Deputy vs Employment Hero: honest comparison 2026 (Australia)
Updated 21 Oct 2026•14 min read
Written by
Steve Harris
Deputy and Employment Hero take fundamentally different approaches to workforce management. This guide compares the two for Australian businesses looking to choose between them—or explore alternatives like RosterElf.
Deputy focuses on rostering and time tracking with strong scheduling features and established Xero integration. Employment Hero is a comprehensive HR platform that offers rostering as a paid add-on alongside a broader employee management suite.
Overall: Deputy wins 5 of the 6 categories we can judge, making it the stronger choice for businesses prioritising rostering, time tracking, and payroll. Employment Hero excels as a comprehensive HR platform. We do not score value for money: Employment Hero's plan prices state no unit, so the two price lists cannot be set against each other like for like.
Quick summary
Deputy is a rostering-first platform designed for shift-based businesses. It offers intuitive scheduling, reliable time tracking with GPS, and a polished mobile app. Deputy integrates with Xero (3.9/5, 147 reviews) and MYOB for payroll export. Pricing is modular: Core is $8.75/user/month, and Core with Payroll and HR is $13.95/user/month as Deputy's bundle.
Employment Hero is a comprehensive HR platform that offers rostering as a paid add-on rather than a bundled feature. It offers robust onboarding, document management, recruitment, and performance tools. However, its Xero integration is weaker (3.1/5, 17 reviews), rostering lacks advanced features, and its published prices are $10 for HR Essentials and $10 for its Payroll plan (no unit stated), with rostering a $4 per employee/month add-on and a 10-user minimum on every plan.
Key difference: Deputy is purpose-built for rostering and time tracking. Employment Hero is HR-first with rostering as a secondary feature. Deputy's pay rules are set up manually; Employment Hero lists award interpretation in its Payroll plan (not tested by us). For automatic award compliance, consider RosterElf's award interpretation.
Pricing comparison
Deputy publishes per-user prices. Employment Hero publishes plan prices without a unit, plus per-employee add-ons and a minimum of 10 users:
Deputy pricing (AUD)
- Lite plan: $6.75/user/month
- Core plan: $8.75/user/month — rostering, time tracking, basic features
- Pro plan: $13.00/user/month
- Core + Payroll + HR bundle: $13.95/user/month ("Bundle & Save 15%")
- Add-ons: HR $3.50, Payroll $5.00, Messaging+ $2.75, Analytics+ $2.00 per user/month
Deputy uses modular pricing. Most businesses that want payroll and HR as well as rostering would take the bundle at $13.95/user/month; adding Messaging+ and Analytics+ brings it to $18.70/user/month. Prices exclude GST. Monthly Lite, Core and Pro plans carry a minimum spend of AUD $30 per invoice (Deputy's pricing page, checked 21 October 2026), which a very small team can hit before its per-user total does.
Employment Hero pricing (AUD)
- Payroll plan: $10 — unlimited pay runs and award interpretation
- HR Essentials: $10
- HR Engage: $14
- HR Elite / Employment Unlimited: custom priced; Employment Unlimited bundles HR Elite with payroll
- Rostering & time and attendance: add-on at $4 per employee/month, minimum $40/month — not bundled into any plan. It includes Budgeting and the Hero Time Clock (kiosk or mobile clock-in).
Employment Hero's pricing page states no unit, GST or billing interval beside the plan prices. Every plan requires a minimum of 10 users: billing is based on the higher of the users in your customer agreement and your active users, so a team under 10 is billed for 10. Its terms allow an optional minimum term, then monthly renewal with 30 days' notice. Employment Hero figures checked 21 October 2026; the platform is positioned for medium-to-large businesses with complex HR needs.
⭐ Pricing verdict: Headline price cannot be compared like for like from the published pages, because Employment Hero does not state what its plan prices are per. What separates them is scope and shape: Deputy is rostering-first and publishes a payroll rate, while Employment Hero is HR-first, sells rostering as a $4 per employee/month add-on, and publishes a separate Payroll plan at $10. Employment Hero's 10-user minimum also means teams under 10 are billed for 10. Ask Employment Hero for a quote for your headcount before comparing totals.
Rostering & scheduling
Deputy uses site-based scheduling designed for hospitality, retail, and healthcare. Both platforms offer core rostering software features, but with different approaches to complexity and automation. The scheduler shows staff vertically with shifts horizontally, making it easy to see who's working when. It includes demand forecasting, auto-scheduling, and multiple roster views (daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly).
Employment Hero's rostering is more basic. It lacks a staff list view (only calendar view) and has limited filtering options. Budgeting is sold as part of its rostering add-on, which we have not tested. The interface is less intuitive for managers who roster daily. Our review found it adequate for simple scheduling but insufficient for complex rostering needs.
