Honest Connecteam vs RosterElf comparison 2026 (Australia)

Choosing the right workforce management platform isn't just a software decision — it affects labour costs, staffing reliability and day-to-day operations. This guide provides a comprehensive workforce management software comparison between RosterElf and Connecteam, focusing on scheduling, time and attendance, payroll integration and compliance features that matter most to Australian shift-based businesses.

Connecteam and RosterElf take different approaches to scheduling, compliance and payroll, making the choice highly dependent on business type and workforce structure.

Read our honest Connecteam review 2026

In-depth analysis of Connecteam's pricing, rostering, time tracking, payroll integration, and mobile apps.

Read full review

Who wins? Category-by-category comparison

8

categories won

• Rostering & scheduling
• Time & attendance
• Timesheets & payroll
• Smartphone apps
• HR tools
• Analytics & reporting
• User ratings
• Customer support

3

categories won

• Free tier pricing
• Communication features
• Security & privacy

Best fit depends on workforce type — mobile vs site-based

Quick summary

Connecteam is a US-based workforce management platform designed for mobile and deskless workforces. It offers scheduling, time tracking, communication, and HR tools through a hub-based pricing model (Operations, Communications, HR & Skills). The platform emphasises team communication features like in-app chat and updates, with a free tier for small teams.

RosterElf is an Australian-built rostering, HR and payroll-prep platform designed for shift-based SMEs, offering drag-and-drop rostering, a mobile and kiosk time clock, strong Xero and MYOB payroll integrations, AUD pricing, and local Australian support, with an optional HR layer for contracts, policies and onboarding.

Pricing & plans

Both platforms offer monthly and annual billing, but their pricing structures differ significantly. RosterElf uses a straightforward per-employee model designed for Australian businesses, while Connecteam uses a hub-based system where you purchase separate "hubs" for different functions.

Connecteam offers a free tier (Small Business Plan) for teams up to 10 users, which is attractive for very small operations. However, to match RosterElf's feature set, most businesses need to combine multiple paid hubs.

How RosterElf and connecteam price their plans

Connecteam pricing structure (monthly billing, USD)

Connecteam divides its platform into three hubs, each with four tiers (Basic, Advanced, Expert, Enterprise). For a fair comparison with RosterElf Full Suite, we use Expert tier which includes full features like API access and unlimited functionality:

• Operations Hub Expert: $119 USD (~$184 AUD)/month for 30 users + $5.00/extra user
• Communications Hub Expert: $119 USD (~$184 AUD)/month for 30 users + $3.60/extra user
• HR & Skills Hub Expert: $119 USD (~$184 AUD)/month for 30 users + $3.60/extra user
• All 3 hubs at Expert: $357 USD (~$553 AUD)/month for 30 users

Note: Connecteam offers a free tier for up to 10 users with all features — a genuine advantage for very small teams.

View current pricing at Connecteam's pricing page.

RosterElf pricing

Monthly price comparison (30 employees, full features)

Cost at different team sizes (Expert vs full Suite)

Pricing scales differently as your team grows. Here's how the two platforms compare at various team sizes using Connecteam Expert (all 3 hubs) vs RosterElf Full Suite:

Free tier comparison

Connecteam's Small Business Plan offers free access for up to 10 users, including basic scheduling, time tracking, and communication features. This makes it attractive for very small teams or those testing the platform.

RosterElf offers a 15-day free trial but no permanent free tier. However, RosterElf's trial includes full access to all features including award interpretation, which Connecteam doesn't offer at any price point.

Connecteam vs RosterElf pricing summary

RosterElf's pricing is straightforward: $8 AUD per employee/month covers rostering, time tracking, GPS clock-ins, award interpretation, and Xero/MYOB integration. The Full Suite at $10/month adds HR tools. All features are in a single platform.

Connecteam's hub-based model can appear cheaper on paper, but matching RosterElf's full feature set requires purchasing multiple hubs. The modular pricing structure means costs can add up quickly when subscribing to multiple hubs.

The key differentiator isn't just price—it's functionality. Both platforms integrate with Xero and MYOB, but Connecteam lacks Australian award interpretation and Fair Work compliance tools. RosterElf automatically calculates penalty rates and exports award-ready timesheets, while Connecteam requires manual pay rule configuration. For Australian businesses with Modern Award requirements, this missing feature may require significant manual work or additional software.

Rostering & scheduling

Both platforms offer scheduling tools for shift-based teams, but they approach rostering from different perspectives. Connecteam positions scheduling as part of its broader Operations Hub, while RosterElf treats rostering as its core function with dedicated Australian compliance features.

A key consideration for Australian businesses is Fair Work-aware rostering. RosterElf approaches this through award-aware shift rules and built-in compliance checks, while Connecteam relies on manual configuration without native Australian award support.

This section examines the core elements that influence daily roster creation—views, shift detail, filtering, automation and the overall scheduling experience.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: scheduling comparison

This section examines how RosterElf and Connecteam approach day-to-day rostering, including layout, usability, views, shift detail, and advanced scheduling tools.

Both platforms offer core rostering functionality, but their approaches differ significantly in complexity and Australian compliance.

Scheduler layout & first impressions

Connecteam uses a "Job Scheduler" interface designed for mobile-first deskless teams. The scheduler displays shifts in a grid view with employees listed vertically. The interface is clean but prioritises simplicity over information density—you'll often need to click into shifts to see full details.

RosterElf uses "Roster" terminology familiar to Australian and NZ businesses. The layout places staff vertically with shifts aligned horizontally, making it immediately clear who is working and when. Colour separation between shifts and rows makes the roster easier to scan at a glance. Shift cells show more information up front—including site, position, shift time and breaks—reducing the need to click into each shift.

Shift detail & information density

Connecteam's shift cards show basic information on the grid—job name, time, and location. To see full shift details including notes, attachments, or requirements, you need to click into the shift modal.

RosterElf compresses more detail into each shift tile (e.g., site, role, time, break duration), giving managers more context without opening a modal. This higher information density reduces clicks during roster building.

Scheduler views & navigation

RosterElf

• Daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly views
• Staff, site, and position views built in
• Filters are placed within the roster screen
• One-click "clear filters" option
• Ability to show live availability and approved leave directly on the roster

Connecteam

• Daily and weekly views available
• Employee and job-based views
• Filter by employee, job, or status
• No dedicated fortnightly or monthly view
• Availability shown as "Time Off" but requires clicking into employee details

RosterElf's inline filtering makes scenario-based roster adjustments faster (e.g., view one site + one position + only published shifts). Connecteam's filtering is functional but less granular, and the absence of Australian-specific views like fortnightly may require workarounds for businesses using fortnightly pay cycles.

Adding, editing & repeating shifts

Connecteam's shift creation uses a straightforward modal. You select a job, assign employees, set times, and add optional details like location, notes, or attachments. The interface is clean but lacks real-time cost calculations or staff suitability scoring. Shifts can be duplicated or set to repeat.

Adding a shift in RosterElf is a single-step process: click, enter shift details, adjust break time, add notes, and review suggested staff with their average rate. Shift-level analytics are displayed directly inside the modal, giving instant cost and suitability insights. Repeating a shift or assigning multiple staff can also be done from the same screen.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: scheduling automation

Connecteam offers "Auto Scheduling" on higher-tier plans that can fill open shifts based on availability and qualifications. The feature works for basic scheduling needs but lacks the sophistication of dedicated workforce management platforms. There's no demand forecasting or AI-driven optimisation.

RosterElf's "Perfect Match" recommendation selects the most suitable staff based on site, role, availability, qualifications, and award rates. While not fully automated, it provides transparent suggestions that managers can review and approve, ensuring cost-awareness and compliance at each step.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: labour cost comparison

Connecteam does not offer real-time labour costing during roster creation. There's no visibility into shift costs, overtime thresholds, or budget tracking as you build schedules. Cost reporting is available through separate reports but isn't integrated into the scheduling workflow.

