Xero wins Canstar award for small business software

Xero has won Canstar's 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Small Business Accounting Software in Australia, based on customer satisfaction research among Australian small business owners.

Canstar rated Xero highest in the category, with respondents scoring it strongly on reporting, ease of use, features and functionality, ease of integration, and design.

The findings came 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 views of customers using the products themselves.

Xero said the feedback highlighted three main drivers of positive responses: ease of use, workflow automation, and integration with other business tools. Users also pointed to time savings in tasks including invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll, and GST reporting.

Customer ratings

Canstar has rated financial products and services in Australia for more than 30 years. Its Most Satisfied Customers Awards are based on independent consumer research rather than panel judging.

Xero said that methodology made the result particularly meaningful.

"This award is rated by the people actually running a business, powered by Xero day in, day out, not a judging panel, and that's what makes it so rewarding and great recognition," said Angad Soin, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, and Global Chief Strategy Officer at Xero.

He said the customer feedback aligned with the company's product priorities.

"What small businesses told Canstar they value most is also where we continue to invest: tools that help them spend less time on the books and more time on the business, whether it's through automating bank reconciliation, smart receipt and bill capture, or making reporting more actionable," Soin said.

He also credited internal teams for the result.

"This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication our teams have for small businesses and their advisors."

Survey themes

In comments highlighted from the research, customers described the software as "clean, intuitive and easy to use even for people who aren't accountants." Other responses pointed to automated financial management and access to real-time financial information as improving day-to-day administration.

Integration was another area customers identified. Survey feedback cited the product's ability to connect with banks and other business tools, reflecting the importance many small firms place on software that supports several operational tasks.

Canstar said the survey also showed broader demand for software that simplifies administration. More than half of the small business owners surveyed said their accounting software makes running their business easier.

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 running their business easier. Xero stood out in this year's Canstar Customer Satisfaction Awards, with customers giving it strong ratings for its reporting and ease of use - the two biggest drivers of satisfaction for small business owners. Customers also rated Xero highly for design, ease of integration and features, proving that the right tech can save time and protect valuable cash flow when small businesses need it most," said Eden Radford, Spokesperson at Canstar.

Australian market

The result offers a snapshot of how Australian small businesses are judging accounting software as many try to reduce administrative workload and improve visibility over cash flow. Reporting and usability emerged as the main 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 payments tools. It serves customers in multiple countries, including Australia, where it competes in a market shaped by demand for software that combines bookkeeping, compliance, and routine finance tasks in one system.

For Canstar, the award adds another consumer ranking in a category where customer experience is increasingly used as a differentiator. For Xero, it places the company at the top of Canstar's latest measure of satisfaction among Australian small business accounting software users.