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There are seemingly countless HR software solutions available, so figuring out which is best for you is tough. You want to automate and manage employee-related tasks like recruitment, payroll, performance tracking, and benefits administration but need to figure out which tool is the best fit. In this post, I make things simple, leveraging my experience in HR and recruitment using dozens of different HR tools to bring you this shortlist of the best HR software overall.

What is HR Software?

Human resources (HR) software is a digital tool for managing employee-related activities, aimed at streamlining HR processes like hiring, payroll, performance management, and benefits administration. The purpose of HR software is to automate certain human resource tasks, improving efficiency and accuracy in managing employee-related processes.

Detailed Overviews of the 10 Best HR Software

To help you find the best HR software for your needs, I’ve conducted a detailed assessment of each system in this list. Here are my top 10 recommendations for the best human resources software on the market today. I’ve also included 30 more options below for different use cases.

1

Remofirst

Best for international payroll and compliance outsourcing

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

Free demo available

From $199/employee/month for EOR and $25/mo for contractors

Remofirst is a cloud-based HR and payroll software that offers a complete suite of tools for benefits, compliance, and performance management. Remofirst is a portable system that is accessible from any internet-connected device.

Why I picked Remofirst: They offer additional Employer of Record (EOR) or Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services on top of their software, making them an excellent choice for organizations who want to hire internationally but don't have a foreign entity in place. Thanks to the depth of their services, Remofirst can easily process payroll and tax information, ensuring compliance with labor laws in multiple countries. Users also gain access to their team of international experts and customer service support to resolve any issues promptly.

Remofirst Standout Features & Integrations:

Features include advanced employee time and attendance tracking (including hours worked, vacation days taken, and sick days used), and tools to help businesses manage their inventory, assign devices to users, track deployment progress, and manage the logistics of sending out equipment to employees.

Additionally, Remofirst includes a performance management system to set employee goals and objectives, track their progress over time, and identify areas where employees require additional training or development. On top of that, Remofirst also offers a comprehensive benefits administration system to manage employee health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits.

Integrations are available with popular payroll systems, such as ADP and QuickBooks. They also offer a mobile app for employees for Android and iOS devices.

Remofirst Plans & Pricing:

Remofirst’s services cost from $199/employee/month. They also offer a $19/month plan if you only need to manage global contractors.

2

Deel

Best HR software for global teams

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7
1529 reviews

Free demo available

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

Deel is a comprehensive HR platform that supports global teams of all sizes, from startups to enterprise organizations. Their HR tools allow you to hire employers or contractors in over 150 countries without needing to worry about local laws, complicated tax systems, or global payroll specifics.

Why I picked Deel: I included Deel because their HR software uses advanced automation to simplify your hiring and onboarding workflows, eliminating the stress many HR professionals feel when dealing with overwhelming legal regulations abroad. Instead, Deel helps you run compliant background checks, generate custom contracts aligned to local laws, acquire signatures, and collect all the necessary paperwork and tax forms.

Their global payroll functionalities also landed them a place on this list, since Deel runs payroll without involving local partner organizations. Instead, their in-house payroll experts work across time zones to eliminate handovers, monitor compliance, and provide faster service. Speaking of finances, Deel can also handle off-cycle payroll adjustments, and expense reimbursements as well.

Deel Standout Features & Integrations:

There are several unique features that make Deel stand out against others in this list. Their Deel Shield feature helps you avoid contractor misclassification issues, which could put your company at risk of legal liabilities and fines. Instead, Deel Shield offers 100% protection from contractor misclassification risks.

Another feature that adds a lot of value for growing global teams is Deel's global mobility support and immigration assistance. Managing international visa requirements is complicated at best, but Deel offers employer of record (EOR) support for obtaining US Green Cards and many other types of visas so you can avoid that stress yourself.

Integrations are available to help you import and export HR data between popular accounting and reporting software solutions such as Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, SCIM, Xero, Workday, and Workable. Deel also has an Open API solution that allows developers to build their own interfaces on top of the Deel platform too.

Pros

  • You can pay employees in 150+ currencies, including crypto
  • Covers up to $25,000 if a misclassification/legal case arises
  • Advanced employer of record (EOR) services are also available

Cons

  • No mobile app available
  • No free trial available
3

Paycor

Best for payroll management across niche industries

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.1
562 reviews

90-day free trial + free demo available

From $5/employee/month + $99/month base fee

Paycor is a human capital management (HCM) software designed for HR leaders, finance leaders, and payroll managers. Their software includes modules for core HR data, payroll, talent management, workforce management, employee experience, and benefits management.

Paycor makes payroll easy to set up and run, leveraging their own tax and compliance expertise to ease your company’s risk management pain points. Their payroll software solutions boast general ledger integration, an employee self-service portal, powerful reporting tools, and helpful HR resources like templates, law alerts, and how-to guides.

Why I picked Paycor: They are committed to tailoring their software to your business needs, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they've developed their software to meet the specific HR needs of key industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, retail, professional services, education, and non-profits. Their software also scales well, allowing you to get going with their Basic plan and add more features when you're ready to expand.

Paycor Standout Features & Integrations:

The features in their Basic level plan are more advanced compared to other payroll providers, including features like on-demand pay, off-cycle pay runs, and worker opportunity tax credit tools. Typically, these features are only included in premium payroll plans. Of course, Paycor also covers the basics such as payroll and tax service, wage garnishments, online check stubs or check stuffing, and online tax reporting too.

In their higher service levels, Paycor goes beyond financial features to include onboarding tools, a time-off manager, compensation planning, talent management, and advanced analytics.

Integrations with over 200 apps are available through the Paycor Marketplace. Or, additional custom integrations can be configured using their API too.

Pros

  • Easy to use self-service portal
  • Unlimited payroll runs
  • Good ability to customize reports

Cons

  • UX can feel a bit clunky at times
  • Time tracking only available as an add-on
4

GoCo

Best for time-saving workflow automations and modular pricing

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

Free demo available

From $5/employee/month

GoCo is a flexible and modular employee management software with a wide variety of features to support HR professionals. Their list of modules includes new hire onboarding, benefits management, time & attendance tracking, a document management system, and tools for performance management. They are a popular choice across a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, information & technology, professional services, education and nonprofits.

Why I picked GoCo: While many HR systems are modular, GoCo takes things one step further in the flexible configuration of their software. Their team provides a white glove implementation service to help you configure their software exactly the way you want it, which is something not all SaaS vendors offer. For example, if you already have a payroll or recruiting system you're happy with, they'll work with you to sync them with GoCo. This is also reflected in their pricing structure, which is truly modular, so you can pick and choose the modules you actually need rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

GoCo Standout Features & Integrations:

Their software includes many helpful workflow automations to help HR teams automate and standardize common HR processes. For example, you can use GoCo to automate your onboarding checklist to create a memorable first day for your new employees while ensuring nothing important slips through the cracks. Their employee self-service option also allows staff to submit and track their own time-off requests and make changes to their benefits and dependents, which helps to reduce your HR team's workload while promoting employee accountability for maintaining their own personal details.

Integrations are available natively with 30+ popular software systems such as productivity tools and many payroll providers including ADP Workforce Now, Dominion Payroll, Gusto, Patriot, Paychex, Paylocity, Paycor, Sage HRMS, QuickBooks and others.

Pros

  • Staff can easily enroll and self-manage their own benefits through their benefits administration portal
  • Includes modern performance management elements like 360-degree feedback
  • Integrated document management tools to make digital forms fillable & collect and track e-signatures

Cons

  • No free trial available
  • Built around US-specific tax, compliance, and labor regulations
5

Greenhouse

Best for casting a wider net for recruitment

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

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

Greenhouse is a recruiting software and app that helps you gain a broader reach in your recruitment efforts and track candidates through every stage of the hiring process, including onboarding.

Why I picked Greenhouse: If you'd like to reach a wider audience for recruitment, this software can help you do that in a smart way. It allows you to post on over a thousand job boards, including both niche sites and major job marketplaces. You'll get personalized recommendations about where you should post your job listings based on both industry performance and historical data.

To effectively screen applicants, you can customize a scorecard that will help you evaluate people fairly and consistently. You can also set up anonymized screening to reduce unconscious bias in your recruitment process. The software has tracking tools to set and monitor your OKRs and KPIs related to hiring. You can also collect feedback from candidates on their recruitment experience.

Greenhouse Standout Features & Integrations

One of the standout features of this software is its mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. It hosts summaries of open jobs, stages, and candidates, and you can review and approve applications directly in the app. If you're conducting an interview on the go, you can rely on the in-app prep kits, which include job details, interview questions, and candidate scorecards. The app also gives you access to candidate profiles with an activity feed, their resume, and any other related attachments.

Integrations are available natively with 400+ software systems, including BambooHR, Bob, Calendly, Checkr, Deel, Gem, Google Meet, LinkedIn, Microsoft Teams, Real Links, and many others. They also have an open API to support any other custom integrations you may need.

Pros

  • Customer onboarding included in all plans
  • Tools to mitigate unconscious bias
  • Full-functionality mobile app

Cons

  • BI tools only included in top-tier paid plan
  • Lacks transparent pricing
6

ClearCompany

Best for talent management covering the full employee lifecycle

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

Free demo available

Pricing upon request

ClearCompany is a cloud-based talent maximization platform that's designed to help HR teams support their staff across the full employee lifecycle. Their platform covers many features, including applicant tracking, employee onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and related analytics.

Why I picked ClearCompany: What sets ClearCompany apart from other HR software systems is its focus on transparency and alignment. It's designed to help you create a clear, aligned workforce where everyone understands their role and how it contributes to the company's overall goals.

It achieves this alignment, in part, through its performance management module that includes advanced goal-planning tools. Using this module, you can set goals for your employees, track their progress, and provide feedback. It's a great way to keep your team motivated and focused on their objectives.

ClearCompany Standout Features & Integrations:

One of ClearCompany's standout features is its applicant tracking system, which offers you more than just a portal for posting job ads and collecting resumes. Instead, it uses powerful automation features to help you screen candidates, schedule interviews, and even conduct background checks. It's a huge time-saver and makes the entire recruitment process much more efficient. Plus, you can also load hired candidates into their onboarding feature as well, to make that transition quicker and easier for your HR staff.

Integrations are available with numerous skill assessment platforms, background-checking tools, payroll systems, and benefits providers. Key systems to note include ADP, BambooHR, Ceridian, Checkr, eSkill, LinkedIn Recruiter, Office 365, Okta, OneLogin, Paychex, Paylocity, Slack, UKG Pro, and others.

Pros

  • Includes employee engagement features to foster closer connections
  • Includes a system for tracking internal employee referrals
  • Includes public employee recognition tools such as milestone announcements and celebrations

Cons

  • No integrated payroll capabilities
  • Pricing details are not transparent
7

Rippling

Best for integrated IT management functions

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.8
1133 reviews

Free demo available

From $8/user/month (EOR pricing upon request)

Rippling is a unique solution that combines HR and IT management by letting you manage your employees’ payroll, benefits, devices, and apps in one system. But don’t fret, they still do all the core HR basics: payroll & expense management, employee benefits enrollment, time & attendance, talent management, pulse surveys, onboarding & offboarding, and asset & inventory management. In addition, Rippling has a built-in applicant tracking system and learning management system as well.

Why I picked Rippling: Their software stands out because they built app and device management (basic IT) into their HR platform, which is appropriate for the modern, online, all-digital workforce. You can remotely manage and protect employees’ devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) as well as easily manage workforce apps like Google Workspace, Slack, and Office 365.

Rippling Standout Features & Integrations:

Rippling is an ideal system for companies with limited resources who still want to provide their employees with top-notch service as it saves time by automating many tasks that would otherwise take hours to complete manually. For example, it offers fully automated onboarding and offboarding processes, giving businesses an easy way to manage these traditionally paper-heavy processes. You can easily customize forms to match your company's brand, store documents securely in the cloud, and automatically sync data across multiple departments, so everyone is updated on new hires automatically.

Their reporting capabilities also allow you to analyze key metrics across all their integrated modules, including performance, employee satisfaction, employee engagement, or turnover rates. These reports can give you valuable insight into what’s working well within your organization, while also uncovering any areas for improvement.

Integrations are available with 1Password, Asana, DocuSign, Dropbox, GitHub, Google Workspace, LinkedIn, Microsoft 365, Netsuite, Sage Intacct, Slack, Typeform, QuickBooks, and many other popular software systems

Pros

  • Automatically highlights possible data errors
  • Includes a very useful headcount planning tool
  • Helpful automations to streamline your onboarding process for new hires

Cons

  • Mobile app lacks some features that are available on the desktop and browser versions
  • Some users have reported issues with non-Chrome browsers
8

Paychex Flex

Best for compliance and regulatory support

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.2
1339 reviews

Free demo available

From $39/month + $5/employee/month

Paychex Flex is a complete human resources software solution that offers a wide range of services, from payroll and benefits administration to hiring and onboarding, for businesses of all sizes. Paycheck Flex maintains a rigorously up-to-date database of federal, state, and local tax rates, as well as labor laws and regulations.

Why I picked Paychex Flex: Paychex Flex HR helps businesses stay up-to-date with ever-changing employment laws, regulations, and reporting requirements. The software provides tools and features that facilitate compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including tax filing and reporting, Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, and labor law compliance. This focus on compliance helps businesses mitigate legal risks and ensures HR processes align with relevant regulations.

Paycheck Flex HR software stands out by offering an exceptional level of compliance automation with real-time updates. Ensuring compliance with ever-changing labor laws, tax regulations, and employment standards can be a daunting task for HR teams. Paycheck Flex HR software maintains comprehensive compliance reports and audit trails. This includes detailed records of all payroll calculations, tax filings, and employee data changes.

Paychex Flex Standout Features & Integrations:

Features include their pay-on-demand feature, which provides employees with access to their earned wages ahead of the regular payday. This feature allows employees to request an advance on their earned wages for hours they have already worked but have not yet been paid for. The requested amount is deducted from their upcoming paycheck. Pay-on-Demand gives employees greater financial flexibility and can help them manage unexpected expenses or financial emergencies. 

Another standout feature is the Paychex learning management system. It offers a wide range of over 300 online training courses, which is a great way to help my employees develop important professional skills. The Paychex Learning Essentials feature includes options to track and view learner transcripts, schedule live trainings, and view courses from your mobile device. The Enhanced version of Paychex Learning additionally allows you to upload custom content to courses and includes interactive quizzes and tests.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, ClockShark, TSheets, Aflac, UnitedHealthcare, Hubworks, Indeed, Jirav, Microsoft Azure AD, and Oracle.

Pros

  • Could use real time alerts for processing failures
  • Exceptional level of compliance automation
  • Built in learning management system
  • Pay-on-demand feature for paycheck advances

Cons

  • Slight learning curve
9

Factorial

Best HR software for small businesses

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

14-day free trial

From $6.50/employee/month

Factorial is a super-affordable and comprehensive HR system that's well-suited for small businesses since it supports tasks spanning the full employee lifecycle within one platform.

Why I picked Factorial: Their HR software offers organizations a good return on their investment since it covers so many functions in one platform. Their system can handle paid time-off (PTO) tracking, time tracking, payroll management, document management, applicant tracking systems, employee onboarding & offboarding, goals & OKR tracking, and even performance reviews.

Factorial also offers an iOS and Android mobile app for employees. Within the mobile app, employees have access to self-service items like leave requests, the ability to check who's in/out of the office, birthday announcements, and staff anniversaries. To protect your data, they employ single sign-on (SSO), data encryption at rest (AES-256), and a security firewall.

Factorial Standout Features & Integrations:

Features include employee shift scheduling, time tracking, PTO tracking, documents & e-signatures, reporting & analytics, payroll & expense management, talent management tools (recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, and performance), and an integrated organizational chart (org chart).

Integrations are available with 15+ popular platforms including Desky, Gmail, G Suite, Indeed, Microsoft Outlook, Okta, PowerBI, Sage, Teamtailor, and Zapier.

10

Connecteam

Best for managing deskless workers, and hybrid or remote teams

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

14-day free trial + free plan available

From $29/month for 30 users (paid annually)

Connecteam is an HR and people management platform that is purpose-built to be a true all-in-one solution for human resources departments. Their software platform includes a comprehensive set of features, divided into three main modules — Operations, Communications, and HR & Skills — all of which are user-friendly for mobile devices.

Why I picked Connecteam: Their human resources software is a robust, mobile-first system that aims to improve communications, streamline day-to-day processes, and save time. Users can easily manage, communicate, and engage with remote workers and non-desk employees within their well-optimized, all-in-one mobile application, making them a great choice for organizations with mobile or deskless workers.

Connecteam Standout Features & Integrations:

Their Operations Hub covers key business functions like employee scheduling, task management, digital forms & checklists, and an employee time clock, including advanced GPS tracking capabilities.

