Affordable & easy Xero alternative
Many small business owners are unsatisfied with Xeroโs pricing for payroll features and STP. Ditch the complex software and unnecessary features. Roll with Payroller!
Payroller is a Xero alternative for mobile payroll management thatโs 100% free for 1-employee businesses.
Ready to streamline your payroll process? Move on from Xero frustration and switch to Payroller today!
By clicking Try for Free, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.
- 99c per user for the first 3 months*
- 7-day free trial
- 30-day money-back guarantee
How Payroller measures up as a Xero alternative
Features
Payroll
Easily run payroll in one simple workflow. 85% of our users complete their first pay run in under 15 minutes.
Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Submit and finalise STP from anywhere. Leave payroll compliance headaches behind and focus on your business.
Superannuation
Get accurate superannuation calculations and make contributions via Beam. Make adjustments to super in the same payroll workflow.
Timesheets & rosters
Easily create and manage employee timesheets and rosters. Optimise shifts and monitor employee attendance.
Dedicated employee app
Let employees view pay slips, track their own leaves, accept shifts, and create timesheets.
Payment summaries
Get payroll reports for record-keeping and business analysis. Store payroll costs, super, and employee data.
$10.16/mo
Includes the initial $0.99/mo per employee discount for the first 3 months.
$70/mo
On the Xero Grow plan, updated as of 1 July 2024.
Features
Payroll
Easily run payroll in one simple workflow. 85% of our users complete their first pay run in under 15 minutes.
Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Submit and finalise STP from anywhere. Leave payroll compliance headaches behind and focus on your business.
Superannuation
Get accurate superannuation calculations and make contributions via Beam. Make adjustments to super in the same payroll workflow.
Timesheets & rosters
Easily create and manage employee timesheets and rosters. Optimise shifts and monitor employee attendance.
Dedicated employee app
Let employees view pay slips, track their own leaves, accept shifts, and create timesheets.
Payment summaries
Get payroll reports for record-keeping and business analysis. Store payroll costs, super, and employee data.
$10.98/mo
Includes the initial $0.99/mo per employee discount for the first 3 months.
$90/mo
On the Xero Comprehensive plan, updated as of 1 July 2024.
Features
Payroll
Easily run payroll in one simple workflow. 85% of our users complete their first pay run in under 15 minutes.
Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Submit and finalise STP from anywhere. Leave payroll compliance headaches behind and focus on your business.
Superannuation
Get accurate superannuation calculations and make contributions via Beam. Make adjustments to super in the same payroll workflow.
Timesheets & rosters
Easily create and manage employee timesheets and rosters. Optimise shifts and monitor employee attendance.
Dedicated employee app
Let employees view pay slips, track their own leaves, accept shifts, and create timesheets.
Payment summaries
Get payroll reports for record-keeping and business analysis. Store payroll costs, super, and employee data.
$13.69/mo
Includes the initial $0.99/mo per employee discount for the first 3 months.
$90/mo
On the Xero Comprehensive plan, updated as of 1 July 2024.
Features
Payroll
Easily run payroll in one simple workflow. 85% of our users complete their first pay run in under 15 minutes.
Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Submit and finalise STP from anywhere. Leave payroll compliance headaches behind and focus on your business.
Superannuation
Get accurate superannuation calculations and make contributions via Beam. Make adjustments to super in the same payroll workflow.
Timesheets & rosters
Easily create and manage employee timesheets and rosters. Optimise shifts and monitor employee attendance.
Dedicated employee app
Let employees view pay slips, track their own leaves, accept shifts, and create timesheets.
Payment summaries
Get payroll reports for record-keeping and business analysis. Store payroll costs, super, and employee data.
$27.39/mo
Includes the initial $0.99/mo per employee discount for the first 3 months.
$115/mo
On the Xero Unlimited 10 plan, updated as of 1 July 2024.
* Inclusive of an initial 3-month discount of $0.99/month per employee applicable for new subscribers. Thereafter, $2.99/month per employee with a minimum spend of $11.99/month. Billed yearly.
** Inclusive of an initial 1-month discount of $0.99/month per employee applicable for new subscribers. Thereafter, $4.00/month per employee with a minimum spend of $16.00/month. Billed monthly.
Run payroll with the best Xero alternative for small businesses
Cheaper payroll alternative to Xero
Payroll features for up to 5 employees on Payroller is 83% more affordable than Xero.
Easier to master with no prior experience
Our software is designed for business owners with little to no accounting expertise.
Free workforce management features
Employees can use our dedicated mobile app to create timesheets, accept shifts, and request leaves.
Essential payroll features at better value
Payroller is a free Xero alternative for 1-employee businesses
Running a business with just one employee? Don’t waste money on features you donโt need. Payroller offers a free plan exclusively on mobile that lets you manage payroll for your first employee, making it a great alternative to Xero.
Pay only 99c per employee for the same functionalities and more features on the web app! Say goodbye to unnecessary fees and hello to a user-friendly payroll solution designed specifically for small businesses.
ATO & STP-approved for your peace of mind
Focus on what matters mostโrunning your business! Payroller takes care of the complexities of ATO compliance and stays up to date with the latest standards. Our software is built to handle Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting seamlessly, so you can rest assured that your payroll meets all government regulations.
