Top 7 Best Payroll Software in Australia 2026

Running a business means wearing many hats, but “payroll expert” probably wasn’t the one you dreamed of. Yet, paying your team correctly and on time is non-negotiable, and the admin that comes with it is another story. 

Juggling spreadsheets, calculating wages and keeping up with ATO regulations can drain your time and energy, all of which are resources better spent on growing your business. For many Aussie business owners, payroll is a recurring headache.

Finding a reliable payroll solution shouldn’t add to the stress. The market is crowded, and it can be tough to know which software truly gets the challenges Australian businesses face. In this article, we will compare some of the top payroll software platforms, breaking down their pros and cons to help you make a smart choice.

What is payroll software?

Payroll software is a tool that automates the entire process of paying your employees. It’s designed for business owners and managers who want to move beyond manual calculations and endless paperwork. It takes a complex, high-stakes task and makes it simple, fast and accurate.

The core function of payroll software is to solve the major pain points of managing pay. This includes calculating wages, deducting the correct tax, managing superannuation contributions and generating payslips.

The best payroll software tools are built to handle the specifics of Australian regulations, including Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting to the ATO and superannuation compliance. How payroll software helps is by transforming a time-consuming, error-prone process into a streamlined, automated function, giving you confidence and control.

Benefits of using payroll software

Switching to a dedicated payroll software is so much more than a minor upgrade. Consider it a fundamental shift in how you manage a critical business function. The benefits are immediate and impactful.

• Save huge amounts of time: Automation handles the heavy lifting. The software calculates pay, tax and super in minutes, not days. This frees you up to focus on your business and your team.
• Improve accuracy and compliance: Manual payroll is a recipe for mistakes. Software minimises human error, helping you avoid costly corrections and potential penalties. It also stays updated with the latest ATO rules, helping you manage compliance with confidence.
• Empower your employees: Give your team on-demand access to their payslips, income statements and payroll history through a secure online portal. This transparency builds trust and reduces the number of queries you have to field.
• Integrate for total efficiency: When your payroll is part of an all-in-one HR platform, data flows seamlessly. Time and attendance, leave requests and employee details are all connected, eliminating double data entry for good.

Best payroll software Australia platforms compared

To find the best Australian payroll software, we evaluated leading platforms on the factors that matter most to SMEs: ease of use, accuracy, automation features and customer support. Here’s how they compare.

Feature/Provider	Employment Hero	Xero Payroll	MYOB	ADP	Access Group	QuickBooks Payroll	Payroller
Free trial	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓
Core HR Software	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✘
Core Payroll Software	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Applicant Tracking	✓	✘	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘
Integrated HR & Payroll	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✘
Ease of Use	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓
Pricing Transparency	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓
All-in-one Platform	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✘
Integration Options	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Employment Hero

Employment Hero delivers a fully integrated HR and payroll platform, making employment simpler and more rewarding for ambitious Aussie SMEs. By bringing HR and payroll together, the platform cuts down on admin, removes data silos and helps you focus on building your team, not fighting paperwork.

Employment Hero stands out with an Australian-based support team that understands local payroll needs. Plus if you want to take it completely off your plate, the Managed Payroll service means you can hand it over to a team of payroll experts.

Pros of Employment Hero for payroll:

• Seamless integration: Payroll is a core feature, with employee details, leave and timesheets all syncing automatically to reduce manual work.
• Powerful automation: Automates calculations, STP reporting to the ATO and superannuation payments, so you can pay your team in a few clicks.
• Intuitive for everyone: Designed to be easy for both admins and employees. Staff can access payslips and request leave anytime through the app.
• Scales with your business: Built for growth, whether you have a handful of staff or hundreds.

Cons of Employment Hero for Payroll:

• All-in-one platform: If you only want a basic, standalone payroll tool and have no plans to grow, the extra features may feel like more than you need.

Xero Payroll

Xero is a well-known name in cloud accounting, and its payroll feature is designed for businesses already using their finance platform. Simplicity is core for Xero, at the heart of the offer, making it a popular bolt-on for existing Xero users.

