Best Payroll Software in Singapore 2026: Complete Comparison for SMEs

The best payroll software for Singapore SMEs depends on your priorities: AIMM Payroll is cheapest (S$0-S$69/month flat), Talenox is best for Xero integration, Payboy for shift-based F&B, and JustLogin for conservative buyers. Here's our full comparison.

Picking payroll software in Singapore is deceptively hard. The headline features look similar across vendors, but the compliance surface beneath them is wide: CPF rates shift by age band and residency, SDL applies to every employee, and Self-Help Group funds, Foreign Worker Levy, itemised payslips, GIRO bank files, and IRAS Auto-Inclusion Scheme filing all sit in the critical path. Get one wrong and you face late-payment interest, composition sums, or tax undercharge penalties of up to 200%.

This guide compares eight payroll tools for the Singapore market in 2026: AIMM Payroll, Talenox, Payboy, QuickHR, Employment Hero, JustLogin, Swingvy, and SimplePay. All pricing was verified against each vendor's published pricing page in June 2026. We have been deliberately fair to competitors, including naming where they beat AIMM.

What Singapore SMEs need from payroll software

A payroll tool for a Singapore SME must handle the following.

Statutory compliance

Singapore payroll is compliance-heavy. Your software should auto-calculate:

• CPF contributions — employer and employee rates by age band (under 55, 55-60, 60-65, 65+), graduated rates for PRs in their first two years, the OW ceiling of S$8,000/month, and the AW ceiling. Errors attract 1.5%/month late-payment interest. See our CPF rates guide.
• SDL — 0.25% of monthly remuneration per employee, minimum S$2, maximum S$11.25, payable by the employer. See our SDL guide.
• SHG funds — CDAC, MBMF, SINDA, and ECF contributions for eligible employees, collected alongside CPF. See our SHG funds guide.
• FWL — Foreign Worker Levy for Work Permit and S Pass holders, by sector and quota.
• IRAS AIS filing — employers with 5+ employees must submit employment income data to IRAS by 1 March each year. Non-submission can attract a S$5,000 penalty; errors can trigger up to 200% of tax undercharged for negligence (400% for wilful evasion). See our AIS and IR8A filing guide.

MOM itemised payslips, GIRO, and leave

Under the Employment Act, employers must issue itemised payslips within 3 working days of payment, containing basic salary, itemised deductions (CPF, SDL, SHG, FWL), overtime pay, pay period dates, and net salary paid. Your software should also generate GIRO bulk-payout files in your bank's format to pay the whole team in one upload, and track leave balances (annual, sick, maternity, paternity, childcare, infant care) to keep leave deductions accurate each pay run.

Affordability

Payroll is a fixed monthly cost that does not generate revenue. The two dominant pricing models are flat per-company pricing (one fee regardless of headcount within a tier) and per-employee pricing (cost scales with headcount). The difference compounds fast as you grow.

How we evaluated

We assessed each vendor against six criteria that matter most to Singapore SME buyers:

All pricing was verified against each vendor's live pricing page in June 2026. PSG eligibility was checked against the IMDA/GoBusiness PSG vendor list. AIS status was checked against the IRAS AIS software developers list. Where a vendor's status is in progress, we say so.

Payroll software comparison table

This is the core of the article. The table below compares all eight vendors across the dimensions most SME buyers weigh.

A few notes: Employment Hero's pricing is not publicly disclosed — request a quote. QuickHR's S$20 promotional rate is UOB-exclusive; the standard Essential rate is S$5/employee/month. JustLogin's App Marketplace (June 2026) added Xero, QBO, NetSuite, Bukku, and Convera. Talenox's free plan was sunset on 5 January 2026.

AIMM Payroll — best for small SMEs and price-sensitive buyers

AIMM Payroll is built around one idea: payroll should be cheap, compliant, and simple for small Singapore teams. Its pricing is flat per-company, not per-employee, making it the cheapest option here for headcounts below 50.

Pricing

At 10 employees you pay S$9.90/month; at 50, S$29/month. No per-employee scaling within a tier.

Where AIMM wins

• Lowest cost in the market. No vendor matches S$9.90/month for 10 employees or S$29/month for 50. The gap widens as headcount grows.
• Free tier. Up to 3 employees at S$0/month — useful for sole proprietors and early-stage teams who still need compliant payslips and CPF calculation.
• Compliance-first. CPF, SDL, SHG, and FWL are calculated automatically. Payslips meet MOM requirements. GIRO bank files are supported.
• Flat pricing simplicity. No per-employee math, no module add-ons, no surprises when you hire your eleventh person.

Where AIMM is still catching up

We are upfront about this because trust matters more than spin:

• AIS certification is in progress. AIMM is not yet IRAS AIS Category A certified. If AIS direct submission is a hard requirement today, JustLogin (Cat A) or Talenox are safer. See our AIS guide.
• PSG approval is in progress. AIMM is not yet on the PSG pre-approved list.
• Xero and QBO integration is planned. AIMM does not yet sync with Xero or QBO. If live accounting sync is essential, Talenox, Payboy, or QuickHR are ahead.
• Mobile app is planned. AIMM is currently web-only.
• Multi-client accountant dashboard is in development.

Who should choose AIMM

Small SMEs (1-50 employees) wanting the lowest compliant payroll cost in Singapore who can wait for AIS, PSG, and Xero integration to land. If you have fewer than 5 employees, AIS is not yet mandatory, so AIMM's gaps matter less.

Talenox — best for Xero integration and brand trust

Talenox is one of the most established payroll names in Singapore — mature, multi-country, with a deep Xero integration that finance teams rely on.

Pricing

Talenox uses per-employee pricing: S$4.36/employee/month on annual billing, with a S$21.80 base covering the first 5 employees.

The free plan was sunset on 5 January 2026, so new customers start on paid plans.

Where Talenox wins

• Xero integration is the gold standard. Talenox's Xero sync is mature and trusted by accountants. If your books live in Xero, Talenox is the natural partner.
• Multi-country support. Handles Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong payroll — useful for regional teams.
• Brand trust. Long track record, widely recommended by accounting firms.

Where Talenox falls short

• Expensive at scale. 50 employees costs S$218/month — nearly 9 times AIMM's S$24 Growth plan.
• No PSG eligibility and no free tier (free plan sunset 5 January 2026).

Who should choose Talenox

Xero-centric finance teams, regional SMEs across Southeast Asia, and companies prioritising brand maturity over price.

Payboy — best for PSG-eligible F&B and retail

Payboy targets shift-based industries — F&B, retail, hospitality — where scheduling, time attendance, and payroll must work together.

Pricing

Payboy uses per-employee, per-module pricing starting at S$3-3.50/employee/month. You pay for the modules you need (payroll, scheduling, attendance, leave).

Where Payboy wins

• PSG-eligible. On the PSG pre-approved list, so you can offset up to 50% of subscription costs.
• Shift scheduling and time attendance. Purpose-built for F&B and retail with rosters, clock-in/out, and shift-swapping — its core differentiator.
• Xero and QBO integration. Syncs with both major accounting platforms.
• Modular pricing. You only pay for the modules you use, keeping costs down for teams that do not need full HRMS.

Where Payboy falls short

• No free tier.
• Per-employee cost adds up. At 50 employees you pay S$150-175/month before PSG offset.
• Module complexity. The per-module approach means deciding upfront which modules you need; adding modules later increases cost.

Who should choose Payboy

F&B, retail, and hospitality businesses with shift workers that need scheduling integrated with payroll and want to claim PSG.

QuickHR — best for full HRMS on a budget

QuickHR positions itself as a full HRMS rather than payroll alone — payroll, leave, claims, attendance, and performance in one platform.

Pricing

QuickHR uses tiered per-employee pricing:

Xero and QBO integration is available at the Growth tier and above.

Where QuickHR wins

• PSG-eligible and ISO 9001 certified. Quality-certified and grant-backed, appealing to risk-averse buyers and giving cost relief via PSG.
• Broad feature set. Full HRMS covering payroll, leave, claims, attendance, and performance in one platform.
• Xero and QBO at Growth+. Accounting sync is available, though only on higher tiers.

Where QuickHR falls short

• Expensive at higher tiers. At S$10-15/employee/month, QuickHR is among the pricier options at scale. 50 employees on Growth costs S$500/month.
• No free tier.
• Accounting sync gated behind higher tiers. Xero/QBO is not on the Essential plan, so smaller teams lose out on integration.

Who should choose QuickHR

SMEs wanting a full HRMS rather than payroll-only, valuing ISO 9001 and PSG eligibility, that can justify per-employee spend for the broader feature set.

Employment Hero — best for AU/NZ/SG regional teams

Employment Hero is an Australia-headquartered HR and payroll platform with presence in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Singapore, bringing AI features and embedded finance.

Pricing

Employment Hero does not publicly disclose pricing — it is quote-based, so you must contact sales. Request a quote and compare it against per-employee alternatives.

Where Employment Hero wins

• Regional coverage. Teams across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore consolidate HR and payroll in one platform.
• AI features (HeroAI). AI-assisted HR tasks, content generation, and analytics built in.
• Embedded finance. Earned wage access and financial wellness tools integrated.
• QuickBooks partnership. Accounting sync via QuickBooks.

Where Employment Hero falls short

• Less Singapore-localised. Minimal Singapore-specific moves in 2026 — a regional platform covering Singapore, not a Singapore-first one.
• Pricing opacity. Quote-based pricing makes direct comparison difficult and typically signals enterprise-level cost.

Who should choose Employment Hero

Companies with teams across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore wanting a single regional platform, valuing AI features over deep Singapore localisation. Note: pricing unverified — recommend requesting a quote.

JustLogin — best for conservative buyers

JustLogin is the longest-established player in this comparison, with a 25-year track record in Singapore — the choice for buyers who prioritise proven compliance and government integration over price.

Pricing

JustLogin uses per-employee pricing from S$5/employee/month, with a minimum of 5 employees.

There is no free tier, but a 14-day trial is available.

Where JustLogin wins

• 25-year track record. No vendor here has been in the Singapore payroll market longer — a strong trust signal.
• AIS Category A. Direct API submission to IRAS, the strongest AIS rating.
• GovTech integration. Deep integration with Singapore government digital services.
• PSG-eligible.
• App Marketplace (June 2026). New integrations with Xero, QBO, NetSuite, Bukku, and Convera broaden accounting connectivity.

Where JustLogin falls short

• More expensive than AIMM. At 50 employees, JustLogin costs S$250/month versus AIMM's S$24 — a 10x difference.
• No free tier. The 14-day trial is the only way to evaluate before paying.
• Legacy feel. The 25-year history is a trust asset but can mean a less modern interface.

Who should choose JustLogin

Conservative buyers and larger SMEs wanting the strongest AIS certification and longest track record, willing to pay a premium for government-grade compliance.

Price comparison at 5, 10, 25, and 50 employees

This is where the pricing models diverge sharply. The table below shows monthly cost for each vendor at four headcount levels. Employment Hero is excluded as quote-based.

The pattern is clear. Flat per-company pricing (AIMM) stays nearly flat as headcount grows. Per-employee pricing scales linearly. At 5 employees the gap is modest. At 50, AIMM's S$29/month is roughly one-tenth of what JustLogin, QuickHR, and Swingvy charge.

This is the single most important pricing insight here: the pricing model matters more than the headline rate. A vendor charging S$5/employee/month looks cheap at 5 employees (S$25) but costs S$250 at 50. AIMM's flat model costs S$24 at both 10 and 50.

Decision framework: when to choose AIMM vs competitors

Use this framework to match your situation to the right tool.

Choose AIMM Payroll if

• You have 1-50 employees and want the lowest compliant payroll cost in Singapore.
• You are an early-stage startup or sole proprietor who needs compliant payslips and CPF calculation without a monthly bill.
• AIS is not yet mandatory (fewer than 5 employees), or you can wait for AIMM's AIS certification to complete.
• You do not need Xero or QBO sync today.

Choose Talenox if

• Your accounting lives in Xero and you need mature payroll-to-ledger sync.
• You operate across multiple Southeast Asian markets.
• You are willing to pay a premium for brand maturity.

Choose Payboy if

• You run an F&B, retail, or hospitality business with shift workers.
• You need scheduling and time attendance tightly integrated with payroll.
• You want to claim PSG.

Choose QuickHR if

• You want a full HRMS (not just payroll) with leave, claims, attendance, and performance.
• You value ISO 9001 certification and PSG eligibility.

Choose Employment Hero if

• You have teams across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
• You want AI features and embedded finance in a single regional platform.
• Singapore localisation is not your top priority.

Choose JustLogin if

• You want a 25-year track record and the strongest AIS Category A certification.
• You need GovTech integration and are willing to pay a premium for government-grade compliance.

Choose Swingvy if

• You want a per-user, per-module HR platform with PSG eligibility, Xero integration, and benefits administration.

Choose SimplePay if

• You want a straightforward base-plus-per-employee model with a free trial and no Xero integration needed.

Being honest about AIMM's gaps

AIMM is the cheapest option in this comparison, but cheap is not the same as best for everyone. If AIS direct submission is a hard requirement today, choose JustLogin (Cat A) or Talenox. If you need Xero or QBO live sync this quarter, choose Talenox, Payboy, or QuickHR. If you want PSG to offset your subscription, choose Payboy, QuickHR, JustLogin, Swingvy, or Employment Hero. AIMM's advantages — flat pricing, free tier, compliance-first design — are most powerful for small, price-sensitive teams that can work within AIMM's roadmap timeline.

How to switch payroll software

Switching payroll software mid-year is manageable with planning. Here is a brief migration guide.

1. Pick your cutover date. The cleanest cutover is at the start of a calendar year or quarter, when year-to-date figures reset. If switching mid-year, choose the start of a pay cycle.
2. Export your data. At minimum, export employee master data (name, NRIC/FIN, date of birth, residency status, join date), year-to-date payroll history (gross, CPF, SDL, SHG, FWL, net per period), leave balances, and prior AIS records.
3. Set up and run a parallel cycle. Import employee data, configure CPF, SDL, SHG, and FWL settings, and set up your pay schedule, GIRO file format, and payslip template. Process one cycle in both systems and compare outputs line by line.
4. Reconcile year-to-date figures. If switching mid-year, ensure year-to-date CPF, SDL, SHG, and gross income match the old system exactly — critical for AIS accuracy.
5. Validate AIS readiness. Before the 1 March deadline, confirm your new system can generate IR8A and submit via AIS. Category A vendors offer direct API submission; Category B generate files for manual submission.
6. Notify employees. Inform employees of the switch, the new payslip format, and where to access payslips. Share login instructions if the new system has a self-service portal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest payroll software in Singapore?

AIMM Payroll, with a free plan for up to 3 employees and paid plans from S$9.90/month flat. At 50 employees, AIMM's Growth plan costs S$29/month — far below any per-employee vendor. See AIMM pricing.

Is AIMM Payroll IRAS AIS-compliant?

AIMM's AIS certification is in progress — not yet IRAS AIS Category A certified. If AIS direct submission is mandatory today, consider JustLogin (Cat A) or Talenox. Check our AIS filing guide.

Which payroll software integrates with Xero?

Talenox, Payboy, QuickHR (Growth+), JustLogin (June 2026 App Marketplace), Swingvy, and Employment Hero. AIMM's Xero integration is planned. Talenox has the most mature integration.

Is PSG (Productivity Solutions Grant) available for payroll software?

Yes. Payboy, QuickHR, JustLogin, Swingvy, and Employment Hero are PSG-eligible — claim up to 50% of subscription costs. Talenox is not. AIMM's PSG approval is in progress.

Can I switch payroll software mid-year?

Yes. Reconcile year-to-date figures (CPF, SDL, SHG, gross income) between old and new systems, choose a cutover at the start of a pay cycle, run a parallel cycle to verify, and validate AIS readiness before the 1 March deadline.

Do I need payroll software if I have fewer than 5 employees?

Not legally required, but strongly recommended. Even with 1-4 employees, you must calculate CPF, SDL, and SHG correctly, issue MOM-compliant payslips, and pay via GIRO. AIMM's free tier (up to 3 employees) handles this at S$0/month. AIS filing is mandatory at 5+ employees.

What happens if I get CPF or AIS filing wrong?

CPF errors attract 1.5%/month late-payment interest plus composition sums. AIS non-submission can attract a S$5,000 penalty; errors can trigger up to 200% of tax undercharged for negligence (400% for wilful evasion). Payroll software that auto-calculates statutory deductions and generates AIS-compliant forms is a compliance safeguard. See our CPF rates guide and AIS guide.

Does AIMM Payroll have a mobile app?

Not yet. AIMM's mobile app is planned; the platform is currently web-based. If mobile access is a priority today, JustLogin, Swingvy, and Employment Hero offer apps.

Run compliant Singapore payroll automatically with AIMM Payroll — free for 3 employees. Sign up free.