Payroll software · New Zealand · Head-to-head

PayHero vs Smartly

Two New Zealand payroll software options, compared side by side for New Zealand trades.

Which should you choose?

PayHero and Smartly are both Tier S: our check found each one's prices published on its own website, so you can compare their costs before talking to sales. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and New Zealand-specific notes below against your trade and region.

PayHero

Tier S · Published prices

New Zealand payroll software from Wellington's FlexiTime, with automated payday filing and GPS timesheets for trades

PayHero is New Zealand payroll software from FlexiTime, a Wellington company that says it has run payroll for Kiwi businesses since 2008 and launched PayHero in 2019. It covers pay runs, automated payday filing with Inland Revenue, leave, and timesheets and leave requests through an employee app. Its trades page adds GPS time tracking, job-level timesheets, tool allowances and mileage reimbursements.

Pros

+ Published NZD prices, pay as you go with no lock-in contract
+ Automated payday filing of PAYE with Inland Revenue
+ Trades features: GPS time tracking, job-level timesheets, tool allowances and mileage reimbursements
+ Public holiday entitlements calculated from work patterns and timesheet history

Cons

− Origin plan is capped at 10 employees
− Base fee plus a per-employee charge each month, excluding GST
− GPS clock-in, timesheet approvals and break calculations need Super or above
− Leave rules change when the Employment Leave Act 2026 starts in August 2028

New Zealand note

PayHero says it handles leave in line with the Holidays Act 2003 and current government guidance, and calculates public holiday entitlements from work patterns and timesheet history. The Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces the Holidays Act from 6 August 2028; PayHero has said it plans to update the software and move existing leave balances across before then.

Typical New Zealand pricing: NZD excl GST, per month: Origin $24 base + $4 per employee (up to 10 employees); Super $39 base + $6 per employee; Universe $59 base + $7 per employee; charged only for employees with pay or timesheet activity, billed monthly in arrears; 14-day free trial; enterprise pricing on request

Full review → Visit →

Smartly

Tier S · Published prices

New Zealand payroll software, formerly SmartPayroll, with self-run and Smartly-run payroll plans

Smartly, formerly SmartPayroll, is New Zealand payroll software that pays employees into their bank accounts, deducts PAYE, KiwiSaver and other deductions, and files returns with Inland Revenue. It sells self-managed payroll plans, optionally with people management tools, and Smartly-run plans where its team runs the payroll.

Pros

+ Handles PAYE, KiwiSaver deductions and Inland Revenue filing
+ Choice of running payroll yourself or having Smartly run it
+ Optional people management tools on top of payroll

Cons

− A monthly platform fee applies on top of per-employee charges
− Prices exclude GST
− Charges apply per employee on every pay run, so weekly pay cycles cost more than monthly ones

New Zealand note

Built for New Zealand payroll: PAYE and KiwiSaver deductions and filing with Inland Revenue. Pricing is per employee per pay run plus a monthly platform fee, excluding GST.

Typical New Zealand pricing: Published by Smartly (indicative, excluding GST): Payroll $2.60 per employee per pay run plus a $51.50 monthly platform fee; Payroll + People Management adds $10 per employee a month; Smartly-run Payroll $6.20 per employee per pay run, from $365 a month minimum. Banking transaction fees may apply.

Full review → Visit →

More New Zealand options

See all New Zealand payroll software vendors and the rest of the New Zealand directory.

🇳🇿 All New Zealand vendors Certifications by country US directory