Super payments made super simple
Superannuation doesnโt have to be a headache. With Payroller, adding superannuation contributions for your employees is a breeze. As a Xero alternative, Payroller offers a streamlined process:
- Enter the superfund name or USI during employee setup.
- Payroller automatically searches and suggests matching superfunds.
- Select the correct fund and youโre done!
Get WFM features for payroll accuracy and better scheduling
Payrollerโs timesheets and rosters app functionality help you track employee time and streamline scheduling.
Your staff can use the Payroller Employee app to track work hours and automatically send timesheets to the platform. They can also view their payslips, YTD wages, and manage their leave balances, taking away the administrative burden off your shoulders.
Invite your accountant to the platform for free
Need help with payroll? No problem! Payroller allows you to invite your accountant to the platform for free through Payroller Pro. This way, your accountant or agent can add and edit employees, create pay runs, and review your payroll reports for compliance.
This seamless collaboration ensures your accountant has easy access to your payroll data, while you benefit from their expertise.
Migrate from Xero to Payroller in 3 easy steps
Step 1
Step 2
Set opening balances per employee.
Step 3
Register your payroll software ID with the ATO.
Go from Xero to heroโswitch to Payroller today!
Ready to try Payroller free?
$0.99/month per employee *
Timesheets & Rosters
Leave Management
Employee App
Payroll & STP on Mobile
Payroll & STP on Web
STP Phase 2 Enabled
Superannuation
Xero Integration
Contact us
Timesheets & Rosters
Leave Management
Employee App
Payroll & STP on Mobile
Payroll & STP on Web
STP Phase 2 Enabled
Superannuation
Xero Integration
Compare Payroller to other providers
Do you have clients on Xero Payroll Only?
Earn $100 for each one that switches to Payroller
Double your referral bonus for every client you refer that gets an annual subscription.
Importing Xero records to Payroller is easy and doesn’t interrupt the payroll process. Learn how here.
Frequently asked questions about Payroller vs. Xero
Why would a small business want a Xero alternative?
Xero has recently raised the cost of its payroll plans multiple times, with the Payroll Only plan jumping from $15 to $20 per month in 2024, and now, as of July 2025, the Grow, Comprehensive, and Ultimate plans are increasing againโsome by as much as $27 per month. For small businesses, this means paying much more for payroll, even if you only have a handful of employees.
Xero has also phased out its affordable Payroll Only option, forcing users onto more expensive plans that may include features they donโt need. The new minimum for payroll is now $75/month, even if you only need basic payroll for one person.
These changes have led to widespread dissatisfaction, with many Xero users expressing disappointment and frustration over being forced into higher-priced plans that donโt fit their requirements.
How is Payroller a better alternative to Xero?
Payroller’s focus on payroll management allows it to provide more detailed features, such as automated payroll tax calculations, time tracking for employees, and leave management.
One advantage of Payroller over Xero is its ease of use for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a simple and straightforward interface that makes payroll management easy, even for those without a background in accounting. Additionally, Payroller offers more affordable pricing plans, making it an attractive option for smaller businesses on a smaller budget.
Is Payroller a free Xero alternative?
Online payroll software for Australian businesses sends your employees’ tax and superannuation information to the ATO. This means you won’t need to manually complete payment summaries and group certificates at the end of the financial year. Less paperwork, more time saved.
Payroll software doesn’t stop at processing payslips. With Payroller, you’ve got everything built in to take the guesswork out of tax time. Beyond STP reporting capabilities, you can get the following benefits:
- Cost-effective: Can be more affordable than traditional payroll systems, especially for small businesses.
- Scalability: Easily accommodates growth in the number of employees.
- Security: Cloud providers offer robust security measures to protect sensitive payroll data.
- Automatic updates: Ensures you’re always using the latest tax tables and regulations.
- Improved compliance: Easier to stay compliant with complex payroll regulations.
Is Payroller for accountants or employers?
Payroller is designed to be accessible to both employers and accountants, but with a specific focus on empowering employers who might not have an accounting background. You don’t need to be a financial expert to navigate the system and handle essential payroll tasks, even without an accountant.
Ensuring compliance with ATO standards is crucial. Payroller helps you navigate these requirements with features like automated tax calculations and integration with superannuation clearing houses.
How many employees can I have on my Payroller Starter plan?
Unlike Xero’s per-employee pricing structure, Payroller’s Starter plan allows you to add as many employees as you need for a low monthly cost. This can be very cost-effective for businesses that are starting out or have a fluctuating number of employees.
With Payroller, you only pay for your additional employees, making it a budget-friendly option compared to Xero’s tiered pricing structure. For example, if you have 5 employees, you’d pay $4.95 ($0.99/per month/employee for the first 3 months on a yearly plan) per month with Payroller, whereas Xero’s Comprehensive plan would cost $90 per month.
Does Payroller integrate with other accounting systems?
Payroller prioritizes seamless integration with widely-used accounting systems to streamline your workflow:
- Xero
- Myob (Coming Soon)
While integrations offer a great way to connect Payroller with existing accounting systems, it’s important to note that Payroller itself offers robust reporting features. This means you can generate detailed payroll reports directly within Payroller, providing valuable insights even without an external accounting system.
