Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper Comparison
Heartland Payroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Medium Business
- Small Business
Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…
Microkeeper
Starting at $2.25 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll processing has never been easier or…
Microkeeper leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 90 reviews.
Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper — at a glance
| Feature | Heartland Payroll | Microkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Reviews | 118 | 90 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $2.25 /User/Month |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | — | Available |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep) | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | GDPR |
| Data residency | US | AU |
Key differences between Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper
- Pricing: Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month. Heartland Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Microkeeper offers a free trial; Heartland Payroll does not.
- Target audience: Heartland Payroll is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while Microkeeper targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Microkeeper scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
- Deployment: Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Microkeeper supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
- You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
- You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
- You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
- Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
- You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.
Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
- You operate a 10-500 employee business in Australia requiring automated Fair Work award compliance.
- You want a simple, user-friendly platform combining payroll, rostering, timesheets, and HR tasks.
- You need integrated real-time attendance tracking with GPS clock-ins and digital timesheets.
- Your company is outside Australia and needs localized payroll compliance for other regions.
- You require a highly modern or customizable user interface with advanced design aesthetics.
Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support. Microkeeper: Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
Description | Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland Payroll | Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll ... Read More about Microkeeper |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.7/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 20-50 employees51-500 employees | 10-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
- Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
- User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
- All-in-One Australian Payroll & HR: Combines payroll, time tracking, rostering, onboarding, and superannuation management in one localised platform.
- Automated Award Interpretation: Automatically applies Australian Fair Work awards to confirm accurate employee pay and compliance.
- Streamlined Workforce Management: Offers real-time attendance, GPS clock-ins, and digital timesheets for efficient labour tracking and scheduling.
Best fit
- 20–500 employees
- Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
- Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
- 10–500 employees
- Trades, construction, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and other shift-based sectors in Australia
- Payroll Officers, Operations Managers, HR Administrators, Business Owners, and Compliance Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
- Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
- Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.
- Businesses outside Australia may seek payroll platforms with compliance support tailored to their local tax systems.
- Companies requiring more advanced HR modules like learning management or succession planning might prefer larger HCM platforms
- Organizations with highly complex workforce structures could benefit from industry-specific payroll systems.
Software Demo
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How do Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper Compare on Features?
Total Features | 12 Features | 9 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
|---|---|---|
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇦🇺 AU |
Heartland Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall, users appreciate Microkeeper’s ease of use, time-saving automation, and comprehensive payroll and HR features, though some note occasional downtime and UI design limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Red Rooster  Quality Hotel  TELSTRA |
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Media and Screenshots
Videos |  2 Videos |  3 Videos |
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Top Alternatives to Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Heartland Payroll or Microkeeper?
- Microkeeper edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Heartland Payroll and Microkeeper offer a free trial?
- Microkeeper offers a free trial. Heartland Payroll does not.
- What is the starting price of Heartland Payroll vs Microkeeper?
- Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
- What are the top alternatives to Microkeeper?
- Top alternatives to Microkeeper include Paybooks, Heartland Payroll, Hive Payroll, Papaya Global, APS Payroll.