Key differences
| Feature | Deputy | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-scheduling | ||
| Staff list view | ||
| Live labour budgeting | Add-on | |
| Demand forecasting | ||
| Shift templates | ||
| Award-aware rostering | Manual setup | Add-on (award-based costing, not tested by us) |
⭐ Rostering verdict: Deputy (9/10) significantly beats Employment Hero (7/10). Deputy is purpose-built for rostering with advanced scheduling tools. Employment Hero's rostering feels like an afterthought to its HR suite, lacking essential features for businesses where rostering drives operations.
Time tracking
Both platforms offer GPS-verified clock-ins as part of their time and attendance software, but Deputy's implementation is more reliable and faster according to user reviews.
Key differences
| Feature | Deputy | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| GPS clock-in | ||
| Geofencing | ||
| Photo verification | ||
| Kiosk mode | Add-on | |
| App performance | Fast & reliable | Can be slow |
⭐ Time tracking verdict: Deputy (9/10) beats Employment Hero (7/10). Both offer similar features on paper, but Deputy's time clock is faster, more reliable, and easier for staff to use. Employment Hero's app can be sluggish, particularly on older devices.
Payroll integration
Both platforms integrate with Xero and MYOB, but their integration quality differs dramatically based on Xero App Store ratings:
On the Xero App Store, Deputy holds 3.9/5 across 147 reviews against Employment Hero's 3.1/5 across 17 — the full ratings breakdown sits in user ratings below.
Deputy's Xero integration is well-established with 147 reviews. While some users report setup complexity, the integration is generally reliable once configured.
Employment Hero's Xero integration has a concerning 3.1/5 rating with only 17 reviews. Our review found broken documentation, non-functional tutorial videos, and a confusing setup process. User reviews mention frequent sync issues.
⭐ Payroll verdict: Deputy (7.5/10) clearly wins over Employment Hero (4/10). Deputy's Xero integration is significantly more mature and reliable. Employment Hero's weak Xero App Store rating reflects real integration issues. For businesses relying on Xero payroll, Deputy is the safer choice.
Mobile apps
Both platforms offer iOS and Android apps, but the user experience and focus differ significantly.
Deputy's app focuses on core workforce management: viewing rosters, clocking in/out, requesting leave, and swapping shifts. Staff find it fast and intuitive. The interface is clean without unnecessary features cluttering the experience.
Employment Hero's app (Employment Hero Work) covers rostering, HR, payroll, and "perks" like phone plan offers and shopping discounts. Many features feel irrelevant to daily workforce management. The app can feel cluttered, and some users report performance issues.
⭐ Mobile verdict: Deputy (9/10) beats Employment Hero (6/10). Deputy's app is faster, cleaner, and purpose-built for rostering tasks. Employment Hero's app tries to do too much, including lifestyle features that dilute the workforce management experience. For daily staff use, Deputy is significantly better.
Communication tools
Deputy offers basic team messaging and communication tools as a $2.75/user/month add-on (Messaging+). The communication features are functional but not extensive.
Employment Hero includes communication tools as part of its HR suite, including company updates, document sharing, and basic messaging. However, these features are integrated into the broader platform rather than standing out as a strength.
⭐ Communication verdict: Deputy (6/10) slightly edges Employment Hero (5/10). Neither platform excels at team communication. Deputy's focused approach is sufficient for shift-based communication. Employment Hero's features are more extensive but buried in the broader HR interface. For robust team communication, consider dedicated platforms.
HR features
This is where Employment Hero shines. As a comprehensive HR software platform, it offers significantly more depth than Deputy's basic HR add-on:
| Feature | Deputy | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Employee profiles | ||
| Leave management | ||
| Document storage | Basic | |
| Onboarding workflows | Basic | Comprehensive |
| Performance reviews | ||
| Recruitment tools | ||
| Learning management |
⭐ HR verdict: Employment Hero (8/10) beats Deputy (4/10). Employment Hero is built as a full HR platform with robust onboarding, performance management, and recruitment tools. Deputy's HR features are basic add-ons. If HR administration is a priority beyond rostering, Employment Hero provides more comprehensive tools.
Australian compliance
Employment Hero lists award interpretation in its Payroll plan and award-based costing in its rostering add-on (not tested by us). Deputy's pay rules are configured manually, as below.
Deputy allows manual setup of pay templates for penalty rates, overtime, and allowances. You're responsible for correctly configuring and maintaining these rules to match your award.
Employment Hero provides award templates to help with setup, but our review found the process confusing and poorly documented. We have not tested how automatically its Payroll plan applies award rules once set up.
For businesses covered by Modern Awards who need automatic penalty rate calculations without manual configuration, consider Australian-built alternatives like RosterElf which includes award interpretation as standard.
