Overview
ELMO Software is end-to-end au-built hr, payroll and learning platform for mid-market. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sydney, NSW (offices across AU, NZ & UK), it serves Australian businesses with local data hosting and AU-based support.
End-to-end AU-built HR, payroll and learning platform for mid-market
AU Compliance Scores
BAS Lodgement0/5
STP Phase 25/5
Payday Super4/5
Modern Awards5/5
GST Handling0/5
Bank Feeds0/5
Modern Awards NoteAutomated Modern Award interpretation including penalty rates, overtime, allowances, and EBAs. Purpose-built for Australian mid-market complexity by a team with 20+ years local expertise.
Pricing (AUD inc. GST)
All prices below are in Australian dollars and include GST. Pricing verified as of 2026-03-17.
Custom Quote
Free
per employee
Custom per-employee pricing — contact ELMO for a quote. Indicative starting point ~$35/user/month for HR Core (based on third-party reviews). Modular: pay only for modules you need (HR Core, Payroll, Recruitment, Learning, etc.).
- Employees: unlimited
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most comprehensive AU-built HR platform — covers full employee lifecycle from recruitment to offboarding
- Built-in LMS with 400+ courses is a unique differentiator no direct competitor matches
- Full Modern Award auto-interpretation with 20+ years AU payroll expertise
- STP Phase 2 compliant with SuperStream-ready super payments
- AU-hosted data (AWS Sydney) with ISO 27001, SOC 2, and Essential Eight certifications
- Modular design — pay only for the modules you need and expand over time
- Strong in award-heavy industries: healthcare, aged care, hospitality, education
- AU and NZ based support and development teams
Cons
- No transparent pricing — must request a custom quote for every engagement
- Very limited third-party integrations (~11) compared to open-ecosystem competitors
- Payroll module reportedly integrates poorly with other ELMO modules
- No comprehensive mobile app for admin tasks — mobile experience is limited
- Overkill and likely too expensive for small businesses under 50 employees
- Some users report modules feel disconnected and information is kept in separate places
- No free trial available to evaluate the platform before committing
Who Is ELMO Software Best For?
- Mid Market 50 To 2000 Employees
- Healthcare Aged Care
- Hospitality Retail
- Education
- Compliance Training Lms
- Single Vendor Hr Payroll Learning
ELMO Software may not be the best fit for:
- Small Business Under 50
- Budget Conscious Startups
- Extensive Third Party Integrations
- Mobile First Workflows
ELMO Software Alternatives
If ELMO Software doesn’t quite fit your needs, consider these alternatives for Australian businesses:
- Employment Hero — All-in-one HR, payroll and benefits platform for AU businesses. From $20/mo inc. GST.
- Deputy — Rostering, time tracking, and workforce management. From $6.75/mo inc. GST.
- Tanda — Workforce management with Modern Award compliance. From $12.8/mo inc. GST.
Related Compliance Guides
GuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuideGuide
STP Phase 2 Explained — What Australian Employers Need to Know
Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 expands the data reported to the ATO with each pay run, including disag...
Payday Super 2026 — Employer Preparation Guide
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation on or before payday instead of quarterly. This i...
Modern Awards Explained for Australian Employers
Modern Awards set minimum pay rates, conditions, and entitlements for employees in specific industri...
Payroll Tax by State — Thresholds, Rates & Registration
Payroll tax is a state and territory tax on wages paid by employers above a threshold. Each jurisdic...
Workers' Compensation Insurance by State — AU Employer Guide
Workers' compensation is compulsory for all Australian employers and is managed by each state or ter...
Data Sovereignty in Australia — Where Is Your Business Data Stored?
Australian businesses are increasingly concerned about where their financial and employee data is ho...
How to Set Up Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Single Touch Payroll requires all Australian employers to report payroll information to the ATO each...
Contractor vs Employee in Australia — How to Classify Correctly
Misclassifying an employee as a contractor is one of the most common and costly compliance mistakes ...
Superannuation Guide for Australian Employers
Employers must pay the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) for eligible employees at the current rate of 1...
Fair Work Compliance Essentials for Australian Employers
The Fair Work Act 2009 sets the national framework for workplace relations in Australia, covering mi...
Leave Entitlements by State — Long Service Leave & State Variations
While annual leave and personal leave are set nationally under the NES, long service leave (LSL) var...
ABN Registration Guide — How to Get an Australian Business Number
An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit identifier required for most business activities ...
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ELMO Software cost?
ELMO uses custom, quote-based pricing. There are no publicly listed plans or prices. Pricing is based on the number of employees, the modules selected (HR Core, Payroll, Recruitment, Learning, etc.), and the level of implementation services required. Third-party reviews suggest a starting point of approximately $35/user/month for HR Core, but you must contact ELMO directly for an accurate quote.
Is ELMO Software still ASX-listed?
No. ELMO Software was formerly listed on the ASX as ELO but was acquired by US private equity firm K1 Investment Management for $490 million in February 2023. ELMO was delisted from the ASX on 24 February 2023. The company continues to operate as an Australian-headquartered business with development and support teams in AU and NZ.
Does ELMO support STP Phase 2 and Modern Awards?
Yes. ELMO Payroll is fully STP Phase 2 compliant with disaggregated reporting submitted to the ATO on or before each payday. Modern Award interpretation is automated, covering penalty rates, overtime, shift loadings, allowances, and EBAs. The payroll engine is purpose-built for Australian award complexity.
Where is ELMO data hosted?
All ELMO customer data is hosted in secure, accredited AWS data centres in Australia. ELMO is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, aligns with SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria, and meets the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Essential Eight requirements. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
Is ELMO ready for Payday Super (July 2026)?
ELMO has published Payday Super readiness resources and already supports SuperStream for super payments. While ELMO is actively preparing for the July 2026 Payday Super deadline, an explicit 'Payday Super ready' confirmation has not yet been published. Contact ELMO directly for the latest status.
How does ELMO compare to Employment Hero?
ELMO is better suited for mid-market organisations (50–2,000 employees) wanting a single-vendor platform including a full LMS, while Employment Hero targets small to mid-sized businesses with more transparent per-employee pricing and a larger integration ecosystem (50+ integrations vs ELMO's ~11). Employment Hero is stronger for smaller teams; ELMO is stronger for organisations needing integrated learning and compliance training.