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Comparison Guide

Affinity vs ConnX – HR layer on top of payroll, or payroll and self-service in one platform?

For: Payroll Managers, HR Leaders, Finance Directors|12 min read|Last updated: October 2026

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

The short version

ConnX is an HR and self-service layer that connects to a separate payroll system; Affinity runs payroll, WFM and self-service on one platform. ConnX offers far more HR breadth, such as recruitment, performance and learning. Affinity has no interface between payroll and self-service to maintain.

What is the core difference between ConnX and Affinity?

ConnX is a modular, web-based HR system from an Australian vendor. ConnX says it has 20+ years of experience and 500+ clients; company profiles list its founding as 2003 and its head office in Milton, Brisbane. Its modules cover core HR, payroll self-service, recruitment, paperless onboarding, performance management, learning, leave management, workplace health and safety, workflow automation, and timesheets with award interpretation.

ConnX does not calculate or process pay, lodge STP or pay super. Those functions happen in a connected payroll system, and ConnX passes data to and from that system through an interface. ConnX has long been paired with MicrOpay, which is its main and best-documented integration.

Affinity is an AU/NZ enterprise payroll specialist. Payroll, workforce management, self-service, reporting and integrations run on one data model and one database. Approving leave in self-service is the same action as updating the payroll record, so there is no interface between the two to maintain.

The question is whether you want a broad HR suite on top of the payroll system you already run, or one platform where payroll and self-service share a database. ConnX has far more HR breadth. Affinity does not offer recruitment, performance, learning or WHS, and integrates with specialist HRIS for those.

How do ConnX and Affinity differ in how they're built?

The fundamental difference is not features. It is what each provider was designed to optimise for.

Affinity

Built, implemented, and supported entirely within AU/NZ
Every product investment goes into AU/NZ payroll accuracy and compliance
40+ years of AU/NZ payroll innovation – 10+ industry firsts
Three delivery models on one platform: SaaS, Supported, Fully Managed
500,000+ employees processed – ISO 27001 framework, single AU/NZ database

ConnX

Modular, web-based HR suite from a Brisbane-based Australian vendor
Payroll self-service, recruitment, onboarding, performance, learning, WHS and workflow modules
Cloud or on-premise deployment, with vendor hosting available
Connects to payroll by database or API for MicrOpay, database for HR3 Payroll, API for Definitiv, and file import and export for other systems
Not a payroll engine – a separate payroll system is required for pay calculation, STP and super

Why this matters: With two systems from two vendors, there is an interface to maintain and data that must stay in sync. When something breaks between the two, it can be unclear which vendor owns the fix. Affinity keeps payroll, WFM and self-service on one data model. The trade-off is HR breadth, where ConnX offers far more.

How do the features compare?

This table compares the two products across payroll, self-service and HR capabilities. ConnX's capabilities should be confirmed directly with the vendor for your specific requirements.

Feature	Affinity	ConnX
Payroll engine (pay calculation, STP, super)	Full AU/NZ payroll engine – STP Phase 2, super, Payday Super	Not a payroll engine – connects to a separate payroll system
AU award and EBA interpretation	Configurable engine – modern awards, EBAs, shift penalties, allowance stacking	Award rules applied to timesheets; pay processed in the connected payroll
NZ compliance (Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, IRD)	Purpose-built Holidays Act engine, KiwiSaver, Payday Filing, NZ team	No NZ payroll capability found publicly – confirm directly
Employee and manager self-service	Included on every plan – payslips, leave, forms, mobile app, same database as payroll	Payroll self-service – pay advices, leave balances, personal and bank details
HR and talent breadth (recruitment, onboarding, performance, learning, WHS)	Not offered – integrates with specialist HRIS	Recruitment, onboarding, performance, learning and WHS modules
Workforce management (timesheets, rostering)	Integrated WFM with real-time labour costing	Timesheets with award interpretation; native rostering not found publicly – confirm directly
Payroll integration model	One platform – payroll, WFM and self-service on one data model	Interfaced – database or API link to MicrOpay, database to HR3 Payroll, API to Definitiv, file-based for others
Named local AU/NZ support	Named AU/NZ contacts who know your configuration	Brisbane-based local team; support model to be confirmed

Where is ConnX strongest?

