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10 Best Onboarding Software 2023

The Best HR Software For Onboarding Shortlist

Here’s the list of the best employee onboarding software solutions that I’ll cover in this article:

  1. Trakstar

    Best for its custom learning management platform

  2. Deel

    Best global onboarding software

  3. ClearCompany

    Best for a adaptable paperless & mobile-friendly onboarding experience

  4. Wrike

    Best work management software for streamlining and measuring the onboarding experience

  5. monday.com

    Best for collaborative onboarding workflows

  6. Sapling

    Best for mid-sized companies

  7. Eddy

    Best for small, local businesses with deskless workers

  8. SkyPrep

    Best for streamlining the employee onboarding process

  9. iSpring Learn

    Best onboarding software for building customized new hire training in multiple languages

  10. Leapsome

    Best for closing the loop between learning, performance, and engagement

Properly onboarding new employees costs time and resources but is well worth the investment. Why? A good onboarding experience can increase employee retention by up to 82% and productivity by 70%.

The HR software in this list specializes in onboarding features, solutions, and processes to save you resources and help you craft an effective onboarding experience.

Keep reading to learn about the best onboarding software options, including best use cases, stand-out features, and even snapshots of the platform in action.

Comparison Criteria

What do I look for when I select the best employee onboarding apps? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria: 

  1. UI: Onboarding software will need to have a tailored user interface for each type of user—administrative and employee. HR personnel will need access to onboarding program creation tools, employee data fields, and progress reports. Employees need a UI that prioritizes program mapping, software tutorials, and help desk access. 
  2. Usability: I look for HR onboarding software where the user experience works with the user, not against them. The day one onboarding experience with these different tools should be intuitive, fun, logical, and well-paced. 
  3. Integrations: It’s a safe assumption that you use common tools like Slack, Microsoft, and Google products, just to name a few. How easily do the following software solutions integrate with these kinds of tools? 
  4. Value for $: I’m looking for an HR onboarding experience with a scalable, transparent pricing structure that works as a standalone product or as part of a complete HR stack. Generous free trials or freemium plans are welcomed. 

HR For Onboarding: Key Features

  1. Company wiki: Well organized information and FAQs will be invaluable to any new employee needing basic how-tos, ORG charts, and company culture notes.
  2. Automate workflows: Instead of needing to do something over and over, I look for software that allows the user to create criteria and triggers to automate HR processes. 
  3. Communication with Liaison(s): Onboarding tools should connect new employees to the names, faces, and contact information of the people who can help them.
  4. Training modules: Onboarding means a lot of process orientation and training; software can help organize, facilitate, and track learning initiatives. 
  5. Contracts and e-signatures: Official papers can either be paperless through the onboarding system or scanned into the system for document management purposes.
  6. Self-service benefits: Onboarding may include signing up for company benefits like health care, parking passes, and supply requests; this can all be done virtually.
  7. Employee feedback: The ability to collect feedback and questions across the onboarding process is invaluable to assure employees are feeling satisfied with the structure and pace.

HR Software For Onboarding: Platform Overviews

In this section, I will introduce each of the best HR software for onboarding and explain what each does best so that you can better understand which will work for you.

1

Trakstar

Best for its custom learning management platform

Trakstar Learn is a cloud-based employee onboarding software that enables employers to manage the onboarding process quickly and effectively through an LMS. It helps simplify the process of bringing new hires into an organization by automating many administrative tasks associated with onboarding.

The LMS is customizable and allows you to create courses for your new employees to consume on demand. The platform also includes real-time analytics, customized forms, and automated reminders to ensure that all necessary steps are completed on time and without any errors. Trakstar’s streamlined UI makes navigating through the various stages of the onboarding process easy. Users can also customize their dashboard so that they only view the relevant information. This lets them quickly find what they need without searching multiple menus or tabs.

Trakstar's business analytics expedite and improve the onboarding process. It provides administrators access to real-time data captured through employee onboarding surveys, enabling them to track progress on goals and objectives for new employees. Through automated reporting capabilities, administrators can monitor various performance indicators and key metrics from within the application, such as how quickly employees are mastering core tasks or how closely they are adhering to company-set standards.

Trakstar's integration with other leading HR technologies gives organizations access to further analytics functions, such as predictive HR forecasting and custom-built dashboards, helping organizations foster more cohesive work environments by integrating data from diverse sources into one holistic performance measure.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 188

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

2

Deel

Best global onboarding software

Deel is a full-scale HR platform that brings a global approach to onboarding, allowing HR teams to provide a seamless and unified experience to any worker, no matter their location. It offers a secure and compliant solution for businesses to manage employee data, automate workflows, and set up local benefits and payroll.

Deel's Employer of Record service offers a simple and compliant way to hire and onboard employees using one of their 100+ local entities, while its contractor management service helps you collect necessary compliance paperwork and generate localized contractor agreements. Finally, Deel’s HR tools allow you to easily provision tool access, send out company equipment, or initiate background checks too.

Deel provides an easy-to-use interface that guides users through creating contracts, including a library of templates and clauses that users can select from to customize their contracts. Its employee onboarding tracker lets users add new employees to the system and track their progress through the onboarding process. Deel automatically keeps track of all documents and forms that need to be completed and allows users to securely sign and store compliance docs.

Deel integrates with Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, SCIM, Xero, Workday, and Workable, and more through the Deep API, allowing you to have a single source of truth for your workforce data.

Deel offers flat pricing details upon request, as well as a free demo.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6 628

Free demo available

Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people

3

ClearCompany

Best for a adaptable paperless & mobile-friendly onboarding experience

ClearCompany makes paperless onboarding simple with automated online delivery, tracking, collection, and storage of all forms and documents. You can save time and money while eliminating errors by using ClearCompany's smart forms, which put an end to redundant data entry by pre-filling previously entered information and validating data for formatting and accuracy.

ClearCompany is best for companies based in the U.S. and Canada.

ClearCompany integrates with tools for assessment tests, background checks, calendars, job postings, payroll and benefits, and SSO.

ClearCompany offers customized pricing upon request.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6 247

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

4

Wrike

Best work management software for streamlining and measuring the onboarding experience

Wrike is a work management software that can help companies streamline their onboarding process. It provides a centralized platform for managing tasks related to onboarding new hires, such as providing access to company systems, assigning mentors, and setting up training sessions.

Employers can track the progress of each task assigned to each new hire and receive notifications when tasks are completed or delayed. This feature makes it easy for employers to stay on top of their onboarding program without manually monitoring each task constantly. There are also templates to create an onboarding workflow, streamlining the process of scheduling a new hire's first few weeks with the information and meetings they need to have.

The cloud-based collaboration platform allows multiple users—such as HR personnel, managers, and new hires—to collaborate on tasks related to onboarding in real-time. This feature allows all involved parties to easily share information while keeping track of the project's progress at any given time, making it easier for employees and managers to communicate within the platform, where they can discuss specific topics if needed.

The software has data-driven insights and reports that provide employers with detailed information about their onboarding program's performance over time. These insights help employers identify areas where their program needs improvement and make necessary changes accordingly. Wrike's timeline tracking feature provides an overview of all onboarding-related tasks so that users know when each step should be completed, helping ensure a smooth transition into their new role for new hires.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.2 2544

Freemium version available

From $9.80/user/month

5

monday.com

Best for collaborative onboarding workflows

monday.com is marketing mainly as a workflow tool for scaling an organization, but they’ve also built in a number of HR features, and specifically, some features for onboarding. It’s not a pure HR tool but it’s a useful tool with a lot of the basics.

monday.com is great for creating collaborative onboarding workflows that map out the processing of interviewing and hiring, keep multiple parties abreast of developments and next steps, and allow for commenting and task assignment throughout the process. They have a new employee onboarding template to get you started.

monday.com’s integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform and many more, accessible through a paid plan with Zapier.

monday.com costs from $8/user/month and offers a free trial. They have a freemium plan for up to 2 users.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7 6745

14-day free trial + freemium plan available

From $8/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats)

6

Sapling

Best for mid-sized companies

Sapling is a People Operations platform for mid-sized companies with a distributed workforce that connects your people, tools and data on a uniquely customizable platform. Sapling comes with all the features needed to store and manage people data, create employee profiles, and build and share org charts in fast growing companies. For recruitment and onboarding, Sapling allows users to build automated workflows where team members can automatically assign tasks based on location, department, and employment status.

Sapling seamlessly integrates with your existing systems through native integrations with leading software systems including applicant tracking systems, payroll software, time tracking software, and other workforce apps. Sapling also has an API and webhooks available to meet all your integration needs. Improve your employee onboarding experience with complete visibility through Sapling.

