Comparison Guide

ADP vs Definitiv – how they compare for AU/NZ payroll

For: Payroll Managers, HR Leaders, Finance Directors|11 min read|Last updated: July 2026

This comparison is published by Affinity. Vendor information is based on publicly available sources. Contact each provider directly for their current capabilities.

Summary

ADP and Definitiv approach payroll from different scales. ADP is a global payroll and HCM provider built for multi-country consolidation, outsourced managed payroll, and a full HCM suite. Definitiv is a cloud-native Australian payroll and workforce-management platform, now part of The Access Group, focused on complex AU awards and integrated rostering. Alongside them, this page shows how Affinity, a dedicated AU/NZ payroll platform, compares for organisations whose complexity is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand.

How ADP and Definitiv differ

ADP built its business on payroll at scale – 40-plus years in AU/NZ, a Melbourne ANZ HQ, cloud software (Workforce Now) and outsourced managed payroll, plus multi-country platforms (GlobalView and Celergo) that consolidate payroll for large multinationals across 140+ countries. Its strengths are global reach, a full HCM suite, and longevity.

Definitiv comes at the problem as a cloud-native AU specialist. Originally built in Perth and now owned by The Access Group (a UK-headquartered global software group), it markets Definitiv Evo across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, with a 100% configurable Award Engine for complex AU awards and EBAs and purpose-built rostering that flows live time-tracking into costed payroll.

The core distinction a buyer is weighing: ADP offers global multi-country consolidation and outsourced depth, while Definitiv offers a cloud-native AU award engine with integrated workforce management. For ADP, Australia is one country within a global footprint; for Definitiv, AU/NZ/Singapore is the whole focus.

Feature comparison

A neutral comparison of ADP and Definitiv across payroll and workforce capabilities, with Affinity shown as a separate AU/NZ specialist column. Vendor capabilities should be confirmed directly with each provider.

Native / strong Available / partial Not offered

Capability	ADP	Definitiv	AU/NZ specialistAffinity
AU award & EBA interpretation	Available / partial: Available; depth for complex EBAs to be evaluated	Native / strong: 100% configurable Award Engine – built for complex AU awards/EBAs	Native / strong: Configurable engine – modern awards, EBAs, shift penalties, allowance stacking
NZ compliance (Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, IRD)	Available / partial: NZ payroll available; confirm Holidays Act depth	Available / partial: NZ payroll supported (also Singapore); confirm Holidays Act depth	Native / strong: Purpose-built Holidays Act engine, KiwiSaver, Payday Filing, NZ team
STP Phase 2 & superannuation	Native / strong: Supported	Native / strong: Supported	Native / strong: Full STP Phase 2 & super, Pay Day Super ready
Pre-payslip intelligence	Available / partial: Platform analytics & insights	Available / partial: Evo Copilot AI insights + costed payroll (confirm pre-payslip anomaly layer)	Native / strong: Payroll IQ – anomaly & variance checking before the payslip runs
Global / multi-country coverage	Native / strong: 140+ countries (GlobalView / Celergo)	Not offered: AU/NZ/Singapore focus – not broad multi-country	Not offered: AU/NZ focus – not multi-country
HR / talent breadth	Native / strong: Full HCM suite	Available / partial: HR + WFM in-platform; wider suite via Access Group products	Not offered: Not offered – integrates with specialist HRIS
Workforce management	Available / partial: Available across suite	Native / strong: Purpose-built rostering, time tracking, costed payroll	Native / strong: Integrated WFM with real-time labour costing
Delivery / managed payroll	Native / strong: Software + outsourced managed payroll	Native / strong: SaaS; managed/outsourced payroll available (confirm)	Native / strong: SaaS, Supported & Fully Managed on one platform
Named local AU/NZ support	Available / partial: Global support, local ANZ presence	Available / partial: AU-based; part of global Access Group (confirm named-local model)	Native / strong: Named AU/NZ contacts who know your configuration

Where ADP fits

ADP is built for organisations that need consolidated payroll across many countries with one established, publicly listed provider – and, for those who want it, outsourced managed payroll and a full HCM suite. Its scale, longevity, and multi-country platforms (GlobalView and Celergo) are genuine strengths for large multinationals.

Where Definitiv fits

Definitiv is built for mid-to-large Australian organisations with complex, multi-award structures that want a cloud-native platform combining a 100% configurable Award Engine with integrated rostering and costed payroll. Backed by The Access Group's scale and with data hosted in Australia, it suits businesses wanting AU-focused depth (extending to NZ and Singapore) rather than broad multi-country consolidation.

Where Affinity fits

Where ADP optimises for global breadth and managed depth, and Definitiv for a cloud-native AU award engine with WFM, Affinity optimises for AU/NZ depth across both countries. For organisations whose payroll complexity is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand – many modern awards, EBAs, Holidays Act calculations, STP Phase 2, Pay Day Super – a specialist engine with pre-payslip intelligence, delivery-model flexibility, local data residency, and named local support is a different proposition. Many multinationals run a global platform for reach and Affinity for their complex AU/NZ operation.

Frequently asked questions

Is ADP or Definitiv better for Australian payroll?

Both handle Australian payroll. ADP brings global scale and outsourced managed payroll but treats Australia as one country within a 140-plus-country platform; Definitiv is a cloud-native AU specialist with a 100% configurable Award Engine and integrated rostering. For complex modern awards or EBAs, test either against your specific scenarios – or evaluate an AU/NZ specialist such as Affinity, whose award interpretation engine is purpose-built for that complexity.

Do ADP and Definitiv handle New Zealand payroll?

ADP offers NZ payroll as part of its ANZ operations, though depth of Holidays Act interpretation should be confirmed directly. Definitiv supports NZ (and Singapore) payroll, with Holidays Act depth to confirm directly. NZ payroll – Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, Payday Filing with IRD – requires deep local engine work. Affinity runs a purpose-built NZ engine with an NZ-based support team on the same platform as its Australian payroll.

What is the main difference between ADP and Definitiv?

ADP is a global payroll and HCM provider focused on multi-country payroll and outsourced managed services. Definitiv is a cloud-native AU payroll and workforce-management platform, owned by The Access Group, focused on complex AU awards and integrated rostering across AU/NZ/Singapore. ADP optimises for global scale; Definitiv optimises for cloud-native AU depth.

How does Affinity compare to ADP and Definitiv?

Affinity is an AU/NZ enterprise payroll specialist. It does not compete on ADP's global multi-country reach or full HCM breadth; it competes on depth of AU/NZ award and Holidays Act compliance, pre-payslip intelligence, delivery-model flexibility, local data residency, and named local support.

Starting a payroll review?

Run it properly. The free guide defines what you need; the toolkit turns it into a scored brief you can send to every vendor.

Get the Free Guide(no email required)Get in Touch