KeyPay

KeyPay charges $4/emp/mo (Standard) per active employee, with no monthly base fee. An employee counts as active in any month where at least one payroll action occurs, such as being included in a pay run, having leave approved, or logging a timesheet. This pay-per-active-employee model makes KeyPay one of the most cost-transparent payroll options available.

Yes. KeyPay is fully STP Phase 2 compliant and has been since the ATO's transition period. It reports the expanded payroll data set, including itemised income types, leave components, and superannuation, to the ATO each pay cycle. It also supports Payday Super, which requires super contributions to be paid on payday from 1 July 2026, through its built-in clearing house.

KeyPay's award interpretation engine is widely regarded as the strongest in the Australian payroll market. It covers more than 100 Modern Awards with pre-built pay condition rules, automates annual award reconciliations, and keeps rules updated in real time when Fair Work changes take effect. This depth is why Employment Hero and QuickBooks chose to build their payroll on the KeyPay engine rather than develop their own. The full award automation is available on the Plus plan.

KeyPay is a payroll-focused platform. It covers pay runs, timesheets, leave management, employee self-service, rostering, and superannuation, but it does not include the broader HR features such as onboarding flows, performance reviews, or a benefits marketplace. Businesses that need integrated HR alongside payroll should evaluate Employment Hero, which uses the KeyPay engine but wraps a full HR suite around it.

KeyPay is the best fit for Australian businesses that want best-in-class award compliance at a low per-employee cost, without paying for HR features they do not need. It is particularly strong for award-heavy industries such as hospitality, retail, construction, and healthcare. Accountants and bookkeepers who manage payroll across multiple clients also commonly use KeyPay for its multi-business capabilities.

KeyPay powers the Employment Hero Payroll engine, so award interpretation and compliance capabilities are effectively the same. KeyPay charges a lower $4/emp/mo (Standard) with no monthly base fee and no HR suite, while Employment Hero adds a full HR platform on top at a higher per-head rate and a monthly minimum. For payroll-only needs, KeyPay is typically the more economical choice. For integrated HR and payroll, Employment Hero provides the fuller package.

Yes. KeyPay integrates with Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online, and NetSuite, among others. After each pay run, payroll journals can be pushed directly into the connected accounting platform, reducing double-entry and keeping your general ledger current without manual exports.