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Xero is one of Australia's most popular cloud-based accounting software platforms, but it has no native rostering or shift scheduling capability. The Xero Me app lets employees view payslips and request leave, but managers can't build rosters, track time, or calculate award rates inside the platform.
For shift-based Australian businesses operating under Modern Awards, that gap creates real problems. Manual rostering through spreadsheets or group chats leads to payroll errors, missed pay rules, and Fair Work compliance risk. The best Xero rostering software add-ons solve this by connecting your rosters directly to Xero Payroll, eliminating double handling and helping you save time on every pay run. The five most popular options for Australian businesses are RosterElf, Deputy, Tanda, Microkeeper, and Connecteam. Here's how they compare.
When we help clients choose a rostering add-on for their Xero bookkeeping and organisation, these are the criteria we evaluate first.
Some add-ons offer deep integration with Xero via a native API, pushing approved timesheets directly into draft pay runs with pay items already mapped. Others rely on CSV exports or require manual checks before every pay run. The difference between a seamless workflow and a clunky one can save hours per pay cycle and eliminate manual data-entry errors.
This is the single most important criterion for any business with award-covered employees. The right management software will automatically calculate penalty rates, overtime, allowances, and public holiday loadings under your specific award before syncing data to Xero Payroll. Without native award interpretation, you're still doing the maths yourself, and the risk of underpayment is significant.
Consider whether the tool suits your team size. Pricing and complexity vary enormously between platforms designed for 5 employees versus 500. Employee-facing features like mobile apps for shift swapping, leave requests, and clock-in/clock-out matter for staff adoption. And watch for hidden add-on costs, minimum spend requirements, and pricing that's only available on request.
RosterElf is a 100% Australian-owned rostering platform and the highest-rated rostering app on the Xero App Store (4.9 star rating). Named Xero's Top Rostering App in 2024 and trusted by over 30,000 users, it's purpose-built for Australian small businesses running shift-based teams.
Best for: Australian SMEs (5 to 200 employees) in hospitality, retail, healthcare, and aged care.
Xero integration: RosterElf integrates seamlessly with Xero via a native API. Approved timesheets sync to Xero Payroll with just a few clicks, with all award rates and loadings already calculated. Employee data syncs automatically between both platforms, so there's no re-keying information or reconciling spreadsheets.
Key features: Built-in Fair Work award rules are applied to every timesheet before it reaches your Xero account. The platform includes GPS-verified clock-in, drag-and-drop rostering with live labour costing, leave management, employee onboarding, certificate tracking, and team chat. The "Perfect Match" feature suggests the best-qualified available staff for each shift based on skills and employee availability.
Pricing: The Core plan (rostering, time tracking, award interpretation, and Xero integration) starts from $6/employee/month (annual) or $8/employee/month (monthly). The Full Suite adds HR features, including onboarding, contracts, and compliance tracking, from $7.50/employee/month (annual) or $10/employee/month (monthly). A $25 minimum monthly spend applies to all plans. 15-day free trial, no credit card required.
Limitation: The feature set may be more than what very small teams with simple rostering needs actually require.
Deputy is a global workforce management platform serving over 385,000 workplaces. In April 2024, Xero invested USD $25 million in Deputy and announced a strategic partnership to embed Deputy's capability into Xero for Australian customers. It's feature-rich and well-suited to larger organisations, though that partnership alone doesn't make it the right fit for every business.
Best for: Mid-to-large businesses (50+ employees), multi-location operations, or businesses wanting to leverage the Xero partnership ecosystem.
Xero integration: Deputy integrates with Xero for timesheet exports and leave balance sync. The integration supports pay rate management and award interpretation in line with Fair Work standards, though some Australian users report that the setup can be complex for complex award configurations.
Key features: AI-powered auto-scheduling, demand forecasting, facial recognition time clocking, labour cost budgeting, multi-location management, and project tracking through a strong mobile app. Deputy also launched its own integrated payroll product for Australian businesses in June 2025.
Pricing: From USD $5/user/month (Lite) on the global pricing page. Australian customers are billed in AUD, so confirm current local pricing directly with Deputy. A minimum monthly spend of AUD $30 applies from September 2025, with a minimum of 4 users on annual plans. HR, Analytics+, and Messaging+ are paid add-ons. 31-day free trial.
Limitation: Add-on costs stack up, and the minimum spend makes Deputy less cost-effective for small businesses. The accuracy of award interpretation has received mixed feedback for complex awards like SCHADS.
Tanda is a Brisbane-founded workforce management platform that now operates globally as Workforce.com. It maintains a library of Modern Award pay condition templates and is particularly strong on compliance features for Australian businesses with complex, multi-award environments.
Best for: Mid-to-large Australian businesses (15 to 200+ employees) in hospitality, retail, and healthcare with complex award requirements.
Xero integration: Tanda exports award-interpreted timesheets directly to Xero Payroll with correct pay items and allowances mapped. The integration also supports onboarding new hires directly into Xero, removing the need to manually enter TFN and superannuation details.
Key features: Live rostering with budget tracking, geofencing and kiosk clock-in for time tracking, automated award calculations across multiple Modern Awards, and workforce analytics. Tanda combines payroll, rostering, and HR into a single integrated solution for service-based businesses.
