Honest guide

Hnry alternatives for Australia's self-employed — five options, honestly compared

Hnry is a well-regarded payroll-style tax service — and it is not the only way to run self-employed finances. Whether your priority is predictable cost, income arriving in your own account, or deeper expense intelligence, one of the five approaches below may serve you better. This guide sets each out honestly, including the circumstances in which staying with Hnry remains the right choice.

Also different: 2Fin can run 100% locally
Get 2Fin free →AI2Fin vs Hnry in depth

The five alternatives

Different tools solve different halves of the problem — match the tool to the half you actually want help with.

  1. AI2Fin

    Expense intelligence with a free plan

    AI2Fin works the expense side of self-employment: it reads your bank feed, categorises every transaction automatically, surfaces potential deductions as they happen, and connects to ChatGPT and Claude so you can ask questions about your real finances in plain language. It does not lodge returns or withhold tax — many people pair it with an accountant, or even with Hnry itself, and let each tool do what it is best at.

    Best for: finding and organising deductions from real spending, starting free.

    Read the full comparison →

  2. Rounded

    Invoicing-first bookkeeping for sole traders

    Rounded leads with invoicing and time tracking built specifically for Australian sole traders — quotes, recurring invoices, payment reminders, and timesheets that turn straight into invoices, with bank feeds and pre-filled BAS figures on its Pro tier.

    Best for: sole traders whose workflow centres on invoicing clients and billing by the hour.

    Read the full comparison →

  3. Solo by MYOB

    A simple sole-trader app from a major vendor

    Solo packages invoicing, expense capture and tax estimates into a single phone-first app, with the backing of the MYOB ecosystem behind it — a straightforward pick if you want the basics from an established name.

    Best for: managing the essentials from your phone, with a clear path into the broader MYOB range as your business grows.

  4. Thriday

    Banking and bookkeeping in one place

    Thriday takes a banking-led approach: transaction accounts with bookkeeping, invoicing and tax planning automated on top, so the admin happens where the money already moves. It suits people happy to open a new account to get that integration.

    Best for: running business banking and books in a single product.

  5. A registered tax agent

    The traditional full-service route

    An accountant or registered tax agent remains the most complete alternative: personal advice, lodgement, and someone accountable for your position. Pairing an agent with software that keeps your records organised year-round usually lowers the bill and raises the quality of the conversation.

    Best for: complex situations, personal advice, and lodgement handled by a professional.

Based on publicly available information. Features and pricing change — verify directly with each provider before deciding.

When staying with Hnry is the right call

A credible guide acknowledges it: in some situations the best alternative is the service you already have.

  • You want zero tax admin — tax set aside every time you are paid, with returns and BAS lodged for you by registered agents.
  • You are comfortable having client payments route through a dedicated Hnry account.
  • Its percentage-of-income pricing works out well for your income level.

A hybrid approach is also worth considering: Hnry on the income side, an expense-intelligence platform on the deduction side. The two complement each other more often than they compete.

Hnry alternatives — common questions

Why do people look for an Hnry alternative?

The common reasons are structural rather than quality complaints: Hnry prices as a percentage of income, which grows with your revenue; payments route through an Hnry account rather than your own; and some people only need help with one side of their finances — usually expenses and deductions — rather than a full payroll-style service.

Is there a free alternative to Hnry?

It depends which part you are replacing. Tax lodgement itself is generally a paid, regulated service. The expense side — categorising spending and surfacing deductions — is where free options exist: AI2Fin starts free, and you can pay an agent only for the lodgement. Always confirm eligibility and lodgement obligations with your accountant or the ATO.

Can I use one of these tools alongside Hnry instead of replacing it?

Yes, and for many people that is the better move. Hnry handles income-side tax withholding and lodgement; an expense-intelligence tool like AI2Fin works the deduction side from your bank feed. They touch different data and solve different problems, so they complement rather than conflict.

Do these alternatives lodge my tax return like Hnry does?

Generally no — and this is the key difference to check. Hnry includes lodgement by registered tax agents. Of the options here, only a registered tax agent lodges for you; the software tools prepare, organise and estimate, and you (or your agent) lodge. Always confirm eligibility and lodgement obligations with your accountant or the ATO.

Begin on the expense side — free

Whatever you decide for the income side, expense tracking and deduction surfacing can begin today at no cost — no card required.

Get 2Fin free →

Or read the in-depth AI2Fin vs Hnry comparison, and all comparisons.