Employment Hero vs Agile CRM
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Agile CRM is our recommended pick for most teams — startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one crm at an affordable price.
Try Agile CRM →Read our full Agile CRM review →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.
Agile CRM
Agile CRM is an all-in-one CRM platform that combines sales, marketing, and customer service tools at an affordable price point. It offers a generous free plan for up to 10 users, making it one of the best free CRM options for small teams. Agile CRM is popular with startups and small businesses looking to consolidate their tools.
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
- ✓Generous free plan for up to 10 users
- ✓All-in-one platform covering sales, marketing, and support
- ✓Affordable paid plans with strong feature sets
- ✓Built-in telephony included
Cons
- ✗Interface feels outdated compared to modern CRMs
- ✗Customer support quality is inconsistent
- ✗Can feel overwhelming with too many features for simple use cases
Employment Hero vs Agile CRM: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Agile CRM |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.4/5 ★ |
| Category | HR Software | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one CRM at an affordable price |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Agile CRM Features
- ✓Contact management
- ✓deal tracking
- ✓email marketing
- ✓marketing automation
- ✓helpdesk
- ✓telephony
- ✓web engagement
- ✓reporting
Pricing Comparison
Agile CRM
FreemiumFree to start
Free: $0 · Solo: $16/user/mo · Team: $19/user/mo · Enterprise: custom
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Agile CRM
- →Small businesses wanting an all-in-one CRM
- →Startups needing free CRM with marketing automation
- →Teams replacing spreadsheets with a proper CRM
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Agile CRM is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Large enterprises needing advanced reporting
- ✗Teams requiring complex workflow automation
- ✗Businesses needing dedicated customer support
Integrations
Agile CRM
Gmail, Outlook, Stripe, Twilio, SendGrid, Zapier, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Agile CRM if startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one crm at an affordable price.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one CRM at an affordable price
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Agile CRM 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 Agile CRM?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Agile CRM is best for startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one crm at an affordable price.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Agile CRM?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Agile CRM if startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one crm at an affordable price.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Agile CRM cost?
Agile CRM starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Agile CRM?
Startups and small businesses wanting an all-in-one CRM at an affordable price