Insightly vs Employment Hero
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
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.
Pros
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
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
Insightly vs Employment Hero: Side by Side
| Factor | Insightly | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Also Consider
If neither Insightly nor Employment Hero is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Insightly and Employment Hero?
Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Which is better, Insightly or Employment Hero?
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite