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Finding the right software for managing your HR tasks can be challenging. You might feel that Zoho doesn't quite fit your team's unique needs. Maybe you're looking for features it lacks, or you find its interface challenging.

In my experience, exploring alternatives can uncover tools that better align with your goals. I test and review software independently, focusing on what truly matters to HR professionals like you.

In this article, I'll share my top picks for Zoho alternatives and discuss their features, pros, and cons. By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of which software best suits your team. Let's find the right fit for your business together.

What Is Zoho?

Zoho is a payroll software designed to simplify your HR tasks. It's commonly used by HR managers, small business owners, and finance professionals who need efficient solutions for managing payroll and employee data. Automated payroll processing, easy integration with other tools, and user-friendly reporting features help you manage your team's compensation and keep track of vital employee records. Overall, Zoho offers a straightforward way to handle payroll and HR functions, helping you save time and reduce errors.

Why Look For A Zoho Alternative?

While Zoho is a good choice of payroll software, there are a number of reasons why some users seek out alternative solutions. You might be looking for a Zoho alternative because…

  • You need better customer support
  • Your team requires more customization options
  • You're looking for simpler user interfaces
  • You need a solution with more integrations
  • Your business is expanding globally
  • You require more detailed reporting features

If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several payroll software options that are better suited for teams facing these challenges with Zoho and looking for alternative solutions.

Why Trust Our Software Reviews

We’ve been testing and reviewing HR management software since 2019. As HR experts ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software. We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions.We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different HR management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & check out our software review methodology.

Best Zoho Alternatives Summary

This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top Zoho alternative selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.

Best Zoho Alternatives Reviews

Below are my detailed summaries of the best Zoho alternatives that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.

Best for small businesses

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

GoCo is an all-in-one HR software for small—to medium-sized businesses. It focuses on employee management, payroll, benefits administration, and performance management. The platform serves HR professionals and business owners by offering customizable workflows and a user-friendly interface.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: GoCo offers personalized workflows that let you tailor HR processes to your specific needs, providing flexibility for small businesses. Its comprehensive document management system helps store and organize important HR documents. The platform's intuitive interface makes it easy to manage payroll and benefits, focusing on essential HR tasks.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable workflows that allow you to tailor onboarding and offboarding processes. The payroll and benefits administration features help you efficiently manage workers’ compensation and benefits. GoCo’s document management system categorizes and stores important HR documents by department or use case.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, BambooHR, Zenefits, Gusto, Expensify, and TSheets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Flexible for small businesses
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Comprehensive document management
  • All-in-one platform for HR tasks
  • Customizable workflows for HR processes

Cons:

  • Limited scalability for large businesses
  • Potentially high costs with add-ons
  • Learning curve for customizations
  • Limited reporting and analytics
  • Advanced features require add-ons

Best for mobile-friendly payroll

  • From $8/employee/month with a $39 subscription fee

Fingercheck is an all-in-one HR and payroll platform designed for small—to medium-sized businesses that focus on payroll processing, time tracking, and HR management. It simplifies payroll and enhances employee management for business owners and HR professionals.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: Fingercheck is a mobile-friendly payroll solution that allows you to manage payroll tasks on the go. Its integrated time tracking ensures accurate employee hours and reduces manual errors. The platform's user-friendly interface makes navigating HR tasks straightforward. With built-in compliance features, Fingercheck helps you stay aligned with labor laws.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include a mobile app that allows you to run payroll and manage employee hours from anywhere. The customizable time tracking feature lets you set rules for overtime and breaks. Fingercheck also offers a self-service portal for employees to view their pay stubs and update personal information.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, ADP, SurePayroll, TSheets, Deputy, When I Work, BambooHR, and Zenefits.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Self-service employee portal
  • Built-in compliance features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Integrated time trackin
  • Mobile-friendly payroll management

Cons:

  • Varying customer support responsiveness
  • Limited customization options
  • May require additional setup time
  • Basic reporting capabilities
  • Limited advanced HR features

Best for global payroll compliance

  • Free demo available
  • Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Deel is a global payroll and compliance solution for companies with distributed teams. It's primarily used by HR professionals and business owners who need to manage international employees and contractors.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: Deel excels in offering comprehensive global payroll services with features like support for multiple currencies and compliance across numerous countries. Its ability to handle complex international regulations and provide localized expertise sets it apart. Deel's user-friendly interface and dedicated compliance support make it ideal for businesses expanding globally.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include automated payroll processing that handles multiple currencies, compliance management that ensures you adhere to international labor laws, and a user-friendly platform that simplifies managing global teams. Deel also offers localized contract templates to help you stay compliant with country-specific regulations.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, BambooHR, Netsuite, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, Gusto, Zenefits, and Expensify.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Ideal for global expansion
  • Dedicated compliance support
  • User-friendly interface
  • Handles multiple currencies
  • Supports global payroll compliance

Cons:

  • May not fit smaller local teams
  • Requires internet for access
  • Complex setup for small businesses
  • Limited customer support response times
  • Pricing may be higher

Best for integrating HR and IT

  • Free demo available
  • From $8/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Rippling is an all-in-one platform that integrates HR, IT, and finance functions. It caters to medium and large enterprises and is used by HR managers and IT professionals to manage employee data, payroll, and device management.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: Rippling offers advanced automation and integration capabilities, allowing you to manage payroll, employee data, and IT assets from a single system. Its scalability and ability to automate administrative tasks make it ideal for growing businesses. Rippling supports complex organizational needs with features like device management and compliance tracking.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include automated onboarding processes that ensure new hires are set up quickly. These compliance management tools help you adhere to industry regulations and device management that tracks and manages company hardware. Rippling also provides payroll processing that automates calculations and payments.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, BambooHR, Gusto, Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta, Salesforce, and Zoom.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive compliance tracking
  • Manages device and software
  • Scalable for growing businesses
  • Automates administrative tasks
  • Integrates HR and IT functions

Cons:

  • Extra fees for certain services
  • Customer support delays
  • Limited global reach
  • Complex learning curve
  • High costs for add-ons

Best for international hiring

  • Free trial available
  • From $29/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

Remote is an HR software platform that supports global teams with hiring, payroll, benefits, and compliance across multiple countries. Businesses use Remote to onboard, manage, and pay international employees and contractors while staying compliant with local labor laws.

Why Remote is a good Zoho alternative: Remote handles international hiring by acting as the employer of record in countries where your business doesn’t have an entity. Your team can onboard employees in different countries, manage localized payroll, and provide country-specific benefits without needing local legal expertise. Moreover, Remote’s compliance tools cover contracts, taxes, and labor laws, so you don’t have to track regulatory changes.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include global payroll taxes and compliance, localized benefits management, and contractor payments in different currencies. You can manage contracts, onboarding, and HR tasks in one place. Remote also tracks changing labor laws so your team stays compliant without extra work on your side.

Integrations include BambooHR, Greenhouse, HiBob, Lever, Personio, Workable, Ashby, Charlie, Rippling, and JazzHR.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Works with different currencies
  • Offers clear onboarding workflows
  • Supports contractors and employees
  • Handles local benefits setup
  • Covers international compliance

Cons:

  • Some contracts take longer to process
  • Contractor tools have fewer features
  • Benefits options vary by country
  • Doesn’t support all countries
  • Limited HR tools for small teams

Best for employee engagement tools

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Paylocity is an HR and payroll platform built for businesses of all sizes that need tools for managing employee data, payroll, and talent development. It supports everything from hiring and onboarding to benefits, compliance, and employee engagement.

Why Paylocity is a good Zoho alternative: Paylocity provides your team with engagement tools like peer recognition, surveys, and social feeds so employees can share feedback and celebrate wins. You can collect real-time insights from your team and act on what matters most to them. Paylocity also ties engagement data into performance management, showing how culture impacts goals and retention. If you want HR software that connects engagement with day-to-day HR tasks, Paylocity brings it all together.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include customizable workflows to match your processes, compliance tools that track laws and update policies, and benefits administration for employee self-service. You can also set up automated reminders to keep important HR tasks on schedule. Paylocity’s mobile app keeps your team connected and gives them easy access to pay, schedules, and company news.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Indeed, Glassdoor, Workday, Greenhouse, SAP Concur, NetSuite, Slack, and ADP.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Mobile app with engagement features
  • Custom workflows for hr tasks
  • Ties engagement to performance reviews
  • Works well for mid-sized businesses
  • Built-in tools for employee feedback

Cons:

  • Customization needs more flexibility
  • Learning curve for new admins
  • Some reporting tools need work
  • Limited options for global teams
  • Setup takes longer for complex teams

Best for flexible payroll solutions

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

Paychex Flex is a comprehensive payroll and HR solution designed for businesses of all sizes, offering payroll processing, HR management, and benefits administration. It serves HR professionals and business owners by streamlining payroll tasks and supporting employee management.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: Paychex Flex provides flexible payroll solutions for businesses with varying needs. Its robust payroll processing ensures timely and accurate pay runs. The platform also offers extensive reporting capabilities, helping you gain insights into your payroll data. With dedicated HR support, Paychex Flex makes managing compliance and employee benefits easier.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include an intuitive mobile app that lets you manage payroll on the go. The benefits management feature simplifies enrollment and administration. Paychex Flex also offers advanced analytics tools to help you understand your workforce metrics better.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Intacct, BambooHR, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Kronos, and SAP SuccessFactors.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Advanced analytics tools
  • Dedicated HR support
  • Intuitive mobile app
  • Extensive reporting capabilities
  • Flexible payroll processing

Cons:

  • Varying customer support response times
  • Costs can add up with add-ons
  • May require additional training
  • Limited customization options
  • Complex setup for new users

Best for cost-effective remote hiring

  • Free demo available
  • From $25 - $199/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

RemoFirst is an employer-of-record platform designed to help companies hire and manage remote employees across different countries. Businesses use it to handle global payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance without setting up local entities.

Why RemoFirst is a good Zoho alternative: RemoFirst focuses on cost-effective remote hiring by offering flat-rate pricing and coverage across over 160 countries. Your team can hire full-time employees and contractors while RemoFirst handles local contracts, benefits, and payroll compliance. You get a clear view of employment costs upfront, so you can plan your hiring budget more easily. If you're hiring internationally and want to control spending, RemoFirst gives you a way to do that without cutting corners.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include automated onboarding, localized benefits administration, and contractor management for agreements and payments. You can track your entire global workforce in one dashboard. RemoFirst also updates employment terms when local laws change, so your team stays compliant.

Integrations include QuickBooks, BambooHR, Deel, Xero, Gusto, Paychex, Justworks, Rippling, Papaya Global, and Workday.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Easy to view employment costs
  • Tracks labor law changes for you
  • Local contracts for employees and contractors
  • Covers over 160 countries
  • Flat-rate pricing for remote hires

Cons:

  • May not fit larger enterprises
  • Benefits options depend on location
  • Customization can feel limited
  • Doesn’t cover every country
  • Limited advanced hr features

Best for small to large businesses

  • 90-day free trial
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.1/5

RUN Powered by ADP is a cloud-based payroll and HR solution tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. It focuses on efficient payroll processing and provides basic HR functions like employee record management and recruiting tools.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: It offers logical workflows that minimize payroll errors, and its compliance management tools are ideal for businesses of varying sizes. With features like document management and recruiting capabilities, it supports both payroll and essential HR needs. RUN Powered by ADP’s comprehensive payroll processing makes it a strong choice for businesses focusing on accurate and timely payroll.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include digital management of employee records, which organizes data like contracts and job roles. The payroll system supports off-cycle payroll, alerts to avoid errors, and provides detailed reporting options. RUN Powered by ADP also offers basic benefits administration tools, though more advanced features require add-ons.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, TSheets, Wave, Clover, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports off-cycle payments
  • Detailed payroll reporting
  • Recruiting tools integration
  • Comprehensive compliance management
  • Efficient payroll processing

Cons:

  • Scattered performance management tools
  • Restricted document storage
  • Basic HR functionalities
  • Add-ons increase costs
  • Limited customization options

Best for transparent pricing

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $40/month + $6/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 5/5

OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and HR solution tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, offering payroll processing and HR management. It serves business owners and HR professionals by simplifying payroll and automating tax filings.

