The Xero alternative built for NZ sole traders
Xero is built for accountants. PayWren is built for you: the sole trader, freelancer, or contractor doing your own books between client work. Unlimited invoices on the free plan. Automatic GST. IRD-compliant from your first invoice.
Pick Xero if: you have employees, run payroll, work closely with an accountant, or need full double-entry bookkeeping for a growing business.
Pick PayWren if: you're a sole trader, freelancer, or contractor who wants to send a beautiful invoice in 30 seconds, see your GST owed in real time, and pay $0 until your business actually needs more.
Pricing: the honest comparison
Xero pricing verified May 2026 from xero.com/nz/pricing. Excludes GST.
| Plan tier | Xero (NZ) | PayWren (NZ) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ❌ Not available | ✅ Unlimited invoices + GST reports |
| Entry | Starter $35/mo (limited to 20 invoices, 5 bills) | Solo $12/mo, unlimited everything |
| Mid | Standard $65/mo | Pro $29/mo |
| Top | Premium $85/mo | Agency $59/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | Free forever |
| Credit card to start | Yes | No |
If you send fewer than 20 invoices a month, Xero costs $35/month for a plan that still throttles your invoicing. PayWren costs $0 and doesn't throttle anything.
If you outgrow free, PayWren's Solo plan ($12/mo) is less than a fifth the price of Xero Standard ($65/mo) for everything most sole traders actually need.
Annual savings if you switch from Xero Standard to PayWren Solo: $636/year.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Xero | PayWren |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ||
| IRD-compliant tax invoices | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited invoices on the free plan | ❌ No free plan | ✅ |
| AI invoice drafting from plain English | ❌ | ✅ |
| Custom invoice branding (logo, colours) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Quotes / estimates | ✅ | On roadmap |
| Recurring invoices | ✅ | On roadmap |
| Branded email delivery | ✅ | ✅ |
| GST & NZ tax | ||
| Automatic 15% GST (inclusive or exclusive) | ✅ | ✅ |
| GST return with IRD box numbers (5/6/11/13) | ✅ Paid plans | ✅ Free plan |
| GST anomaly & tax insights | ❌ | ✅ |
| Provisional tax estimate | ❌ | ✅ |
| Withholding tax (RWT/WT) handling | ✅ | ✅ Manual |
| Accountant export pack (PDF/CSV) | ✅ Direct access | ✅ |
| Expenses | ||
| AI receipt scanning | ✅ Hubdoc | ✅ |
| Expense auto-classification | Bank rules | ✅ |
| Bank statement import (NZ banks) | ✅ Live feeds | ✅ Pro+ |
| Mileage / vehicle logbook | ✅ | ✅ |
| Payments | ||
| Stripe payment links | ✅ | On roadmap |
| Paid into your own bank account | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automation & platform | ||
| Automated overdue reminders | ✅ | ✅ |
| NZBN business register lookup | Manual | ✅ |
| ABN/ABR lookup (Australia) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Native iOS app | ✅ | ✅ |
| Team workspaces with roles | ✅ | ✅ |
| Time tracking | ✅ Projects add-on | ✅ |
| Multi-currency invoices | ✅ Premium | On roadmap |
Who PayWren is for
You'll feel at home if you're:
- A freelance designer, dev, writer, or consultant invoicing 5–50 clients
- A tradie or contractor who hates spreadsheets but needs IRD-compliant invoices
- A side-hustler whose GST registration just kicked in ($60k threshold hit)
- A solo accountant or virtual assistant who wants to brand their own client portal
- An Australian sole trader who wants ATO-compliant invoicing with 10% GST and BAS
Why we built PayWren
Xero is a brilliant accounting platform, but it was built for businesses with bookkeepers and accountants. If you're a sole trader, you *are* the bookkeeper. And the bookkeeper, and the salesperson, and the support team.
PayWren strips out everything you don't need and adds what actually saves you time:
- AI that drafts your invoice when you type '5 hours of design work for ACME last Tuesday at $150/hr'
- AI that reads your receipts so you stop typing them in
- Real-time GST owed so you're never blindsided at IRD return time
- Plain English everywhere: no 'credit notes', 'journal entries', or 'chart of accounts' unless you actually want them
Switching from Xero to PayWren
- Sign up for PayWren free: takes 30 seconds, no credit card
- Add your clients: paste them in or import from a CSV export of Xero contacts
- Send your next invoice from PayWren: your clients get a better-looking, GST-ready invoice
- Run side-by-side for one GST period to make sure the GST numbers match
- Cancel Xero when you're confident
Frequently asked questions
Is PayWren approved by IRD?
PayWren generates tax invoices that meet all IRD requirements (correct GST number format, tax point, GST amount displayed). IRD doesn't formally "approve" invoicing software. They specify what an invoice must contain, and PayWren meets those requirements.
Can I file my GST return directly from PayWren?
PayWren produces your GST return summary with the IRD box numbers (Box 5, 6, 11, 13) ready to copy directly into your myIR return. Direct filing API integration is on the roadmap.
What happens if I go over the free plan's invoice limit?
There isn't one. The free plan includes unlimited invoices and unlimited clients. You only upgrade if you want AI receipt scanning, custom branding, statement import, or to remove the PayWren badge on invoices.
Is my data safe? Where is it stored?
PayWren runs on AWS with data hosted in Sydney (closest AWS region to NZ). Bank-grade encryption in transit and at rest. We never sell or share your data.
What about Hnry? Isn't that simpler?
Hnry handles your tax filings for you and takes a percentage of your income. PayWren is software you control. You keep 100% of your income and file your own returns. Different model for different people.
Can I use PayWren if I'm not GST-registered?
Yes. PayWren works for both GST-registered and non-registered sole traders. If you're under the $60k threshold, you can send invoices without GST, and we'll prompt you when you're approaching the registration threshold.
Try the Xero alternative built for you
Unlimited invoices. Automatic GST. IRD-compliant. Free forever for what most sole traders need.
Get started free, no credit card