Pricing: Contact Tanda directly. Pricing is modular and based on workforce size. 14-day free trial available after a sales consultation.
Limitation: Pricing isn't published, making upfront comparison difficult. Support is available only during AEST business hours.
Microkeeper is an Australian-built, all-in-one platform covering rostering, time and attendance, payroll processing (including STP and super), and HR. It's a genuine alternative for businesses that want a single business solution rather than paying for separate job management software alongside their accounting software.
Best for: Australian SMEs in construction, field services, and cleaning, and businesses with complex departmental structures that want everything on one platform.
Xero integration: Microkeeper pushes payroll data directly to Xero each pay run. Employee data transfers between platforms, and the integration handles job costing, wage breakdowns, overtime, and superannuation reporting.
Key features: Auto-Roster fills shifts based on employee availability, skills, compliance requirements, and budgets. The platform offers seven different time and attendance solutions, including biometric fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, GPS tracking, and NFC tags. Built-in break compliance automates scheduling based on award rules. Microkeeper also handles STP reporting, super payments, and employee self-service for payslips.
Pricing: Indicative pricing starts from around AUD $2.25/employee/month. No lock-in contracts. 30-day free trial. Verify current pricing directly with Microkeeper, as plans may vary.
Limitation: Smaller user base and lower brand recognition than RosterElf or Deputy. Some users note that the Xero integration can occasionally require manual intervention when sync errors occur.
Connecteam is a budget-friendly, all-in-one employee management app with rostering, time tracking, communication, training, and HR features. Its free plan for up to 10 users makes it attractive for micro-businesses looking to move away from manual spreadsheets.
Best for: Very small teams (under 10 employees) with simple pay structures, or home service businesses and field teams where a mobile workforce app is the priority.
Xero integration: Connecteam syncs employee timesheets, work hours, and job monitoring data to Xero. The integration handles regular hours and overtime exports, though it's more basic than purpose-built Australian rostering add-ons.
Key features: A user-friendly, mobile-first platform with GPS geofencing, shift scheduling, in-app communication, training course creation, and payroll-ready timesheet exports. Connecteam is a strong project management tool for team coordination, rated 4.7 stars on the Xero App Store.
Pricing: Free for up to 10 users on the Small Business Plan, which includes access to most features across all hubs. Paid plans from $29/month (Operations Basic, billed annually) for up to 30 users. 14-day free trial on paid plans.
Limitation: No native Australian Modern Award interpretation. Pay rules must be configured manually, which is a significant gap for any business operating under a Modern Award and increases the risk of payroll errors.
| Feature | RosterElf | Deputy | Tanda | Microkeeper | Connecteam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero App Store Rating | 4.9 stars | ~4.0 stars | ~4.5 stars | 4.8 stars (24 reviews) | 4.7 stars |
| Australian-owned | ✓ | ✗ | Partially (now global) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Modern Award interpretation | Native | Partial | Native | Native | Manual only |
| One-click Xero sync | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Free trial | 15 days | 31 days | 14 days | 30 days | Free plan (10 users) |
| Indicative pricing | From $6/emp/mth (Core) | From USD $5/user/mth + AUD $30 min | Contact sales | From ~$2.25/emp/mth | Free to $29/mth |
| Best for | SME (5 to 200) | Mid-to-large / enterprise | Complex compliance | All-in-one SME | Micro-business |
Ratings and pricing sourced from the Xero App Store and provider websites, verified March 2026. Confirm current figures directly with each provider before making informed decisions.
If you operate under a Modern Award, RosterElf or Tanda should be your starting point. Accurate award interpretation is non-negotiable in these industries. RosterElf offers simpler pricing and faster setup for most small businesses, while Tanda suits larger organisations with multiple apps and complex multi-award environments.
Deputy is worth evaluating if you need multi-location capability or want to leverage the Xero strategic partnership. Factor in add-on costs and the minimum spend when comparing total costs.
Microkeeper handles rostering, payroll, HR, STP, and job costing from a single system. It's a strong option for construction and field teams who want to manage schedules and pay runs without toggling between multiple apps.
Connecteam's free tier is a reasonable starting point if your pay structures are simple. But if your team is covered by a Modern Award, you'll need to handle award calculations yourself before processing payroll through Xero.
That's a question for your bookkeeper before you configure any software.
Most rostering add-ons connect to your Xero organisation via the Xero API, so there's no need for third-party connectors or CSV exports. The typical setup involves authorising the app, matching employees across systems, mapping pay items to Xero pay categories and pay templates, and configuring your award rules. Basic setup takes 5 to 15 minutes. Award configuration takes longer depending on complexity.
Getting the pay item mapping and award rules right from the start is what determines whether the software actually saves hours or creates a different kind of admin headache. As Platinum Xero Partners, our team regularly assists clients with Xero add-on setup, configuration, and integration as part of our Xero bookkeeping services.
The right Xero rostering add-on can streamline operations, improve efficiency across your financial management, and significantly reduce compliance risk. But the tool is only as good as the setup. Trial at least two options, test the integration with Xero Payroll using a real pay run, and make sure the award calculations match what you'd expect before going live. If you want help choosing and configuring the best Xero add-ons for your business, get in touch with our team at Darcy Bookkeeping & Business Services.