Their Communications Hub supports quick and direct communication with remote and deskless workers. It includes features such as an instant messaging & chat tool, surveys & polls, company news updates & announcements, a knowledge base, and a mobile-friendly company directory.

Lastly, their HR & Skills module captures other key people management processes to help your HR department monitor employee engagement, ensure compliance, minimize turnover, and save time. It includes features like employee recognition and rewards, mobile training courses, employee quizzes, key employee timelines & milestones, and a user-friendly document management system.

Additional features that can benefit distributed teams include employee milestone tracking, time tracking, dynamic employee smart groups, user permissions, recurring shift templates, advanced filtering & bulk actions, recurring tasks, GPS clocking in and out, and more.

Integrations include Google Calendar, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and others.

Pros

  • Automatic end-of-shift reports save employees time
  • In-app communication features are extensive
  • Very simple to use, even for people who are not tech-savvy

Cons

  • Modules are priced individually, though enterprise pricing is available if you want all of them
  • Initial set up and customizations can be time consuming

10 Best HR Software Comparison Chart

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

Tool Trial Info Price
1
Remofirst

Best for international payroll and compliance outsourcing

Free demo available

From $199/employee/month for EOR and $25/mo for contractors Website
2
Deel

Best HR software for global teams

Free demo available

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

Best for payroll management across niche industries

90-day free trial + free demo available

From $5/employee/month + $99/month base fee Website
4
GoCo

Best for time-saving workflow automations and modular pricing

Free demo available

From $5/employee/month Website
5
Greenhouse

Best for casting a wider net for recruitment

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Website
6
ClearCompany

Best for talent management covering the full employee lifecycle

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Website
7
Rippling

Best for integrated IT management functions

Free demo available

From $8/user/month (EOR pricing upon request) Website
8
Paychex Flex

Best for compliance and regulatory support

Free demo available

From $39/month + $5/employee/month Website
9
Factorial

Best HR software for small businesses

14-day free trial

From $6.50/employee/month Website
10
Connecteam

Best for managing deskless workers, and hybrid or remote teams

14-day free trial + free plan available

From $29/month for 30 users (paid annually) Website

Other HR Software Systems

Here are 30 more worthwhile options that didn’t make my top 10 shortlist of the best HR software, but are still worth checking out:

  1. Arcoro

    Best HR software for construction companies

  2. Bambee

    Best HR software that comes with an HR manager

  3. Trinet

    Best for advanced workforce analytics and compensation benchmarking

  4. Insperity

    Best for small to midsize businesses needing PEO support

  5. Justworks

    Best for advanced benefit offerings and additional HR support services

  6. Workable

    Best for recruiting, assessing, and hiring top talent globally

  7. Eddy

    Best HR software for deskless workforces

  8. Zenefits

    Best HR software for automated onboarding workflows

  9. UZIO

    Best for automatically syncing time-tracking and benefits data with payroll

  10. Beams

    Best HR software for pulse surveys and employee recognition

  11. HR.my

    Best free HR software for startups

  12. monday.com

    Best for building customizable HR forms, surveys, & templates

  13. iSpring Learn

    Best for internal learning & development or training-focused teams

  14. IntelliHR

    Best HR software for performance & people analytics

  15. Peoplebox

    Best for linking OKRs with performance and employee engagement

  16. Sage HR

    Best for attendance tracking and other workforce management features

  17. SixFifty Employee Handbook

    Best for document management and digital employee handbooks

  18. Kallidus Sapling

    Best for automating repeatable workflows

  19. Cezanne HR

    Best HR software for global, multi-lingual organizations

  20. Bitrix24

    Best free open source HR and project management software that's customizable and scalable

  21. BambooHR

    Best HR software for small businesses including a huge apps marketplace for additional integrations

  22. HR Partner

    Best HR software for small and medium sized businesses

  23. OrangeHRM

    Best open-source HR software covering compensation, culture, talent & people management, and core HR tools

  24. Qualtrics Employee Experience

    Best HR and workforce management platform with drag-and-drop dashboard & automated analytics

  25. ADP Workforce Now

    Best enterprise-grade payroll and HR management software

  26. Workday

    Best HR software for finance, HR, and resource planning

  27. JazzHR

    Best HR & recruiting software for sourcing new employees

  28. Zoho People

    Best cloud HR software with integrated modules for marketing, sales, customer service, a CRM and more

