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Pricing checked 3 November 2026 on each vendor’s official pricing page (linked below). Prices change often, so confirm the current price and whether it includes GST before you buy. Float and Fathom prices are shown excluding tax.
How we put this together: this comparison is based on the vendors’ public pricing pages, help documentation and app-marketplace listings. We have not run these products in a live business file for this article, and we say so wherever that matters. How we review.
Xero now includes a basic cash-flow forecast on every plan. So should a Xero user pay for a dedicated forecasting tool? It depends on how far ahead you need to see, whether you need scenarios, and whether you report on more than one entity. Here is what Xero includes and how Float, Fathom and Syft compare.
Start with what Xero includes
| Xero plan (AU) | Built-in cash-flow forecast |
|---|---|
| Ignite (A$37/month) | 30 days |
| Grow (A$78/month) | 60 days |
| Comprehensive (A$107/month) | 90 days, plus budgeting with smart suggestions |
| Ultimate (from A$143/month) | 180 days |
| Ultra (A$500/month) | Advanced forecasting, budgeting and multi-entity consolidation with Syft |
If a 30–180 day view of expected cash in and out is all you need, check your Xero plan’s forecast before you buy anything else.
The dedicated tools compared
| Float | Fathom | Syft | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Owner-managed businesses wanting a forward cash plan and scenarios | Management reporting, KPIs and three-way forecasts, often run by an adviser | Reporting and consolidation, now owned by Xero |
| Starting price | Essentials: A$189/month monthly, or A$155/month billed annually (for businesses under £2m revenue) | A$73/month for 1 company (ex GST) | Included in Xero Ultra. See Syft for standalone plans |
| Higher tiers | Growth A$379/month (A$300 annual); Scale A$565/month (A$450 annual), up to 5 entities | 10 companies A$430; 25 companies A$605; 50 companies A$965 a month | See Syft |
| Forecast horizon | 12-month forecasts on Essentials; 36 months on Growth and above | Three-way forecasting (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) | Forecasting and budgeting |
| Accounting integrations | Xero and QuickBooks Online | Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB AccountRight, FreeAgent | Xero, plus others listed by Syft |
| Trial / term | 14-day free trial | No minimum term | See Syft |
How to decide
- You mostly want to know “will we have enough cash in 8–12 weeks?” Try Xero’s built-in forecast first, then Float’s 14-day trial if you need scenarios or a longer horizon.
- Your accountant or adviser prepares monthly management reports for you. Fathom is built around reporting and KPIs and prices by number of companies, which suits advisers. Ask whether your adviser already has a Fathom subscription that covers you.
- You run several entities. Compare Float Scale (up to 5 entities), Fathom’s multi-company tiers and Xero Ultra with Syft. On Xero Ultra, multi-entity consolidation is already part of the plan.
- You’re on MYOB. Of the three, Fathom lists MYOB AccountRight as an integration. Float lists Xero and QuickBooks Online only.
Our verdict
Most small Xero businesses should use the built-in forecast until they need scenarios or more than a few months of visibility. After that, Float is the most cash-focused of these tools, and Fathom is the stronger option when reporting to owners, boards or lenders matters as much as the cash projection. Pricing is very different (A$73 versus A$155–189 a month at entry level), so trial both with your own data.
Official links
General information only. This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice, and doesn’t consider your circumstances. Talk to your accountant or BAS/tax agent before changing systems.