Employment Hero vs Paymo
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.
Paymo
Paymo is a project management and time tracking tool built for freelancers and small agencies. It combines task management, time tracking, invoicing, and resource scheduling in one platform.
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
- ✓Built-in time tracking and invoicing
- ✓Good resource scheduling
- ✓Ideal for client-facing work
- ✓Affordable pricing
- ✓Clean interface
Cons
- ✗Not suited for large enterprise teams
- ✗Limited automation
- ✗Smaller integration ecosystem
- ✗Reporting less robust than competitors
Employment Hero vs Paymo: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Paymo |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Paymo Features
- ✓Project management
- ✓time tracking
- ✓invoicing
- ✓expense tracking
- ✓team collaboration
- ✓client portal
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Paymo if freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Paymo 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 Paymo?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Paymo is best for freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Paymo?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Paymo if freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Paymo cost?
Visit Paymo website for current pricing.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Paymo?
Freelancers and small agencies needing project management combined with time tracking and client invoicing