RosterElf includes budgeting directly within the roster, allowing managers to see real-time updates to hours, labour cost, average rates and labour percentages as shifts change. With Australian award interpretation built in, costs reflect actual penalty rates, overtime, and allowances.

Publishing & notifications

Both platforms support publishing schedules with push notifications. Connecteam sends notifications through its mobile app, while RosterElf offers app, email, and SMS (at additional cost) options. RosterElf allows publishing individual shifts or entire rosters from within the roster view.

RosterElf provides drag-and-drop roster building with shift templates, open shift broadcasting, and automatic conflict detection for overtime or availability clashes. Rosters can be published directly to staff via the mobile app, and the system integrates award interpretation to flag potential compliance issues before publishing.

Connecteam offers straightforward scheduling with shift templates and open shift features. The platform is designed for mobile-first teams and includes shift swapping and employee availability tracking. However, it lacks Australian award interpretation and real-time labour costing during roster creation.

For Australian businesses, the key difference is compliance. RosterElf's built-in award interpretation and real-time cost calculations make it significantly easier to create compliant, cost-controlled rosters. Connecteam's scheduling works well for basic needs but requires manual compliance management.

Time & attendance

Both platforms offer time tracking tools, but they approach clock-ins, verification, and payroll integration differently. In this time and attendance comparison, we analyse clock-in methods, GPS accuracy, approval workflows and compliance controls.

For clarity in this review, we examine the core elements that influence daily attendance accuracy—GPS enforcement, photo proof, device controls, tolerances, and the overall manager experience.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: time & attendance deep dive

Settings structure & ease of use

Connecteam's Time Clock feature is part of the Operations Hub and offers straightforward settings for clock-in methods. The interface is clean and mobile-focused, with settings accessible through the Time Clock configuration area.

Connecteam's time clock options include:

• Mobile app clock-in
• GPS location capture
• Kiosk mode for shared devices
• Geofencing with customisable radius
• Photo capture (optional)

RosterElf configures settings per site under each location's Time & Attendance tab — making them faster to find and easier to adjust. Settings include GPS enforcement, photo proof, break reminders, and tolerance windows.

RosterElf also provides global Time & Attendance controls, allowing administrators to instantly:

• Disable all clock-ins platform-wide
• Enable unscheduled shifts
• Generate/reset a kiosk PIN

These global controls provide stronger administrative oversight than Connecteam's site-by-site approach.

GPS accuracy & geo-fencing

Connecteam captures GPS location on mobile clock-ins and supports geofencing. You can set a radius around job locations to restrict where employees can clock in. The geofencing feature works well for mobile teams but is centred on job addresses rather than custom pin locations.

RosterElf also provides GPS capture and geolocation enforcement, but includes a standout feature: custom geo-pin placement for each site. Managers can drop the pin on the exact clock-in location, which is especially important for businesses operating inside shopping centres, multi-unit complexes or any environment where the official business address does not match the physical clock-in point. This level of precision improves accuracy and reduces false flags.

Photo proof, tolerances & behaviour controls

Connecteam offers optional photo capture for clock-ins on mobile and kiosk modes. However, it doesn't support required notes for early or late clock-ins or provide the same level of tolerance customisation as RosterElf.

RosterElf includes photo proof, adjustable GPS tolerance and an adjustable Time Tolerance setting that prompts staff to leave a note when they clock in too early or too late — a control not available in Connecteam.

This strengthens audit trails and payroll accuracy by adding context to deviations in attendance behaviour.

Device options, kiosk controls & flexibility

Connecteam supports both mobile app and kiosk modes. The kiosk feature is clean and works well for shared devices at fixed locations. However, settings are primarily designed for mobile-first teams.

RosterElf's Time & Attendance tab provides clear visibility of tablet vs mobile permissions, kiosk PIN access and unscheduled shift rules. The layout is simpler and more manager-friendly, particularly for multi-site operations where quick navigation and consistent settings matter.

