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

How ADP and MicrOpay differ

ADP is a global payroll and HCM provider – US-headquartered, NASDAQ-listed, operating in 140+ countries with hundreds of thousands of clients. In AU/NZ it has operated for 40+ years, with a Melbourne ANZ headquarters, offering cloud payroll software (Workforce Now) alongside outsourced managed payroll, plus multi-country consolidation via GlobalView and Celergo.

MicrOpay (now branded Access MicrOpay Evo) is a long-standing Australian payroll application owned by The Access Group, which acquired it as part of Sage's Australian and Asian businesses in 2021. It runs as Windows software on the customer's own servers or hosted by Access (Access Payroll Online), and has shipped STP Phase 2 and Payday Super updates, an integrated super clearing house, and an Evo layer adding dashboards, analytics and an AI Copilot.

The core distinction for a buyer is what each platform was built to optimise for: ADP is a global payroll and HCM provider operating in 140+ countries, while MicrOpay is an established Australian payroll application, owned by The Access Group, that runs on-premise or hosted by Access. AU/NZ payroll sits within each vendor's broader focus rather than as the sole product, which is where a specialist platform like Affinity differs from both.

Where ADP fits

ADP is built for organisations that need consolidated payroll across many countries with one established, publicly listed provider. Its 140+ country reach, GlobalView and Celergo platforms, and full HCM suite are genuine strengths for multinationals wanting a single global vendor relationship, with the option of outsourced managed payroll in AU/NZ alongside the software.

Where MicrOpay fits

MicrOpay is built for Australian organisations – typically small to mid-sized, running payroll in-house – that want a familiar, long-established payroll engine with the option of on-premise or Access-hosted delivery. Its large installed base, Payday Super-ready releases with built-in super clearing, and the newer Evo analytics and Copilot layer make it a strong fit where continuity with a known AU payroll application matters more than deep NZ coverage or enterprise award complexity.

Where Affinity fits

For organisations whose payroll complexity is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand, a specialist engine with pre-payslip intelligence, delivery-model flexibility, local data residency, and named local support is a different proposition to either ADP or MicrOpay. Some organisations run ADP or MicrOpay for their broader positioning and Affinity for a complex AU/NZ operation; others choose Affinity specifically because they need genuine cross-Tasman depth that neither platform is built to prioritise.