CareMaster vs Rostrel: an honest look at both.
CareMaster's published price is a per-user fee — but SCHADS payroll award interpretation, platform hosting and DEX reporting are each charged on top as paid add-ons. By the time you've added what you actually need, the real monthly cost is well above the headline. Rostrel folds all of that into one all-inclusive per-participant price, no modules required.
Disclosure: Rostrel is our software. This comparison uses CareMaster’s public information as of June 2026 — confirm current details on caremaster.com.au.
Rostrel may suit you if…
You’re an NDIS provider who wants one all-inclusive price — SCHADS-aware payroll export and hosting included — rather than a per-user fee plus separate add-on modules, and you don’t want a user minimum.
CareMaster may suit you if…
You deliver aged care or home care as well as NDIS and want one platform across all of them, with extras like medication, property and vehicle management.
What CareMaster does well
Plenty. CareMaster is Australian-owned and has been going since 2012, with a genuinely end-to-end system — rostering (with an AI roster optimiser), case notes, one-click PRODA bulk claiming, invoicing, budget tracking, incident management and an ISO 27001 security posture. It spans NDIS, aged care and home care, includes a participant app, and — unlike many rivals — publishes its pricing openly.
For a multi-sector provider that wants one broad system, that’s a strong offer.
Where Rostrel takes a different line
All-inclusive, not per-user plus add-ons
On CareMaster’s published pricing, SCHADS payroll award interpretation, platform hosting and DEX reporting are add-ons on top of the per-user fee — so the real monthly cost is higher than the headline. Rostrel folds SCHADS-aware payroll export and hosting into one all-inclusive price, billed per participant with unlimited workers.
No user minimum, NDIS focus
CareMaster’s entry plan has a five-user minimum, and the product spans several sectors. Rostrel has no minimum and is built only for NDIS — fewer settings that don’t apply to you, and you pay for the size you actually are.
Rostrel vs CareMaster at a glance
| Capability | Rostrel | CareMaster |
|---|---|---|
| Built for Australian NDIS | Yes (NDIS-focused) | Yes (also aged + home care) |
| Staff rostering & scheduling | Yes | Yes (AI optimiser) |
| Progress / case notes | Yes | Yes |
| NDIS claiming (PRODA bulk) | Yes | Yes |
| Participant funding tracking | Yes | Yes |
| SCHADS-aware payroll | Included | Paid add-on |
| Incident & compliance records | Yes | Yes (ISO 27001) |
| Minimum team size | None | 5 users |
| Pricing model | Per participant, all-inclusive | Per user + add-on modules |
| Australian-made | Yes | Yes |
Comparison as of June 2026, based on each product’s public pricing and information. CareMaster’s SCHADS interpretation, hosting and DEX reporting are listed as paid add-ons. Confirm current details on caremaster.com.au and our pricing page.
When CareMaster might be the better choice
If you run aged care or home care alongside NDIS, CareMaster’s multi-sector platform — with medication, property and vehicle management and DEX reporting — covers ground Rostrel deliberately doesn’t. For a broad, multi-program provider that wants everything in one system, it’s a fair fit.
Switching to Rostrel
No setup fee, no lock-in, no add-on modules to price up, and onboarding help to bring your participants, workers and rosters across. Start with a 7-day free trial and see the all-inclusive monthly cost up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCHADS award interpretation included with CareMaster?
On its published pricing, SCHADS award interpretation is a paid add-on (as are hosting and DEX reporting), so the effective cost is above the headline per-user price. Rostrel includes SCHADS-aware payroll export with no add-on modules.
Does CareMaster have a minimum number of users?
Yes — a five-user minimum on its entry plan. Rostrel has no user or staff minimum and prices per active participant with unlimited workers.
Is CareMaster only for NDIS?
No — it’s a multi-sector platform covering NDIS, aged care and home care. Rostrel is NDIS-focused. If you also deliver aged care, CareMaster’s breadth may suit you better.
Can I switch from CareMaster to Rostrel?
Yes — moving from CareMaster to Rostrel is designed to be low-friction. We help you bring your participants, workers and rosters across, there's no lock-in contract and no setup fee, and most providers are up and running within a couple of weeks. Tell us what you're running now and we'll map out exactly how the switch would work for your team.
Is Rostrel cheaper than CareMaster?
It depends on your team shape. Many NDIS tools charge per worker or per user, which adds up fast if you run a large casual workforce. Rostrel charges per active participant with unlimited workers — Starter from $299/mo, Growth $349/mo and Scale $699/mo, plus a free tier for one-person providers — so your bill tracks participants, not headcount. For most small-to-mid providers with lots of casuals that works out lower. Run your own numbers on our pricing page.
One all-inclusive price, no add-ons
See what you’d actually pay with SCHADS-aware payroll and hosting included, not bolted on. Book a 20-minute demo and we’ll show you how Rostrel would work for your provider.
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Last updated June 2026. Competitor information is sourced from public materials and may change; we review these comparisons periodically.