Real-world fit: operational differences

See which time and attendance system best suits your business needs.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: timesheets & payroll

Payroll accuracy is critical for shift-based businesses, and this is where RosterElf and Connecteam differ most significantly. RosterElf provides deep Australian payroll integration with award interpretation, while Connecteam offers basic timesheet exports without local compliance features.

Deep dive: timesheets & payroll

RosterElf vs Connecteam: payroll setup comparison

Connecteam's time clock generates timesheets that can be exported to various formats (PDF, Excel, CSV) and integrates with Xero (AU) and MYOB Business for timesheet syncing. However, the platform does not offer built-in Australian award interpretation or automatic penalty rate calculation — you'll need to configure pay rules manually.

For Australian businesses, this means timesheets from Connecteam export hours and basic overtime, but calculating penalty rates, public holiday loadings, and other award entitlements must be configured manually in Connecteam or done in your accounting software — adding administrative overhead compared to automatic award interpretation.

RosterElf takes a different approach: instead of basic timesheet export, it focuses on payroll preparation and exporting clean, award-interpreted data directly into Xero or MYOB. Payroll setup involves connecting your accounting system and selecting your pay calendar, resulting in a simplified workflow.

The platform avoids requesting business details that already exist inside Xero or MYOB, reducing duplication and significantly cutting setup time. RosterElf's payroll setup is designed for speed and simplicity.

RosterElf's payroll settings include:

• Auto-Approve Payroll — instantly approves all hours for small teams to remove manual steps
• Auto Rounding — rules to round start, break and finish times to rostered or nearest increments

Neither of these features are available in Connecteam.

RosterElf vs Connecteam: award interpretation comparison

Connecteam does not offer Australian award interpretation. The platform exports raw hours only—no penalty rates, overtime calculations, or award-specific entitlements are applied.

For businesses operating under modern awards (Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail, SCHADS, Health Professionals, etc.), this means:

• Manual calculation of penalty rates and overtime
• No automatic public holiday loadings
• No age-based rate adjustments for junior employees
• Higher risk of payroll errors and compliance issues

Australian businesses using Connecteam typically need additional payroll software or significant manual processing to support compliance with Fair Work requirements.

RosterElf provides one of the most flexible award interpretation engines in this category. Users can create custom pay templates that cover ordinary hours, public holiday rates, daily overtime, weekly overtime and allowances. All rules can be configured by day, time of day and penalty brackets. When connected to Xero, RosterElf automatically imports pay item codes, ensuring alignment between interpreted hours and payroll items.

The ability to duplicate pay templates makes it quick to set up multiple age brackets or classifications. In testing, a full future pay run setup in RosterElf was completed in around 30 minutes, highlighting its speed and accessibility.

There are some minor limitations. Certain overtime ranges may require assistance from RosterElf's support team to adjust, and allowance amounts do not currently feed into budgeting, although this does not affect payroll accuracy.

Even with these small constraints, RosterElf's pay template system remains significantly more accessible for non-payroll specialists and is well suited to SMEs that need reliable award interpretation without complexity.

Timesheet review, approvals & payroll export

Connecteam's timesheet review provides a clear interface for approving hours. Timesheets show clock-in times, breaks, and total hours per employee. Managers can approve, edit, or reject entries before export.

Connecteam does offer Xero (AU) and MYOB Business integrations for syncing timesheets. However, the integration exports hours without Australian award interpretation — meaning penalty rates, overtime calculations, and allowances must be configured manually in Connecteam or calculated separately.

RosterElf provides a simplified payroll preparation process that brings timesheet review, rounding, approvals and export into a unified workflow. Shifts can be auto-approved when enabled, and auto-rounding rules are applied before export. A clear "ready for payroll" dashboard ensures managers always know which timesheets still require attention.

Exporting to Xero and MYOB is seamless, with award interpretation applied before the data is sent across, reducing the need for manual corrections.

