Rippling vs Employment Hero
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
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.
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
- ✓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
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
Rippling vs Employment Hero: Side by Side
| Factor | Rippling | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | Free |
| Best For | Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Rippling Features
- ✓Payroll
- ✓device management
- ✓app provisioning
- ✓benefits
- ✓compliance
- ✓reporting
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Rippling if mid-size companies needing hr and it together. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Best For
Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
How Rippling and Employment Hero 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 Rippling nor Employment Hero 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 Rippling and Employment Hero?
Rippling is best for mid-size companies needing hr and it together. Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Which is better, Rippling or Employment Hero?
Choose Rippling if mid-size companies needing hr and it together. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
How much does Rippling cost?
Rippling starts at $8/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Rippling?
Mid-size companies needing HR and IT together
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite