Editor's Verdict

Best All-in-One HR Platform
for APAC & UK SMBs

4.2
★★★★☆
Very Good
Employment Hero consolidates HR, payroll, and recruitment into one platform, reducing admin overhead by 30-40%. Winner of Finder Awards 2025 "Most Recommended HR Software in Australia" based on 60,000+ consumer responses.

What We Love

  • All-in-one HR, payroll & recruitment
  • AI-powered SmartMatch hiring
  • Strong AU/NZ/UK compliance
  • Transparent, published pricing

! Could Be Better

  • No free plan (demo only)
  • Expensive for teams under 10
  • Support varies during peak times
✓ Personalized demo • No commitment required Request Free Demo →

See Employment Hero in Action

Real screenshots showcasing key platform capabilities.

1

SmartMatch AI Recruitment

AI-powered candidate scoring ranks applicants automatically

Employment Hero SmartMatch AI recruitment interface showing candidate scoring
SmartMatch ScoreAI ranks candidates 0-100
Pipeline ViewTrack from new to hired
One-Click ActionsMove, email, or onboard instantly
2

Timesheet Management

Approve timesheets with full visibility into hours, costs, and status

Employment Hero timesheet approval interface
Real-Time CostsSee labor costs before approval
Bulk ActionsApprove multiple at once
3

Live Attendance with Geofencing

Track employee clock-ins with location verification

Employment Hero geofencing map for attendance tracking
Live Map ViewSee who's clocked in where
GeofencingVerify work site presence
4

Workflow Automation

65+ pre-built templates to automate HR processes

Employment Hero workflow automation template hub
Template HubPre-built automations ready to use
Quick SetupDeploy workflows in minutes
5

Expense Auto-Approval

Configure rules to auto-approve low-value routine expenses

Employment Hero expense approval automation setup
Threshold RulesSet auto-approve amounts
Category FiltersTarget specific expense types

Ready to see these features for your business?

Request Your Demo →Personalized walkthrough • No commitment

How Employment Hero Works

1

Connect Your Business

Implementation team helps migrate employee data from existing systems. Typical setup takes 2-6 weeks depending on complexity.

2

Configure HR & Payroll

Set up policies, compliance rules, pay cycles, and approval workflows. Native support for AU, NZ, UK, SG, and CA tax regulations.

3

Automate Workflows

Choose from 65+ pre-built automation templates for onboarding, expenses, leave, and more. Create custom workflows as needed.

4

Empower Employees

Staff use the self-service portal for leave requests, payslips, timesheets, and personal data—reducing HR admin by 30-40%.

Enterprise-Grade Security

ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II certified with bank-level AES encryption, daily backups, and multi-region AWS infrastructure.

Key Features

Core

HR Management

Centralized employee records, onboarding, offboarding, compliance tracking, and policy management.

Core

Integrated Payroll

Automated payroll with tax compliance for AU, NZ, UK, SG, CA. Real-time shift costing and superannuation.

AI

SmartMatch Recruitment

AI-powered candidate scoring with NLP job posting, automated reference checks, and digital offer letters.

Core

Time & Attendance

Rostering, timesheets with geofencing, real-time attendance tracking, and automated shift costing.

Pro

Workflow Automation

65+ pre-built templates for expenses, leave, onboarding. Custom workflows with group-based approval routing.

Pro

Performance Management

Two-way reviews, 9-box assessments, goal tracking, OKRs, and learning management system.

Core

Employee Self-Service

Staff manage leave requests, payslips, personal data, and certifications without HR involvement.

EOR

Global Teams

Employer of Record services for hiring internationally without establishing local entities.

Explore all features in a personalized demo:

Request Demo →See how it works for your business

Pricing Plans

Transparent per-employee pricing with minimum monthly commitments.

Lite

$19/emp/mo
✓ Core HR & Onboarding
✓ Basic Payroll
✓ Time Off Management
✓ Rostering & ATS
$200/mo minimum
Get Demo

Unlimited

$49/emp/mo
✓ Everything in Plus
✓ Phone Support
✓ HR Advisory
✓ EAP + Learning Plus
$600/mo minimum
Get Demo
All plans include: Employee self-service • Mobile apps • Security certifications • API access
Add-ons: Global Teams (EOR) from $399/emp/mo • Implementation ~$1,500

Is It Worth It?

30-40%
admin time saved
=
$3,000+
annual value*

*Based on reducing 8+ hours of weekly HR admin. ROI typically achieved within 3-6 months of implementation.

Detailed Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

All-in-One Platform

Consolidates HR, payroll, recruitment, and time management—eliminates vendor juggling and data silos.