RosterElf's design philosophy emphasises speed and accuracy, enabling managers to finalise payroll in minutes rather than hours.

Real-world fit: operational differences

RosterElf vs Connecteam: communication tools

Effective communication is crucial for shift-based teams, especially when last-minute roster changes, shift offers, location updates or urgent announcements need to reach staff quickly. This is where Connecteam excels—communication is a core strength of the platform.

Communication features deep dive

Messaging layout & usability

Connecteam's Communications Hub is one of its standout features. The platform offers comprehensive communication tools including in-app chat (1:1 and group), company updates/announcements, surveys, and an employee directory. The interface is well-designed and mobile-first.

Key Connecteam communication features include:

• Real-time chat with read receipts
• Company-wide updates with likes, comments, and reactions
• Targeted messaging by team, location, or custom groups
• Push notifications for urgent communications
• Surveys and polls for team feedback

RosterElf offers an instant-messaging style chat system focused on operational communication.

Key strengths include:

• Fast chat creation with near-instant performance
• Filtering options when creating groups such as site, position, selected staff or select all
• Clear separation between Group Chats and Direct Messages
• Chat descriptions for context on ongoing threads

RosterElf also supports media sharing, emojis, notifications and muting options. While not as feature-rich as Connecteam's Communications Hub, it covers essential operational messaging needs.

Notifications & operational messaging

Connecteam's Communications Hub is available as a separate subscription (~$47.25 AUD base + $0.75/user). It includes features like company updates with social-style engagement, surveys, knowledge base articles, and events.

RosterElf includes all core messaging features without any add-on fees. This covers team messages, individual messages, location-based messages, roster change notifications, shift offer notifications, broadcast announcements and push notifications for approvals and updates.

Because messaging is included by default, SMEs do not face rising costs as communication needs increase, making it a more predictable option for growing teams.

Real-world fit: operational differences

RosterElf vs Connecteam: mobile app comparison

Mobile access is essential for shift-based teams, where staff and managers rely on their phones to check rosters, clock in, approve timesheets and communicate on the go. Both RosterElf and Connecteam provide iOS and Android apps—but Connecteam's mobile-first design gives it an edge in app experience, while RosterElf offers stronger Australian compliance features.

Mobile app features deep dive

Core mobile capabilities

Connecteam's mobile app is designed for deskless workers and provides a comprehensive feature set. Staff can view schedules, clock in/out with GPS, access company updates, chat with team members, complete tasks and checklists, and access training materials.

The app also integrates with Connecteam's Updates feature, allowing organisations to broadcast announcements directly to staff with social-style engagement. Multi-location switching is smooth, making the app well suited to businesses with distributed or mobile teams.

Connecteam's mobile app is primarily designed for employee use rather than deep management functionality. Managers have limited ability to configure settings or award rules from mobile. The app excels at employee experience but may require desktop access for administrative tasks.

RosterElf's mobile app includes the same core functions staff expect, such as viewing rosters, clocking in and out with GPS and photo verification, requesting leave, managing availability and swapping shifts. It also extends further with several manager-level capabilities that give Australian businesses more control from mobile.

Key manager tools include:

• Add or edit staff profiles
• Add or edit sites and positions
• Built-in WorkWise AI for Fair Work interpretation and guidance
• Direct in-app support for staff and managers
• A manager dashboard with insights, rostered hours and pay-rate trends

RosterElf's mobile app also delivers strong performance. Group creation, navigation and data loading are fast and responsive, giving managers a smoother experience when working on the go. The additional management tools make the app well suited to SMEs that need real-time decision making from anywhere.

Additional capabilities & performance

Connecteam's mobile app offers strong capabilities for deskless and mobile workforces. Key features include task management and checklists, forms and reports, training and knowledge base access, and comprehensive communication tools. The app is designed for teams that spend little time at desks.

