Employment Hero vs ActiveCampaign
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
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.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform that combines email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM in one powerful tool. It is known for having the most advanced email automation capabilities in its price range. ActiveCampaign is used by over 180,000 businesses that want to deliver personalized customer experiences at scale.
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
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class email marketing automation at an affordable price
- ✓Powerful segmentation and personalization capabilities
- ✓Strong CRM features integrated with marketing tools
- ✓Excellent deliverability rates
Cons
- ✗Can be complex to set up advanced automations
- ✗CRM features are less robust than dedicated CRM tools
- ✗Interface has a learning curve for new users
Employment Hero vs ActiveCampaign: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $15/mo |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
ActiveCampaign Features
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓marketing automation
- ✓CRM
- ✓lead scoring
- ✓site tracking
- ✓SMS marketing
- ✓landing pages
- ✓reporting
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose ActiveCampaign if smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor ActiveCampaign is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Employment Hero and ActiveCampaign?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. ActiveCampaign is best for smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm.
Which is better, Employment Hero or ActiveCampaign?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose ActiveCampaign if smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does ActiveCampaign cost?
ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM