Payroll software · New Zealand · Head-to-head
Crystal Payroll vs PayHero
Two New Zealand payroll software options, compared side by side for New Zealand trades.
Which should you choose?
PayHero edges ahead on our New Zealand tiering (Tier S vs A), but both are workable — the right pick depends on your trade, region, and the New Zealand-specific notes below.
Crystal Payroll
Tier A · WorkableNZ cloud payroll strong on irregular and shift hours
A long-running (10+ year) NZ-only cloud payroll, Auckland-based with NZ support. It is a strong fit for irregular hours and shift workers — relevant to trades with variable jobsite hours — and positions on low, stable pricing plus local service. It is also an IRD-accredited PAYE intermediary.
Pros
- + Automated IRD payday filing with a dedicated dashboard
- + IRD-accredited PAYE intermediary
- + Accurate PAYE/KiwiSaver/holiday-pay calculations
- + NZ-based support; low entry price held 10+ years
Cons
- − Cloud-only
- − One-off NZ$50 registration + paid training
- − Very small public review footprint (limited independent signal)
- − Plan tiers not clearly itemised publicly
New Zealand note
IRD payday filing automated with a filings dashboard; PAYE intermediary; KiwiSaver and holiday pay handled. "Proudly made in New Zealand," Auckland.
PayHero
Tier S · RecommendedNZ payroll by FlexiTime — Holidays Act-compliant, automated payday filing, strong for variable-hours trades
PayHero (by FlexiTime) is New Zealand payroll software designed for accurate compliance — online timesheets, employee self-service, leave management, and automated payday filing to IRD. It is notably strong on MBIE Holidays Act compliance, with legislative updates applied automatically and a dedicated NZ support team, and it offers a trades-specific payroll product.
Pros
- + NZ-built with strong MBIE Holidays Act compliance
- + Automated payday filing to IRD
- + Timesheets, self-service, and leave management built in
- + Dedicated trades-payroll product and NZ support
Cons
- − NZ-only — no cross-market value
- − Per-employee pricing adds up as the team grows
- − Full features require higher tiers
New Zealand note
MBIE Holidays Act compliance is a notorious NZ pain point, especially for variable-hours and overtime crews. PayHero's timesheet-driven model and automatic legislative updates are built for exactly that, with payday filing to IRD, KiwiSaver, and ACC handled.
More New Zealand options
See all New Zealand payroll software vendors and the rest of the New Zealand directory.