User ratings comparison
Both platforms have review profiles across major software directories, but Deputy scores significantly better:
Xero App Store ratings
| Platform | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy | 3.9/5 | 147 |
| Employment Hero | 3.1/5 | 17 |
Other platforms
| Platform | Deputy | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.6/5 (700) | 4.5/5 (200) |
| Capterra | 4.6/5 (700) | 4.5/5 (100) |
| 4.2/5 (1200) | 4.1/5 (618) |
⭐ Ratings verdict: Deputy scores higher on Xero App Store (critical for payroll users) and has significantly more reviews overall. Employment Hero's weak Xero rating (3.1/5) is particularly concerning. Both score similarly on G2 and Capterra, but Deputy's stronger payroll integration ratings make it more reliable for businesses using Xero.
Best fit & use cases
Choose Deputy for:
- Hospitality (cafes, restaurants, hotels)
- Retail with complex shift patterns
- Healthcare and aged care
- Teams prioritising rostering over HR
- Businesses needing reliable Xero integration
- Small-to-medium teams (under 50 staff)
Choose Employment Hero for:
- Medium-to-large businesses (50+ staff)
- HR-first operations (recruitment, onboarding, performance)
- Teams needing comprehensive employee lifecycle management
- Businesses prioritising HR over advanced rostering
- Companies comfortable with a 10-user minimum on every plan
Final verdict
Deputy wins for most Australian businesses. Its rostering-first design, reliable time tracking, superior Xero integration (147 reviews vs 17), and cleaner mobile app make it the better choice for hospitality, retail, and healthcare businesses where rostering drives operations.
Employment Hero wins for HR-focused businesses needing comprehensive onboarding, recruitment, and performance management beyond rostering. However, its weak Xero integration (3.1/5), poor rostering UX, and a 10-user minimum limits its appeal for small businesses or those prioritising rostering.
On awards: Deputy relies on manually configured pay rules, placing compliance responsibility on managers. Employment Hero lists award interpretation in its Payroll plan, which we have not tested. For automatic penalty rate calculations and Fair Work compliance, consider RosterElf.
Consider RosterElf?
If you're comparing Deputy and Employment Hero, you may want to consider RosterElf—an Australian-built, rostering-first alternative:
- Built-in award interpretation — automatic penalty rates for 130+ Modern Awards
- Award-ready timesheets — export to Xero/MYOB with penalties pre-calculated
- Published per-user pricing — Core (rostering, time and attendance and award interpretation) is $6/user/month + GST billed annually (minimum 10 seats), or $8/user/month + GST billed monthly (minimum 3 staff)
- Australian support — local team with award knowledge
- Superior Xero rating — 4.9/5 (93 reviews) vs Deputy's 3.9/5 and Employment Hero's 3.1/5
RosterElf pricing
Review methodology
Our review methodology
Learn how we evaluate workforce management platforms through hands-on testing and verified user feedback.
Feature comparisons are checked against each vendor's public documentation at the time of writing. Assessments of usability, fit and value are our reviewers' opinions, not statements of fact, and products change often. We'd encourage you to trial both platforms and judge for yourself. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it .
Related resources
Deputy vs Employment Hero FAQ
- Deputy is generally better for businesses prioritising rostering and time tracking, with superior scheduling tools, a more intuitive mobile app, and established payroll integrations. Employment Hero excels as a comprehensive HR platform but is less focused on rostering. For rostering-first businesses, Deputy offers better value. For full HR suites, consider whether you need all of Employment Hero's features.
- Deputy's base plan starts at $8.75/user/month and Deputy sells Core with Payroll and HR as a bundle at $13.95/user/month ($18.70 with Messaging+ and Analytics+ added). Employment Hero publishes a Payroll plan at $10 and HR plans at $10 (HR Essentials) and $14 (HR Engage), with no unit, GST or billing interval stated beside those prices, a minimum of 10 users on every plan, and rostering as a $4 per employee/month add-on (minimum $40/month). Because Employment Hero does not state what its plan prices are per, the two cannot be compared like for like from the published pages: ask Employment Hero for a quote for your headcount. Employment Hero figures checked 21 October 2026.
- Deputy has a more established Xero integration with a 3.9/5 rating (147 reviews). Employment Hero's Xero integration has a much lower 3.1/5 rating (17 reviews), with user reports of setup difficulties and broken documentation. For businesses relying on Xero payroll, Deputy is the safer choice.
- Deputy's mobile app is cleaner, faster, and more focused on rostering tasks that staff use daily (viewing shifts, clocking in/out, requesting leave). Employment Hero's mobile app includes more features but feels cluttered with lifestyle add-ons (phone plans, perks) that aren't core to workforce management. For staff-facing simplicity, Deputy wins.
- Yes, both platforms allow CSV exports of employee data. The main considerations are workflow differences (Deputy's rostering focus vs Employment Hero's HR-first approach) and integration setup. Deputy's simpler rostering interface may require less staff retraining. Ensure your operational priorities align with your chosen platform before switching.
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