Employment Hero vs Rippling Payroll
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 Payroll
Rippling Payroll is the payroll module within the Rippling platform, which combines HR, IT, and finance management in one system. It offers global payroll capabilities, automatic tax filing, and deep integrations with the rest of the Rippling suite. Rippling Payroll is ideal for companies that want payroll tightly connected to their broader HR and IT operations.
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
- ✓Deeply integrated with HR, IT, and finance in one platform
- ✓Global payroll available in 50+ countries
- ✓Automatic compliance updates for changing tax laws
- ✓Extremely powerful automation capabilities across all modules
Cons
- ✗Pricing requires a custom quote and can be expensive for small teams
- ✗Requires buying into the full Rippling platform for best value
- ✗Can be complex to set up without dedicated HR resources
Employment Hero vs Rippling Payroll: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Rippling Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Payroll Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom pricing |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with HR and IT management |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Rippling Payroll Features
- ✓Global payroll
- ✓automatic tax filing
- ✓direct deposit
- ✓contractor payments
- ✓PEO services
- ✓benefits administration
- ✓time tracking
- ✓expense management
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Rippling Payroll if mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with hr and it management.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with HR and IT management
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Rippling Payroll 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 Payroll?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Rippling Payroll is best for mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with hr and it management.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Rippling Payroll?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Rippling Payroll if mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with hr and it management.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Rippling Payroll cost?
Rippling Payroll starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Rippling Payroll?
Mid-size companies needing payroll tightly integrated with HR and IT management