Why it's a good Zoho alternative: OnPay’s transparent pricing model makes it easy to understand costs without hidden fees. Its automated tax filing feature ensures compliance and reduces administrative workload. With its user-friendly payroll processing, you can manage pay runs efficiently. The platform also offers employee self-service, allowing team members to access payroll information easily.

Standout features & integrations:

Features include automated tax filings that help you comply with federal and state regulations. The employee self-service portal lets your team access pay stubs and tax forms anytime. OnPay also supports multiple pay rates and schedules, making it flexible for various business needs.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, TSheets, Deputy, Mineral, PosterElite, Guideline, JazzHR, and Kabbage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Flexible for various business needs
  • Supports multiple pay rates
  • Employee self-service portal
  • Automated tax filings
  • Transparent pricing model

Cons:

  • May require manual data entry
  • Limited customization options
  • No mobile app for employees
  • Basic reporting capabilities
  • Limited advanced HR features

Other Zoho Alternatives

Here are some additional Zoho alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist but are still worth checking out:

  1. Paycor

    For compliance management

  2. Patriot Payroll

    For simplicity and affordability

  3. Pocket HRMS

    For employee self-service options

  4. Workforce.com

    For workforce scheduling

  5. Liberty Accounts

    For UK-based businesses

  6. NolaPro

    For customizable accounting features

  7. Bitrix24

    For team collaboration tools

Zoho Alternatives Selection Criteria

When selecting the best Zoho alternatives to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points related to Payroll software products, like compliance with tax regulations and ease of integration with existing systems. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:

Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:

  • Process payroll accurately
  • Calculate taxes automatically
  • Generate payroll reports
  • Support direct deposit payments
  • Ensure compliance with regulations

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:

  • Mobile app access
  • Advanced analytics tools
  • Customizable payroll templates
  • Integration with third-party apps
  • Employee self-service portals

Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:

  • Intuitive navigation
  • Clear user interface
  • Accessibility on multiple devices
  • Minimal setup time
  • Easy workflow management

Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:

  • Availability of training videos
  • Interactive product tours
  • Access to webinars
  • Use of chatbots for assistance
  • Availability of setup templates

Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:

  • 24/7 support availability
  • Multiple support channels
  • Quick response times
  • Access to knowledgeable representatives
  • Comprehensive support documentation

Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:

  • Transparent pricing structure
  • No hidden fees
  • Competitive pricing
  • Flexibility of plans
  • Cost versus features offered

Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:

  • Positive feedback on functionality
  • Comments on customer support
  • User satisfaction with ease of use
  • Feedback on pricing fairness
  • Overall reliability of the software

Zoho Key Features

Here are some of the key features of Zoho to help you contrast and compare what alternative solutions offer:

  • Payroll processing: Automates the calculation of employee pay, ensuring accurate and timely payments.
  • Time tracking: Allows employees to log their hours, helping you manage attendance and overtime efficiently.
  • Tax management: Automatically calculates and files taxes, keeping your business compliant with regulations.
  • Employee self-service portal: Lets your team access their pay stubs and update personal information, reducing administrative workload.
  • Direct deposit: Enables electronic payment to employees' bank accounts, making payroll distribution faster and more secure.
  • Benefits administration: Manages employee benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, in one centralized platform.
  • Reporting and analytics: Provides insights into payroll data, helping you make informed business decisions.
  • Mobile access: Offers a mobile app for managing payroll tasks on the go, providing flexibility for you and your team.
  • Customizable workflows: Allows you to tailor payroll processes to fit your specific business needs.
  • Integration with other Zoho apps: Seamlessly connects with Zoho's suite of products, offering a unified experience.

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Faye Wai
By Faye Wai

Faye Wai is a HR Technology Analyst and contributor to People Managing People, with a background in branding, public relations, and content marketing. She has vet vendors as an end-user in both consultancy and in-house capacities, providing her with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the people operations sector.