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10 Best HCM Software Vendors of 2023

The Best HCM Solutions List

Here’s a shortlist of the HCM platforms that made my top 10 list, with detailed summaries below:

  1. 1. Deel — Best integrated HR management for global teams
  2. 2. Eddy — Best HCM software to simplify customized onboarding
  3. 3. Oracle HCM Cloud — Best HCM software for AI and machine learning insights
  4. 4. eXo Platform — Best HCM system for employee engagement and internal knowledge management
  5. 5. Sage People — Best HCM software for advanced people analytics
  6. 6. Workday — Best HCM software for user experience and user interface design
  7. 7. UZIO — Best HCM software for managing employee benefits
  8. 8. SAP SuccessFactors — Best HCM software company for their scalability of add-ons
  9. 9. Viventium — Best HCM software for health services professionals
  10. 10. PeopleGuru — Best HCM system for mid-market, US-based organizations

Human capital management software (HCM software) can be a game-changer for your organization. They're built to help you manage your greatest asset — your human capital (a.k.a. your employees) — with ease.

In this article, I'll walk you through the best HCM software solutions on the market today. I'll highlight the key features of each system to help you make the best choice for your budget and business needs.

If you have general questions about how HCM software works, pop down to my FAQ section below. Or, if you'd like to know how I built this list, see How I Selected the Best HCM Software below. Otherwise, let's dive right into the details.

What is HCM Software?

HCM software is a type of HR software solution that acts as a framework for HCM processes. They act as a single source of truth for all your employee data, with integrated modules that reduce the burden of data entry for HR teams.

With all your employee data digitized, it will be easier for your HR professionals to stay up-to-date on any employee changes. Beyond that, HCM solutions also offer advanced metrics that can help you identify top talent. This can help your team with important decision-making initiatives, such as compensation, promotions, and succession planning.

Overviews of the 10 Best HCM Software

Here’s a brief description of each HCM software that's featured on this list. I've highlighted each system's noteworthy features and included a screenshot for each to show you their user interface too.

1

Deel

Best integrated HR management for global teams

Deel is a highly advanced HCM system that enables powerful, integrated HR functionalities for an international workforce.

Deel has a clean web interface, making it easy for users to navigate and find what they need. It’s easy for both employers and workers to manage tasks through the self-serve interface. 24/7 support is also available to ensure that users have assistance whenever they need it.

In terms of features, Deel offers advanced management capabilities that are compatible with over 150 countries. Its global-first design lets managers see full worker details for their entire workforce, which is great for getting a true overview of payroll costs and workforce capacity. Deel covers international payroll, PTO tracking, benefits administration, engagement tools like pulse surveys, and ongoing global compliance.

Deel also excels in analysis and reporting, offering customizable reporting features that can deliver actionable insights. It also allows employees to access self-service features, including the ability to update and view their own information, such as pay stubs and contact details.

Deel has an extensive integrations feature, so it’s easy to integrate with other tools your company may already be using for finance or accounting purposes. It offers pre-built integrations to make it easy to connect data sources, or you can build your own integrations using the Deel API. Key native integrations include Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, SCIM, Xero, Workday, and Workable.

Overall, Deel offers great value for its price as a comprehensive and effective solution for all HR management needs. It offers clear, simple per-user pricing with no hidden fees or extensive contracts.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6 679

Free demo available

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

2

Eddy

Best HCM software to simplify customized onboarding

Eddy is an all-in-one HR Suite built for local businesses that streamlines tedious HR processes and improves the employee experience. Founded in 2017 by former professional basketball player turned entrepreneur, Travis Hansen, Eddy has grown rapidly due to its simple but powerful product, highly-rated customer service, and focus on local businesses with deskless workforces.

With Eddy, businesses can hire, onboard, manage, and pay employees with one easy-to-use software. Key features include job posting management, tracking incoming candidates, and a full-scale applicant tracking system (ATS). Their onboarding system lets HR managers create custom onboarding packages, assign tasks, and easily collect digital signatures.

A core function of Eddy is people management—users can access company directories and store important employee documents, add notes on employee performance, and track training and certifications in employee profiles. You can also create custom paid time-off (PTO) policies and approve or deny requests; tap into their time tracking tool, which allows employees to easily clock-in and clock-out; and navigate payroll processes using Eddy’s in-house, full-service system that includes support for multiple pay periods and end-of-year W-2 preparation, filing, and distribution.

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

3

Oracle HCM Cloud

Best HCM software for AI and machine learning insights

You have probably heard of Oracle, as they are a big name in the software business. Oracle HCM Cloud is their answer to a complete HR solution to engage your workforce and optimize operations that include workforce modeling, an HR help desk, and talent acquisition.

Oracle Integration and Oracle SOA Suite can integrate any SaaS or on-premise HCM application. In addition to application adapters, Oracle offers many other integration options including technology adapters for REST, SOAP, LDAP, FTP, and file-based access. Thus, they scored highly in the Integrations section of the evaluation.

