PayGlobal vs Payroll Metrics – how they compare for AU/NZ payroll

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

PayGlobal is MYOB's configurable enterprise payroll engine for larger AU and NZ organisations; Payroll Metrics is an independent AU/NZ platform combining payroll and workforce management. Both pair payroll with rostering; the differences are scale, ownership and delivery model.

How PayGlobal and Payroll Metrics differ

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.

Payroll Metrics is an independent Australian payroll and workforce-compliance vendor, founded 2013 and headquartered in Oakleigh, Victoria. It integrates payroll, timesheets, workforce management and advanced rostering for AU and NZ, with STP and SuperStream via an accredited gateway, and holds ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 9001 certifications.

The core distinction for a buyer is what each platform was built to optimise for: PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB, while Payroll Metrics is an independent AU/NZ integrated payroll and workforce-management platform. 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 PayGlobal and Payroll Metrics 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	PayGlobal	Payroll Metrics	AU/NZ specialistAffinity
AU award & EBA interpretation	Native / strong: Configurable award rules and interpreters (setup-dependent)	Native / strong: Multi-award/EBA support with custom work patterns	Native / strong: Configurable engine – modern awards, EBAs, shift penalties, allowance stacking
NZ compliance (Holidays Act, KiwiSaver, IRD)	Native / strong: Payday filing & KiwiSaver supported; confirm readiness for upcoming NZ leave law changes	Available / partial: Supports NZ tax obligations; Holidays Act depth to confirm	Native / strong: Purpose-built Holidays Act engine, KiwiSaver, Payday Filing, NZ team
STP Phase 2 & superannuation	Native / strong: STP Phase 2; Payday Super released June 2026	Native / strong: Integrated STP & SuperStream via accredited gateway	Native / strong: Full STP Phase 2 & super, Payday Super ready
Pre-payslip intelligence	Available / partial: Super Guarantee risk flags noted; no AI features found	Available / partial: Compliance automation & reporting (pre-payslip anomaly layer to confirm)	Native / strong: Payroll IQ – anomaly & variance checking before the payslip runs
Global / multi-country coverage	Available / partial: AU/NZ focus; some Pacific/UK deployments reported via partners	Not offered: AU/NZ focus	Not offered: AU/NZ focus – not multi-country
Workforce management	Native / strong: Native rostering and time & attendance modules	Native / strong: Integrated timesheets, WFM & advanced rostering	Native / strong: Integrated WFM with real-time labour costing
Delivery / managed payroll	Available / partial: On-premise or MYOB-hosted (PayGlobal Online); outsourcing via partners	Available / partial: SaaS; managed services availability to confirm	Native / strong: SaaS, Supported & Fully Managed on one platform
Named local AU/NZ support	Available / partial: MYOB enterprise support, account managers & partners; model to confirm	Native / strong: AU-based support & development teams	Native / strong: Named AU/NZ contacts who know your configuration

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 Payroll Metrics fits

Payroll Metrics is built for AU/NZ organisations that want payroll, timesheets and advanced rostering integrated in one platform from an independent local vendor with strong security certifications. Its multi-award/EBA support via custom work patterns and dynamic rosters, plus its Australian data centre and AU-based support and development teams, make it a strong fit for organisations that value local ownership and integrated workforce management alongside payroll.

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 PayGlobal or Payroll Metrics. Some organisations run PayGlobal or Payroll Metrics 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 PayGlobal or Payroll Metrics better for Australian payroll?

PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB. Payroll Metrics is an independent AU/NZ integrated payroll and workforce-management platform. 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 PayGlobal and Payroll Metrics handle New Zealand payroll?

PayGlobal: Payday filing & KiwiSaver supported; confirm readiness for upcoming NZ leave law changes. Payroll Metrics: Supports NZ tax obligations; Holidays Act depth to confirm. 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 PayGlobal and Payroll Metrics?

PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB, while Payroll Metrics is an independent AU/NZ integrated payroll and workforce-management platform. 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 PayGlobal and Payroll Metrics?

Affinity is an AU/NZ enterprise payroll specialist. It does not try to match PayGlobal or Payroll Metrics 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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