• Description: Xero Payroll lets businesses manage pay runs, submit STP information and handle superannuation within its accounting software.
• Pros: Seamless integration with Xero accounting makes it convenient if you’re already in their ecosystem.
• Cons: Functionality is limited, lacking features like advanced HR, detailed reporting or deep customisation. Support can be slow, especially for more complex queries.

MYOB

MYOB is an established software provider in Australia, offering payroll solutions for businesses of all sizes.

• Description: MYOB Business payroll is built with compliance in mind, making it a solid choice for meeting ATO requirements. It’s a familiar name for accountants and widely adopted across Australia.
• Pros: Reliable, MYOB handles core payroll tasks and helps keep your compliance on track.
• Cons: Designed with flexibility in mind, the platform’s modular structure allows businesses to choose what they need. In some cases, managing HR and payroll as separate products may feel less streamlined compared to more integrated platforms.

ADP

ADP is a global leader in human capital management, offering a payroll solution called Payline for small to medium-sized Australian businesses.

• Description: ADP Payline focuses on delivering reliable and compliant payroll processing, backed by a large, established provider.
• Pros: Strong focus on compliance and accuracy. Good for businesses that may expand internationally in the future.
• Cons: The platform can feel complex and less user-friendly than some competitors. Pricing is often opaque and can be higher than other options.

Access Group

Access Group offers Access Definitiv, a comprehensive payroll and HR platform aimed at medium to large businesses in Australia.

• Description: An all-in-one solution that combines payroll, HR and workforce management to handle complex business needs.
• Pros: Highly configurable with deep functionality for complex award interpretation and reporting.
• Cons: Can be overly complex and expensive for smaller businesses. The implementation process is often longer than with simpler tools.

QuickBooks Payroll

Another player in the accounting world, QuickBooks extends its financial management suite with a payroll add-on for users of its ecosystem.

• Description: Part of the QuickBooks accounting ecosystem, this tool provides payroll that integrates with your financial management.
• Pros: Integrates well with QuickBooks Online and features a functional mobile app.
• Cons: Payroll features are basic, the platform can be costly for its functionality, and support experiences are inconsistent.

Payroller

Payroller is designed specifically for Australian small businesses and sole traders, offering a simple, payroll solution.

• Description: A straightforward, low-cost online payroll tool created to make payroll simple for small Aussie businesses.
• Pros: Easy to use and affordable, with a free version for businesses with a single employee.
• Cons: Lacks HR features and advanced automation. It is best suited for very small businesses with simple payroll needs.

How Employment Hero supports businesses with payroll

We built Employment Hero because we believe business owners need better tools. You shouldn’t have to be a payroll expert to pay your team correctly. Our platform is your sidekick, automating the complexities so you can run payroll with confidence and get back to your day.

With Employment Hero, STP reporting is automated. Payslips are generated and distributed to employees in their self-service portal. And because it’s unified with HR, you can be sure the data is always accurate. It’s payroll that just works, giving you complete peace of mind.

How to choose the right payroll software

Choosing the right payroll software is about finding the best fit for your business now and in the future. Don’t get distracted by a long list of features you’ll never touch. Focus on what will make a real difference.

First, consider ease of use. The system should be intuitive, allowing you to run payroll quickly without needing a manual. Look at the cost, but think about value. A cheap system that creates hours of extra work is a false economy. Make sure it has the key features to automate your biggest payroll headaches.

Finally, think about integration. A standalone payroll system creates more work. A platform that combines HR and payroll saves time and reduces errors.

Final thoughts

Getting payroll right is fundamental to your business’s success and your team’s morale. The right software transforms this critical function from a source of stress into a streamlined, automated process.

The right solution should help with compliance and integrate with your wider HR processes. It should help your business with efficiency, accuracy and a better employee experience.

Employment Hero is on a mission to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone. Ready to see how? Learn more about our all-in-one HR and payroll platform and get in touch with one of our business specialists today.