Best Employment Hero
alternatives Australia 2026
Looking to switch from Employment Hero? We tested the top alternatives for Australian businesses — comparing rostering, time and attendance, award interpretation, HR tools, pricing, support, and Xero integration quality.
· 12 min read
Written by
Steve Harris
Steve Harris
Workforce management specialist with 10+ years experience in Australian HR tech. Former operations manager in hospitality.
Edited by
Georgia Morgan
Georgia Morgan
Senior editor and compliance researcher. Background in employment law and Fair Work regulations.
Why businesses switch from Employment Hero
Employment Hero is a comprehensive "all-in-one" HR platform — but based on our experience helping customers migrate, it's not the right fit for every business. While many adopt it for its broad capabilities, some find the platform difficult to navigate or too rigid for specific operational needs. For many small businesses, it can also be very costly and overkill for what they actually need.
Here are the primary reasons we see businesses switch away from Employment Hero:
System rigidity and complexity
Users report inflexible workflows for clock-in/out times and breaks. The platform struggles to accommodate unique company rules, and many find the interface non-intuitive — requiring multiple clicks for simple tasks.
Integration and ecosystem limitations
API access is now behind higher paywalls, preventing seamless integration with other tools. This forces users into Employment Hero's ecosystem, limiting customisation for contracts and specific HR processes.
Customer support frustrations
Users cite frustration with support response times, especially when resolving complex payroll or technical issues. WA businesses and those operating outside AEST hours struggle with availability.
Can be expensive
The pay-per-module system means costs grow significantly as you add features. Advanced functionality is locked behind higher tiers, increasing overall expenditure beyond initial expectations.
Performance and reliability issues
As a cloud-based platform, users have experienced occasional system downtime and glitches that disrupt payroll processing and HR operations at critical times.
Complex implementation and setup
Configuring the system to match specific company requirements can be time-consuming. Users report broken documentation, non-functional tutorials, and a steep learning curve during onboarding.
When do businesses typically switch? Migration often occurs when a company outgrows the platform's capabilities, requires deeper customisation, or needs better integrations with third-party tools.
Not sure if you should switch? Read our full Employment Hero review to understand its strengths and weaknesses in detail.
Top 4 Employment Hero alternatives
Based on our hands-on testing, here are the best alternatives depending on your business priorities:
9.2 /10
Best for rostering-first businesses
Purpose-built for Australian SMEs with native award interpretation, intuitive rostering, and seamless Xero/MYOB integration. Ideal for hospitality, healthcare, and retail with 5-200 staff.
Pros
- Rostering-first design with live labour budgeting
- Australian-based support team
- Simple award interpretation setup
- Strong Xero App Store rating (4.88/5)
Cons
- Less suited for 500+ employee enterprises
- HR features less comprehensive than Employment Hero
vs Employment Hero: Better for rostering, simpler setup, more affordable. Less comprehensive HR suite.
8.3 /10
Best for large enterprises
Global workforce management platform with comprehensive features. Strong for multi-country operations and large enterprises with dedicated admin resources.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set
- Strong multi-country support
- Large integration marketplace
- Demand forecasting tools
Cons
- Complex pricing with required add-ons
- Support response times vary
- Overkill for small businesses
vs Employment Hero: Better for scheduling at scale, similar pricing complexity. Less HR depth.
7.7 /10
Best for time tracking accuracy
Australian workforce management platform with strong time and attendance features. Excels at clock-in controls, geofencing, and compliance reporting.
Pros
- Strong time tracking with geofencing
- Comprehensive reporting tools
- Good security features
- Australian-based company
Cons
- Modular pricing hard to predict
- Sales-led onboarding (no instant trial)
- Support limited to AEST hours
vs Employment Hero: Better time tracking, similar support hours limitation. Less HR functionality.
7.2 /10
Best budget option
All-in-one employee app with rostering, communication, and training. Strong value for budget-conscious businesses with deskless teams.