RosterElf offers several mobile capabilities that provide managers with greater control while on the go. The ability to amend sites and positions directly from the mobile app gives managers flexibility not available in Connecteam. Full staff management tools are available, allowing updates to staff profiles, employment details and permissions without needing to switch to desktop.

Built-in AI assistance through WorkWise provides guidance on compliance and Fair Work requirements, helping managers make informed decisions in real time. The app also delivers faster chat creation and smoother navigation, improving day-to-day communication across teams. In-app support is available for both managers and employees, ensuring questions or issues can be resolved quickly. The manager insights dashboard presents visual trends for rostered hours and pay-rate patterns, making it easier to stay across operational performance from anywhere.

Real-world fit: operational differences

RosterElf vs Connecteam: HR tools comparison

Modern workforce platforms increasingly include HR features that extend beyond rostering and timesheets. Both RosterElf and Connecteam offer HR tools, but they approach this differently. Connecteam offers HR through its separate HR & Skills Hub, while RosterElf integrates HR directly into its core platform.

HR features deep dive

Scope of HR features & pricing

Connecteam's HR & Skills Hub is available as a separate subscription (~$47.25 AUD base + $0.75/user). It includes employee documents, training courses, quizzes, recognition and rewards, and timeline events. The training and skills focus is particularly strong.

However, Connecteam's HR features are designed for a global audience and lack Australian-specific compliance tools. There's no built-in support for Australian employment contracts, Fair Work policies, or local compliance requirements.

RosterElf's HR Hub is included in the Full Suite plan at $10 per employee/month (or $7 with annual billing), giving SMEs immediate value without adding to their software stack.

The HR Hub is a well-rounded and intuitive module that focuses on the essential HR functions small and medium businesses need. It includes employee onboarding, fully customisable digital contracts, an editable policies and procedures library, centralised document storage and qualification or certification tracking with automatic expiry alerts.

RosterElf prioritises simplicity and compliance for SME environments, making it easy for businesses to manage core HR requirements without purchasing additional HR systems or navigating complex setup processes.

Onboarding experience

Connecteam's onboarding uses an "onboarding packs" approach, where document bundles are assigned to staff based on their group or role. The process involves configuring document packs, setting validity periods, and assigning them to new hires. While functional, the setup can feel scattered across multiple menus.

Connecteam does not provide pre-built HR documents, employment contracts, or policy templates. Businesses need to create or source their own documentation externally — potentially requiring HR consultants or legal advice for Australian employment compliance.

RosterElf's onboarding is more direct, with fewer menus and clearer steps. Staff can receive digital contracts and policy documents automatically, with tracked acknowledgements and integrated qualification requirements. RosterElf includes pre-built Australian employment contract templates.

Where Connecteam focuses on document collection, RosterElf provides a complete onboarding workflow with Australian-specific contracts, policies, and compliance tracking built in.

Documents & policies

Connecteam's document system allows businesses to upload HR documents and assign them to staff via onboarding packs. Document validity periods can be configured for items like first aid certificates or licences that require renewal. However, there is no template library or contract builder within the platform.

For Australian businesses, this means sourcing employment contracts, policies, and compliance documents externally — adding setup time and potential cost for HR or legal assistance.

RosterElf supports fully customisable employment contracts, an editable policy library, automated document delivery with tracked acknowledgements and role-specific document assignments. These tools give SMEs a complete, flexible way to manage HR documentation without relying on external systems or manual workflows.

RosterElf delivers more functionality at a lower cost, and the value increases further for customers on annual plans where the HR Hub is included at no additional charge.

Training & skills

Connecteam's HR & Skills Hub includes training courses, quizzes, and a knowledge base for employee development. This is one of Connecteam's standout features—businesses can create custom training content, track completion, and ensure staff meet skill requirements before being assigned to certain roles.

The platform also offers employee recognition and rewards features, celebrations for milestones, and an organisational chart. These engagement tools suit businesses focused on employee development and team culture.

