Employment Hero vs Zoho Projects
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.
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a full-featured project management tool offering task management, Gantt charts, time tracking, and budget management at a very competitive price point within the Zoho ecosystem.
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
- ✓Very affordable pricing
- ✓Strong Gantt chart features
- ✓Built-in time tracking and budgeting
- ✓Good Zoho ecosystem integration
- ✓Solid feature set for the price
Cons
- ✗Interface less polished than competitors
- ✗Best value within Zoho ecosystem
- ✗Mobile app could be improved
- ✗Support can be slow
Employment Hero vs Zoho Projects: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Zoho Projects Features
- ✓Project management
- ✓task tracking
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓time tracking
- ✓team collaboration
- ✓portfolio management
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Zoho Projects 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 Zoho Projects?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Zoho Projects is best for budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Zoho Projects?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Zoho Projects cost?
Visit Zoho Projects website for current pricing.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Zoho Projects?
Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool