Looking for an Employment Hero alternative?
Australian businesses are switching to RosterElf for simpler rostering, easier payroll setup, and support that's actually available when you need it.
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Employment Hero is one of Australia's largest HR platforms, used by thousands of businesses across the country. Built as an HR-first solution, it has expanded to include rostering, time tracking, and payroll — but these operational features often feel like add-ons rather than core strengths.
If you're finding Employment Hero's rostering too basic, struggling with payroll setup, or frustrated by support availability, you're not alone. Many Australian SMEs are switching to RosterElf — a purpose-built rostering platform designed specifically for shift-based businesses.
RosterElf vs Employment Hero at a glance
| Feature | RosterElf | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $20/user/month (min $200/mo) | |
| Rostering focus | Basic rostering (HR-first platform) | |
| Live labour budgeting | ||
| Payroll setup | Complex (outdated documentation) | |
| Support availability | AEST hours only, difficult to reach | |
| Best for | Rostering-focused SMEs (5-200 staff) | HR-focused enterprises (50+ staff) |
Read our Employment Hero review
In-depth analysis of Employment Hero's features, pricing, and limitations.
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Full comparison
Side-by-side feature, pricing, and support comparison.
View comparisonWhy businesses leave Employment Hero
Employment Hero is a capable HR platform, but we consistently hear the same pain points from Australian businesses making the switch:
Basic rostering features
No staff list view, limited filtering, no live labour budgeting. Rostering feels like an afterthought on an HR platform.
Payroll setup challenges
Outdated documentation, tutorial videos that don't play, and unclear instructions make payroll configuration frustrating.
Support availability
AEST hours only — problematic for WA businesses. Users report difficulty reaching support and long wait times for onboarding.
High minimum spend
$200/month minimum on Lite, $400 on Plus, $600 on Unlimited. Small businesses pay for capacity they don't use.
How RosterElf compares
Here's how RosterElf addresses the common frustrations Employment Hero users face, with detailed comparisons across key areas.
Pricing
Employment Hero's minimum spend requirements can be costly for smaller teams. Here's how the pricing actually compares:
| Plan tier | RosterElf | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| HR only | $20/user/month (min $200/mo) | |
| Core (rostering + time) | $8/user/month (monthly) or $6 (annual) | $40/user/month (min $400/mo) |
| Full suite | $10/user/month | $60/user/month (min $600/mo) |
| Minimum spend | $200-600/month depending on plan | |
| Award interpretation | Included (but setup is complex) | |
| 10 staff, full features | $100/month | $600/month (minimum) |
★ Bottom line
For small to medium businesses, RosterElf offers significantly better value. Employment Hero's minimum spend requirements mean small teams pay enterprise prices. A 10-person team saves $6,000+ per year with RosterElf while getting purpose-built rostering tools.
Rostering & scheduling
This is where RosterElf's purpose-built approach shines:
| Rostering feature | RosterElf | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Roster view options | Position-based only | |
| Live labour budgeting | ||
| AI auto-scheduling | ||
| Advanced filtering | Limited filtering options | |
| Copy roster function |
★ Verdict
RosterElf is clearly superior for rostering. Employment Hero covers basics but lacks the advanced features that save time and money. If your primary need is efficient rostering, RosterElf is the better choice.
Payroll & award interpretation
Both platforms offer Australian award interpretation, but the setup experience differs dramatically:
- RosterElf: Pre-configured award templates, intuitive setup wizard, and responsive support during configuration. Timesheets export to Xero/MYOB already award-calculated.
- Employment Hero: Award support available but setup proves challenging. Users report tutorial videos that don't play, outdated documentation, and difficulty reaching support during implementation.
★ Verdict
Both platforms can handle Australian awards, but RosterElf makes setup significantly easier. Businesses switching from Employment Hero consistently report that RosterElf's payroll integration is more intuitive.
Customer support
Support quality was one of the most striking differences:
| Support aspect | RosterElf | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Team location | Australia-based (AEST only) | |
| Phone support | Available but difficult to reach | |
| Onboarding assistance | Limited availability reported | |
| Documentation | Outdated, videos don't play | |
| WA-friendly hours |
HR tools
This is Employment Hero's genuine strength:
- Employment Hero: Comprehensive HR suite with recruitment, performance management, incident reporting, and extensive template library. Best for businesses with dedicated HR staff.
