Employment Hero vs Reckon

Employment Hero vs Reckon - An Honest Breakdown for mid-market Australian businesses

Is Employment Hero or Reckon the better investment for your business? Compare pricing, total cost of ownership, and feature value side by side - with expert analysis from our Harvard-educated consultants.

Features compared

50+

Clients advised

98%

Client retention

12+

Years experience

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Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature analysis for Employment Hero and Reckon.

Invoicing

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides invoicing functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses

Reckon

Reckon One modular pricing lets businesses pay only for features they use - invoicing, payroll, and projects are separate add-ons

Reckon highlights invoicing as a core strength. Employment Hero offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

Expense tracking

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides expense tracking functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses

Reckon

Limitation: Mobile app functionality is limited compared to competitors, making on-the-go invoicing and expense management less convenient

expense tracking support varies across Employment Hero and Reckon's plan tiers. Check whether the capabilities you need are on the plan you can actually afford.

Bank reconciliation

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides bank reconciliation functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses

Reckon

Reckon provides bank reconciliation functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses

bank reconciliation capabilities vary by plan tier on both platforms. Confirm the specific features you need are available at your target price point before committing.

Payroll

Employment Hero

Combines HR, payroll, and employee benefits in a single Australian-built platform, reducing the need for separate systems

Reckon

Reckon One modular pricing lets businesses pay only for features they use - invoicing, payroll, and projects are separate add-ons

Both platforms are strong here. Employment Hero emphasises this as a core strength, and Reckon also invests heavily in payroll. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.

Tax reporting and BAS

Employment Hero

Limitation: Customer support response times can vary, with some users reporting delays during peak payroll periods

Reckon

Reckon includes tax reporting and bas capabilities. Feature depth varies by plan tier

Day-to-day tax reporting and bas workflows feel different between Employment Hero and Reckon - watch a recorded walkthrough of each before judging which fits your team.

Multi-currency support

Employment Hero

Limitation: Customer support response times can vary, with some users reporting delays during peak payroll periods

Reckon

Reckon offers multi-currency support capabilities. Support depth and SLA commitments vary by plan

For multi-currency support, evaluate both platforms against your specific workflow requirements rather than feature lists alone. A free trial or vendor demo will clarify the differences.

Inventory management

Employment Hero

Compliance management tracks certifications, licences, and mandatory training with automatic expiry reminders

Reckon

Payroll module includes award interpretation and superannuation management at a lower price point than standalone payroll platforms

Both platforms are strong here. Employment Hero emphasises this as a core strength, and Reckon also invests heavily in inventory management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.

Project accounting

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides project accounting functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses

Reckon

One of the most affordable Australian accounting platforms, with pricing significantly below Xero and MYOB for basic bookkeeping needs

Reckon highlights project accounting as a core strength. Employment Hero offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.

Budgeting and forecasting

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides budgeting and forecasting functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses

Reckon

Reckon provides budgeting and forecasting functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses

Both Employment Hero and Reckon address budgeting and forecasting. The right choice depends on whether you prioritise depth of functionality or breadth of your overall platform.

API and integrations

Employment Hero

Employment Hero connects with 41+ tools natively, offering one of the broadest integration ecosystems in its category

Reckon

Reckon supports 40+ native integrations, covering the most common tools in a mid-market tech stack

Both platforms have similar integration breadth (41 and 40 native connectors respectively). Either will connect to the major tools in a mid-market stack.

Ease of setup

Employment Hero

Employment Hero provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements

Reckon

Reckon provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements

For ease of setup, evaluate both platforms against your specific workflow requirements rather than feature lists alone. A free trial or vendor demo will clarify the differences.

Value for money

Employment Hero

HR Standard from approximately $8/employee/month, HR Premium from approximately $12/employee/month, Payroll from approximately $6/employee/month (AUD). HR and Payroll billed separately. Onboarding and benefits modules included at Premium level.

Reckon

Reckon One from approximately $12/month (book-keeping only). Invoicing add-on from approximately $5/month, Payroll from approximately $10/month, Projects from approximately $5/month (AUD). Reckon Accounts desktop pricing varies. Per-employee payroll fees apply.

Pricing models differ significantly. Compare the total cost of ownership including add-ons and per-user fees, not just the headline price.

Pricing Comparison

General pricing information for each platform.

Employment Hero

Prices shown are approximate and may differ based on your plan, team size, and billing cycle. Verify directly with the vendor for current AUD rates.

Reckon

Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. We recommend contacting the vendor for a tailored quote based on your Australian business needs.

Pros & Cons

An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.

Employment Hero

Pros

Combines HR, payroll, and employee benefits in a single Australian-built platform, reducing the need for separate systems
Employee self-service portal handles onboarding paperwork, leave requests, and personal detail updates without HR intervention
Built-in employee benefits marketplace (Swag) offers discounts on everyday purchases, which can help with retention and employee satisfaction
Compliance management tracks certifications, licences, and mandatory training with automatic expiry reminders
Performance review tools with goal setting, 1-on-1 templates, and 360-degree feedback are included on higher plans without needing a separate tool

Cons

Payroll module pricing is separate from the HR platform, so the all-in cost can be higher than expected when both are needed
The platform has grown rapidly through acquisition and feature addition, which sometimes shows in inconsistent UX between modules
Customisation of workflows and approval chains is less flexible than dedicated HRIS platforms like BambooHR or Rippling
Customer support response times can vary, with some users reporting delays during peak payroll periods

