The short answer
Most of the apps here connect to Xero in some form, so for a sole trader the connection itself is rarely the deciding factor. What matters is what one person pays to reach it, and how good the invoicing feeding Xero is. Sparks Scribe has a Xero sync on its $20 a month Vault plan (including GST), and what it pushes across is NDIS-coded invoicing (the right support item code and rate, day and time variants, travel and expenses), on an app built for one person with no team minimums. ShiftCare and Visualcare connect to Xero too, but are priced for teams and agencies. Astalty has a two-way Xero sync, priced for coordinators. EasyAs connects to Xero and MYOB, but is invoicing only. We could not verify a Xero connection for Bugal from its public pages (July 2026). Disclosure: Kim Matthews, who runs an NDIS provider and is a parent of NDIS participants, makes Sparks Scribe.
Xero is where a lot of independent support workers keep their books, or where their accountant does. So a fair question when you are choosing an app is a plain one: will it talk to Xero, or will you be re-typing every invoice by hand? This guide checks six Australian tools by name on exactly that. In order, they are Sparks Scribe, ShiftCare, Astalty, EasyAs, Bugal and Visualcare.
Two things up front. First, we make one of these apps. Sparks Scribe is our product, built by Sparks Support Pty Ltd, so read our verdict on it knowing that, and check every competitor claim against the vendor's current public pages. Second, the honest landscape here is that a Xero connection is not rare. Most of the tools below have one in some form, which means the connection itself is rarely the thing that should decide it. What actually differs is what one person pays to get to it, and how good the invoicing feeding Xero is. Every competitor detail below was collected from each product's public website, help pages or Xero App Store listing in July 2026. Where we could not verify something, we say so rather than guessing.
How we compared these apps on Xero
Rather than counting features, we asked the same three questions of every tool:
- Does it publicly connect to Xero, and how? A one-click export is a different thing to a two-way sync that also pulls payments back. We noted which it is, and where the vendor documents it.
- What does one person actually pay to use it? Licence minimums, coordinator seats and agency "pricing on application" all count against a tool for a sole trader, even when the Xero link is there.
- What is the invoicing that feeds Xero? A Xero sync is only as useful as the invoice going into it. For NDIS work that means the right support item code and rate, day and time variants, travel and expenses.
We also noted data storage where the vendor states it. Everything was checked against official public pages in July 2026; prices and features change, so confirm on the vendor's own pages before deciding.
1. Sparks Scribe: NDIS-coded invoicing into Xero, on a one-person plan
Full disclosure first: this is our product. Sparks Scribe was built in Australia for independent NDIS support workers, not agencies, so it is deliberately a one-person tool. The Xero sync lives in Settings, as its own Xero tab alongside Profile, Rates, Codes, Reports and Account, and it sits on the $20 a month Vault plan (including GST).
What it connects is the invoicing. Sparks Scribe builds NDIS-coded invoices, with the right support item code and rate, day and time variants, travel, expenses and your own custom codes, and outputs them as a PDF. The Xero sync connects that invoicing to your Xero accounting, so the money you bill in the app flows through to the books rather than being re-typed. The NDIS-coded invoicing itself is included one tier down, on the $15 Essentials plan, along with AI shift notes; the Xero sync is what the $20 Vault plan adds, next to automatic service agreements, a Document and Receipt Vault, a kilometre log and tax tools.
The honest limit is scope. Sparks Scribe is built for one person, so there is no team rostering or payroll to push into Xero's payroll area the way an agency platform does; if that is what you need, ShiftCare and Visualcare below connect to Xero too, but they are priced for teams and agencies. One thing to note on the invoicing: you set your own rates and Sparks Scribe applies the code for the day and time worked, but it does not apply NDIS price-guide caps on your behalf, so check the current pricing arrangements. On the record: a 5.0 rating on the Australian App Store, more than 90,000 shifts booked through the platform, data stored in Australia, and a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked and no card required.
Our verdict: the simplest way for a sole trader to get NDIS-coded invoicing into Xero without paying for a team. The Xero sync is on the $20 Vault plan, and what it pushes across is properly coded NDIS invoicing. It leaves out team rostering and payroll by design.
2. ShiftCare: a no-extra-cost Xero link, behind a five-licence minimum
ShiftCare connects to Xero, and it does not charge extra for it. The integration is included in the subscription and listed on the Xero App Store. You can export invoices and approved timesheets from ShiftCare to Xero, map your Xero chart of accounts to ShiftCare price books, and import staff, clients, pay items and allowances the other way. Setup takes a few minutes and requires two-factor authentication.
The catch for a sole trader is not the Xero link, it is the pricing floor underneath it. ShiftCare is built for agencies and charges per licence with a minimum of five licences on every plan, even if you are the only person on the account. Invoicing, the thing you would sync to Xero, requires the Professional plan, which works out at $65 to $75 a month excluding GST for one person, depending on billing. You pay as if you had a team of five to reach a Xero connection you would use alone.
Our verdict: a genuine, no-extra-cost Xero integration, but gated behind agency pricing: five licences minimum, with invoicing on Professional at $65 to $75 a month excluding GST for one person. See our full Sparks Scribe vs ShiftCare comparison.
3. Astalty: a two-way Xero sync, priced for coordinators
Astalty has one of the more thorough Xero connections here, and it is two-way. Its own pages and Xero App Store listing describe invoices generated in Astalty pushing straight to Xero, voids and adjustments reflecting automatically, and reconciliation done in Xero flowing back to Astalty so you do not do it twice. It is optional; Astalty says many providers invoice natively without connecting Xero at all.
The question for a sole trader is who the platform is built for. Astalty is aimed at NDIS support coordinators and providers, and the pricing reflects that: $64 per user a month for a standard seat, and $30 a month for a restricted support-worker profile. Its pages describe the Xero integration but do not state which plans include it, so confirm that before you sign up if the accounting link is the reason you are choosing it.
Our verdict: a strong two-way Xero sync, but on a platform priced for coordinators ($64 standard seat, $30 support-worker profile), and the plan that includes the integration is not stated on its pages. See our Sparks Scribe vs Astalty comparison.
4. EasyAs: connects to Xero and MYOB, but invoicing only
EasyAs, the NDIS invoicing product from EasyAs Provider Invoicing Pty Ltd, connects to both Xero and MYOB. Its pages describe it as an authorised third-party app for the two, with a one-click sync that pushes your invoice and sales data across. If Xero or MYOB is where your books live, that is a real, documented link.
Two caveats. First, EasyAs's own pages note you may need to be on a plan that allows the Xero or MYOB integration, so the entry price of $19.95 a month on their website ($19.99 via in-app purchase) may not be the plan that includes it; check before you commit. Second, EasyAs does one job, invoicing. There are no AI shift notes and no expense or receipt capture, so what flows to Xero is the invoice and nothing behind it. Its privacy policy also states that personal information may be transferred to countries outside Australia, including the United States and European Union.
Our verdict: a genuine Xero and MYOB connection, but on an invoicing-only tool, and the integration may sit on a higher plan than the $19.95 headline. See our Sparks Scribe vs EasyAs comparison.
5. Bugal: built-in invoicing and expenses, no Xero link we could verify
Bugal is a web-based platform for Australian independents, and it keeps invoicing and expenses in-house rather than pointing you at an accounting package. Invoicing is included on every plan, including the free one, and it does not take a percentage of your income; expense tracking and a dashboard that shows income, expenses and an estimate of what to set aside for tax are built in.
On Xero specifically, we could not verify a connection. Across Bugal's homepage, features and FAQ pages in July 2026, we found no mention of Xero or any accounting-software integration. That is not the same as saying it has none; it means we could not confirm it from their public pages, so if syncing to Xero is a must-have, ask Bugal directly. Pricing is a free plan capped at two invoices a month, then Solo at $35 a month, more than the $20 Vault plan Sparks Scribe puts its Xero sync on; the pages do not state whether prices include GST, and Bugal is web-based with no App Store or Google Play listing mentioned.
Our verdict: built-in invoicing and expense tracking, but no Xero connection we could verify from its public pages as of July 2026. Ask Bugal before choosing it for the accounting link.
6. Visualcare: a deep Xero connection, on an agency platform
Visualcare connects to Xero as thoroughly as anything here, but it is an agency platform, not a sole-trader tool. Its pages and Xero App Store listing describe sending finalised rostered data to Xero for invoicing across different payers such as NDIS, and pushing award-interpreted timesheets into Xero's payroll area, with a one-click export of timesheets, claims and payments to Xero and MYOB.
The mismatch is the buyer. Visualcare is built for Australian aged-care and NDIS organisations with teams, payroll and award interpretation, and pricing is by request-a-demo rather than a published self-serve rate. There is no plan a single support worker signs up to on their own, so the depth of its Xero connection is aimed at a finance team, not one person doing their own books.
Our verdict: a deep Xero and MYOB connection, but on an agency platform with pricing on application, not a self-serve option for one worker. See our Sparks Scribe vs Visualcare comparison.
The comparison at a glance
Collected from public pages in July 2026. "Price for 1 person" means the real monthly cost for a sole trader, not the headline per-user rate.
| App | Connects to Xero | How it connects | Price for 1 person | Built for solo workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks Scribe | Yes, on the $20 Vault plan (incl GST) | Xero sync connects its NDIS-coded invoicing to Xero | $15/month incl GST (Essentials); Xero sync on $20 Vault | Yes |
| ShiftCare | Yes, included at no extra cost | Export invoices + timesheets to Xero; import staff/clients | $65 to $75/month ex GST (Professional, min 5 licences) | No, built for teams |
| Astalty | Yes, optional two-way sync | Invoices push to Xero, reconciliation flows back | $30/month support-worker profile ($64 standard seat) | No, built for coordinators |
| EasyAs | Yes, Xero and MYOB | One-click sync of invoice data; may need a higher plan | $19.95/month website ($19.99 in-app); invoicing only | Partly, invoicing only |
| Bugal | Not verified on public pages (July 2026) | Invoicing + expenses built in; no Xero link found | Free (2 invoices/month) or Solo $35/month | Yes |
| Visualcare | Yes, Xero and MYOB | Exports rostered data, claims, payments; timesheets to Xero payroll | Pricing on application (demo only) | No, built for agencies |
All details collected from each vendor's public website, help pages or Xero App Store listing in July 2026 and simplified for comparison; prices and features change, so check the vendor's own pages before deciding. "Not verified" means we could not confirm the detail from official public pages and chose not to guess.
Frequently asked questions
Which support worker apps connect to Xero?
Of the six apps we checked, five publicly connect to Xero: ShiftCare exports invoices and timesheets to Xero and is on the Xero App Store; Astalty has a two-way sync where invoices push to Xero and reconciliation flows back; EasyAs is an authorised third-party app that syncs invoice data to Xero and MYOB; Visualcare exports rostered data, claims and payments to Xero; and Sparks Scribe has a Xero sync on its $20 a month Vault plan (including GST). We could not verify a Xero connection for Bugal from its public pages (July 2026). Disclosure: we make Sparks Scribe.
Does Sparks Scribe connect to Xero?
Yes. Sparks Scribe has a Xero sync, set up from a Xero tab in Settings, on the $20 a month Vault plan (including GST). It connects the app's NDIS-coded invoicing to your Xero accounting, so the invoices you build in Sparks Scribe (with the right support item code and rate, day and time variants, travel and expenses) carry across. The $15 Essentials plan includes the NDIS-coded invoicing and AI shift notes; the Xero sync sits one tier up on Vault, alongside automatic service agreements, a Document and Receipt Vault, a kilometre log and tax tools. Disclosure: Kim Matthews, who runs an NDIS provider and is a parent of NDIS participants, makes Sparks Scribe.
What is the cheapest support worker app that connects to Xero?
The published entry prices we verified in July 2026 are EasyAs at $19.95 a month on their website ($19.99 via in-app purchase), though its Xero and MYOB sync may require a higher plan (their words), and it is invoicing only. Sparks Scribe includes its Xero sync on the $20 a month Vault plan (including GST), which also carries NDIS-coded invoicing, AI shift notes, a Receipt Vault and a kilometre log. Astalty's Xero sync sits on a platform priced from $30 a month for its support-worker profile ($64 for a standard seat). ShiftCare includes Xero at no extra cost but has a five-licence minimum, so invoicing works out at $65 to $75 a month excluding GST for one person. Visualcare connects to Xero but is an agency platform with pricing on application. We could not verify a Xero connection for Bugal.
Does ShiftCare connect to Xero?
Yes. ShiftCare's Xero integration is included in the subscription at no extra cost and is listed on the Xero App Store. You can export invoices and approved timesheets from ShiftCare to Xero, and import staff, clients, pay items and allowances the other way; it requires two-factor authentication. The catch for a sole trader is the pricing floor: every ShiftCare plan has a minimum of five licences, and invoicing requires the Professional plan, which works out at $65 to $75 a month excluding GST for one person, depending on billing.
Does Astalty connect to Xero?
Yes. Astalty has a two-way Xero integration, listed on the Xero App Store: invoices you generate in Astalty push straight to Xero, voids and adjustments are reflected automatically, and reconciliation done in Xero flows back to Astalty. It is optional, and Astalty's own pages say many providers invoice natively without it. Astalty is priced for coordinators and providers, at $64 per user a month for a standard seat and $30 for its restricted support-worker profile. Its pages do not state which plans include the Xero integration.
Does Bugal connect to Xero?
We could not verify one. Bugal's public pages (homepage, features and FAQs, July 2026) describe built-in invoicing on every plan and built-in expense tracking with an income-and-expenses dashboard, but they do not name Xero or any accounting-software integration. That does not mean it has none; it means we could not confirm it from their public pages, so ask Bugal directly before relying on it.
Do I still need Xero if my app already does NDIS invoicing?
It depends on your accountant. An app that does NDIS-coded invoicing lets you bill participants and plan managers correctly; Xero (or another accounting package) is where your accountant reconciles income and expenses, runs BAS and prepares tax. A Xero sync means the invoices you raise flow into your accounting without re-keying. If your accountant works in Xero, a Xero connection saves double entry; if you keep your books another way, you may not need it. Sparks Scribe's Xero sync is on the $20 a month Vault plan, so you can start on the $15 Essentials plan and move up if and when you want the accounting link.
Where is my data stored with these apps?
It varies, and you should check each vendor's privacy policy before entering client or financial information. Sparks Scribe stores its data in Australia. EasyAs's privacy policy states that personal information may be transferred to countries outside Australia, including the United States and European Union. We have not verified the hosting locations of ShiftCare, Astalty, Bugal or Visualcare, so ask before you commit.