon is almost 60% cheaper than QuickBooks for Payroll
Save money: Reckon’s payroll starts from $16/month, QuickBooks starts at $39/month.
Why choose Reckon over QuickBooks?
Fair pricing, no surprises, and payroll designed for growing small businesses.
Save big with Reckon
Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is bundled with QuickBooks Simple Start, meaning youโll need to subscribe to their accounting plan ($29/month) plus pay an additional $6 per employee, per month – costs that add up quickly. In contrast, Reckon Payroll is available as a standalone service from just $16/month, making it almost 60% cheaper and far more flexible.
Fair pricing tiers you can rely on
Reckon Payroll starts from justย $16/monthย for up to 4 employees. As your business grows, the next tier is onlyย $32/monthย for up to 10 employees. A simple,ย predictable, and risk-free solutionย that scales with your business without breaking the budget.
More employees, same low price
QuickBooks charges $6 per employee per month for standard payroll features, or $10 plus $6 per employee for advanced features. These extra charges add up quickly as your business grows, whereas Reckonโs tiered pricing ($16/month for up to 4 employees) keeps payroll simple and affordable.
Unlimited users included
QuickBooks limits you to just one admin user on its Simple Start plan, and even at $60/month you only get up to 5 users ($125/month for 25). With Reckon, you get unlimited users includedย for onlyย $16/month โ no extra cost, no user caps.
*Pricing compares the monthly cost of QuickBooks Online Plan โSimple Startโ at the standard rate with the monthly cost of QuickBooks Payroll Plans (โStandardโ and โAdvancedโ) as offered via Employment Hero. All pricing is listed at the standard rate and is correct as of November 2025.
Get more features for less
QuickBooks “Simple Start + Standard Payrollโ plan with 1 employees vs Reckon One “Payroll Essentials” plan.
1 employee
$39.00
$16.00
*This table is in comparison to QuickBooks โSimple Startโ plan + 1 employee charged at an extra $6/month per employee via Employment Hero payroll add-on. Reckon’s price is Reckon ‘Payroll Essentials’ for up to 4 employees. Reckon’s unlimited free phone support is available during business hours. Data correct as of November 2025.
Helping thousands of businesses with their accounting
Migrate from Quickbooks to Reckon for free
Moving your data from Quickbooks to Reckon is quick and easy with our migration service. It’s free when you sign up for Reckon Plus or Premium plans.
There are a million reasons to love Reckon
Cancel at any time
Switch us off whenever you want. Flexibility is in your hands.
Industry standard security
We use AES-256 bit encryption and multiple layers of firewalls to ensure your data is always protected.
Automatic backups & updates
Your data is safe, and you're always on the latest, cutting-edge cloud accounting software.
30 years in the accounting & payroll industry
We have earned the trust of over 100,000 businesses across Australia.
Data stored in Australia
Store your sensitive accounting software data here at home, under Australian law.
Connect with an expert
Your accountant or bookkeeper can now help your small business in real-time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I easily switch my data from Xero or other platforms to Reckon?
Yes. Moving to Reckon is designed to be straightforward. We support guided data migration from major accounting platforms, including your chart of accounts, contacts, invoices, and historical transactions. Our onboarding support team can assist to reduce downtime and ensure your books are set up correctly from day one.
If youโre concerned about disruption, most businesses find they can continue normal operations while the migration is being completed in parallel.
Will my accountant or bookkeeper be able to use Reckon?
Absolutely. Reckon is widely used by Australian accountants and bookkeepers, with a long-established local ecosystem.
Your existing advisor can continue working with you in Reckon without needing to change their workflow significantly. If your accountant hasnโt used Reckon before, we provide onboarding support and training resources to make the transition smooth.
Unlike some global platforms, Reckon is built specifically with Australian accounting professionals in mind, so compliance and reporting are already aligned to local needs.
Does Reckon support Single Touch Payroll (STP) compliance?
Yes. Reckon is fully ATO-compliant and supports Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, including STP Phase 2 requirements.
You can confidently manage payroll reporting directly to the ATO, helping ensure your obligations are met accurately and on time. Updates are automatically maintained so you stay compliant as regulations evolve.
How long does it take to switch to Reckon?
Most small to medium businesses can be up and running in a few days. Our team can help streamline the process so youโre not stuck managing a lengthy transition.
We also provide step-by-step onboarding guidance so you can switch at a pace that suits your business.
Will I lose any historical data if I switch?
Is Reckon suitable if I work closely with clients or multiple entities?
Convinced Reckon Payroll is the perfect Quickbooks alternative for small businesses?
Try now for free, cancel anytime.
