Head to head

Employment Hero vs OnPay

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

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

OnPay

$49/mo

US full-service payroll with optional HR, time tracking and benefits. Payroll Essentials is $49/mo base plus $6 per worker.

Where OnPay fits

  • US small businesses that want payroll without a quote
  • Employers paying W-2 staff and 1099 contractors
  • Teams with workers in several states
  • Owners who want benefits admin with payroll

At a glance

DetailEmployment HeroOnPay
Starting priceSales-quoted$49/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBenefits administration, Engagement, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendancePayroll

Where they pull apart

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

OnPay

Stands out: Published pricing with unlimited pay runs, multi-state filing and year-end forms in the $49 base plan.

Watch out: The $49 is a base fee: each paid worker adds $6/mo. HR ($15 base plus $2/worker) and time tracking ($15 base plus $4/worker) cost extra.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies hiring employees abroad
  • Enterprises that need a full HCM suite

Pros and cons

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

OnPay

  • Published $49 base plus $6 per worker
  • Unlimited pay runs and multi-state filing
  • Free setup and data migration
  • Per-worker fee adds up on larger teams
  • HR and time tracking cost extra
  • US payroll only

What each one costs

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

OnPay

$49/mo

Payroll Essentials is $49 a month base plus $6 per worker, billed monthly. Add-ons: HR $15 base plus $2 per worker, time tracking $15 base plus $4 per worker, compliance resources $10, live HR support $65. Bundles start at $70 base plus $10 per worker. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

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

Not the pair you wanted?

All Employment Hero alternatives All OnPay alternatives Every Benefits administration tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?