Top 10 Best HR Software in New Zealand (2026)

HR software has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, streamlining and automating various HR processes to boost efficiency and productivity. If you’re searching for the best HR software solution to meet your organisation’s needs, you’ve come to the right place.

From talent acquisition and performance management to payroll and employee engagement, you can manage the entire employee lifecycle easily with one platform. Whether you’re a small startup or a medium-sized enterprise, we’ll uncover the leading HR software providers, their unique features and how they can empower your HR team.

There’s no better time than now to switch from a manual system to a SaaS HR software. Let’s dive in and discover the cutting-edge solutions that will revolutionise the way you manage your people.

Best New Zealand HR software platforms compared

We analysed the top options on the market to find the best HR software for New Zealand small businesses. Our review focused on ease of use, practical HR tools, payroll integration and overall impact on company culture.

Feature/Provider	Employment Hero	BrightHR	MyHR	Fusion5	HiBob	EnableHR	ELMO	Roubler	Workday	Info-Tech
Free trial	✓	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✓
Core HR software	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Core payroll software	✓	✘	✓	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✓
Applicant tracking	✓	✘	✓	✘	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✘
Integrated HR & payroll	✓	✘	✓	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✓
Ease of use	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
All-in-one Platform	✓	✘	✓	✘	✘	✘	✓	✓	✘	✓
Integration options	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Employment Hero

Founded in 2014, Employment Hero is a cloud-based, all-in-one HR and payroll software that serves over 350,000 businesses globally. They support businesses primarily in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Canada, with local experts providing direct support in each region.

Description

Employment Hero’s Employment Operating System covers every aspect of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to engagement, productivity and success. It’s not only a human resources information system (HRIS) – it also includes payroll software and comprehensive people management features. 

With all your key information in a united platform, you can easily access critical data and reduce your tech stack. Not more copying manual data! For Kiwi SMEs, it offers a powerful set of tools that are both easy to implement and a joy to use.

Pros of Employment Hero for HR management

• All-in-one solution: From recruitment and onboarding to performance, payroll and career development, everything is in one place. This saves time, reduces errors and provides a consistent employee experience.
• Built-in compliance: The platform is designed to help you meet your obligations under New Zealand employment law, with features like compliant contract templates and automated payday filing.
• Designed for growth: Whether you have 5 or 500 employees, the platform scales with you. You won’t need to switch systems as your business expands.
• Actionable insights: Customisable reports, happiness scores and people analytics give you the data you need to understand your team and make better decisions.

Cons of Employment Hero for HR management

• Comprehensive features: For a business with just a handful of employees and very simple needs, the breadth of features might feel extensive at first.

BrightHR

BrightHR was founded in 2015 to support small to midsize businesses in managing their day-to-day HR tasks. They offer their services in a single HR software package and work with clients across the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

• Description: The software offers a comprehensive set of tools that cover various aspects of HR, including employee data management, time and attendance tracking, absence management and document storage.
• Pros: Their offering includes employment law and health and safety support, which is helpful for businesses needing extra guidance.
• Cons: It does not include an integrated payroll system, meaning you’ll need a separate solution for managing pay. The feature set is focused on core HR administration rather than broader employee engagement or performance tools.

MyHR

MyHR is an NZ-based HR software platform designed to make human resources straightforward. The software is backed by a team of business partners and HR advisors who work across New Zealand and Australia to support their clients.

• Description: MyHR covers key HR functions including hiring and onboarding, applicant tracking, performance management, leave and payroll.
• Pros: The platform is supported by an advisory service, allowing clients to get up-to-date advice on HR issues. The integration of HR and payroll is a key benefit.
• Cons: While it covers the essentials well, it may lack the advanced engagement and learning features offered by more specialised or all-in-one platforms.

HiBob

HiBob is a software company created in 2015 with the concept that the employee experience needed to evolve. Their HR platform, ‘Bob’, was created with a focus on an easy user interface and providing tools for a growing business.

