Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ELMO Software VS ClockOn

Compare ELMO Software VS ClockOn and see what are their differences

ELMO Software logo ELMO Software

ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll is a cloud-based and integrated software platform that provides you technical solutions for managing HR tasks and payroll services.

ClockOn logo ClockOn

All-in-one workforce management platform for managing staff, shifts, leave, and pay. Stay compliant with payroll & STP, award interpretation and HR tools.
  • ELMO Software Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30
  • ClockOn Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06
  • ClockOn Timesheets
    Timesheets //
    2025-07-14
  • ClockOn Mobile app
    Mobile app //
    2025-07-14

ClockOn is a powerful Australian workforce management platform designed to streamline rostering, attendance, payroll, and HR processes โ€” all in one system. Built for businesses with 5 to 500+ employees, ClockOn helps teams stay compliant with Fair Work requirements while reducing administrative overhead.

Key Features

  • Smart Rostering
    Create efficient, costed rosters with drag-and-drop tools, role-based scheduling, and built-in availability and leave conflict checks. Publish rosters instantly via SMS, email or the ClockOn GO app.

  • Accurate Time & Attendance
    Track clock-ins via mobile app or tablet kiosk with geofencing and photo capture. Automate timesheets and manage breaks, rounding, and approvals to simplify payroll prep.

  • Award-Interpreted Payroll
    Run Single Touch Payroll-compliant pay runs with built-in award interpretation for Australian Modern Awards. Automatically calculate overtime, allowances, leave accruals, and superannuation.

  • Integrated HR Module
    Manage employee records, contracts, visa checks, WHS, and document storage in one secure location. Includes onboarding, job details, and compliance tracking.

Why Choose ClockOn?

  • Purpose-built for Australian compliance
  • Modular setup โ€” use what you need
  • Scales easily from small teams to 500+ staff
  • Local support and training included
  • Optional outsourced payroll service available

ClockOn is ideal for industries like healthcare, retail, hospitality, and services โ€” helping managers build rosters, track time, and pay staff with confidence.

ELMO Software

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

ClockOn

$ Details
paid Free Trial AU$2.7 / Monthly (per user)
Platforms
Google Chrome Firefox Safari Edge Windows Android iOS
Release Date
1999 April
Startup details
Country
Australia
State
NSW
City
Erina
Founder(s)
Graham Mylne
Employees
10 - 19

ELMO Software features and specs

  • Comprehensive Solution
    ELMO Cloud HR & Payroll offers a wide range of HR and payroll functionalities in a single platform, reducing the need for multiple software solutions.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being cloud-based allows for ease of access from anywhere, enabling remote work and flexible working environments.
  • Integration
    Supports integration with various third-party tools and systems, enhancing its utility and ensuring seamless workflow.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Designed with an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, reducing the learning curve for new users.
  • Compliance Features
    Includes features to help ensure compliance with local labor laws and regulations, mitigating the risk of non-compliance.
  • Scalability
    Scalable to fit the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large corporations.
  • Customer Support
    Offers robust customer support services, including training and onboarding assistance, ensuring users can maximize the software's potential.

Possible disadvantages of ELMO Software

  • Cost
    Can be expensive, particularly for smaller businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    While comprehensive, the system's extensive features can sometimes make it complex to set up and manage.
  • Customization Limits
    May lack certain customization options that some businesses might need, limiting its adaptability to specific unique business processes.
  • Dependency on Internet
    Being cloud-based means that it requires a stable internet connection to function properly, which can be a drawback in areas with unreliable internet service.
  • Integration Challenges
    Integration with certain existing systems can sometimes be challenging and may require additional technical support.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the breadth of its features can require significant time and training for users to become proficient in utilizing all functionalities.

ClockOn features and specs

  • Comprehensive Payroll Features
    ClockOn offers a wide range of payroll features, including tax calculations, superannuation contributions, and detailed reporting, making it a robust solution for employers.
  • Time and Attendance Tracking
    The platform provides efficient time and attendance tracking options, allowing businesses to seamlessly monitor employee hours, overtime, and leave.
  • Employee Self-Service
    ClockOn includes a self-service portal where employees can view their schedules, clock-in/out, and access their payslips, increasing transparency and convenience.
  • Compliance with Local Regulations
    The software is designed to adhere to Australian labor laws, ensuring businesses remain compliant with local regulations through automatic updates and accurate record-keeping.
  • Flexible Deployment
    ClockOn offers both cloud-based and on-premises solutions, providing businesses with the flexibility to choose a deployment method that suits their needs.

Possible disadvantages of ClockOn

  • Complex Setup
    Some users may find the initial setup of ClockOn complex and time-consuming, requiring a learning curve to effectively utilize all features.
  • Limited Integration Options
    ClockOn may have limited integration capabilities with other software platforms, which could pose challenges for businesses using multiple systems.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of ClockOn may appear outdated or not as intuitive as other modern software, which could affect the user experience.
  • Customer Support
    Some users report that customer support can be inconsistent, with variable response times and levels of assistance.
  • Cost
    For small businesses or startups, the cost of ClockOn might be a concern, especially if they require only basic features.

Analysis of ELMO Software

Overall verdict

  • ELMO Software is generally considered a good option for businesses seeking a comprehensive HR and payroll platform. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and the wide range of features offered. However, some users have pointed out that the learning curve can be steep for those not familiar with such systems.

Why this product is good

  • ELMO Software is known for providing cloud-based HR, payroll, and rostering solutions tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. Their platform is praised for integrating various HR and payroll functions into a single solution, which enhances efficiency and ease of management. Their continuous updates and customer support are also frequently mentioned positively in reviews.

Recommended for

    This software is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses in need of a scalable and integrated HR and payroll solution. It's particularly useful for HR departments looking to streamline processes and improve efficiency through automation and detailed analytics.

ELMO Software videos

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ClockOn videos

ClockOn's integrated Rostering, Attendance & Payroll Features

Category Popularity

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Tool
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0% 0
HR And Payroll Software
0 0%
100% 100
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
HR
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Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing ELMO Software and ClockOn.

What's the story behind your product?

ClockOn's answer:

๐Ÿข The Story Behind ClockOn

Founded in 1999

ClockOn began its journey after receiving a federal government start grant aimed at creating an affordable, comprehensive Time & Attendance, Rostering, HR, and Payroll solution for Australian small businesses

Evolving the Workforce Tech Stack

From those early roots, ClockOn has grown into a robust, awardโ€‘interpreting platform featuring:

  • A configurable rule engine to automate awardโ€‘specific payroll settings
  • Biometric fingerprint scanners & attendance kiosks for verified time capture
  • The ClockOn GO mobile app for twoโ€‘way messaging, GPS checkโ€‘ins, and realโ€‘time shift updates

Expanding into Outsourced Payroll

To support businesses when their payroll officers are absentโ€”or simply for added convenienceโ€”ClockOn introduced a flexible outsourced payroll service, enabling them to step in at a momentโ€™s notice

Recent Innovation: Integrated HR Module

In June 2025, ClockOnโ€™s Pro plan added a fully embedded HR module. This new tier brings:

  • Centralized employee records & document storage
  • Leave management workflows
  • WHS incident logging, visa checks, EEO/WGEA reporting
  • Roleโ€‘based approvals and manager portals โ€” all within the same unified system

That move reinforced ClockOnโ€™s mission: to eliminate the inefficiencies of patchโ€‘together systems and deliver a single source of truth for Australian workforce management


โœจ Why It Matters

From helping pubs, pharmacies, and clubs consolidate up to 4+ disconnected tools, to ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance, ClockOn has stood out for its:

  • Deep understanding of Australian award rules
  • Focus on userโ€‘configurable automation
  • Local support, ongoing innovation, and both inโ€‘house and outsourced payroll options

Today, based on the NSW Central Coast, ClockOn is trusted by SMEs across industriesโ€”offering a mature, scalable, and complianceโ€‘driven workforce solution.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ELMO Software and ClockOn

ELMO Software Reviews

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ClockOn Reviews

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Switching from Xero Payroll can be a smooth and manageable transition for businesses seeking cost-effective alternatives. Solutions like ClockOn, ELMO Software, and Reckon provide reliable, compliant, and user-friendly payroll options tailored to the needs of Australian businesses. Each platform offers distinct advantages, with ClockOn known for its simplicity and...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ELMO Software seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ELMO Software mentions (1)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2022)
    ELMO Software| Multiple Positions |Onsite (Australia)| https://elmosoftware.com.au/ ELMO Software is a cloud-based solution that helps thousands of organisations across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to effectively manage their people, process and pay. Here are our open roles - Senior PHP Software Engineer https://elmotms.elmotalent.com.au/careers/elmotalent/job/view/538 - Lead PHP Software... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago

ClockOn mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ClockOn yet. Tracking of ClockOn recommendations started around Aug 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ELMO Software and ClockOn, you can also consider the following products

StratEx - StratEx HRMS SaaS Software is a HR management solution to improve the efficiency of managing the employee lifecycle.

Microkeeper - Onboard staff, create rosters, track time and attendance, and pay your employees with compliance.

enableHR - enableHR is an advanced HR software that is making its mark with its versatility in managing things automatically and strategically.

Employment Hero - Australia's No.1 Integrated HR People Management Platform

sumHR - sumHR is a modern, delightful, and extremely easy to use Human Resource Management Software that helps startups and SMEs streamline their HR & payroll processes. We are on a mission to change the way companies look at Human Resource Management. W...

Payroller - Simple, easy payroll web app for small businesses