  29. Breezy HR

    Best for collaborative recruiting & hiring tools and time-saving workflow automations

  30. SutiHR

    Best HR software for end-to-end business process management

Selection Criteria for the Best HR Software

Wondering how I selected the best human resources software for this list? To build this top 10 list, I evaluated and compared a wide range of HR software systems that each covered a unique aspect of common HR processes and tasks. That means that each of the systems chosen for this list is a top choice within its area of expertise and has something unique to offer. I also drew upon my years of HR management experience to recognize the features that add a lot of value and cut down on time-consuming processes.

After determining my long list of top choices, I further honed my list by focusing on the evaluation criteria I’ve outlined below. Using these points as a framework, I was able to see how each platform compared to the next one to make my final picks.

Core Functionalities 

Whenever I'm building a top 10 list of software, I always determine the core functions it should cover first, to make sure no crucial features are missed. Since HR management software is quite a broad category, this was a little trickier than usual! However, as I set about evaluating and comparing many different HR tools, I made sure that each platform covered the following core functions:

  • Core HR data management capabilities that centralize all your employee data
  • Integrated modules for easy digital data management
  • Some form of employee self-service module to reduce administrative requests
  • Customizable user roles and permissions to curate who can access your employee data

Key Features

In addition to the core functionalities above, here are some additional HR features that I also considered when evaluating which software to include in this list:

  • Payroll processing: Tools to manage your payroll data, calculate taxes and deductions, run payroll, and complete direct deposits.
  • Attendance and time-tracking: Tools that track when your employees clock in and out of work or swap shifts with other employees.
  • Leave management features: Tools to manage and track paid time off (PTO) requests, or other types of leave requests.
  • Talent management functions: Tools to help you upskill your workforce, like performance evaluations, learning management, training and development, etc.
  • Communication and collaboration tools: This includes features like in-app chat streams, tagging colleagues with @ mentions, individual task assignments, and file sharing.
  • Employee lifecycle management: Tools to help you recruit new employees, manage the hiring process, and facilitate the onboarding process for new hires. Many platforms also have tools to support offboarding departing employees.

Keep in mind, these features will vary depending on the specific type of human resources software you're looking for. If you'd like more specialty suggestions, pop down to my list below for other types of specialty HR software instead.

Usability

It's important that any new HR software system you choose offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface and experience. By offering ease of use for all types of users (employees, managers, administrators, power users, etc.), you'll greatly improve your user adoption rates.

When assessing software systems for this list, I paid close attention to the details of their UI to ensure it offered a good user experience for all user types. To make sure my selections were top-notch, I also looked into the additional support each software system offers, including any online tutorials or other forms of technical customer support.

Automations and Notifications

A major benefit of HR software is the automation of mundane, repetitive, and time-consuming administrative HR tasks. For example, if your HR system includes an employee self-service portal, your staff can update their own details, and they will automatically populate across other parts of your system, like your payroll module. It may seem simple — and it is — but not all software is built that way. Therefore, I selected software where automations are front-and-center, and customizable as needed.

Another related benefit are notifications, which can be configured to send automatically. Notifications will help you ensure nothing important slips through the cracks and will save you time in the long run. Key notifications I always appreciated when using human resources software myself were reminders for overdue performance reviews, or alerts whenever an employee changed their beneficiary details, personal contact information, or direct deposit details.

Software Integrations

Connecting natively with other software systems you're already using will improve your team's productivity and help you work more efficiently. You don't want to waste time importing and exporting data — or worse — copying and pasting!

Key integrations to look for include email providers, digital calendars, job boards, work platforms like Google Workspace, project management tools, and any other tools you're already using. You'll also want to ensure that your software integrates with other niche tools that are not built into their system. For example, if the HR system you choose does not include payroll management, make sure payroll integrations are readily available.

Analytics and Data Visualization Tools

One of the biggest benefits of using HR management software is the ability to analyze and run reports on your data to help you with decision-making. You want a system that makes it easy to collect and interpret data from across different modules. Plus, the ability to drill down and compare core metrics across sub-groups like departments, locations, or employee types. Having flexible data analysis tools will help you uncover useful insights about your workforce that you otherwise wouldn't identify.