RosterElf focuses on compliance-driven HR rather than training content. While RosterElf tracks qualifications and certifications with expiry alerts, it does not include a training course builder or knowledge base. For businesses needing extensive staff training features, Connecteam offers more in this area.

Real-world fit: operational differences

RosterElf vs Connecteam: reporting comparison

Both RosterElf and Connecteam offer reporting capabilities, but they take noticeably different approaches in design, depth and usability.

Data-driven insights help businesses improve labour costs and workforce planning. Both platforms offer reporting capabilities with different levels of depth.

RosterElf includes built-in analytics covering labour costs, roster efficiency, attendance patterns and payroll summaries. Reports can be filtered by location, team or date range, and exported for further analysis. These features are included in the core plan.

Connecteam takes a form-based approach to data collection rather than traditional pre-built reports. The platform emphasises custom checklists and forms that staff complete during shifts. Reports can be generated from this collected form data, but there are no standard labour cost, attendance, or scheduling reports out of the box.

RosterElf's included analytics meet the needs of most SMEs with ready-to-use reports. Connecteam's approach suits businesses with specific data collection needs but may feel lacking for standard workforce analytics.

Best fit & use cases

RosterElf and Connecteam suit different types of organisations, so understanding where each platform performs best helps clarify which tool is the better fit for your team.

RosterElf is best for

• Australian shift-based SMEs: RosterElf is purpose-built for Australian businesses with built-in Fair Work award interpretation and strong Xero/MYOB integrations.
• Hospitality, retail and healthcare teams: Drag-and-drop rostering, mobile time clock, and payroll-prep features are designed for these industries.

Connecteam is best for

• Mobile and deskless workforces: Connecteam's job-based scheduling and GPS breadcrumb tracking suit field service, construction, and mobile teams.
• Teams prioritising communication: The Communications Hub with chat, updates, and surveys is a standout feature for team engagement.

Use cases deep dive

RosterElf is most naturally suited to Australian shift-based SMEs that want straightforward rostering, strong payroll integrations, and Australian award interpretation without enterprise-grade complexity. Its clean interface, fast setup, and predictable pricing make it ideal for teams that value ease of use and minimal administrative overhead.

Connecteam is designed for mobile and deskless workforces. Its job-based scheduling approach, GPS tracking, and comprehensive communication tools suit field service businesses, construction teams, and distributed workforces that need to stay connected on the go.

Both platforms are strong, but they excel in different contexts — RosterElf for Australian compliance and simplicity, Connecteam for communication and mobile team management.

User ratings (independent & non-incentivised sources only)

To ensure a fair and transparent comparison, this evaluation focuses only on non-incentivised, publicly verifiable review sources.

Platforms like Capterra and G2 were intentionally excluded due to the prevalence of paid review programmes.

The two most reliable sources for Australian workforce management software are:

• Google Reviews — public, unfiltered, and widely trusted
• Xero App Store Reviews — verified by real businesses using payroll integrations

Below is how RosterElf and Connecteam compare across these independent channels.

Google reviews

Connecteam — Google reviews

RosterElf — Google reviews (4.8/5, 180 reviews)

RosterElf maintains an active Google Business profile with consistently positive feedback.

Recent reviews highlight:

• Ease of use & quick learning curve
• Exceptional support (multiple mentions of named team members)
• Clear payroll improvements
• Reliable rostering and onboarding experience

Example recent Google feedback:

"Really detailed and helpful… First time user of a rostering software."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Partap S., 5 days ago

"Extremely happy… a great improvement on the previous system we were using."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Andrew N., 4 weeks ago

"Completely transformed the way I manage my business."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Zalia J., 10 weeks ago

"The best user-friendly system I have used."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Noreen T., 35 weeks ago

"Integrates well with Xero. Exactly what we needed."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — David S., 48 weeks ago

Across more than 30 recent reviews, RosterElf consistently receives praise for:

• Australian-based, responsive support
• Simplicity for new users
• Payroll accuracy & Xero integration
• Helpful onboarding guidance

Xero app store reviews

For Australian businesses using Xero for payroll, the Xero App Store provides verified reviews from real businesses.

