MYOB is one of Australia’s dominant accounting and payroll platforms — but its leave management is buried inside payroll workflows, designed for payroll processing rather than team leave visibility and day-to-day absence management.
If your team uses MYOB mainly for leave tracking, you are navigating a payroll-first interface where leave is a pay item rather than a management tool. The most common reasons teams look for a MYOB alternative for leave management are the payroll-centric design that makes leave management a secondary feature, the absence of team-wide leave visibility and approval workflows, and the lack of Slack or Microsoft Teams integration for in-chat leave requests.
This guide evaluates six alternatives to MYOB’s leave management module.
Key Takeaways
- MYOB is payroll-first — leave management is a pay item, not a standalone tool.
- No team-wide leave visibility — absence calendars and approval workflows are limited.
- Leave Balance offers the best value — AUD $29/month flat rate with Slack and Teams integration.
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must use the MYOB portal.
- Leave management works alongside payroll — the best approach is to pair a dedicated leave tool with MYOB for payroll.
Why Teams Look for MYOB Alternatives for Leave Management
MYOB handles leave tracking as part of its payroll engine. Leave accruals, leave loading, and leave payments are configured as pay items. That works for payroll processing, but not for day-to-day leave management.
Teams report several pain points:
- Payroll-centric design — leave management requires navigating payroll configuration rather than a simple request/approval workflow
- No team-wide absence calendar — there is no dedicated view of who is off across the organisation
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must log into MYOB to manage leave
- Leave is tied to pay runs — leave balances only update when payroll is processed
- Complex setup — configuring leave pay items and entitlement categories requires payroll knowledge
What to Look for in a MYOB Alternative
Key criteria for Australian businesses:
- Pricing model — flat-rate vs per-employee, and cost at your team size
- Australian compliance — Fair Work Act, NES entitlements, leave loading (17.5%), long service leave
- Integrations — Slack, Microsoft Teams, MYOB (for payroll handoff)
- Setup time — hours vs weeks
- Scope — leave management only, or full payroll/HR?
Here are the six best alternatives to MYOB’s leave management in 2026.
1. Leave Balance — Best Overall Alternative for Leave-Only Teams
Leave Balance is a dedicated leave management tool with native Slack and Microsoft Teams integration and flat-rate pricing.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | AUD $29/month (flat rate) |
| Annual | AUD $290/year (AUD $24.17/mo) |
Unlimited employees and unlimited leave policies. No per-seat fees. A 50-person team pays AUD $29/month.
Key Features
- Slack and Microsoft Teams integration — employees request leave, managers approve, and balances update without leaving the chat app
- Unlimited custom leave policies — annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, long service leave, leave loading, and any custom entitlements
- Team calendar — real-time visibility into who is off today, this week, or any date range
- Analytics and reporting — leave trends, utilisation rates, and exportable data for payroll
- Multi-country support — manage leave across Australia, New Zealand, and other regions from one account
- 15-minute setup — connect Slack or Teams, add employees, configure policies, and go
Australian Compliance
Leave Balance supports configurable leave policies that align with National Employment Standards (NES) entitlements, including annual leave accruals, personal/carer’s leave, leave loading (17.5%), and pro-rata calculations for part-time employees. It works alongside MYOB for payroll processing — not replacing it.
Limitations
Leave Balance is not a payroll platform. It does not include payroll processing, STP reporting, superannuation, or award interpretation. You would continue using MYOB for payroll.
Why It Is the Top Pairing with MYOB
Leave Balance handles the leave management experience — requests, approvals, balances, visibility — while MYOB handles the payroll processing. The two tools complement each other perfectly.
Best for: Office-based teams of 10 to 200 employees that use MYOB for payroll and want better leave management with Slack and Teams integration.
2. Tanda — Best for Shift-Based Teams Needing Award Interpretation
Tanda is an Australian workforce management platform with rostering, time tracking, and leave management.
Pricing
Per-user modular pricing. For a 30-person team, approximately AUD $384–480/mo.
Key Features
- Award interpretation engine for Modern Awards
- Rostering and shift scheduling
- Leave management as part of workforce management
- Payroll integration with MYOB
Limitations
Overkill for office-based teams. Pricing is opaque and sales-led.