I'm also a firm believer in making things "easy on the brain cells" so I appreciate systems that incorporate a variety of data visualization elements as well. This means I've prioritized systems that can produce charts and graphs representing your data, rather than just more spreadsheet columns of numbers. These visual dashboards should update in real-time as your system data changes, allowing you to view accurate, up-to-date information at a glance.

Templates

When I was working as an HR administrator, I was constantly short on time and long on things to do. That's where templates can also add a lot of value. By starting off with a strong template for whatever HR action you need to take, you can get away with tweaking it for your specific needs, rather than having to reinvent the wheel for each task.

Whether it's job postings, offer letters, welcome packages, onboarding workflows, or employee handbooks, the HR software systems in this list includes a wealth of ready-to-use templates that can get you off to the races faster. You can use them as a starting place and customize them as needed, adding your corporate logos and brand identity elements too.

Mobile App Accessibility

Now, more than ever, all of us are glued to our phones. That's why I strongly believe that mobile apps for Android and iOS devices are a necessary feature for any HR software. Or, at the very least, the software system must have a mobile-optimized website as an alternative.

Allowing your staff and administrators to easily make updates on the go is important for several reasons. For employees, it will improve their employee experience and allow them to stay on top of their personal information updates easily. For administrators, it prevents work from building up if you're away from your desk. Instead, you can update something the moment it occurs to you, no matter where you are.

Mobile accessibility is even more important if your HR system involves your recruitment process. Why? Because 89% of active job seekers use their mobile devices to apply for new positions. That's why a mobile-friendly solution for recruitment is critical.

Pricing

Something to look out for in any HR software solution is fair, transparent, and scalable pricing. I always strive to choose software with transparent pricing models (and most in this list do provide price details). However, sometimes those details are only available upon request due to the modular nature of their system. You can often still get a clear understanding of their different plan levels and the features that are included in each by visiting their websites.

You can expect to pay a monthly per-user fee for HR software under a SaaS (software-as-a-service) contract agreement. In general, the price range for HR software systems is between $5 to $60 per user, per month. Most providers offer various pricing tiers to cater to the needs of small businesses and startups, midsize businesses, and enterprise businesses.

I'm also a firm believer in test-driving any software before you jump into a contract, so I purposely tried to select software that includes free trials, or at the very least, a free demo, in this list.

If cost is your biggest factor, this article digs into the costs of HR software and how you can decide what's best for your company.

HR Software: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about HR software and how it can help you streamline your business processes.

Types of HR Software

HR software is quite a broad category. Here are a few examples of other types of HR platforms that cover specific functions or niches within your HR department:

HR Software Niches

These HR software sub-types are aimed at specific users or functions:

Recruiting Tools

These are the most popular types of recruiting software for sourcing and screening candidates, integrating more diverse candidates, dealing with large volumes of applications, and conducting video interviews:

Employee Performance

Performance management software will help your staff to reach their full potential and add much-needed structure to their long term development plans:

Employee Engagement

If you're looking for ways to motivate and celebrate your staff, employee engagement and recognition software is what you need:

Scheduling & Time Tracking

Scheduling and time tracking software are essential tools for any hourly-based workforce. These tools will help you create shift schedules and track time off requests with ease:

Payroll & Accounting Solutions

Here are my lists of the payroll software and companies out there, plus my top choices for expense reporting:

Benefits Management & Compensation 

Employees care fiercely about their benefits, so you should always handle these with care. The tools in these lists will simplify the enrolment and management process for you and help you offer non-monetary perks as well:

Resource Management Software

If you're looking for software to help you manager your resources — including your human resources, and physical resources like inventory and equipment — these types of resource management software may be a better fit:

Stay in Touch

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By Kim Behnke

Kim Behnke is an HR Tool Expert & Writer for People Managing People. She draws on her 9 years of human resources experience and her keen eye for systematic processes to support her analyses of the top HR tools on the market. She is passionate about maximizing efficiencies and streamlining workflows to ensure internal systems run smoothly. Kim's HR experience includes recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training and development, policy development and enforcement, and HR analytics. She also has degrees in psychology, writing, publishing, and technical communication, and recently completed a Certified Digital HR Specialist program through the Academy to Innovate HR. When away from her desk, she can usually be found outside tending to her ever-expanding garden.