Honest comparison · Updated 2026
Spanner vs Xero
Xero is one of the most popular accounting platforms in Australia — but it is built for full bookkeeping, BAS and payroll, not just sending invoices. If you are a solo tradie, mechanic or sole trader who mainly needs to invoice jobs and get paid, a full accounting suite can be overkill. Here is an honest comparison.
Spanner is free to download on iOS & Android
Side-by-side comparison
| Spanner | Xero | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, then $9.99/mo Pro | Monthly accounting subscription (tiered) |
| Best for | Solo tradies, mechanics, sole traders | Businesses needing full accounting & BAS |
| GST & ABN on invoices | Automatic | Yes |
| Mobile-first | Built for the phone | Desktop-first, has an app |
| WhatsApp sharing | One tap | Email-focused |
| Card payments on invoices | Built in (Stripe) | Via add-ons |
| Full accounting / bank feeds / payroll | No | Yes |
| Trade-specific (vehicle rego, bookings) | Yes | No |
| Learning curve | Minutes | Steeper — built for bookkeeping |
Choose Spanner if…
- You mainly need to invoice, quote and get paid — not do full bookkeeping
- You work from your phone on the job
- You want WhatsApp sharing and card payment links out of the box
- You want to start free and pay $9.99/mo at most
- You are a mechanic and want vehicle tracking and online bookings
Choose Xero if…
- • You need full accounting: bank feeds, BAS lodgement, P&L reporting
- • You run payroll for staff
- • Your accountant already works in Xero
- • You have grown beyond invoicing into full financial management
The verdict
Use Spanner if invoicing and getting paid is the job to be done, and you want it simple and mobile. Move to (or add) Xero once you need full accounting, payroll and BAS. Many tradies start on Spanner and only adopt accounting software later — or hand Xero to their accountant while they invoice in Spanner.
Spanner vs Xero — FAQ
Is Spanner a replacement for Xero?
Not for full accounting. Spanner replaces the invoicing and getting-paid part. If you need bank feeds, BAS and payroll, Xero (or your accountant using it) still has a place. Many tradies invoice in Spanner and use accounting software only for the books.
Is Spanner cheaper than Xero?
Yes. Spanner is free for up to 5 invoices and $9.99/month for Pro. Xero is a tiered accounting subscription that costs more, because it does much more than invoicing.
Can I use both?
Yes. A common setup is to invoice and collect payments in Spanner because it is fast and mobile, while your accountant handles the books in Xero.
Try Spanner free
Invoice your first job in minutes. Free to start, $9.99/mo for Pro.