Sapling's onboarding module price starts at $4.92/user/month, or the full core HRIS experience starts at $6.99/user/month based on 100 users.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 375

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

7

Eddy

Best for small, local businesses with deskless workers

Eddy is the all-in-one HR suite built for local businesses. With Eddy, businesses can hire, onboard, manage, and pay employees with one easy-to-use software for local businesses with deskless workforces.

Eddy’s simple, yet robust onboarding process makes the transition from candidate to new hire easy to manage. Communicate to new hires important information like start date, starting pay, who their manager is, and what they should wear on their first day to work. Create customizable “New Hire Packets” that include the necessary documents employees needs to sign.

All documents can be signed electronically, can be assigned specific due dates, and company admins will receive updates regarding the new hire’s progress. Eddy's onboarding also helps your team aligned by assigning internal team tasks to make sure the new hire has a desk, laptop, or other necessary essentials.

Eddy starts at $8/employee/month plus a $49 base fee, and offers a free demo.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.8 15

Free demo available

From $8/employee/month + a $49 base fee/month

8

SkyPrep

Best for streamlining the employee onboarding process

SkyPrep is an all-in-one onboarding platform that helps businesses streamline their onboarding processes.

It offers integrated employee profiles, document management, automated emails and reminders, and e-learning modules. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, SkyPrep makes it easy for businesses to set up new employees and quickly get them up to speed. Users can easily store employee information in one central location and track changes over time. They can create automated emails and reminders for various stages in the onboarding process and use the document management system to store important documents related to the onboarding process like contracts or legal forms.

SkyPrep offers an extensive library of courseware that covers topics ranging from company policies and procedures to job-specific training. The course library is easy to use and has a wide range of customization options so users can tailor courses to fit their needs. Users can create custom courses or upload existing content that they already have, making it easy to keep track of all training material.

It creates an engaging learning experience by combining interactive media such as videos, quizzes, and assessments into its courseware library. This ensures that new employees are getting the information they need and understand it deeper. With SkyPrep's gamification feature, users can encourage learners with rewards like badges or points for completing tasks or mastering certain skills.

SkyPrep also provides analytics and reporting tools so users can track progress across an entire organization. Businesses can easily monitor employee performance and compliance levels in real time, identify areas where employees need additional coaching or training, and even benchmark performance against industry standards. This allows managers to better understand how well their team is doing and potential areas for improvement in the future.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5 59

14-day free trial

Pricing upon request

9

iSpring Learn

Best onboarding software for building customized new hire training in multiple languages

iSpring Learn is a cloud-based learning management system (LMS) from iSpring Solutions. It's designed to facilitate online corporate training, serving as a platform for companies of all sizes to create and launch eLearning content quickly. Their LMS system is a great choice for organizations that have a lot of training requirements built into their onboarding process, since you can easily customize their training portal to match your corporate identity. This includes adding corporate logos and favicons, and applying the desired color schemes.

iSpring Learn features an intuitive user interface that’s easy to use for training managers as well as learners. One of their core features is the content management function, which allows you to either upload or create your own content right within the platform. You can upload content in various formats, including PowerPoint presentations (PPT), video tutorials (MP4 or FLV), audio lectures (WAV or MP3), and complete eLearning courses in SCORM. The LMS also supports Flash clips (SWF) as well as other supplementary document formats like XLS, DOC, and PDF.

There is also the localization aspect, which enables training managers to easily translate the user portal into any language to accommodate new learners. This can help organizations who are multinational train their workforce at scale. Using their localization feature, platform admins can assign a specific language version of the portal to every subsidiary or branch office around the globe.

Pricing for iSpring Learn starts at $2.99/user/month, billed annually. They also offer a 30-day free trial.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6 45

30-day free trial

From $2.99/user/month billed annualy

10

Leapsome

Best for closing the loop between learning, performance, and engagement

Leapsome offers an employee onboarding tool that helps organizations connect the dots between learning, engagement, and performance. Chosen by companies like Spotify, Northvolt, and Babbel, Leapsome enables a continuous cycle of performance management and personalized learning that powers the growth of your people and business.

With Leapsome, you can bring new hires up to speed with content that is easy to sequence and customize for specific teams or functions within the company. Team leads can control the pace of learning paths to make sure that people spend the right time on each module. Plus, you can define intervals and milestones in the progression of each path.

Leapsome enables you to design and publish quizzes to test the effectiveness of your learning paths and gauge how individuals absorb the information. Using this, you can check on the learning progress of your employees to understand exactly what is working and what needs tweaking within the process.

Leapsome integrates with HRIS systems, SSO, and other workflow tools.

Leapsome costs from $8/user/month and offers a free trial.

14-day free trial

From $8/user/month

Need Expert Help Selecting The Right Training And Onboarding Software?

We’ve joined up with Crozdesk.com to give all our readers (yes, you!) access to Crozdesk’s software advisors. Just use the form below to share your needs, and they will contact you at no cost or commitment. You will then be matched and connected to a shortlist of vendors that best fit your company, and you can access exclusive software discounts!

HR Software For Onboarding Summary

Tool Free Option Price
1
Trakstar

Best for its custom learning management platform

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
2
Deel

Best global onboarding software

Free demo available

Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people Visit Website
3
ClearCompany

Best for a adaptable paperless & mobile-friendly onboarding experience

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
4
Wrike

Best work management software for streamlining and measuring the onboarding experience

Freemium version available

From $9.80/user/month Visit Website
5
monday.com

Best for collaborative onboarding workflows

14-day free trial + freemium plan available

From $8/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats) Visit Website
6
Sapling

Best for mid-sized companies

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
7
Eddy

Best for small, local businesses with deskless workers

Free demo available

From $8/employee/month + a $49 base fee/month Visit Website
8
SkyPrep

Best for streamlining the employee onboarding process

14-day free trial

Pricing upon request Visit Website
9
iSpring Learn

Best onboarding software for building customized new hire training in multiple languages

30-day free trial

From $2.99/user/month billed annualy Visit Website
10
Leapsome

Best for closing the loop between learning, performance, and engagement

14-day free trial

From $8/user/month Visit Website

Other HR Software Onboarding Platforms

Here’s a few more that didn’t make the top list.

  1. Trainual

    Best business playbook software

  2. Looop

    Best learning management system (LMS) tools

  3. Qualtrics Employee Experience

    Best enterprise-grade onboarding software

  4. Atlas

    Best software for onboarding remote employees globally in over 160 countries

  5. Newired

    Best onboarding software with contextual overlays

  6. Back HQ

    Best self-service knowledge base

  7. Humi

    Best for Canadian companies

  8. Rippling

    Best workforce management platform built for onboarding and HR needs

  9. Enboarder

    Best for onboarding, transitions, and reboarding

  10. Absorb LMS

    Best for intuitive UI & ease of use

Is There Any Free Employee Onboarding Software?

While there are plenty of software solutions that have free trials, if you’re a small organization or someone who is a strong advocate for open-source software, you do have a few options.

Sentrifugo is an open-source HRMS. While it is free, it will be up to you to get it set up and running. It does have the trappings of most open-source software, where aspects like the user experience receive less focus than a paid solution. 

For up to 50 employees, Freshworks is a free onboarding software option. 

What Is Onboarding Software?

Onboarding software allows you to automate and track where new employees are with their onboarding process. As there are many steps to the onboarding process, having software keep track of everything, allowing you to assign tasks to the new hire or management, and ensuring they are receiving everything they need to know is an essential part of creating a good first impression upon starting a new role. 

What Is Onboarding New Employees? 

Onboarding is the timeframe of bringing new employees up to speed as they get settled into their new roles. This includes anything from meeting the team, learning the technology, understanding the roles and responsibilities of their job, and more. Onboarding can last anywhere from one day to a year.

For more on onboarding, here are a few of our articles you can check out:

In Conclusion

There are a number of choices in regards to the best onboarding software. Whether you are a small company, or a Fortune 500, there’s something that will work for you. 

If you’re looking for more insight into the world of onboarding and the employee experience, be sure to sign up to our mailing list

By Tim Reitsma

Tim is the co-founder and General Manager of People Managing People, an online publication focused on building a better world of work. He is experienced with people & culture, leadership, business strategy and operations with a focus on building great teams who are excited about their craft and their organization. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Tim has always been guided by his core values: faith, family, curiosity, and fun. He is a coach, mentor, speaker, advisor, and an active volunteer in his community. Tim loves spending time outdoors with his wife and two kids as well as mountain biking in the north shore mountains.