PayGlobal vs ReadyTech – 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; ReadyTech is an ASX-listed group whose workforce suite was built through acquisitions. Both serve shift-based workforces; the differences are one configurable engine against several acquired ones.

How PayGlobal and ReadyTech 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.

ReadyTech is an ASX-listed (ASX:RDY) technology group operating across three divisions – Workforce Solutions, Education & Work Pathways, and Government & Justice. Its Ready Workforce payroll offering (Ready Pay) was built through acquisitions including HR3, Aussiepay and Zambion (NZ), and it launched Orqestra AI in February 2026.

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 ReadyTech is an ASX-listed workforce technology group spanning payroll, education and government divisions. 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 ReadyTech 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	ReadyTech	AU/NZ specialistAffinity
AU award & EBA interpretation	Native / strong: Configurable award rules and interpreters (setup-dependent)	Native / strong: Established AU/NZ award interpretation (Ready Pay)	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: NZ via Zambion acquisition (integration 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: Fully compliant	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: Orqestra AI (Feb 2026, recruitment-focused initially); payroll 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: Strong rostering/T&A for shift-based industries	Native / strong: Integrated WFM with real-time labour costing
Delivery / managed payroll	Available / partial: On-premise or MYOB-hosted (PayGlobal Online); outsourcing via partners	Native / strong: Ready Pay software + managed (Aussiepay, WageLink)	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: Australian support; NZ via Zambion	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 ReadyTech fits

ReadyTech is built for shift-based and rostering-intensive AU/NZ organisations that want strong workforce management alongside payroll, backed by an ASX-listed group with HR breadth. Its Ready Pay engines (via HR3, Aussiepay and Zambion for NZ) and Orqestra AI make it a strong fit where rostering and time-and-attendance depth matter – buyers should confirm which underlying engine applies and the consolidation roadmap.

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 ReadyTech. Some organisations run PayGlobal or ReadyTech 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 ReadyTech better for Australian payroll?

PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB. ReadyTech is an ASX-listed workforce technology group spanning payroll, education and government divisions. 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 ReadyTech handle New Zealand payroll?

PayGlobal: Payday filing & KiwiSaver supported; confirm readiness for upcoming NZ leave law changes. ReadyTech: NZ via Zambion acquisition (integration 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 ReadyTech?

PayGlobal is an enterprise payroll and workforce management system for larger Australian and New Zealand organisations, owned by MYOB, while ReadyTech is an ASX-listed workforce technology group spanning payroll, education and government divisions. 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 ReadyTech?

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

Compare other providersvs

Starting a payroll review?

Two free guides for the two decisions that come before a vendor conversation – whether the change is worth making, and how to judge who can make it.

Free guide + toolkit

Build a payroll business case that gets approved

Cost the status quo, value the change, and get to the payback, ROI and NPV a board actually decides on. Includes a savings estimator and a board-ready template.

Get the guide(no email required)

Free guide + RFP toolkit

Choosing a payroll provider

Define what you actually need before you compare a single vendor – then turn it into a scored brief every vendor answers. Includes an RFP template and weighted scoring tool.

Get the guide(no email required)

Prefer to talk now? Get in touch →