Rippling vs Employment Hero: global payroll compared
Rippling and Employment Hero scored on the same fields: starting price, payroll countries, pay cycles, payout currencies, integrations and reviews. The verdict comes first, the evidence follows.
Rippling
Employment Hero
Should you choose Rippling or Employment Hero for global payroll?
- Payroll countries. Rippling runs payroll in 71 more countries.
- Payout currencies. Rippling pays out in more currencies.
- Rating. Rippling is rated higher across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot.
Pick Rippling if
- +You need payroll in more countries (83 vs 12)
- +You pay out in more currencies (27 vs 6)
- +You also need contractor management, which Employment Hero does not offer
Pick Employment Hero if
- +Companies interested in offering crypto payment options to employees who want that flexibility
- +Businesses that need both payroll processing and EOR services from a single provider
Pick neither if you pay people in one or two countries. At that footprint a local payroll bureau is usually cheaper and closer to the rules. Platforms like these start paying off around the third country.
Rippling and Employment Hero both sell global payroll to companies paying staff in several countries. Neither publishes a global payroll price, so both quote per company. Rippling runs payroll in 83 countries, Employment Hero in 12.
Below, the two are scored on the same fields in the same order: starting price, payroll countries, pay cycles, payout currencies, integrations and third-party ratings. Nothing is left blank to make one side look better.
Rippling vs Employment Hero: which fields differ?
8 of 10 fields differ. Green marks the stronger figure where one is objectively better. Identical fields are folded below the table.
| Payroll field | Rippling | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll countries | 83 | 12 |
| Payout currencies | 27 | 6 |
| GL & HRIS integrations | QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite | Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB AccountRight |
| Services | Employer of record, Global payroll, Contractors | Employer of record, Global payroll |
| Founded | 2016 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, US | Sydney, AU |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Review volume | 20,678 | 4,851 |
Same on 2 fields: payroll price, pay cycles
| Payroll field | Rippling | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll price | Quote only | Quote only |
| Pay cycles | bi-weekly | bi-weekly |
Prices are the published starting rate. Ratings are averaged across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot; we do not collect ratings ourselves.
Rippling vs Employment Hero: what does global payroll cost?
Neither publishes a global payroll price. Request quotes from both for the same countries and headcount.
| Service | Rippling | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Global payroll | Quote only | Quote only |
| Employer of record | Quote only | Quote only |
| Contractors | Quote only | Not offered |
Starting rates from each provider's published pricing page. Country, headcount and contract length change the final number, so get both quotes for the same scope.
Still between Rippling and Employment Hero? Send your countries, headcount and pay cycles once. We route the requirements to both and the proposals come back to you, priced for the same scope.
Request proposals from bothWhere can Rippling and Employment Hero actually run payroll?
Rippling supports 71 more countries than Employment Hero. 12 countries are covered by both.
R = Rippling · E = Employment Hero
Only Rippling (71)
Which payroll features do Rippling and Employment Hero offer?
Only Rippling lists hris integration, compliance dashboard; only Employment Hero lists tax filing.
| Feature | Rippling | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Services | ||
| Global payroll | ||
| Employer of record | ||
| Contractor management | — | |
| PEO | — | — |
| Payroll features | ||
| Multi-currency payouts | ||
| Automated tax calculation | ||
| Payslip generation | ||
| Employee self-service portal | ||
| API access | ||
| HRIS integration | — | |
| Compliance dashboard | — | |
| Dedicated support | ||
| 24/7 support | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| On demand pay | ||
| Tax filing | — | |
Feature lists come from each provider's own product pages. A dash means the feature is not listed there, not that it is missing from the product.
What are the pros and cons of Rippling vs Employment Hero for payroll?
Drawn from our full reviews of each provider. Read them for the reasoning behind every point.