Strong APAC/UK Compliance

Native payroll with automated tax compliance for Australia, NZ, UK, Singapore, and Canada.

Excellent Security

ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II certified with bank-level encryption and AWS infrastructure.

AI-Powered Recruitment

SmartMatch scores candidates automatically, saving hours on resume screening.

Transparent Pricing

Published pricing tiers—unlike competitors who require custom quotes for basic information.

✗ Cons

No Free Trial

Demo-only approach. You can't test the platform hands-on before committing.

Expensive for Small Teams

$200-600/month minimums make per-employee cost high for businesses under 10 staff.

Variable Support Times

Support response can lag during peak periods like payroll processing and EOFY.

Occasional Post-Update Bugs

Frequent updates sometimes introduce temporary issues that disrupt workflows.

Limited US Payroll

Not ideal for US-only operations—competitors like Gusto or Rippling are stronger there.

Employment Hero vs Alternatives

How does Employment Hero compare to leading HR platforms?

FeatureEmployment HeroRipplingBambooHRHiBob
Starting Price$19/emp/mo~$8+/emp/moQuote-based~$8+/emp/mo
Native Payroll✓ AU/NZ/UK/SG/CA✓ GlobalUS only✗ Integrations
Integrated ATS✓ SmartMatch AI✓ Basic✓ Add-on✓ Included
IT Management✓ Strong
Transparent Pricing✓ Published✗ Custom✗ Custom✗ Custom
Best ForAPAC/UK SMBsTech companiesUS SMBsGlobal scale-ups

Which Platform Is Right For You?

Rippling

Premium

Best for: Tech-savvy companies wanting HR + IT + finance automation in one system. Stronger global payroll but more complex and expensive.

BambooHR

US Focus

Best for: US-based SMBs prioritizing excellent UX and core HR. Payroll is US-only add-on; requires separate tools for global payroll.

HiBob

Culture-First

Best for: Global scale-ups (100-1,000+ employees) focused on culture, engagement, and analytics. No native payroll—relies on integrations.

Deel

Global EOR

Best for: Companies hiring contractors and employees globally who need EOR services in 100+ countries with strong compliance.

ADP Workforce Now

Enterprise

Best for: Large enterprises needing managed payroll outsourcing across 140+ countries. Higher cost and complexity than Employment Hero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Employment Hero offers three tiers: Lite at $19/employee/month (min $200/month), Plus at $29/employee/month (min $400/month), and Unlimited at $49/employee/month (min $600/month). Implementation costs approximately $1,500 for combined HR and payroll setup. Global Teams EOR starts at $399/employee/month.
Employment Hero is ideal for SMBs with 20-500 employees in Australia, NZ, UK, Singapore, or Canada. The minimum monthly fees ($200-600) make it less cost-effective for micro-businesses under 10 employees—consider Gusto or simpler payroll tools for very small teams.
Yes. Employment Hero includes native payroll processing with automated tax compliance for Australia, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, and Canada. This is a key differentiator from HR-only platforms like BambooHR or HiBob that require separate payroll integrations.
No traditional free trial. Employment Hero provides personalized product demos with their sales team. All pricing and features are transparently published on their website, allowing evaluation before purchase. Request a demo focused on your specific use cases.
Native payroll and compliance support for Australia (strongest), New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Canada. Global Teams EOR services allow hiring in additional countries. For US-only operations, consider alternatives like Gusto, Rippling, or Paylocity.
Typical implementation takes 2-6 weeks. This includes planning, data migration, configuration, training, and go-live support. Complex setups with Enterprise Bargaining Agreements or custom pay rules may take longer and require additional support involvement.
Final Verdict

Should You Try Employment Hero?

Employment Hero delivers on its promise as an all-in-one Employment Operating System. For SMBs in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, or Canada, it's one of the best options for consolidating HR, payroll, and recruitment without juggling multiple vendors.

The platform's strength lies in its integrated approach—native payroll compliance, AI-powered recruitment, and workflow automation that reduces admin burden by 30-40%. However, it's not ideal for very small teams (under 10 employees) due to minimum fees, or US-only operations where competitors excel.

Our Recommendation

If you're in APAC or UK with 20-500 employees and tired of managing separate HR and payroll systems, request a demo. The transparent pricing and strong security certifications make evaluation straightforward.

Request Your Demo →
4.2
★★★★☆
Very Good
About This Review: We analyzed Employment Hero's features, official documentation, and competitive positioning. Pricing verified December 2025. This review contains affiliate links—we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.