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Reckon Review 2026: Pricing, Payroll Features, Pros, and Cons

Last Updated: 23 May 2026

Our take

Best for: Australian micro and small businesses needing local payroll compliance.

Strengths

  • Localized Australian compliance, mobile-first employee self-service.

Limitations

  • Lacks native global payroll capabilities.

Top summary

FeatureDetails
Product/vendorReckon
Main categoryPayroll and HR software
Best forAustralian micro and small businesses needing local payroll compliance.
Not ideal forCompanies needing multi-country or global payroll.
Pricing visibilityPublic
Starting price$16 AUD/month (Payroll Essentials)
Key strengthsLocalized Australian compliance, mobile-first employee self-service.
Key limitationsLacks native global payroll capabilities.
Evidence confidence95/100
Last verifiedMay 2026

Editorial verdict

Reckon is a well-established cloud payroll and accounting provider built specifically for the Australian market [04] [36]. It is best suited for micro, small, and mid-sized businesses that need a straightforward, highly compliant solution for Single Touch Payroll (STP), PAYG tax, and Payday Super [33] [36].

The platform's strengths lie in its localized compliance features and the Reckon Mate mobile app, which allows employees to handle self-onboarding, leave tracking, and payslips remotely [34]. Pricing is public, flat-rate, and highly competitive, offering tiered plans based on employee headcount rather than per-user fees [43] [44] [45].

However, buyers should note that Reckon is not built for global scale. It natively supports Australia and relies entirely on a partner integration (PaySauce) for New Zealand, having deprecated its native NZ payroll software [35] [37]. Organizations with international workforces should treat Reckon as a local, Australia-only solution, while domestic Australian businesses will find it a capable and budget-friendly option [36] [37].

Quick facts

FactDetail
VendorReckon
Founded1987
HeadquartersAustralia
Ownership statusPublic
Customer count100,000+
Main use casesPayroll processing, STP compliance, employee self-service
Pricing modelFlat monthly
Starting price$16 AUD/month
Free trial30 days
Main marketsAustralia, New Zealand
Compliance certificationsISO 27001
SupportFree live chat, phone support, onboarding session
Data quality score95/100

What is Reckon?

Reckon is a cloud-based business technology provider offering payroll, HR, and accounting software [02] [39]. Founded in 1987 and listed as a public company, it serves over 100,000 customers primarily in Australia [01].

Its core HR and payroll offerings include Reckon Payroll, which is designed to process pay runs and manage statutory Australian compliance, and Reckon Mate, an employee-facing mobile application for self-service and digital onboarding [02] [03]. The vendor targets micro and small businesses with flat-rate, tier-based pricing [06] [07].

Who is Reckon best for?

Best for

  • Australian SMEs needing basic payroll: Reckon is purpose-built for the Australian market, ensuring full compliance with local mandates like STP and Payday Super at an affordable price point [36].
  • Micro businesses: The vendor specifically targets micro businesses with tailored plans for up to 4 employees and up to 10 employees [06].
  • Small businesses: Reckon offers an "unlimited employees" payroll tier optimized for growing small businesses [07].

Good fit for

  • Midmarket (SMBs): While Reckon supports unlimited employees on its premium tier, its core features are optimized for the lower end of the SME market rather than complex enterprise HRIS needs [08].

Not ideal for

  • Companies needing multi-country or global payroll: Reckon does not support payroll operations outside of Australia natively, having recently deprecated its native New Zealand payroll software [37].

Buyers should verify first

  • Exact pricing: Reckon frequently runs heavy introductory discounts, so buyers should verify standard ongoing rates versus promotional pricing [41] [46].
  • Integration depth for NZ: If operating in New Zealand, verify the depth of the PaySauce integration, as Reckon no longer supports native NZ payroll [28].

Products and modules

  • Reckon Payroll: A cloud-based payroll software aimed at small businesses to easily manage wages, leave, Single Touch Payroll, and Payday Super [02].
  • Reckon Mate: An employee-facing HR and self-service mobile app designed to simplify onboarding, payslip access, and leave tracking [03].
  • Reckon One (Accounting): The vendor's accounting suite, supporting expense management, invoicing, budgeting, and GST tracking [39].

Features and capabilities

HRIS and People Operations

Payroll

Pricing

Reckon provides highly visible, public pricing based on flat monthly fees rather than per-user licenses. All prices are in AUD.

