How Daybook differs from Xero-style GL tools and dispatch-first job apps — for small NZ operators who want job-threaded money, not a chart of accounts on their phone.
Products reflect different mindsets. Here is ours versus typical general-ledger tools and field-service suites.
“I’ll sort it with my accountant later”
“I want to know where my money is as I work”
“I run a crew and schedule jobs”
Legend: ✓ yes · ~ partial, add-on, or roadmap (not live in Daybook yet) · ✗ not available. Indicative NZD pricing — confirm current vendor plans before you buy.
| Feature | Free | Paid | Xero Ignite | MYOB Lite | QBO Simple Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quoting & invoicing | |||||
| Unlimited quotes & invoices | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ capped | ~ | ~ |
| Quote → invoice conversion | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoice → receipt (1-click) | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Online quote acceptance | ~ hub | ~ hub | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Job-centric workflow | |||||
| Job-threaded documents | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Client-facing job portal link | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Per-job income vs cost | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ~ | ~ |
| Core Job bucket | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Accountant seat — no extra fee | ~ manual | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Receipt OCR (on-device) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| “My Money vs Tax” view | ~ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tax & payments | |||||
| Public read-only invoice / quote link (no client login) | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| GST set-aside to your separate bank pocket | ~ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bank reconciliation | ✗ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Akahu B2B payment button | ~ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Real-time webhook + SMS on paid | ~ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Pay now on invoice link (Stripe / Akahu clip) | ~ when configured | ~ when configured | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Entry price (NZD/mo, indicative) | $0 | $39 | ~$32+ | ~$27+ | ~$22+ |
| Typical next tier up (verify) | — | — | Grow (~$70+) | Pro (~$50+) | Essentials (~$38+) |
Entry + one tier (May 2026 snapshot): Xero Ignite is often advertised with low monthly NZD pricing but caps on sales invoices and bills (check xero.com/nz). Grow is the common next step with higher limits. MYOB Business Lite vs Pro (names and prices change — confirm myob.com/nz). QuickBooks Online Simple Start vs Essentials (confirm quickbooks.intuit.com for NZD). Daybook cells marked ~ are roadmap unless the live app release notes say otherwise — see Offerings.
Daybook is strongest when you want job-linked quotes and invoices, NZ GST defaults, speed on site without signing in, and an accountant seat without a second subscription. Bank feeds, nightly reconciliation, and automatic GST set-aside transfers are Paid subscription features — compare using the legend above, not legacy marketing copy. If your centre of gravity is full GL or dispatch-first crew management, pair the right specialist tool with your workflow.
Hnry leads on withholding and auto-filing through their account model. Daybook leads on job-threaded documents and per-job financial clarity. Hnry suits people who want tax handled for them — Daybook suits people who want visibility and control.
Solo competes on price. Daybook aims to win on depth — job threads, per-job profitability, public client links without logins, Pay now on Free (platform clip) plus accountant seat and bank automation on Paid.
Competitor names and caps change — verify live pricing and limits (e.g. Xero Ignite invoice caps) on vendor sites before you use figures in customer-facing material.
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