Rippling
Pros
- +The 4.8-star average across 17,648 reviews is genuinely impressive. That's a huge sample size with consistently high ratings, which tells you the product delivers at scale
- +They've been around since 2016 with over 10,000 employees, so you're working with a mature company that's not going anywhere
- +The all-in-one approach actually works here. You can manage payroll, benefits, devices, and software access from one dashboard instead of logging into five different tools
- +53-country coverage hits the sweet spot for most internationally growing companies without overwhelming you with options you won't use
- +Payment flexibility is excellent, from standard bank transfers to SEPA, SWIFT, Wise, PayPal, and even crypto options
- +24/7 support with dedicated reps means you're not stuck waiting when payroll issues pop up outside business hours
Cons
- −At $35 per employee, they're priced at the higher end of mid-range options. Deel and Remote both start at $29, Oyster ranges $29-59, so you're paying a premium
- −The platform does a lot, which means there's a steeper learning curve. Reviews mention it can feel overwhelming initially compared to simpler payroll-only tools
- −Only offers bi-weekly pay frequency, which could be limiting if your team needs weekly or monthly payment schedules
- −53 countries is solid but not massive. If you're hiring heavily in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, you'll want to verify they cover your specific markets
- −Some reviews mention the setup process takes longer than expected, particularly when configuring the IT management components alongside payroll
Employment Hero
Pros
- +They've been around since 2014, so they have over 10 years of experience working through payroll complexities and compliance changes
- +The crypto payment option is genuinely unusual. Most payroll providers stick to traditional banking, so this gives you flexibility if your team wants it
- +Getting dedicated support with 24/7 availability is helpful when payroll issues pop up outside business hours
- +On-demand pay is a nice perk for employees who need access to earned wages before payday
- +The API access means you can connect their payroll to your existing HR tools and workflows
- +Multi-currency support handles international payments without you needing to manage exchange rates manually
Cons
- −No public pricing means you can't quickly compare costs against competitors like Deel ($29-49) or Remote ($29) without going through a sales process
- −Zero countries listed for coverage is concerning if you need international payroll, especially when most providers handle 50-100 countries
- −No customer reviews available yet on major platforms, so you can't see what actual users think about reliability or support quality
- −Only offers bi-weekly pay frequency, which limits flexibility if your company prefers weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payroll cycles
- −The regional focus means you'll likely need a second provider if you expand into markets they don't serve
Frequently asked questions about Rippling vs Employment Hero
Is Rippling or Employment Hero cheaper?
Contact the providers directly for custom pricing based on your needs.
Which has more country coverage, Rippling or Employment Hero?
Rippling has broader country coverage. Rippling supports 83+ countries, while Employment Hero supports 12+ countries.
Which is better rated, Rippling or Employment Hero?
Rippling has a higher average rating. Rippling is rated 4.7/5 (20,678 reviews), while Employment Hero is rated 4.2/5 (4,851 reviews).
Is Rippling or Employment Hero better for small businesses?
This depends on your specific needs. Rippling is best for: Companies needing both payroll and IT management, particularly those issuing company devices and software licenses to remote teams, Businesses with 50+ employees across multiple countries in Europe who want to consolidate vendors. Employment Hero is best for: Companies interested in offering crypto payment options to employees who want that flexibility, Businesses that need both payroll processing and EOR services from a single provider. Consider factors like pricing, minimum employee requirements, and the countries you need coverage in.
Can I switch from Rippling to Employment Hero (or vice versa)?
Yes, you can switch payroll providers. Most providers offer migration assistance to help transfer employee data and payroll history. The transition typically takes 30-60 days depending on complexity. Contact your target provider's sales team to discuss the migration process and timeline.
What services do Rippling and Employment Hero offer?
Rippling offers: Employer of Record (EOR), Global payroll, Contractor management. Employment Hero offers: Employer of Record (EOR), Global payroll. Both can handle global workforce management, but their specific service offerings differ.
Compare with other providers
Get the same quote from both.
Ask Rippling and Employment Hero for pricing on the same countries and headcount. The starting rates above only tell part of the story.