Connecteam — Xero App Store rating: 4.7/5 (50 reviews)

Connecteam's Xero integration receives generally positive feedback (4.7/5 from 50 reviews). Common themes include:

• Free tier praised for small teams
• Good for basic timesheet syncing
• Some users report issues with hours not transferring correctly
• Integration setup can require troubleshooting

On incentivised platforms like Capterra (4.8/5), G2 (4.7/5), and GetApp (4.8/5), additional themes include:

• Good communication features
• Feature breadth praised
• UI complexity and learning curve mentioned as downsides

RosterElf — Xero App Store rating: 4.9/5 (90 reviews)

RosterElf's Xero integration receives exceptionally strong feedback, with consistently high ratings and commentary emphasising:

• Accurate award interpretation
• Seamless payroll exports
• Excellent customer service

Examples:

"Excellent app… simple and easy to use."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Allison L., Jul 2025

"Always excellent customer service… super patient and helpful."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Jen D., May 2025

"Great support… helpful bringing our business onboard."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Brad P., Mar 2025

"Very intuitive and easy to use… responsive staff."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Libby F., Oct 2024

"Award interpretation is spot-on… removed so many payroll errors."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Sarah L., Aug 2024

Xero reviewers consistently highlight:

• Fast setup
• Reliable payroll accuracy
• Support that goes beyond the basics
• Ease of use for non-technical managers

Independent review summary

What the independent data shows

RosterElf has a significantly stronger presence on independent review platforms relevant to Australian businesses:

• Listed and highly rated on Xero App Store (4.88/5)
• Active Google Business profile with verified reviews
• Consistent feedback on Australian payroll accuracy
• Positive sentiment on local support responsiveness

Connecteam's reviews on incentivised platforms highlight strengths in:

• Communication and engagement features
• Mobile app experience
• Training and onboarding tools

However, the absence from Xero App Store and Google Reviews limits transparency for Australian businesses evaluating the platform.

Security & privacy

Both platforms store sensitive employee data, so security is non-negotiable. Here's how they compare.

Security features compared

Security and privacy deep dive

Both platforms take security seriously. Connecteam holds SOC 2 Type II certification and offers SSO for enterprise customers—features RosterElf currently lacks. However, RosterElf is more transparent about PII encryption at rest and redundancy/restore capabilities on its public-facing security pages.

For Australian SMEs without enterprise compliance mandates, RosterElf's documented security posture is generally sufficient. Larger organisations or those in regulated industries may lean towards Connecteam's SOC 2 certification and SSO support.

Customer support

Support quality matters, especially when you're mid-shift and something breaks. Here's how each platform handles it.

Support channels compared

Support experience

RosterElf support is Australian-based and accessible via phone, email and live chat during business hours. The team is known for being responsive and hands-on, which suits SMEs that want quick answers without navigating enterprise-tier support queues. RosterElf also offers Elf AI, an AI-powered assistant embedded in the platform for self-service queries.

Connecteam's support is provided by a global team with various support tiers based on plan level. Phone support is generally reserved for Enterprise customers. The support team covers multiple time zones but is not specifically Australian-focused, which may result in timezone delays for local businesses.

Final verdict: connecteam vs RosterElf

After testing both platforms extensively, here's the bottom line for Australian businesses.

Category winners at a glance

Recommended for Australian SMEs

Choose RosterElf if you:

• Operate under Australian Modern Awards
• Have 5–150 employees
• Want automated penalty rate calculations
• Use Xero or MYOB for payroll
• Prefer simple, fast implementation
• Value responsive, Australian-based support

Start free trial

Communication focus

Choose Connecteam if you:

• Have a mobile/deskless workforce
• Prioritise team communication and engagement
• Don't need Australian award interpretation
• Want training and knowledge base features
• Require SSO and SOC 2 compliance

Visit Connecteam

Review methodology

Related resources