Cadana is one of the top Fintech solutions from Ghana providing its services across Africa. If you are looking for a solution that handles EOR, Payroll, and HR services, on-demand salary access for workers amongst other services, Cadan dilevers fantastically well on these, but everyone has preferences, and you could be in search of a solution that meets yours.
Whether you’re a startup hiring your first employee or an established business scaling into new regions, you need tools that are simple, reliable, and built with the realities of doing business in Nigeria. In this article, we’ll explore the top alternatives to Cadana that offer strong feature sets, better local support, or better value for money.
SalarioPay (Best for localized payroll and compliance support in Nigeria)
Built especially for Nigerian companies, SalarioPay is a payroll and HR management tool that reflects SalarioPay zeroes in on the needs of Nigerian SMEs, schools, and remote teams while many tools try to cover broad features over many areas. Everything from pension and NHF remittance to automated payroll and PAYE deductions is built with Nigerian law and employer expectations in mind.
SalarioPay stands out in the EOR and payroll scene because of its hands-on knowledge of local compliance and a product that doesn’t bombard users with features they don’t need. It provides dedicated support for companies that want clarity, not complexity and supports multi-schedule payroll, employee record management, and digital payslips.
SalarioPay is already trusted by companies looking for a practical, compliant payroll solution. For businesses seeking a Nigerian-first platform with transparent support and evolving capabilities, SalarioPay is a strong contender.
Pros:
- Built specifically for Nigerian payroll laws and statutory deductions
- Easy to use with minimal setup
- Strong customer support with local insight
Cons:
- Currently more focused on Nigeria than broader African markets
SeamlessHR (Best for enterprise-grade HR and payroll automation across Africa)
Designed for medium-sized to large African companies needing more than just simple salary processing, seamless HR and payroll systems are full-suite tools. SeamlessHR bills itself as an enterprise-grade solution covering everything from core HR and performance management to payroll automation and statutory compliance, with customers in many sectors and nations.
SeamlessHR’s extensive feature set is one of its strongest suits. Apart from payroll, it provides powerful instruments combined into one system for attendance tracking, leave management, recruitment, performance assessment, and disciplinary case tracking. SeamlessHR offers a degree of customization and automation that helps bigger companies with complicated HR systems streamline processes across departments.
It also supports statutory remittances such as PAYE, NHF, and pensions, with options to integrate directly into Nigerian banking and tax systems. While not as lightweight or SME-focused as other tools SeamlessHr alternatives on this list, SeamlessHR shines in larger setups where scalability, structure, and governance are top priorities.
Pros:
- Comprehensive HR suite including performance, leave, and recruitment modules
- Built for multi-country African operations
- Strong payroll compliance features with Nigerian tax support
- Suitable for mid-sized to large businesses and enterprises
Cons:
- May be feature-heavy or costly for small teams or startups
WorkPay (Best for multi-country payroll and HR in East and West Africa)
Businesses looking for a flexible, regionally conscious alternative for Cadana have a good choice in WorkPay. Although Cadana has made outstanding progress in simplifying payroll for African companies, WorkPay distinguishes itself especially in East and West Africa by stressing HR and multi-country payroll compliance.
WorkPay, created for distributed teams, provides tools for time tracking, benefit administration, statutory deductions, payroll processing, and leave management. It is appropriate for businesses hiring internationally without creating local entities since its interface is simple and accessible, and it includes employer of record services in some markets.
WorkPay’s ability to localize compliance for Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and other African markets makes it a viable alternative for businesses looking beyond Cadana’s core offerings. If you’re scaling across borders and need a platform that balances simplicity with regional breadth, WorkPay is worth serious consideration.
Pros:
- Built for African payroll and compliance needs
- Offers EOR services in selected African countries
- Supports multi-country payroll and HR management
- Strong UI and user experience for admin teams
Cons:
- EOR coverage may not be available in all African markets
PaidHr (Best for simple, affordable payroll compliance in Nigeria)
If you are seeking an alternative to Cadana that was developed specifically for Nigerian companies, PaidHr is a lean and reasonable pick. Cadana offers robust infrastructure for international payments and cutting-edge payroll solutions, whereas PaidHr focuses on providing local enterprises, particularly SMEs and startups, with the essentials.
The system handles pension contributions, NHF transfers, pay-roll computations, PAYE deductions, and basic payroll activities. Nigerian banks facilitate payroll processing, payslip refunds, and direct salary distributions. If your company doesn’t need all the bells and whistles, PaidHr can automate payroll to the point where it no longer needs spreadsheets.
Its low-cost methodology and uncluttered interface make it especially attractive to smaller organizations that are just beginning to formalize their payroll systems. It claims to offer reliable payroll processing tailored to Nigeria, even if it lacks EOR services and more generic HR modules.
Pros:
- Extremely easy to set up and use
- Focused on Nigerian payroll compliance
- Affordable for small teams and startups
- Clean, no-fuss interface
Cons:
- Limited HR features beyond payroll
- No employer of record support or multi-country capabilities
Deel (Best for global hiring and contractor management at scale)
Deel is one of the most recognized names in global employment, and for good reason. For companies considering Cadana alternatives with a wider international footprint, Deel offers robust functionality in employer of record services, global payroll, contractor payments, and compliance support across over 100 countries.
While Cadana has carved out a niche by focusing on payroll infrastructure across Africa, Deel stands out for businesses with more complex, multinational hiring needs. It allows companies to hire employees or contractors anywhere worldwide without setting up local entities. Deel handles everything from localized contracts and payroll taxes to benefits and IP protection.
Deel has also started helping in African countries, including Nigeria. It offers a well-resourced and scalable solution for companies located outside of Africa that wish to recruit African talent for their worldwide teams. This solution may be more than what smaller operations in Nigeria merely need.
Pros:
- Full-scale EOR and global payroll infrastructure
- Supports contractor and employee onboarding in 100+ countries
- Advanced compliance, benefits, and documentation tools
- Trusted by major global brands
Cons:
- Higher pricing may be less accessible for startups or small businesses
- May feel too generalized for companies focused solely on Nigeria
Conclusion
Cadana remains a solid option for businesses looking to manage payroll across Africa, especially those focused on infrastructure and cross-border payments. However, depending on where you’re operating and what stage you’re at, alternatives like SalarioPay, SeamlessHR, WorkPay, PaidHr, and Deel may offer more tailored solutions.
SalarioPay stands out as a wise, locally focused option if your business is based in Nigeria or if you’re entering the Nigerian market. Thanks to tools designed around Nigerian payroll laws, tax compliance, and HR realities, it provides the clarity and control businesses frequently require when navigating local regulations. SalarioPay’s current payroll and compliance features already provide value for teams looking for simplicity without compromising legal accuracy, even though its employer of record services are still developing.
The platform that best suits your structure, compliance requirements, and geographic focus is ultimately the best one. SalarioPay is a good option for Nigerian companies or international teams hiring in Nigeria.