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Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll Comparison

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Microkeeper

4.7(90 reviews)

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…

QuickBooks Payroll

4.4(55 reviews)

Starting at $49 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

QuickBooks Payroll makes it easy to stay on top of your HR needs. It’s payroll software that gives you the power to handle all the payroll processing you need, from modeling an employee’s paycheck to tracking deductions…

Microkeeper leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 90 reviews.

Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll — at a glance

FeatureMicrokeeperQuickBooks Payroll
Rating4.7 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews9055
Starting price$2.25 /User/Month$49 /Month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
Integrations—8+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailable—
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPR—
Data residencyAU—

Key differences between Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll

  • Pricing: Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month, while QuickBooks Payroll starts at $49 /Month.
  • Target audience: Microkeeper is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while QuickBooks Payroll targets Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: Microkeeper scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Microkeeper supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; QuickBooks Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

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.

Microkeeper - Payroll Software
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QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software
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Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Microkeeper

Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.

Choose if
  • 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.
Consider alternatives if
  • 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.

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for

Small Business

Microkeeper typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. QuickBooks Payroll tends to fit Small Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

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

QuickBooks Payroll makes it easy to stay on top of your HR needs. It’s payroll software that gives you the power to handle all the payroll processing you need, from modeling an employee’s ... Read More about QuickBooks Payroll

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $2.25
  • Starts from $49

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

9.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.69

(90)

4.4

(55)

Best Company Size

10-50 employees51-500 employees
1–500 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.

Strengths

Key strengths

Microkeeper

  • 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.

QuickBooks Payroll

  • Compliance and Tax Support: The platform keeps tax compliance current, automatically calculates taxes, and manages filings to reduce penalties.
  • Integrated Accounting Solutions: It integrates smoothly with QuickBooks Accounting software, providing real-time financial insights and simplifying bookkeeping.
  • Seamless Payroll Processing: QuickBooks Payroll automates payroll calculations, tax filings, and direct deposits, reducing manual errors and saving time.
Best fit

Best fit

Microkeeper

  • 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

QuickBooks Payroll

  • 1–500 employees
  • Retail, professional services, healthcare, hospitality, construction, and nonprofits.
  • Payroll Managers, HR Managers, Accountants, Business Owners, and Finance Directors.
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Microkeeper

  • 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.

QuickBooks Payroll

  • Businesses requiring industry-specific payroll features may seek specialized platforms.
  • Companies looking for more robust HR management and employee benefits integration may explore other solutions.
  • Organizations with complex multinational payroll needs might prefer global payroll providers.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

9 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll 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.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $2.25
      • $49

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Microkeeper pricing
      QuickBooks Payroll pricing

      Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      —

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Residency

      🇦🇺 AU
      —

      Microkeeper User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      66

      22

      1

      0

      1

      30

      14

      6

      0

      2

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      • Ease of use
      • Time-saving automation
      • All-in-one payroll and HR functionality

      Common complaints

      • App downtime
      • Lack of clarity in superannuation and payslip updates

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 52 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Automates tax filing, paycheck generation, and sends real-time notifications to reduce manual effort.
      • Interface includes step-by-step tutorials and works for both beginners and experienced users.
      • Integrates with QuickBooks for financial reporting and analytics.

      Common complaints

      • Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.
      • Complexity in resolving reporting errors or adjusting liabilities, often requiring external support or advanced accounting knowledge.
      • Occasional glitches, lag, and freezes, especially with the online version, impacting usability and efficiency.

      Pros and Cons

      • All-in-one platform consolidating payroll, rostering, timesheets, and HR tasks

      • Intuitive and user-friendly interface requiring minimal training

      • Automated award interpretation ensuring compliance with Australian labor laws

      • Occasional app or feature downtime causing minor disruptions

      • Updates to superannuation or payslip summaries sometimes lack clarity for employees

      • Simplifies payroll management with automation for tax filing, paycheck generation, and real-time notifications, reducing errors and manual effort.

      • Intuitive and user-friendly interface, suitable for both experienced users and beginners, with step-by-step tutorials for easy setup.

      • Offers robust integration with accounting systems (e.g., QuickBooks), providing seamless financial reporting and analytics.

      • Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.

      • Complexity in resolving reporting errors or adjusting liabilities, often requiring external support or advanced accounting knowledge.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Microkeeper or QuickBooks Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Integrations

      Integration with other apps

      No Integration information available.

      Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll Customers

      Customers

      Red Rooster

      Red Rooster

      Quality Hotel

      Quality Hotel

      TELSTRA

      TELSTRA

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Workers Payroll

      3 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll in 2026

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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, Microkeeper or QuickBooks Payroll?
      Microkeeper edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Microkeeper and QuickBooks Payroll offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Microkeeper vs QuickBooks Payroll?
      Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month. QuickBooks Payroll starts at $49 /Month.
      What are the top alternatives to Microkeeper?
      Top alternatives to Microkeeper include Paybooks, Heartland Payroll, Hive Payroll, Papaya Global, APS Payroll.
      What are the top alternatives to QuickBooks Payroll?
      Top alternatives to QuickBooks Payroll include Heartland Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.