PaySpace pricing, answered
PaySpace runs your payroll. We run your people.
The straight answer: PaySpace charges per employee, per month, and does not publish its rates — the exact Rand amount requires a demo call. Performance management, recruitment, workforce planning and WhatsApp ESS are paid add-ons on top of base payroll. Below is the full cost picture, feature by feature, next to Synthro's published R49.99–R199.99 per user — so you can see what each Rand actually buys before anyone puts you on a sales call.
per user, per month
Published. No demo required to see what you pay.
HR features PaySpace lacks
Included in Synthro at no extra cost
setup and migration
No implementation fee — no data-migration service required
work together
Synthro integrates natively with PaySpace
The honest case
Where PaySpace is the stronger tool.
It is a full payroll engine — Synthro is not
PaySpace calculates gross-to-net pay, handles PAYE/UIF/SDL submissions directly to SARS, generates IRP5 certificates and EMP501 returns, and manages payroll across 44+ African countries. Synthro does not run payroll. We integrate with PaySpace. If payroll is the primary problem you are solving, PaySpace is the right tool for that job.
Multi-country and multi-currency operations
If your business employs staff in Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, or across the continent — or has expatriate staff on foreign currencies — PaySpace's multi-country infrastructure handles it. Synthro is South Africa only. For businesses with cross-border payroll complexity, there is no equivalent in what we offer.
Deep accounting and enterprise integrations
PaySpace integrates natively with Xero, QuickBooks, and Acumatica. It is Workday GPC certified for large enterprise setups and backed by Deel's global compliance engineering. For businesses that need payroll data flowing automatically into their accounting stack — or enterprise-grade SLAs — that infrastructure is real and substantial.
Most South African SMEs running PaySpace for payroll are also running HR on spreadsheets. That is not because PaySpace is missing features — it is because payroll software and HR software are different tools. Synthro is the HR layer that sits alongside PaySpace, not instead of it.
Two different tools
Different jobs. Both necessary.
PaySpace is a payroll engine
What it does
PaySpace calculates gross-to-net pay, submits PAYE/UIF/SDL to SARS, generates IRP5 certificates and EMP501 returns, and handles payroll across 44 African countries. For businesses with multi-country operations or complex payroll requirements, this is a genuine strength. PaySpace integrates with Xero and QuickBooks and offers outsourced managed payroll for businesses that want someone else to run it entirely.
How they fit together
Synthro does not run payroll. We integrate with PaySpace (and SimplePay) — syncing employees, approved leave, and timesheets between the two systems. Payroll belongs in PaySpace. People management belongs in Synthro.
Synthro is a people management platform
What it does
PaySpace includes basic leave management and employee self-service in its base tiers. Performance management, recruitment, and workforce planning are paid add-on modules — not included at any standard price. There is no AI assistant, no burnout prediction, no 360-degree reviews, no OKR framework, no BCCMA documentation tooling, and no B-BBEE or SETA compliance tracking at any tier.
How they fit together
Synthro includes all of this from day one. Performance reviews, NALA AI assistant, burnout prediction, OKRs, PIPs, check-ins, B-BBEE scorecards, SETA WSP/ATR reporting — every feature is included in the plan price. No add-on fees. No demos to see what it costs.
The HR layer
Payroll keeps the books. This keeps your people.
Performance that runs all year, not once a year
Without Synthro
PaySpace performance management is a paid add-on — and even with it, the tooling is basic: manager-to-employee reviews with no 360-degree multi-rater feedback, no structured OKR methodology, no PIPs, and no one-on-one check-in scheduling. Performance at most PaySpace customers lives in a spreadsheet or a shared Google Doc.
With Synthro
Synthro includes 360-degree reviews (43 questions across 9 competencies), full OKR management with cascading alignment scores, structured PIPs with milestones and outcome tracking, and scheduled one-on-one check-ins with agenda templates. Performance becomes a continuous system, not an annual event.
