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

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

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

The short version

MicrOpay is an established Australian payroll application from The Access Group; PayGlobal is MYOB's configurable enterprise payroll engine for larger AU and NZ organisations. The main differences are New Zealand depth, native rostering and how each is delivered – on-premise or Access-hosted for MicrOpay, partner-led for PayGlobal.

How MicrOpay and PayGlobal differ

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.

PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system founded in Christchurch in 1991 and acquired by MYOB in 2014. It is typically used by larger AU/NZ organisations (commonly 200+ employees) across sectors such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare and retail, runs on-premise or as MYOB-hosted PayGlobal Online, and includes native rostering, time and attendance, HR and self-service modules alongside configurable award rules.

The core distinction for a buyer is what each platform was built to optimise for: MicrOpay is an established Australian payroll application, owned by The Access Group, that runs on-premise or hosted by Access, while PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB. 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.

Feature comparison

A neutral comparison of MicrOpay and PayGlobal 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	MicrOpay	PayGlobal	AU/NZ specialistAffinity
AU award & EBA interpretation	Available / partial: Award coverage claimed; complex rules may rely on separate award interpreters – confirm directly	Native / strong: Configurable award rules and interpreters (setup-dependent)	Native / strong: Configurable engine – modern awards, EBAs, shift penalties, allowance stacking
NZ compliance (Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, IRD)	Available / partial: NZ payday filing & KiwiSaver documented; Holidays Act depth not verified	Native / strong: Payday filing & KiwiSaver supported; confirm readiness for upcoming NZ leave law changes	Native / strong: Purpose-built Holidays Act engine, KiwiSaver, Payday Filing, NZ team
STP Phase 2 & superannuation	Native / strong: STP Phase 2; Payday Super release (9.5 SP1) with integrated super clearing	Native / strong: STP Phase 2; Payday Super released June 2026	Native / strong: Full STP Phase 2 & super, Payday Super ready
Pre-payslip intelligence	Available / partial: Evo analytics & AI Copilot (higher tiers); not a dedicated pre-payslip anomaly engine	Available / partial: Super Guarantee risk flags noted; no AI features found	Native / strong: Payroll IQ – anomaly & variance checking before the payslip runs
Global / multi-country coverage	Not offered: AU/NZ focus	Available / partial: AU/NZ focus; some Pacific/UK deployments reported via partners	Not offered: AU/NZ focus – not multi-country
Workforce management	Available / partial: Mainly via integrations / other Access products	Native / strong: Native rostering and time & attendance modules	Native / strong: Integrated WFM with real-time labour costing
Delivery / managed payroll	Native / strong: On-premise or Access-hosted; outsourcing service available	Available / partial: On-premise or MYOB-hosted (PayGlobal Online); outsourcing via partners	Native / strong: SaaS, Supported & Fully Managed on one platform
Named local AU/NZ support	Available / partial: Access support portal & account managers; named-contact model to confirm	Available / partial: MYOB enterprise support, account managers & partners; model to confirm	Native / strong: Named AU/NZ contacts who know your configuration

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 PayGlobal fits

PayGlobal is built for larger AU/NZ organisations with complex, high-volume, multi-award workforces that want a highly configurable payroll engine with native rostering and time and attendance. Its cross-Tasman footprint, configurable award rules, and ongoing MYOB investment (including Payday Super releases and a new REST API in 2026) make it a strong fit for enterprises that value configurability and an established ANZ partner ecosystem.

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 MicrOpay or PayGlobal. Some organisations run MicrOpay or PayGlobal 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.

Frequently asked questions

Is MicrOpay or PayGlobal better for Australian payroll?

MicrOpay is an established Australian payroll application, owned by The Access Group, that runs on-premise or hosted by Access. PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB. Which fits better for Australian payroll depends on which of those is closer to what your organisation actually needs. Confirm current AU award and EBA depth directly with both providers. For organisations whose complexity is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand, a specialist engine like Affinity is built specifically for that depth.

Do MicrOpay and PayGlobal handle New Zealand payroll?

MicrOpay: NZ payday filing & KiwiSaver documented; Holidays Act depth not verified. PayGlobal: Payday filing & KiwiSaver supported; confirm readiness for upcoming NZ leave law changes. Confirm current NZ depth directly with each provider – Holidays Act, KiwiSaver and IRD payday filing all require genuine local engine work, not just tax-table updates. Affinity runs a purpose-built NZ payroll engine with 40+ years of Holidays Act experience and an NZ-based support team.

What is the main difference between MicrOpay and PayGlobal?

MicrOpay is an established Australian payroll application, owned by The Access Group, that runs on-premise or hosted by Access, while PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB. They overlap on core payroll compliance but differ in scope, ownership model, and the customer base each was built to serve.

How does Affinity compare to MicrOpay and PayGlobal?

Affinity is an AU/NZ enterprise payroll specialist. It does not try to match MicrOpay or PayGlobal on their own ground; 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.

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