Pros
- Affordable flat-rate pricing
- Strong communication features
- Employee training tools
- Free plan for up to 10 users
Cons
- Limited Australian award support
- Xero sync issues reported
- US-based support hours
vs Employment Hero: Much cheaper, simpler to use. No Australian award interpretation.
Feature comparison vs Employment Hero
How the top alternatives compare to Employment Hero on key features:
| Feature | RosterElf | Deputy | Tanda | Connecteam | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rostering | |||||
| Drag-and-drop roster builder | |||||
| Staff list view | |||||
| Live labour cost budgeting | |||||
| Auto-scheduling | |||||
| Shift swap management | |||||
| Time & attendance | |||||
| GPS clock-in | |||||
| Photo verification | |||||
| Geofencing | |||||
| Kiosk/tablet mode | |||||
| Break tracking | |||||
| Compliance & payroll | |||||
| Australian award interpretation | |||||
| Xero integration | |||||
| MYOB integration | |||||
| Built-in payroll | |||||
| STP reporting | |||||
| HR features | |||||
| Employee onboarding | |||||
| Document management | |||||
| Leave management | |||||
| Performance reviews | |||||
| Digital contracts | |||||
Drag-and-drop roster builder
Staff list view
Live labour cost budgeting
Auto-scheduling
Shift swap management
GPS clock-in
Photo verification
Geofencing
Kiosk/tablet mode
Break tracking
Australian award interpretation
Xero integration
MYOB integration
Built-in payroll
STP reporting
Employee onboarding
Document management
Leave management
Performance reviews
Digital contracts
Feature availability based on our testing in January 2026. Check with providers for current features.
Xero App Store ratings
We analysed every Xero App Store review for each platform, examining common positive and negative feedback patterns. We chose to weight Xero ratings heavily for two reasons:
- Verified reviews — Xero requires users to log in with their Xero account, ensuring reviews come from actual customers, not fake accounts
- Critical integration — Xero is the accounting backbone for most Australian SMEs, making the quality of this integration a key success factor
89 reviews
89 reviews
View on Xero →
179 reviews
179 reviews
View on Xero →
51 reviews
51 reviews
View on Xero →
50 reviews
50 reviews
View on Xero →
15 reviews
15 reviews
View on Xero →
Ratings as of January 2026. Click to view current ratings on Xero App Store.
What Xero reviewers say
RosterElf
Reviewers consistently praise the seamless Xero integration, with timesheets flowing directly into payroll without manual data entry. Customer support receives frequent mentions, with users highlighting responsive, Australia-based help. Some users note occasional GPS clock-in issues and a learning curve during initial setup, though most describe the transition from spreadsheets as worthwhile. The 94% five-star rating reflects strong satisfaction among hospitality and retail businesses.
Deputy
Deputy's Xero integration receives mixed feedback. Positive reviews highlight time savings on payroll processing and appreciate the feature set for larger teams. However, a notable number of reviewers report integration difficulties, with some stating it "never worked" and criticising offshore support responsiveness. Users with complex award requirements note setup can be involved. The polarised ratings (many 5-star and 1-star reviews) suggest experiences vary significantly based on business complexity and support needs.
Tanda
Tanda's Xero integration is generally well-regarded, with reviewers praising the automatic timesheet sync and award interpretation accuracy. The platform's Australian focus resonates with local businesses, though some users note the modular pricing structure can be confusing when estimating total costs. Support receives mixed feedback — responsive when available, but limited to AEST business hours which can frustrate businesses operating outside standard hours. Time tracking features receive consistent praise, particularly the geofencing and kiosk mode.
Connecteam
Connecteam earns praise for its generous free tier (up to 10 users) and user-friendly mobile app. Reviewers appreciate the all-in-one approach combining rostering, communication, and time tracking. The main limitation flagged is the lack of native Australian award interpretation — users must manually configure pay rules, and some report hours not always syncing correctly to Xero. As a US-based platform, support hours and default settings (like geo-fence units) are US-centric.
