Employment Hero vs Countingup
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.
Countingup
Countingup is a UK business current account with built-in accounting software. It combines banking and bookkeeping in one app, automatically categorizing transactions and generating tax estimates in real time.
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
- ✓Business banking and accounting in one app
- ✓Automatic transaction categorization
- ✓Real-time tax estimates
- ✓Simple flat monthly pricing
- ✓Great for sole traders
Cons
- ✗UK only
- ✗Limited accounting features for complex businesses
- ✗Not a replacement for full accounting software at scale
- ✗No multi-user access
Employment Hero vs Countingup: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Countingup |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Accounting Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | UK sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Countingup Features
- ✓Receipt scanning
- ✓expense categorization
- ✓VAT tracking
- ✓supplier management
- ✓bank feed integration
- ✓reporting
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Countingup if uk sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
UK sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Countingup 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 Countingup?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Countingup is best for uk sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Countingup?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Countingup if uk sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Countingup cost?
Visit Countingup website for current pricing.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Countingup?
UK sole traders and freelancers wanting a combined business bank account and simple accounting tool in one app