An AI that was trained on South African labour law
Without Synthro
PaySpace has no AI assistant at any tier. Burnout prediction, goal risk detection, and AI-powered document drafting are not features of a payroll engine. When a manager needs to know whether a verbal warning needs to be in writing under the LRA, or wants to draft a BCEA-compliant PIP, there is no tool in PaySpace that helps.
With Synthro
NALA is Synthro's AI — fine-tuned on BCEA, LRA, EEA, and POPIA. She drafts disciplinary notices, answers labour law questions, flags burnout risk 30 days early at 82% accuracy, and predicts which goals are at risk before the deadline passes. 24/7. Included in Premium.
SA compliance that goes beyond payroll
Without Synthro
B-BBEE scorecards, SETA WSP/ATR compliance, CCMA-ready audit trails with timestamps — none of these are available in PaySpace at any price. These are not edge cases for SA SMEs. B-BBEE affects procurement. SETA levy grants affect cash flow. CCMA documentation affects whether you defend a dispute or settle out of exhaustion.
With Synthro
Synthro tracks B-BBEE scorecards (QSE, EME, Generic) with a live dashboard, generates SETA WSP and ATR exports for levy grant applications, and timestamps every HR action — leave requests, approvals, warnings, reviews — so that when the CCMA calls, you open the record and hand it over.
Side by side. No ambiguity.
| Feature | PaySpace | Synthro |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | Not published — request demo | Published: R49.99–R199.99/user/mo |
| Payroll processing (PAYE/UIF/IRP5) | Full engine — built for this | Via payroll integration |
| Multi-country payroll | 44+ African countries | South Africa only |
| Leave management (BCEA) | Included in base | Included — 261-day BCEA formula |
| Employee self-service | Included in base | Included |
| Document management | Included in base | Included |
| Performance management | Add-on (extra cost) | Included in premium plan |
| 360-Degree Reviews | Not available | 43 questions, 9 competencies |
| OKR & goal management | Not available | Full OKR with cascading |
| Performance Improvement Plans | Not available | Full PIP workflow with milestones |
| One-on-one check-ins | Not available | Scheduled check-ins with agendas |
| AI assistant | No AI features | NALA — BCEA/LRA/EEA/POPIA |
| Burnout prediction | Not available | 82% accuracy, 30-day early warning |
| B-BBEE scorecard tracking | Not available | Full QSE/EME/Generic support |
| SETA WSP/ATR compliance | Not available | Training records + export |
| Gamification & recognition | Not available | Kudos, challenges, leaderboards |
| Career pathway planning | Not available | Role-based development paths |
| SA-specific support | Global support (Deel) | Cape Town-based, SA timezone |
Pricing
One platform tells you the price. One asks for a demo call.
PaySpace
PaySpace charges per employee per month. HR modules are not included in base pricing and are purchased separately. Exact Rand amounts require a demo call.
Synthro
All pricing published. No demo required to see what you pay. All features included in tier — no add-on module costs.
Decision guide
Which one is right? Probably both.
Choose PaySpace if
- You need a dedicated payroll engine — PAYE, UIF, SDL, IRP5, EMP501
- You run payroll across multiple African countries or internationally
- You want direct accounting integration with Xero or QuickBooks
- You need outsourced managed payroll
- You are a large business (200–10,000 employees) with complex payroll structures
Choose Synthro if
- You manage a SA-based team and need full HR — leave, performance, compliance
- You need B-BBEE tracking, SETA/WSP/ATR compliance, or CCMA documentation
- You want published Rand pricing without a sales demo
- You need AI-powered HR: burnout prediction, goal risk, NALA assistant
- You want 360° reviews, OKRs, PIPs, and gamification included from day one
Use both together if
- You use PaySpace for payroll and need full HR alongside it — they are complementary
- Synthro integrates natively with PaySpace: sync employees, leave, and timesheets between both
- You want payroll automation AND professional people management in one workflow
- You are currently running HR on spreadsheets while PaySpace handles payroll
Add the HR layer your payroll is missing.
Synthro runs alongside PaySpace. Book a demo — see how they work together in 30 minutes.