Payroll Plans

  • Payroll Essentials: $16/month. Covers up to 4 employees. Includes pay runs, payslips, STP, superannuation, and leave tracking. Excludes timesheets and expense claims [43].
  • Payroll Plus: $32/month. Covers up to 10 employees. Adds timesheet tracking and employee expense claims [44].
  • Payroll Premium: $60/month. Covers unlimited employees with all features included [45].

Accounting Plans

  • Accounting Plus: $24/month. Includes unlimited users, expense tracking, GST reporting, budgeting, and invoicing [41].
  • Accounting Premium: $46/month. Adds timesheet tracking and unlimited project management [42].

Region and country coverage

Reckon is a localized solution with a strict focus on the Oceania region.

Buyers requiring payroll outside of Australia and New Zealand should look for alternative global payroll providers, as Reckon does not offer multi-country infrastructure [37].

Region/CountryCapabilityCoverage typeEvidenceNotes
AustraliaLocal payroll & complianceNativeStrongCustom-built for AU tax and compliance [04].
New ZealandLocal payrollPartnerStrongSupported via integration with PaySauce [05].

Integrations

IntegrationCategorySupport levelEvidenceNotes
ZapierProductivityZapierStrongConnects Reckon to 5000+ external apps [27].
PaySaucePayrollPartnerStrongReplaces Reckon's legacy native NZ product [28].

Security and compliance

Reckon maintains a dedicated security center and lists specific certifications relevant to its Australian customer base.

  • Certifications: Reckon's security management is independently certified for ISO 27001:2022 [22].
  • Data Residency: Data is primarily stored in Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the Sydney, Australia region [25].
  • Access Controls: The platform utilizes firewalls, network segregation, and strict role-based access control (RBAC) procedures [26].
  • Local Compliance: Natively supports Australian Single Touch Payroll (STP) and Payday Super compliance [23] [24].

Implementation and support

Reckon includes support and implementation assistance across its paid tiers without requiring premium support contracts.

  • Support channels: Free live chat and phone support are included [30] [31].
  • Onboarding: The vendor offers a free onboarding session to new customers [32].

User reviews and sentiment

According to third-party review data, Reckon maintains a generally positive reputation among its target audience. The vendor holds an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on approximately 2,510 reviews across major software review platforms like G2. Reviewers primarily view it as a reliable, niche solution tailored specifically for localized accounting and payroll compliance in Australia and New Zealand.

Pros and cons — Pros

ProWhy it mattersEvidence
Australian ComplianceEnsures businesses meet strict ATO requirements automatically.Highly tailored for Australian payroll compliance, including Single Touch Payroll (STP), Payday Super, and PAYG calculations [33].
Mobile-first Self-ServiceReduces administrative HR burden by empowering employees.Offers a dedicated mobile app (Reckon Mate) for employee self-onboarding, leave tracking, and payslip access [34].

Pros and cons — Cons

ConWhy it mattersEvidence
Limited Native Global ScopeOrganizations expanding internationally will outgrow the platform.Reckon is strictly focused on Australia. It previously supported New Zealand natively but deprecated that in favor of a partner integration (PaySauce) [35].

Buyer checklist

  • Confirm exact pricing: Check the standard ongoing rate for your employee count, as Reckon heavily promotes introductory discounts.
  • Verify native vs partner delivery: If you have employees in New Zealand, confirm how the PaySauce integration handles data syncing with Reckon.
  • Confirm feature tier limits: Ensure your chosen tier includes timesheets and expense claims if needed, as these are excluded from the base tier.
  • Review global expansion plans: If you plan to hire outside of Australia, confirm whether you will need a separate Employer of Record (EOR) or global payroll provider.

FAQ

Evidence audit

MetricDetail
Overall page confidence score95/100
Number of sources12
Number of vendor-owned sources10
Number of third-party sources2
Number of verified claims41
Number of inferred claims1
Strongest evidence areasAustralian compliance, basic payroll capabilities, public pricing.
Claims buyers should verifyOngoing pricing rates post-promotion, depth of partner integrations for New Zealand.
Publication readinessStrong publication-ready page with clear regional constraints and transparent pricing data.

How we reviewed this article:

We review vendor pages regularly and update them as pricing, coverage, and capabilities evolve.

Current VersionMay 24, 2026
Written ByHR.software Editorial Team