Employment Hero vs. Rippling: Comparison & Expert Reviews For 2026

By Phil Gray
COO with 20 years scaling people ops & culture at high-growth tech companies.

We review tools independently, and commissions help fund our testing. See our transparency policy, our methodology, or suggest a tool.

If you’re comparing Employment Hero and Rippling, you’re likely searching for HR software that goes beyond the basics. Maybe your team has outgrown spreadsheets, payroll is becoming harder to manage, or onboarding new hires now involves HR, IT access, and compliance all at the same time.

In this comparison, I break down Employment Hero vs. Rippling across pricing, features, ease of use, and use cases to help you choose the HR software that fits your team now and as you grow.

Employment Hero

Employment Hero’s HR dashboard that surfaces key tasks, metrics, and employee activity in one place.
Employment Hero’s HR dashboard that surfaces key tasks, metrics, and employee activity in one place.
Customer rating

4.4/5

Pricing
  • Free demo available
  • From $2/user/month

Rippling

Rippling is an all-in-one platform for HR, payroll, IT, and finance.
Rippling is an all-in-one platform for HR, payroll, IT, and finance.
Customer rating

4.9/5

Pricing
  • Not available
  • From $8/user/month

Why Trust Our Software Recommendations

6,700+

Reviews

20

Industry experts

16+

Evaluation factors

14

Years

Our team has been testing and reviewing software since 2012. As HR experts ourselves, we know how difficult—and important—it is to choose the right software.

For this guide, we evaluated tools using hands-on testing and independent research, scoring tools using our selection criteria. We also draw on insights from industry thought leaders and practicing HR experts.

Our reviews reflect our human editorial judgment, not a sales pitch.

Expert reviewers:

Employment HeroRippling
Free TrialFree demo availableNot available
PricingFrom $2/user/monthFrom $8/user/month

Employment Hero vs. Rippling Pricing & Hidden Costs

Employment Hero offers tiered pricing with clear plans and optional add-ons, making it easier to predict costs as your HR and payroll needs grow. Rippling uses modular, per-user pricing, but still requires a quote. It gives you flexibility but requires closer scoping since costs can rise as you add more products and increase headcount.

Employment Hero covers the core HR and payroll basics, like hiring, onboarding, time tracking, leave, and payroll, but really stands out in employment and payroll management. Features like award interpretation, Single Touch Payroll, managed payroll, and built-in HR advisory support make it especially useful for teams dealing with local compliance and people management.

Rippling also handles core HR and payroll, but its strength is automation and policy control. By linking HR with IT access, devices, and apps, Rippling can automatically apply rules when employees join, change roles, or leave, which makes it a strong option for teams that want tighter control across HR and operations.

Employment HeroRippling
2-Factor AuthenticationYesYes
APINoYes
Application TrackingYesYes
Attendance TrackingYesYes
Batch Permissions & AccessYesYes
Compliance TrackingYesYes
DashboardYesYes
Data ExportYesYes
Data ImportYesYes
Data VisualizationYesYes
Employee DatabaseYesYes
Employee EngagementYesYes
Employee Incentive ManagementNoYes
Employee OnboardingYesYes
Employee TrainingYesYes
Expense TrackingYesYes
External IntegrationsYesYes
Feedback ManagementYesYes
Multi-UserYesYes
NotificationsYesYes
PayrollYesYes
SchedulingYesYes
TimesheetsYesYes
Travel ManagementNoYes
Vacation & Absence CalendarYesYes

IntegrationEmployment HeroRippling
Slack✅✅
Xero✅✅
QuickBooks✅✅
Google Workspace✅✅
Microsoft 365✅✅
Salesforce✅ ✅
NetSuite✅✅
Dropbox✅✅
API✅✅
Zapier✅✅

Both platforms support many of the same core business integrations, including accounting and productivity tools, so most teams won’t need to replace their existing HR stack. It's worth noting, however, that Rippling offers a larger selection of native integrations (650+ options).

FactorEmployment HeroRippling
Data EncryptionSecures data through encrypted handling and supports single sign-on (SSO), aligned with ISO 27001 security standards.Uses AES-256 encryption for data at rest and in transit, with multi-factor authentication and secure access controls.
Regulatory ComplianceHelps businesses meet local payroll legislation and reporting requirements through automated payroll and compliance features.Holds SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001/27018, and CSA STAR Level 2 certifications, with GDPR and CCPA compliance.
Data PrivacyUses ISO 27001–aligned security practices to protect employee and customer information.Uses role-based access controls, SSO, audit logging, and automated user provisioning/deprovisioning to protect sensitive employee data.

Both platforms provide strong security and compliance. Employment Hero focuses on encrypted data handling and local payroll compliance, while Rippling offers the same plus enterprise-grade security and global certifications for more complex needs.

FactorEmployment HeroRippling
User InterfaceFeatures a clean layout with intuitive navigation, making it easy to access key HR functions.Easy-to-use, modern interface with customizable dashboards and an automation builder, which may take some time to get used to.
Onboarding ExperienceStreamlines new-hire setup by handling onboarding tasks automatically, minimizing manual steps.Automated onboarding workflows that provision apps, access, and devices from a single workflow.
SupportOffers self-service documentation, live support options, and structured guidance during implementation.Extensive documentation, support resources, and implementation assistance. Live support via chat, Zoom (+ screensharing assistance), and email.

Employment Hero keeps things simple with easy navigation, basic onboarding automation, and straightforward support. Rippling's interface is intuitive and onboarding is quick, but because it offers deeper automation, it may take some time to configure more complex workflows.