One con to note is that their payroll solutions are supported only for a limited number of countries, which may prove challenging if you have remote workers around the world.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 852

Free demo available

From $13/user/month for a minimum of 1000 employees

4

eXo Platform

Best HCM system for employee engagement and internal knowledge management

eXo Platform is an all-in-one digital workplace solution that helps you connect, align, and engage your teams around a single interface. It is designed to fit the needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries that are looking to improve the company and peer-to-peer communication, boost collaboration, and manage company knowledge.

eXo Platform has a rich set of features to improve the working experience, including enterprise social networking features such as user profiles, activity streams, and more. Users can easily navigate through the platform and interact with their peers through a built-in chat application and the ability to like, comment on, and share various pieces of content.

Collaborative groups allow users to communicate, collaborate on projects, and easily find what they are looking for. Document management features allow users to share content easily through drag-and-drop, organize content in rich document libraries, and share information with the click of a button in the activity stream or the chat application.

eXo Platform has a number of integrations with third-party applications including Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite. Built-in add-ons include eXo Wallet, gamification, kudos, chat, and more.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 91

Free demo available

From $5/user/month

5

Sage People

Best HCM software for advanced people analytics

Over 10 years, the Sage Business Cloud People system has grown into a respected and progressive company operating in the HR management software sector with a full suite of people analytics tools. Sage People is the #1 rated HR and People management system according to Salesforce.

Sage People excels in quick implementation, out-of-the-box automations, and streamlined and flexible reporting features. Additionally, if you check out their workforce engagement tools, you are bound to find something you love.

Sage People lost a few marks in the UX section of the evaluation criteria. An analysis of organization and navigation finds the tool lacking here and there, as the design feels a bit outdated and could use some modernization or fine-tuning.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4 28

Free demo available

From $10/user/month

6

Workday

Best HCM software for user experience and user interface design

Used by Airbnb and Netflix, Workday HCM is a solution for all things finance, human resources, and capital management planning. They were named a leader for 4 years in a row as a part of the “Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises” report.

Workday, as a newer platform on the market, absolutely nailed the user interface with a clean, modern, and intuitive layout on both the web browser version and the mobile app. This scored them favorably in the UI category of the evaluation criteria.

A few negative points of the software are 1) interacting with equity data (note: vesting data in particular) was rather weak and 2) the business processes may come across as a bit disconnected for some users, depending on their experience level with this type of tool.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4 1212

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

7

UZIO

Best HCM software for managing employee benefits

UZIO HRIS solution is an all-in-one platform that’s best for small and medium sized businesses and comes with employee onboarding features, HR automation, time off tracking, and allows for easy PTO approvals by schedule managers. UZIO ensures federal and state law compliance and accounts for any year-over-year changes in this regard. UZIO lets you pick and choose what tool you need so you only pay for what you actually use.

UZIO’s all-in-one package is probably the most bang for your buck ($10/month/employee + $30/month flat rate) and it encompasses all your human capital management basics: onboarding, offboarding, benefits syncing, payroll tax management, garnishments, time tracking, and ACA compliance.

One thing to note is that UZIO HRIS is only available for use within the US.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4 87

30-day free trial

From $4/month/employee

8

SAP SuccessFactors

Best HCM software company for their scalability of add-ons

SAP was founded in 1972 in Walldorf, Germany and now has offices around the world. SAP stands for “Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing” and SuccessFactors is one of their many enterprise-grade solutions for employee management and administration.

SAP SuccessFactors has great flexibility in pricing, as you can add or subtract tools as needed. A very basic plan will cost you under $10 per user per month and you can easily scale upwards from there. This scored them well in the Value for Cost evaluation section.

One con to note is that training can involve quite a bit of work on this software, as it has a lot of nooks and crannies to explore. The learning curve may be a bit steep for some, even if the payoff is worth it.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
3.8 515

Free trial available

From $2.18/user and has software packages starting from $1000+/package

9

Viventium

Best HCM software for health services professionals

From applicant tracking to onboarding, to time & attendance to payroll, to business intelligence to human resources–Viventium provides intuitive software to make it easier to engage your team. Viventium was named a high performer in G2′s Fall 2019 “Best Payroll Software Report.”

This software has a user-friendly interface and real-time updates that capture every change or addition. The customer service is attentive and training materials are robust enough to answer most questions. This all accounted for their high evaluation in the Usability category.

One downside of this tool is that reporting is not as flexible as it could be and more modification options would be welcome. The filters for different reports can be a bit cumbersome to manage.

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

10

PeopleGuru

Best HCM system for mid-market, US-based organizations

PeopleGuru is an all-in-one HCM system designed to help mid-market organizations manage their entire employee lifecycle efficiently. Their HCM solution is comprehensive, with integrated functions for core HR data, payroll, time & labor, talent management, and more.

Using PeopleGuru's recruiting tools, high-growth companies can attract, retain, and engage their people, while driving efficiency within their HR operations. Other features include a learning management system, social engagement tools, a health check feature, and modules for scheduling, onboarding, performance, and compensation.

Each PeopleGuru client receives a dedicated account management team focused on helping them achieve their business objectives. PeopleGuru is available for US-based companies only, though they can accommodate US companies with Canadian employees too.

Free demo available

Price upon request

Need Expert Help Selecting The Right HCM 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!

