Employment Hero vs Basecamp
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.
Basecamp
Basecamp is an opinionated project management and team communication tool that combines to-do lists, message boards, file storage, and scheduling in one place. It is known for its simplicity and flat pricing model. Basecamp is popular with agencies, remote teams, and small businesses that want to reduce tool sprawl.
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
- ✓Simple and opinionated — removes decision fatigue about how to set up projects
- ✓Flat per-user pricing with no feature tiers
- ✓Built-in client access makes it easy to collaborate externally
- ✓Strong async communication tools for remote teams
Cons
- ✗Lacks advanced features like Gantt charts and time tracking
- ✗No free plan available
- ✗Less flexible than tools like ClickUp or Monday.com
- ✗Can feel too simple for complex project portfolios
Employment Hero vs Basecamp: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Basecamp |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $15/user/mo |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Basecamp Features
- ✓To-do lists
- ✓message boards
- ✓schedules
- ✓file storage
- ✓group chat
- ✓automatic check-ins
- ✓client access
- ✓Hill Charts progress tracking
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Basecamp if remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Basecamp 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 Basecamp?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Basecamp is best for remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Basecamp?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Basecamp if remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Basecamp cost?
Basecamp starts at $15/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Basecamp?
Remote teams and agencies wanting a simple all-in-one project and communication tool