- RosterElf: Essential HR features covering onboarding, document management, and qualification tracking. Practical for most SMEs without overwhelming complexity.
★ Verdict
If HR compliance is your primary concern and you have dedicated HR staff, Employment Hero's HR suite is more comprehensive. For businesses where rostering is the priority and HR needs are straightforward, RosterElf offers a better balance.
What our customers say
Here's what Australian businesses say about RosterElf compared to Employment Hero:
Xero App Store (89 reviews)
Xero App Store (15 reviews)
RosterElf is exactly what we needed. Simple to use, great support, and the award interpretation saves us hours every pay run.
The Australian support team actually understands our awards. That alone is worth switching for.
Integration with Xero is faultless and payroll runs smoothly. Much easier than our previous system.
4.8+ stars See all RosterElf reviews
Verified reviews from Google, Xero App Store, and G2.
Read customer reviewsHow to make the switch
Switching from Employment Hero to RosterElf is straightforward. Most businesses are fully operational within a week:
Start your free trial
Sign up for a 14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Book an onboarding call
Our Australian team will help you set up your account, import staff data, and configure your award rates. Unlike Employment Hero, we're actually available.
Import your data
Export your employee list from Employment Hero and import via CSV. We'll help you map the fields correctly.
Configure award interpretation
Set up your Australian awards with our intuitive wizard and pre-configured templates — much easier than Employment Hero's setup.
Go live
Start rostering with advanced features, live budgeting, and proper support. Most businesses are fully operational within a week.
Employment Hero alternatives FAQ
- The primary reasons are simpler rostering, easier payroll setup, and better support availability. Employment Hero is an HR-first platform where rostering feels like an add-on — lacking advanced features like staff list views, live labour budgeting, and flexible filtering. RosterElf is purpose-built for rostering and scheduling with intuitive tools designed for shift-based businesses. Australian businesses also appreciate RosterElf's responsive support and straightforward payroll integration.
- Focus. Employment Hero is an HR-first platform that added rostering features, while RosterElf was built specifically for workforce scheduling. RosterElf offers advanced rostering tools like AI-powered auto-scheduling, real-time labour cost budgeting, and flexible roster views. Employment Hero excels at HR compliance and document management but lacks the operational depth that rostering-focused businesses need.
- For HR-focused businesses, Employment Hero offers comprehensive compliance tools. However, their pricing starts at $20/employee/month (minimum $200/month) for the Lite plan, scaling to $60/employee/month for Unlimited. RosterElf costs $6-10 per user/month with a $25/month minimum, and includes rostering, time tracking, award interpretation, and payroll integration. For businesses where rostering is the priority, RosterElf typically offers better value.
- RosterElf includes essential HR tools designed for shift-based businesses — employee onboarding, document management, qualification tracking, and digital employment contracts. While Employment Hero offers a more extensive HR suite (performance management, recruitment, incident reporting), most SMEs find RosterElf's HR features sufficient. The key advantage is that RosterElf combines practical HR with superior rostering in one simple platform.
- Yes. RosterElf offers built-in Australian award interpretation that automatically calculates penalty rates, overtime, and allowances. Timesheets export to Xero or MYOB already award-calculated and ready for payroll. Many businesses switching from Employment Hero report that RosterElf's payroll integration is actually easier to set up and use than Employment Hero's built-in payroll.
- Support is a significant difference. Employment Hero support is only available during AEST hours, with users reporting difficulty reaching support and outdated documentation. RosterElf provides Australian-based support with phone, email, and chat options. Every account includes free onboarding assistance, and our team understands Australian compliance requirements. This is especially important for Western Australian businesses who find Employment Hero's AEST-only support limiting.
- RosterElf serves businesses from 5 to 200+ staff across hospitality, retail, healthcare, and other shift-based industries. For businesses with complex HR requirements and dedicated HR staff, Employment Hero may still be appropriate. However, for medium-sized businesses where rostering efficiency and payroll accuracy are priorities, RosterElf often proves more practical and cost-effective.
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