Employment Hero

Pros
  • All-in-one platform for core people operations
  • Strong fit for SMBs with standardized HR needs
  • Strong payroll and regulatory compliance capabilities
Cons
  • Limited flexibility for complex or highly customized HR workflows
  • Strong regional focus may be limiting for some teams
  • Moving data from a previous platform can be time-intensive
Visit Employment Hero (opens in a new window)

Rippling

Pros
  • Automates simple and complex tasks across departments with an intuitive Workflow Studio.
  • The platform is highly scalable with add-on modules, making it ideal for growing businesses.
  • Tons of integration options (650+), so that all your systems can be connected and centralized in one platform.
Cons
  • Custom reporting and workflows may not be included with base modules.
  • May be overly comprehensive for simpler operations with limited HR tasks or few employees.
  • While modular, costs can add up quickly as you activate more capabilities.
Visit Rippling (opens in a new window)

Employment Hero

Employment Hero’s HR dashboard that surfaces key tasks, metrics, and employee activity in one place.
Employment Hero’s HR dashboard that surfaces key tasks, metrics, and employee activity in one place.
  1. Software/IT CompaniesBest for growing tech teams that need structured onboarding, payroll, and employee records without adding HR overhead.
  2. Tech StartupsWell-suited for startups scaling headcount quickly and needing structured onboarding, payroll, and employee records early on.
  3. Construction & Manufacturing CompaniesSupports payroll, compliance documentation, and workforce management across operational and site-based teams.
  4. Hospitality BusinessesIdeal for shift-based teams that need accurate payroll, leave tracking, and employee self-service.
  5. Healthcare & Childcare ProvidersBuilt to support onboarding, documentation, and workforce management in care-focused, compliance-heavy environments.
  6. Professional & Business Services FirmsFits agencies, consultancies, and service firms that want simple, centralized HR and payroll processes.

Rippling

Rippling is an all-in-one platform for HR, payroll, IT, and finance.
Rippling is an all-in-one platform for HR, payroll, IT, and finance.
  1. Tech CompaniesRippling's automation and integration capabilities suit the fast-paced, tech-driven environment your company thrives in.
  2. Small to Large EnterprisesThe platform scales well for small, medium, and large enterprises, handling growing operations, from simple to complex, across multiple geographies.
  3. HR DepartmentsRippling centralizes and automates HR functions, like onboarding, benefits administration, learning and development, time and attendance tracking, and recruiting.
  4. Remote TeamsIf your team works remotely, Rippling's cloud-based access keeps everyone connected and informed. With the IT add-on, you can even manage remote devices (e.g., automate device management, provisioning, and identity and access management).
  5. Finance DepartmentsRippling provides a full, in-house Finance suite with spend management, travel, bill pay and corporate cards. It also integrates payroll with other financial systems, streamlining financial workflows.
  6. Global EnterprisesIf your business spans multiple regions, Rippling's extensive reporting tools, global payroll, global hiring (EOR), and contractor management help manage diverse teams effectively.

Who Should Use Employment Hero, and Who Should Use Rippling?

Employment Hero is a good fit for small to mid-sized businesses in people-driven industries like healthcare, hospitality, construction, logistics, and professional services that need simple HR and payroll support. Rippling is suited for companies of all sizes, including those with more complex setups, in industries like tech, finance, retail, and manufacturing, that need automation across HR, payroll, IT, and finance as they scale.

Automation ApproachEmployment Hero

Employment Hero focuses on automating HR and payroll workflows such as onboarding, leave approvals, compliance processes, and employee management.

Rippling

Rippling emphasizes stronger workflow automation and HR policy control. It also offers optional cross-department automation, extending beyond HR to include spend automation, IT access, device provisioning, and system permissions.

Device ManagementEmployment Hero

Employment Hero does not include built-in IT or device management as part of its core platform.

Rippling

Rippling offers native IT and device management, including identity access management, device provisioning, and inventory tracking. This can be purchased with its HR solution or separately.

Global CoverageEmployment Hero

Employment Hero is built for regional-specific teams (like Australia, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and New Zealand). It has an optional employer of record (EOR) service available for global hiring needs, covering talent sourcing, onboarding, and payroll.

Rippling

Rippling is built for distributed and global teams located anywhere, offering integrated tools to manage international employees and contractors at scale. Employee-level compliance tracking covers 85+ countries.

Platform ScopeEmployment Hero

Employment Hero is built primarily as an HR and payroll platform, focusing on hiring, onboarding, time tracking, leave management, payroll, and local compliance within a single system.

Rippling

Rippling offers core HR and payroll functions, but has the ability to scale beyond that with an IT product that handles device and access management and a spend management product for more financial control. These abilities allow teams to manage people operations, finance, and technical setup from one platform if they choose.

Pricing ModelEmployment Hero

Employment Hero uses tiered pricing plans with optional add-ons, making costs more predictable as HR and payroll needs expand.

Rippling

Rippling follows a modular, per-user, quote-based pricing model where total cost depends on the specific products and services selected and headcount.

Visit Employment Hero (opens in a new window)
Visit Rippling (opens in a new window)

Cloud-Based Access

Both Employment Hero and Rippling are cloud-based platforms, allowing teams to access HR tools from anywhere.

Core HR & Payroll Capabilities

Both platforms provide essential HR features, including employee records, payroll processing, time tracking, and onboarding.

Customizable HR Workflows

Employment Hero and Rippling both allow customization of HR workflows to fit different team structures and processes.

HR Data Security Measures

Each platform prioritizes data protection through encryption, access controls, and security-focused practices.

Support for Growing Teams

Both tools are designed to scale beyond small teams, supporting businesses as they grow in size and operational complexity.

Visit Employment Hero (opens in a new window)
Visit Rippling (opens in a new window)