Employment Hero
Reviews are notably polarised, with the lowest Xero rating among the five platforms. Positive reviewers praise the comprehensive HR and payroll suite when it works, with one noting the Xero integration is "seamless once set up." However, critical reviews cite complex setup processes, difficulty reaching support, and leave calculation errors. Several reviewers with extensive payroll experience describe it as unnecessarily complicated. The rostering module receives less focus than the core HR/payroll features.
Need a deeper Xero comparison? See our Xero payroll sync guide for detailed testing of how accurately each app sends timesheet data to Xero, including award calculations and manual correction time.
Best Employment Hero alternative by use case
Rostering-focused businesses
Hospitality, retail, healthcare — where scheduling is the daily priority.
Best choice: RosterElf
Large enterprises (200+ staff)
Multi-site operations with dedicated admin and complex workflows.
Best choice: Deputy
Time tracking priority
Businesses where accurate attendance and compliance reporting is critical.
Best choice: Tanda
Budget-conscious teams
Small businesses needing basic scheduling without compliance complexity.
Best choice: Connecteam
Pricing comparison
| Platform | Starting price | Minimum spend | 20 users/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| RosterElf | $6/user/month | $50/month | ~$120/month |
| Deputy | $9.75/user/month | None stated | ~$195/month + add-ons |
| Tanda | $5.50/user/month | Annual billing required | ~$110/month + add-ons |
| Connecteam | $35/month (30 users) | None | $35/month |
| Employment Hero | $20/employee/month | $200/month | $400/month+ |
Prices based on published rates as of January 2026. Contact providers for current pricing and enterprise discounts.
How to switch from Employment Hero
Export your data
Download employee information from Employment Hero via CSV export. Include names, contact details, positions, and pay rates.
Set up your new platform
Import staff data, configure award rates, and connect your Xero or MYOB integration. Most platforms offer free onboarding support.
Run parallel for one pay period
Complete your current pay period in Employment Hero, then start fresh with the new platform. Compare outputs to ensure accuracy.
Keep Employment Hero for records
Maintain access to your Employment Hero account for historical HR records, documents, and compliance data.
Need help switching? RosterElf offers free onboarding support including data migration assistance, award configuration, and staff training. Book a demo to discuss your migration.
Ready to switch from Employment Hero?
Start a free 14-day trial of RosterElf. No credit card required. Our team will help you migrate your data and get set up.
Employment Hero alternatives FAQ
- The best alternative depends on your priorities. For rostering-focused businesses, RosterElf offers simpler scheduling with better labour budgeting tools. For large enterprises, Deputy provides comprehensive workforce management. For budget-conscious teams, Connecteam offers affordable flat-rate pricing. For businesses focused on time tracking and compliance, Tanda provides strong award interpretation.
- Common reasons include: rostering features that feel basic compared to dedicated platforms, complex pricing with module add-ons, support only available during AEST hours (problematic for WA businesses), and challenging payroll setup with outdated documentation. Businesses focused primarily on rostering often find dedicated scheduling platforms more intuitive and cost-effective.
- Generally yes. RosterElf starts at $6/user/month (annual) with all features included and no minimum spend. Employment Hero starts at $20/employee/month with a $200/month minimum, and rostering, payroll, and advanced features are often additional modules. For a 20-person team, RosterElf would cost around $120/month vs Employment Hero at $400+/month.
- Yes. You can export employee information from Employment Hero including names, contact details, and positions. Most alternatives accept CSV imports for staff data. Historical HR records and documents stay in Employment Hero for compliance. Plan to run both systems in parallel for a pay period to ensure continuity.
- RosterElf includes practical HR tools designed for shift-based businesses: employee onboarding, document management, qualification tracking, digital employment contracts, and leave management. Employment Hero offers more extensive HR features (performance reviews, recruitment, incident reporting), but most SMEs find RosterElf's HR sufficient when rostering is the priority.