Employment Hero vs Rippling
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.
Rippling
Rippling is a unified workforce platform that combines HR, IT, and finance in a single system. It can provision employee devices, manage app access, run payroll, and handle benefits — all from one dashboard. Rippling is especially powerful for fast-growing companies that need automation across departments.
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
- ✓Truly all-in-one platform covering HR, IT, and finance
- ✓Powerful workflow automation reduces manual admin work
- ✓Excellent for remote and distributed teams
- ✓Deep integration library with 500+ apps
Cons
- ✗Complex setup process that requires dedicated implementation time
- ✗Can be overwhelming for small teams that only need basic HR
- ✗Pricing is modular and can add up quickly
Employment Hero vs Rippling: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $8/user/mo |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Rippling Features
- ✓Payroll
- ✓device management
- ✓app provisioning
- ✓benefits
- ✓compliance
- ✓reporting
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Rippling if mid-size companies needing hr and it together.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together
How Employment Hero and Rippling Are Similar
- •Both are HR Software platforms designed for business teams
- •Both offer web-based access with no software installation required
- •Both provide customer support and onboarding resources
- •Both integrate with popular third-party business tools
- •Both offer a trial or demo to evaluate before purchasing
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Rippling 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 Rippling?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Rippling is best for mid-size companies needing hr and it together.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Rippling?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Rippling if mid-size companies needing hr and it together.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Rippling cost?
Rippling starts at $8/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Rippling?
Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together