Compare/Head to head

ELMO vs Employment Hero

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

ELMO

Quote-based

Recruitment module of ELMO, the Australian and New Zealand HR and payroll platform, for employers that want hiring on the same record as onboarding, payroll and performance. ELMO sells by quote based on workforce size, products and services, and is rated 4.5 on Capterra across 248 reviews.

Where ELMO fits

  • Mid-sized Australian and NZ employers
  • HR teams wanting hiring inside an HRIS
  • Employers running Referoo background checks

Employment Hero

Sales-quoted

HR and payroll platform with recruiting tools. No US rate card is published, so US pricing is quote-based.

Where Employment Hero fits

  • Employers that want HR records and recruiting together
  • Teams that may add rostering or managed payroll
  • Companies hiring with AI screening and video interviews
  • Buyers comfortable with a sales quote

At a glance

DetailELMOEmployment Hero
Starting priceQuote-basedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, HRISBenefits administration, Engagement, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra4.5 from 248 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

ELMO

Stands out: Right-to-work, reference, police and industry checks run through Referoo inside the hiring flow, and roles can be amplified on SEEK, LinkedIn Careers and Indeed. Optional AI Screening ranks applicants against the job ad, while a person always makes the final decision.

Watch out: Recruitment is sold as part of a wider HR suite quote, with no public seat price and no trial offer. ELMO has an agency dashboard for working with recruiters, but it is not a recruiter CRM with sales and placement tools.

Not the right fit for

  • Agencies needing a sales CRM and temp billing
  • Teams wanting a standalone ATS
  • Buyers needing a published per-user price

Employment Hero

Stands out: Employee records, leave, onboarding, performance and recruiting with AI screening in one people system.

Watch out: Published plans are regional. Australian plans have a 10-user minimum, and add-ons like rostering and managed payroll bill extra.

Not the right fit for

  • US buyers who need a published USD price
  • Very small teams under a 10-user minimum

Pros and cons

ELMO

  • Hiring, onboarding and payroll on one record
  • Referoo checks built into the hiring flow
  • Rated 4.5 on Capterra across 248 reviews
  • Quote only, based on headcount and modules
  • Recruitment is sold inside a wider HR suite
  • Not a recruiter CRM for agencies

Employment Hero

  • HR, recruiting and payroll options in one vendor
  • Modular add-ons for time, payroll and learning
  • Public developer API
  • No published US pricing
  • 10-user minimum on published plans
  • Many features are paid add-ons

What each one costs

ELMO

Quote-based

ELMO does not publish prices. Its personalized quote is based on workforce size, the products required and the services sought, and Recruitment is one module alongside HR Core, payroll and other lifecycle tools. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 27 Sep 2026

Employment Hero

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted in the US. No public rate card on the vendor site. In Australia, HR Essentials is listed at A$10 and HR Engage at A$14 per user per month with a 10-user minimum; HR Elite is custom. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try ELMO or Employment Hero for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All ELMO alternatives All Employment Hero alternatives Every ATS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 27 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?