Reckon

Pros

One of the most affordable Australian accounting platforms, with pricing significantly below Xero and MYOB for basic bookkeeping needs
Reckon One modular pricing lets businesses pay only for features they use - invoicing, payroll, and projects are separate add-ons
Desktop version (Reckon Accounts) suits businesses that prefer on-premise accounting with local data storage
BAS and STP compliance is built in for the Australian market, with ATO direct lodgement capability
Payroll module includes award interpretation and superannuation management at a lower price point than standalone payroll platforms

Cons

The cloud platform (Reckon One) has a smaller third-party integration ecosystem than Xero, limiting connectivity with modern SaaS tools
User interface feels dated compared to Xero and even MYOB, which can affect staff adoption and efficiency
Market share in Australia has declined, meaning fewer accountants and bookkeepers are familiar with the platform
Mobile app functionality is limited compared to competitors, making on-the-go invoicing and expense management less convenient

Best For

Which tool suits which use case.

Choose Employment Hero if you need

✓ Retail & E-commerce businesses
✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
✓ Complex data models (employees, payroll, leave and more)
✓ Hospitality & Tourism organisations
✓ Tax compliance

Choose Reckon if you need

✓ Tax compliance
✓ Trades & Construction businesses
✓ Complex data models (invoices, contacts, payments and more)
✓ Retail & E-commerce organisations
✓ Invoicing and payments

Expert Verdict

Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.

Clever Ops Recommendation

Choose Employment Hero if Australian SMBs that want HR, payroll, and employee engagement tools in a single locally built platform, particularly businesses managing onboarding, compliance, and leave at scale. Choose Reckon if cost-conscious Australian small businesses that need basic accounting with local compliance and payroll at a lower price point than Xero or MYOB. Avoid Employment Hero if businesses that only need payroll without HR features (KeyPay is more cost-effective), or companies needing highly customised HR workflows beyond standard Australian employment practices. Avoid Reckon if businesses that need extensive third-party app integrations, a modern user interface, or teams whose accountants recommend Xero or MYOB for seamless collaboration. If you are still weighing the trade-offs, Clever Ops offers a free assessment where our Harvard-educated consultants map your requirements to the right platform.

Migration Notes

What to know about switching between Employment Hero and Reckon.

Migrating Between Employment Hero and Reckon

Migrating between Employment Hero and Reckon involves transferring payroll and mapping custom fields. Clever Ops follows a structured migration process: discovery, data mapping, test migration, verification, and cutover. We typically complete migrations within 4-8 weeks. Historical data is preserved, and we run parallel systems during the transition to minimise risk. Post-migration, we provide 3 months of support to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Employment Hero vs Reckon FAQ

Both platforms have their own setup considerations. Employment Hero manages 8 data object types and Reckon manages 8, so configuration complexity scales with your data requirements. Clever Ops provides implementation support for both, typically completing setup within 2 weeks.

Yes, both platforms are used by Australian businesses. Employment Hero is popular with Retail & E-commerce and Hospitality & Tourism in Australia. Reckon is widely used by Trades & Construction and Retail & E-commerce. Key Australian considerations include AUD pricing, local support hours, GST handling, and data residency. Employment Hero offers Australian-specific pricing. Clever Ops, based in Gippsland, Victoria, factors these nuances into every recommendation.

Yes. Both platforms share 1 common data object types (including payroll), which simplifies field mapping. Clever Ops runs a structured migration process: discovery, data mapping, test migration, verification, and cutover. Most migrations complete within 4-8 weeks, with 3 months of post-migration support included.

Both Employment Hero and Reckon provide standard security measures including encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications. Employment Hero uses a REST API and Reckon uses REST, both supporting secure data transfer. For Australian businesses handling sensitive data under the Privacy Act, data residency and local support are worth verifying with each vendor. Clever Ops, based in Gippsland, Victoria, can review each platform's security posture against your compliance requirements during a free assessment.

For Retail & E-commerce, the answer depends on your operational model. Employment Hero is best for Australian SMBs that want HR, payroll, and employee engagement tools in a single locally built platform, particularly businesses managing onboarding, compliance, and leave at scale. Reckon is best for cost-conscious Australian small businesses that need basic accounting with local compliance and payroll at a lower price point than Xero or MYOB. Clever Ops has helped businesses across Retail & E-commerce choose the right stack. Book a free assessment for advice specific to your situation.

Yes. Employment Hero provides a REST API and Reckon provides a REST API, so we can build reliable integrations between them. Common sync patterns include payroll. Our integrations include error handling, retry logic, and monitoring. Clients typically save 8+ hours/week once the integration is live.

Employment Hero: HR Standard from approximately $8/employee/month, HR Premium from approximately $12/employee/month, Payroll from approximately $6/employee/month (AUD). HR and Payroll billed separately. Onboarding and benefits modules included at Premium level.. Reckon: Reckon One from approximately $12/month (book-keeping only). Invoicing add-on from approximately $5/month, Payroll from approximately $10/month, Projects from approximately $5/month (AUD). Reckon Accounts desktop pricing varies. Per-employee payroll fees apply.. When comparing costs, factor in per-user charges, add-on modules, and implementation costs, not just the headline price. Clever Ops can model the total cost of ownership for your team size during a free assessment.

Both Employment Hero and Reckon serve Professional Services businesses. Employment Hero is also popular with Retail & E-commerce organisations, while Reckon is widely used in Trades & Construction. Clever Ops can advise based on what we have seen work for businesses like yours.