HR breadth

ConnX covers recruitment, paperless onboarding, performance management, learning, leave and workplace health and safety in one modular suite. Affinity does not offer these and integrates with specialist HRIS instead.

Keeping your current payroll

If you are happy with your payroll system, ConnX adds HR and self-service on top without replacing it.

MicrOpay integration

MicrOpay is ConnX's main and best-documented integration, via database or API, and the two have long been paired.

Recruitment and onboarding workflow

Job-board integration such as SEEK and paperless onboarding of contracts, tax and bank forms are part of the suite.

Deployment choice

ConnX lists cloud or on-premise deployment, with vendor hosting available.

Where is Affinity strongest?

One platform, no interface

Payroll, workforce management and self-service share one data model and one database. Approving leave in self-service is the same action as updating the payroll record.

Payroll engine and awards

Affinity handles Modern Awards, EBAs and leave entitlements natively inside the payroll engine, not bolted on.

Self-service on every plan

Dashboard, interactive payslips, leave management with team calendars, forms and workflow, and the Affinity Self Service mobile app. See self-service.

Pre-payslip intelligence

Payroll IQ flags anomalies before the payslip runs.

Cross-Tasman depth

One platform for AU and NZ payroll, including a purpose-built Holidays Act engine and KiwiSaver.

Flexible delivery models

SaaS, Supported or Fully Managed on the same platform and database.

Integrated workforce management

Real-time labour costing is part of the platform.

Who is each platform best for?

Choose Affinity if you:

Find the payroll–HR interface causing friction, or want one support contact across payroll and self-service
Are reviewing your payroll system anyway and want self-service included
Run AU/NZ payroll with complex awards or EBAs and want interpretation native to the engine
Have, or plan to have, employees in New Zealand as well as Australia
Want delivery flexibility – SaaS, Supported, or Fully Managed

Choose ConnX if you:

Want a broad HR suite covering recruitment, onboarding, performance, learning and WHS
Are happy with your current payroll system and want to keep it
Already run MicrOpay and want the integration ConnX documents most fully
Are comfortable maintaining an interface between HR and payroll

Consider both if you:

Are reviewing payroll and want to see whether a single platform removes the HR–payroll interface
Need specialist HR modules and want to understand how Affinity integrates with a specialist HRIS

Frequently asked questions

Is ConnX a payroll system?

No. ConnX is an HR and payroll self-service layer. It does not calculate or process pay, lodge STP or pay super. Those happen in a connected payroll system, and ConnX passes data to and from it through an interface. Affinity is a payroll platform with self-service included.

Does ConnX work with MicrOpay?

Yes. Per ConnX's technical specifications, MicrOpay is integrated via database or API, and it is ConnX's main and best-documented integration. ConnX has long been paired with MicrOpay, but confirm the current arrangements and support boundaries with both vendors.

Does Affinity have employee self-service?

Yes. Self-service is included with every Affinity plan: a dashboard, interactive payslips, leave management with team calendars, forms and workflow, and a mobile app. It runs on the same database as payroll, so approving leave is the same action as updating the payroll record.

Can I keep ConnX for HR and use Affinity for payroll?

Possibly, but confirm the integration options with both vendors. Beyond MicrOpay, ConnX lists database integration with HR3 Payroll, API integration with Definitiv and file-based import and export for other payroll systems, and Affinity integrates with specialist HRIS. If you run ConnX for HR only, ask how data would flow in each direction, who owns support, and whether Affinity's included self-service would overlap.

What HR modules does Affinity offer compared with ConnX?

ConnX offers recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning and workplace health and safety. Affinity does not offer these and integrates with specialist HRIS. Affinity covers payroll, workforce management, self-service, reporting and integrations.

Does ConnX support New Zealand payroll?

No NZ payroll or Holidays Act capability was found publicly for ConnX, so confirm directly with the vendor. Affinity runs a purpose-built NZ payroll engine with a Holidays Act engine, KiwiSaver and Payday Filing, and an NZ-based support team.

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