Best for: Shift-based businesses needing award interpretation.
3. Deputy — Best for Scheduling-First Teams
Deputy is a shift scheduling and workforce management tool.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | AUD $9/user/mo |
For a 30-person team, approximately AUD $270/mo.
Key Features
- Shift scheduling with demand forecasting
- Time and attendance
- Leave management integrated with scheduling
Limitations
Leave management is not Deputy’s primary focus. Per-user pricing.
Best for: Businesses that need shift scheduling as a primary function.
4. Employment Hero — Best for Full HR + Payroll Bundling
Employment Hero is an Australian HR platform with payroll, benefits, and leave management.
Pricing
Per-employee pricing, approximately AUD $600–1,800/mo for a 50-person team.
Key Features
- Leave management with NES compliance
- Payroll and STP reporting
- Employee benefits
Limitations
Expensive for leave-only use. Complex for teams that only need leave tracking.
Best for: Australian businesses wanting a full HR and payroll platform.
5. Xero Leave — Best for Teams Already Deep in the Xero Ecosystem
Xero is the dominant accounting platform in Australia. Its payroll module includes basic leave management.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | AUD $55/mo |
| Premium | AUD $78/mo |
Leave management is bundled with payroll.
Key Features
- Basic leave request and approval workflows
- Leave balances tracked alongside payroll
- Statutory leave entitlements
Limitations
Deliberately basic leave management. No team calendar, no Slack/Teams integration.
Best for: Very small teams (under 15 employees) using Xero for accounting and payroll.
6. Vacation Tracker — Best for Global Teams That Use Slack
Vacation Tracker is a Slack and Teams-native leave tracker.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Complete | USD $4/user/mo ($100 min) |
For a 30-person team, approximately AUD $180/mo.
Key Features
- Native Slack and Teams integration
- Team calendar
- Custom leave policies
Limitations
No Australian compliance features. Per-user pricing with minimums.
Best for: Global distributed teams without Australian employees.
Pricing Comparison at a Glance
Here is what each tool costs for a 30-person Australian team:
| Tool | 30-Person Monthly Cost (AUD) | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|
| Leave Balance | AUD $29/mo | Flat rate, unlimited users |
| Xero Leave | AUD $55–78/mo | Bundled with accounting |
| Vacation Tracker | AUD $180/mo | Per user + minimum |
| Deputy | AUD $270/mo | Per user |
| Tanda | AUD $384–480/mo | Per user, modular |
| Employment Hero | AUD $600–1,800/mo | Per employee |
Leave Balance’s flat-rate pricing is the most affordable option at every team size.
How to Choose the Right MYOB Alternative
You want better leave management alongside MYOB payroll
Choose Leave Balance. Pair it with MYOB for the best of both worlds — great leave management and payroll processing.
You need shift scheduling with award interpretation
Choose Tanda. If your team works shifts under Modern Awards, Tanda’s award engine is the strongest in the market.
You need shift scheduling with leave built in
Choose Deputy. If scheduling is the primary need and leave management is secondary.
You only need basic leave and already use Xero
Stick with Xero Leave. If your team is small and leave requests are infrequent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Leave Balance alongside MYOB?
Yes. Leave Balance is designed to work alongside your existing payroll provider. Use MYOB for payroll processing and STP reporting, and Leave Balance for leave management with Slack and Teams integration.
Does Leave Balance support Australian leave entitlements?
Yes. Leave Balance supports configurable leave policies aligned with NES entitlements, including annual leave (4 weeks), personal/carer’s leave (10 days), and leave loading (17.5%).
How does flat-rate pricing work as my team grows?
Leave Balance costs AUD $29/month regardless of whether you have 10 or 200 employees. No tier thresholds, no per-seat charges.
The Bottom Line
MYOB is a strong accounting and payroll platform for Australian businesses. But its leave management is designed for payroll processing, not daily team use. For better leave visibility, approval workflows, and Slack/Teams integration, pair MYOB with a dedicated leave tool.
Leave Balance offers AUD $29/month flat, Slack and Teams integration, and a 15-minute setup. Try Leave Balance free for 14 days — no credit card required.
This article is general information, not legal advice.