• Description: ‘Bob’ has a variety of features for employee management, including digital onboarding, employee scheduling and self-service tools.
• Pros: The platform has a modern and engaging user interface. It focuses strongly on culture and employee experience features.
• Cons: It does not offer a native NZ payroll solution, a significant drawback for businesses wanting an all-in-one system. The price point can be high for small businesses.

EnableHR

EnableHR was founded in 2006 to support businesses with HR and legal compliance through effective HR management software. Their work is informed by partnerships with trusted law firms.

• Description: Their cloud-based system is organised through ‘workflows’ and ‘checklists’ to guide users and support compliance. It includes storage for employee records, health and safety notes and digital onboarding.
• Pros: The platform has a strong focus on compliance, guided by legal expertise. The workflow-based approach can be helpful for standardising processes.
• Cons: It lacks integrated payroll. The interface can feel less modern compared to newer platforms and it is more of an administrative tool than an engagement-focused one.

ELMO Software

ELMO Software is a cloud-based platform designed to support people, process and pay. Founded in 2002, it serves businesses across New Zealand, Australia and the UK with modules for payroll, recruitment, onboarding and HR management.

• Description: ELMO’s HR solution is designed to automate manual processes, including leave management and workforce reports. It operates on a modular basis.
• Pros: The ability to integrate HR and payroll within the same provider is a significant advantage. Its comprehensive feature set can support larger or more complex organisations.
• Cons: For a small business, the sheer number of modules and options can be overwhelming to implement and manage. The cost can also escalate as more functionality is added.

Roubler

Roubler is a system that focuses on supporting businesses around the world with HR compliance. It was created in 2012 and has since grown to a company with bases in the UK, South Africa, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

• Description: Roubler has a wide selection of features, including recruitment, time management and payroll tools. It is particularly focused on supporting companies with shift-based workers.
• Pros: Its focus on shift-based work, using machine learning for efficiencies, is a key strength for industries like retail and hospitality. It offers an integrated HR and payroll solution.
• Cons: The platform is particularly well suited to businesses with complex rostering and shift requirements, which may mean it offers more functionality than needed for teams operating on standard working hours.

Workday

Workday is an American cloud-based software company offering a large range of services, including a HR system for people management and financial management tools. The company was founded in California in 2005.

• Description: Their HR software includes features to support employee experience and engagement, as well as tools for workforce optimisation and planning.
• Pros: It’s a powerful, enterprise-grade system with deep functionality in HR analytics and talent management.
• Cons: Workday is primarily built for large, global enterprises and is often too complex and expensive for SMEs. It does not offer a native NZ payroll system.

Info-tech

Info-Tech is a cloud-based HR software provider with a long history, founded in 1996. It has evolved from a Windows-based system to a cloud HRIS, which was launched in 2014.

• Description: Info-Tech’s HRIS includes real-time facial recognition authentication, time and attendance, payroll, leave management and expense claims.
• Pros: It provides a solid, all-in-one solution for HR and payroll, which is beneficial for businesses looking to consolidate systems.
• Cons: The user interface may not be as modern or intuitive as some other platforms. Its feature set is more traditional and may lack the advanced engagement and culture tools found in competitors.

How to choose the right HR software

Start with your core needs. Don’t get distracted by every shiny feature; focus on what will actually make an impact on your business. Core functions like streamlined onboarding, compliant payroll, simple leave management and easy reporting often provide the most value.

Look for software that will grow with you and give you proper, accessible support. The best HR system fits into your workflow, not the other way around and lifts the admin burden without creating new headaches. Think beyond the price tag, true value comes from software that saves you time, helps you manage compliance and empowers your team.

Final thoughts

Don’t let outdated manual processes hold your business back. Choose a platform that simplifies your processes, supports your growth and empowers your business. We’re confident that Employment Hero can do that for you.

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 today.