KAREN JOY BACUDO
finance editor
Xero has won the Canstar Most Satisfied Customers of 2026 award for small business accounting software in Australia, based on research into customer satisfaction among Australian small business owners.
Canstar rated Xero highest in the category, with respondents rating it strongly on reporting, ease of use, features and functionality, ease of integration and design.
The findings come from Canstar’s annual survey of small business owners about the accounting software they use to run their businesses. According to the comparison and research company, the study measures the opinions of customers who use the products themselves.
Xero said feedback highlighted three main drivers of positive responses: ease of use, workflow automation and integration with other business tools. Users also noted time savings on tasks including invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll and GST reporting.
Customer Ratings
Canstar has been rating financial products and services in Australia for over 30 years. Their most satisfied customer awards are based on independent consumer research and not panels of judges.
Xero said that methodology made the result particularly significant.
“This award is judged by people who actually run a business, powered by Xero day in and day out, not a panel of judges, and that’s what makes it so rewarding and such a great recognition,” said Angad Soin, managing director for Australia and New Zealand and head of global strategy at Xero.
He said customer feedback was aligned with the company’s product priorities.
“What small businesses told Canstar they value most is also what we continue to invest in: tools that help them spend less time on the books and more time on the business, whether by automating bank reconciliation, intelligently capturing receipts and invoices, or making reporting more actionable,” Soin said.
He also credited the internal teams for the outcome.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication our teams have for small businesses and their advisors.”
Survey Topics
In research highlights, customers described the software as “clean, intuitive, and easy to use even for non-accountants.” Other responses noted that automated financial management and access to real-time financial information improved daily administration.
Integration was another area identified by clients. Survey comments cited the product’s ability to connect with banks and other business tools, reflecting the importance many small businesses place on software that supports various operational tasks.
Canstar said the survey also showed broader demand for software that simplifies administration. More than half of small business owners surveyed said their accounting software makes it easier to manage their business.
It said Xero scored highest in the areas that matter most to respondents.
“Tools that streamline operations are vital in a busy environment, and the majority of small business owners surveyed by Canstar agreed, with more than half saying their accounting software makes it easier to manage their business. and features, proving that the right technology can save time and protect valuable cash flow when small businesses need it most,” said Eden Radford, spokesperson for Canstar.
Australian market
The result offers a snapshot of how Australian small businesses judge accounting software, as many seek to reduce administrative workload and improve cash flow visibility. Reporting and usability emerged as the top drivers of satisfaction in Canstar’s research, while integration and design also influenced customer scores.
Xero is a small business software provider offering accounting, payroll and payment tools. It serves clients in several countries, including Australia, where it competes in a market driven by demand for software that combines accounting, compliance and routine financial tasks into a single system.
For Canstar, the award adds another consumer ranking in a category where customer experience is increasingly used as a differentiator. For Xero, it puts the company at the top of Canstar’s latest satisfaction measure among Australian small business accounting software users.