Payroll software · New Zealand · Head-to-head
iPayroll vs Smartly
Two New Zealand payroll software options, compared side by side for New Zealand trades.
Which should you choose?
iPayroll 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.
iPayroll
Tier S · RecommendedNZ-built payroll — full PAYE/IRD compliant, cloud-native
iPayroll is NZ-built cloud payroll — full PAYE compliance with IRD (Inland Revenue Department), KiwiSaver handling, ACC levy calculation native. Strong fit for NZ SMB trades businesses wanting NZ-specific compliance without Xero subscription dependency.
Pros
- + NZ-built with native PAYE/IRD compliance
- + KiwiSaver handling automated
- + ACC levy auto-calculated
- + Cloud-native vs legacy NZ payroll options
Cons
- − NZ-only — no cross-market value
- − Smaller scale than Xero NZ
- − Pricing higher than free competitors (Thankyou Payroll)
New Zealand note
IRD-compliant PAYE submissions native. KiwiSaver employer contributions handled. ACC levy auto-calculated.
Smartly
Tier A · WorkableNZ payroll specialist — SMB focus, IRD-compliant
Smartly is NZ payroll specialist with SMB focus. Full IRD compliance, KiwiSaver, leave management. Competes with iPayroll in the NZ SMB payroll segment.
Pros
- + NZ-focused with full IRD compliance
- + SMB pricing accessible
- + Cloud-native modern UI
Cons
- − NZ-only
- − Smaller scale than iPayroll or Xero NZ
- − Less brand recognition
New Zealand note
NZ SMB focus with full compliance. Comparable to iPayroll in core feature set.
More New Zealand options
See all New Zealand payroll software vendors and the rest of the New Zealand directory.