Ashby vs Employment Hero
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Ashby
Ashby is a modern all-in-one recruiting platform built for high-growth companies. It combines ATS, CRM, scheduling, and analytics in a single tool, eliminating the need for multiple recruiting tools. Ashby is loved by tech startups and scale-ups for its powerful analytics and modern interface that helps recruiting teams make data-driven hiring decisions.
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.
Pros
- ✓All-in-one platform eliminates need for separate recruiting CRM and scheduling tools
- ✓Exceptional analytics — best-in-class reporting for recruiting teams
- ✓Modern and fast interface loved by recruiting ops teams
- ✓Strong integrations with developer tools
Cons
- ✗Expensive — pricing requires custom quote and targets growth-stage companies
- ✗Overkill for small teams making fewer than 20 hires per year
- ✗Requires dedicated recruiting ops resources to get full value
- ✗Less widely known than Greenhouse or Lever
Pros
- ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
- ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
- ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
- ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks
Cons
- ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
- ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
- ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate
Ashby vs Employment Hero: Side by Side
| Factor | Ashby | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Applicant Tracking | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Free |
| Best For | High-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Ashby Features
- ✓ATS
- ✓CRM
- ✓interview scheduling
- ✓analytics and reporting
- ✓job posting
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓automation
- ✓integrations
- ✓career page
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Ashby if high-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Best For
High-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Also Consider
If neither Ashby nor Employment Hero is the right fit, Manatal is worth evaluating.
Manatal
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
From $15/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ashby and Employment Hero?
Ashby is best for high-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics. Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Which is better, Ashby or Employment Hero?
Choose Ashby if high-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
How much does Ashby cost?
Ashby starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Ashby?
High-growth tech companies wanting an all-in-one recruiting platform with exceptional analytics
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite