Employment Hero vs SmartRecruiters
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.
SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters is an enterprise talent acquisition platform that offers a genuinely free plan alongside paid enterprise tiers. Its free plan includes unlimited job postings, candidate tracking, and team collaboration — making it one of the most generous free ATS options available. SmartRecruiters is used by global enterprises including Visa, Bosch, and LinkedIn.
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
- ✓Genuinely useful free plan with unlimited jobs and users
- ✓Enterprise-grade features available as you scale
- ✓Strong AI candidate screening on paid plans
- ✓Used by large global enterprises giving it credibility with candidates
Cons
- ✗Free plan has limited analytics and automation
- ✗Enterprise pricing can be expensive
- ✗Interface can feel complex for small teams
- ✗Implementation requires dedicated time for enterprise features
Employment Hero vs SmartRecruiters: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
SmartRecruiters Features
- ✓Unlimited job postings
- ✓candidate tracking
- ✓collaborative hiring
- ✓AI screening
- ✓interview scheduling
- ✓offer management
- ✓analytics
- ✓career page
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor SmartRecruiters 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 SmartRecruiters?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. SmartRecruiters is best for companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Which is better, Employment Hero or SmartRecruiters?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does SmartRecruiters cost?
SmartRecruiters starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use SmartRecruiters?
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise