The short version: Smartly doesn't print a currency code next to its prices, but GST and IRD payday filing, both New Zealand terms, are the only signal on the page, checked 22 September 2026: DIY Payroll runs $2.60 a pay run per employee plus a $51.50 monthly platform fee, and Managed Payroll, where Smartly's own team runs the pay run, costs $6.20 a pay run per employee from a $365 monthly minimum. People Management is a $10 a month per employee add-on on either plan, not sold on its own.
The four plans, decoded
| Plan | Price, per employee per pay run | Built for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Payroll | $2.60, plus $51.50 a month platform fee | You enter and check your own payroll data; automated leave calculations, Xero integration, employee app, timesheets and labour costing. |
| DIY Payroll + People Management | $2.60, plus $10 a month per employee, plus $51.50 a month platform fee | DIY Payroll, plus onboarding, e-signed contracts, document storage, HR templates. |
| Managed Payroll | $6.20, from $365 a month minimum | Smartly's own team enters and processes your payroll; you approve it. |
| Managed Payroll + People Management | $6.20, plus $10 a month per employee, from $365 a month minimum | Managed Payroll, plus the full People Management set. |
Every plan bills per employee per pay run rather than a flat per-seat rate, so a weekly pay cycle costs more across a month than a monthly one at the same headcount. Smartly's own site states these figures exclude GST and gives no currency code; New Zealand-specific terms across the same page (GST, IRD, "in line with NZ legislation") are the only signal these are New Zealand dollars. Source: smartly.co.nz/plans, checked 22 September 2026 (smartly.co.nz/pricing 404s; /plans is the live page).
Where the tier boundary actually bites
The real choice comes down to who does the data entry, not which feature tier you pick. DIY Payroll and Managed Payroll share an identical feature list: automated leave calculations, Xero integration, the employee app, timesheets and labour costing, and payday filing to IRD. The difference is entirely who's accountable for getting the numbers into the system correctly, and that shows up in price: Managed Payroll costs more than double the per-pay-run rate and carries a $365 monthly minimum regardless of headcount, against no stated minimum on DIY. People Management, the HR layer covering onboarding, contracts and document storage, is never sold on its own; it's only available as a $10 add-on bolted onto one of the two payroll plans.
Who this suits, and who it doesn't
It suits a small New Zealand employer confident running its own payroll data entry who wants NZ legislation and IRD filing handled correctly underneath it, on DIY Payroll's lower rate. It also suits a firm that's been burned by payroll mistakes, or has nobody confident with compliance, on Managed Payroll, accepting the $365 monthly floor as the cost of handing it off. It doesn't suit a firm that wants HR onboarding and document management without also buying a payroll subscription, since People Management isn't sold as a standalone product. How it compares side by side with PayHero and Employment Hero is worked through in PayHero vs Smartly vs Employment Hero.
Or build the roster on what you already pay for
For a firm already on Microsoft 365, a roster, timesheet and leave register can be built directly on the licence already paid for: on Dataverse at NZ$32.40 a user a month, or on SharePoint lists and Teams Shifts where the licence already includes them, with Power BI Pro at NZ$22.60 for the two or three people who need the report. A build like that runs $8,000 to $18,000. It does not run payroll: PAYE, KiwiSaver, holiday pay under the Holidays Act and payday filing stay in a compliant payroll product like Smartly. What it covers is the roster, the time capture, leave requests and approvals, and the reporting that feeds Smartly rather than replacing it. The full picture is in Power Platform pricing in NZ.
Common questions
How much does Smartly cost in New Zealand?
As at the 22 September 2026 check of smartly.co.nz/plans: DIY Payroll costs $2.60 a pay run per employee plus a $51.50 monthly platform fee, and Managed Payroll, where Smartly's team runs the pay run for you, costs $6.20 a pay run per employee from a $365 monthly minimum. The page states these figures exclude GST but doesn't print a currency code.
What's the difference between Smartly's DIY and Managed payroll plans?
The feature set is identical, including automated leave calculations, Xero integration, timesheets and payday filing to IRD. The difference is who enters and checks the payroll data, you on DIY or Smartly's own team on Managed, which costs more than double the per-pay-run rate.
Can I buy Smartly's People Management features without payroll?
No. People Management, covering onboarding, e-signed contracts and document storage, is a $10 a month per employee add-on available only on top of DIY Payroll or Managed Payroll; it isn't sold as a standalone product.
Get a number for your own crew
Book a free 30-minute call. Bring your pay cycle and employee count and I'll tell you whether DIY or Managed makes more sense, or whether a build clears both.