The 10 Best HCM Software Systems Comparison Chart

Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top HCM software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best HCM software solution for your budget.

Tool Free Option Price
1
Deel

Best integrated HR management for global teams

Free demo available

Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people Visit Website
2
Eddy

Best HCM software to simplify customized onboarding

Free demo available

From $8/employee/month + a $49 base fee/month Visit Website
3
Oracle HCM Cloud

Best HCM software for AI and machine learning insights

Free demo available

From $13/user/month for a minimum of 1000 employees Visit Website
4
eXo Platform

Best HCM system for employee engagement and internal knowledge management

Free demo available

From $5/user/month Visit Website
5
Sage People

Best HCM software for advanced people analytics

Free demo available

From $10/user/month Visit Website
6
Workday

Best HCM software for user experience and user interface design

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
7
UZIO

Best HCM software for managing employee benefits

30-day free trial

From $4/month/employee Visit Website
8
SAP SuccessFactors

Best HCM software company for their scalability of add-ons

Free trial available

From $2.18/user and has software packages starting from $1000+/package Visit Website
9
Viventium

Best HCM software for health services professionals

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
10
PeopleGuru

Best HCM system for mid-market, US-based organizations

Free demo available

Price upon request Visit Website

Other Human Capital Management Solutions To Try

Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best HCM software list. If you need additional suggestions for handy HCM software, check these out:

  1. Rippling

    Best all-in-one HCM software for small businesses

  2. ADP Workforce Now

    Best HCM software for integrating with other HR software systems

  3. Paycor

    Best HCM software for managing employee retention

  4. SyncHR

    Best HCM software for customizing human resource management processes

  5. Zoho Recruit

    Best HCM software for a combined talent acquisition and application tracking system

  6. Ceridian Dayforce

    Best cloud-based human capital management software for HR service delivery

  7. BambooHR

    Best HCM software for simplifying your employee lifecycle and building company culture

  8. Workforcethrive HCM

    Best HCM software for integrated benefits management

  9. UKG Pro

    Best HCM software with advanced talent management tools and AI-backed employee feedback sentiment analysis

  10. Purley HR

    Best HCM system for performance management and professional development initiatives

Selection Criteria for HCM Software

I'm happy to explain my software selection process if you'd like to know how I created this list.

I started out by creating a long list of the top-ranking HCM systems based on user ratings and market share data. I then assessed each HCM vendor's website in fine detail to ensure their software covered all the basic features and modules an HR department would need.

Next, I dug into the core functionalities and key features below to sharpen my selections even further. Using the details below as a standardized framework for comparison allowed me to really analyze how each system compared to the others.

I also drew on my nine years of previous experience using an HCM software solution on a daily basis. And, for the record, that experience included the entire software implementation and user onboarding process as well.

Core Functionality

To assess the core functionalities of each HCM system, I asked myself the following questions:

  • User Interface (UI): Is it clean and attractive? Are the modules and menus easy to navigate? How does the UI for the employee self-service portion look?
  • Usability: Is it user-friendly, and easy to learn and master? What is the user experience like? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training?
  • Software Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other HR systems? Are there any pre-built software integrations or an API to support custom tool connections?
  • Value for Price: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent, and flexible? Do they offer a freemium plan, a free trial, or a free demo?

Key Features

Here's a summary of the core features you can expect to find within the best HCM systems:

  • Robust Employee Profiles - The crux of every HCM system is the data, so you want a system with robust employee records that include fields you can customize for your own unique business needs. Any changes to your employee data should also populate across all system modules in real-time, so everyone on your HR team is always accessing up-to-date information.
  • Advanced Payroll Management Features – The best systems can handle payroll processing, including automated deductions and compliance monitoring. More advanced systems can even handle global payroll across multiple currencies for international workforces too.
  • Benefits Management - An integrated module for benefits administration is helpful since it will sync monthly health plan charges directly to payroll. This helps reduce manual data entry and eliminates the possibility of errors.
  • Recruitment & Onboarding – This includes tools to help attract new candidates, and automated workflows to get them up-to-speed on their new position once they start.  
  • Performance & Evaluation – Full-feature HCM systems should offer modern performance management features in addition to standard performance reviews. This includes features like 360-degree performance reviews, continuous feedback, and tools for measuring employee morale, motivation, engagement, and productivity.
  • Analysis & Reporting – One of the biggest benefits of digital HR systems is the built-in reporting & analytics capabilities. HCM systems should include customizable reporting features that deliver actionable insights, making decision-making easier for all involved.
  • Employee Self-service – The software should allow employees to view and update their own employee information, as needed. This includes contact details, emergency contacts, shift schedules, pay stubs, and more.

HCM Software: FAQ

Do you have general questions about human capital management and how it works? These answers to frequently asked questions are a good place to start:

Other Resources for Managing Your Human Capital

Looking for some other ways you can manage your human capital like a pro? Here are some links to other types of top-rated software to save you some time:

What Do You Think About This HCM Software?

Are there any human capital management tools that you think we have missed but should be on this list? Let us know in the comments. And subscribe to the People Managing People newsletter for more tools and tips!

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.