Simple payroll without the enterprise price tag.

Why small businesses choose Timekeep over PayrollHero

PayrollHero (now part of Sprout) was built for companies with dedicated HR teams and budgets to match. Timekeep is built for the business owner who handles payroll themselves, with a simpler product and a price that fits a small business budget.

Timekeep vs PayrollHero: feature comparison

An honest, side-by-side comparison. PayrollHero (now Sprout) is a capable enterprise product. Timekeep is the right fit if you are a small business owner who needs payroll and attendance without the enterprise HR overhead.

PayrollHero is now part of Sprout Solutions (acquired 2020). Pricing figures reflect the per-employee model used historically by PayrollHero and currently by Sprout. For exact current pricing, contact Sprout directly. Timekeep pricing is current as of 2026.

PayrollHero vs Timekeep: which should you choose?

Both handle Philippine payroll and attendance. The right choice comes down to your size, budget, and how much HR complexity you actually need.

The honest trade-off is scope. PayrollHero (now part of Sprout) is a broader enterprise HR platform, and that breadth is worth the price if you have an HR department managing hiring and performance cycles. Timekeep does not try to be that. It is built so the owner can run an accurate Philippine payroll in minutes and stay compliant with SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR without manual table lookups. Most small businesses need exactly that.

How to switch from PayrollHero (or Sprout) to Timekeep

Switching does not mean a risky cutover. The 30-day free trial is long enough to set up your team and run a full payroll cycle in parallel before you move off your current system, so you can confirm the numbers match first.

1. 1

   Start a free trial

   Sign up with no credit card. You get 30 days of full access, which is enough time to cover at least one complete pay period.

2. 2

   Import your employee list

   Export your staff from PayrollHero or Sprout (or your current spreadsheet) and import them into Timekeep. Set pay rates, schedules, and each employee's government contribution details.

3. 3

   Set up attendance

   Turn any spare tablet or phone into a kiosk for clock-ins with face verification, or have staff clock in from the mobile portal. No biometric hardware to buy or install.

4. 4

   Run a parallel test payroll

   Process one pay period in Timekeep alongside your usual PayrollHero or Sprout run and compare the results line by line, including SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR deductions.

5. 5

   Switch over

   Once the numbers match, make Timekeep your system of record and cancel your old plan. Your trial only converts to a paid plan when you are ready.

Who Timekeep is built for

Timekeep is the right payroll system if you are a Philippine small business owner who handles HR, payroll, and scheduling yourself.

• Cafes, restaurants, and food and beverage businesses with multiple shifts
• Salons, spas, and personal service businesses
• Retail shops with rotating staff schedules
• Local service businesses where the owner runs payroll manually today
• Any Philippine SMB that needs SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR compliance without an HR team

If you have a dedicated HR team and need applicant tracking and formal performance reviews, the Sprout platform (which now includes PayrollHero) may be a better fit.

Common questions about switching

Is Timekeep a good alternative to PayrollHero for small businesses?

Yes. Timekeep is designed for small Philippine businesses that need payroll, attendance, scheduling, leave management, and government deductions in one place. It starts at PHP 999/month flat for up to 10 employees. PayrollHero was acquired by Sprout Solutions in 2020 and now operates as part of a larger enterprise HR platform with per-employee pricing and a sales-led process. If you need a simple, affordable system without a long implementation, Timekeep is built for you.

How much does Timekeep cost compared to PayrollHero?

Timekeep starts at PHP 999/month for up to 10 employees, with additional employees at PHP 49/month each. There is a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. PayrollHero (now part of Sprout Solutions) uses per-employee pricing and requires a sales consultation for a quote. For a 15-person business, Timekeep costs about PHP 1,244/month (PHP 14,928/year). A comparable PayrollHero or Sprout plan would cost significantly more.

What happened to PayrollHero?

PayrollHero was acquired by Sprout Solutions in 2020. The PayrollHero platform and customer base were merged into the Sprout ecosystem. Customers who were on PayrollHero have been migrated to Sprout's products. If you are looking for a PayrollHero replacement, you are effectively evaluating alternatives to the combined Sprout platform.

Does Timekeep handle SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR like PayrollHero did?

Yes. Timekeep automatically computes SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR withholding tax using current Philippine contribution and tax tables. Government deductions are applied on every payroll run without manual lookups or table maintenance on your end.

Does Timekeep need biometric hardware like PayrollHero?

No. Timekeep's kiosk mode turns any tablet or phone into a shared clock-in station. Employees tap their name and verify with a photo using the device camera. No fingerprint scanner or dedicated biometric hardware is required, which is one of Timekeep's main advantages for small businesses that cannot justify the hardware cost.

Can I switch from PayrollHero (or Sprout) to Timekeep?

Yes. You can import your employee list into Timekeep from a spreadsheet. The 30-day free trial gives you enough time to set up your team, run a test payroll, and confirm everything works before committing. The parallel-run approach lets you verify SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and BIR figures match your existing system before you switch over.