This article will help you quickly compare and evaluate the best HRMS software and other human resources software.
It can be tough to find the right people and keep them engaged throughout the application processes and into onboarding. In fact, statistics show that 60% of job seekers quit the application process partway through and over 80% change their mind post-interview no matter if the interview was bad (83%) or good (87%).
HRMS stands for “human resource management system” and it encompasses the various tools and software we use to manage the people that work for a company. In this post, I’ll highlight a few of the best HR software to help you through this process.
What Is HRMS?
HRMS stands for Human Resources Management System.
What Is A HRMS System?
A comprehensive HRMS, or Human Resources Management System, will support every part of your organization’s HR process. This includes aspects such as applicant management, employee management, payroll, benefits, timesheets, and compensation management. These tools also offer features to support your HR department in managing your workplace and organization at large.
That’s a lot to cover, so in this post, I did a lot of the work for you. Here, you’ll find the best HRMS (human resources management system) to support HR processes, including applicant, employee, and organizational management.
What Are The Different Kinds Of HR Systems?
There is quite a variety when it comes to different HR systems and their uses within an organization. However, the most popular types we see are focused around staffing, onboarding, development, workforce management, and compensation.
Staffing
Workforce Planning
Recruitment Software
Applicant Tracking Software (ATS)
Time Tracking Software
Leave Management / Paid Time Off (PTO)
Employee Scheduling Software
Employee Management
Onboarding
New Hire Onboarding Software
Offboarding Software
Development
Talent Management Software & Systems
Performance Management Software
360 Degree Feedback Software
Employee Satisfaction (eNPS)
Workforce Management
Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
HCM Software (Human Capital Management)
Human Resource Software
Employee Records Tools
Employee Monitoring Software
Compensation
Payroll Software
Benefit Management & Administration Software
The Best HRMS for Human Resource Management in 2021
Here’s a shortlist of the best HR management software:
- monday.com - Best for creating custom HR processes and workflows
- Sapling - Best HRMS for automation & app integrations
- ADP - Best for third-party HRMS integrations
- Sage HRMS - Best HRMS for small business
- PeopleStreme - Best HRMS payroll software
- HR Cloud - Best-combined onboarding and engagement HRMS solution
- Built for Teams - Best ORG charts
- VAIRKKO - Best HRMS with LMS add-ons
- Workday - Best time-off management
- PeopleBookHR - Best HRMS reporting
Human Resources Software Comparison Criteria
What are we looking for when we select what tools make it on the final HRMS list? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): Is it clean and attractive? Are all typical HR functions easy to find? Is personal data clear, well organized, and easily searchable?
- Usability: Is it easy to learn and master? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training?
- Features & Functionality:
- Scalability/Flexibility – Is the software equipped to grow and expand with you as your company and HR needs change over time?
- Engagement Tools – Does your HRMS of choice go above and beyond “typical” HR features to offer a means for employee engagement, satisfaction gauge, and culture development? Is there a learning management system built-in?
- Time, Payroll, Tax – Can the tool handle all the typical elements of the HR process?
- Reporting and Analytics – Do the software offers real-time and actionable insights using the data you provide it? Are reports customizable, easily exportable, and otherwise flexible?
- Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools? Any pre-built integrations? Does it connect to any job boards for easy recruitment?
- Value for $: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent, and flexible?
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Overviews of the 10 Best HRMS Software
Here’s a brief description of each HR management system that is featured on this top 10 list.
monday.com - Best for creating custom HR processes and workflows
monday.com allows users to onboard new team members and create custom workflows for other employee management processes.
The tool allows hiring managers to oversee their recruitment pipelines and track applicants with embedded forms that record all relevant contact details automatically. As candidates go through the hiring process, team members can update the status of their application so that there’s a real-time source of truth for all open positions.
monday.com also includes a pre-made template for onboarding, which includes all of the sessions and reading material newcomers need in their first weeks on the job. The onboarding template also uses no-code automations to notify relevant team members of their tasks to properly welcome the new hire. Another great feature is the vacation tracker, which allows employees to schedule vacation time.
monday.com costs from $8/user/month. A 14-day free trial is also available.
Pros
- Customizable and scalable workflows
- Enterprise-grade security with HIPAA certification
- Custom dashboards update automatically
Cons
- Involves slight learning curve
- Mobile app isn’t as fully functional as web
- Certain features only available in enterprise package
Sapling - Best HRMS for automation & app integrations
The dashboard makes it easy to keep track of your new hires at every stage of the process.
Pros
- Fully customizable, automated workflows
- Integrates with popular tools
- Centralized location for people data
Cons
- Not suitable for small organizations
- No on-premise installation
- No freemium version
ADP - Best for third-party HRMS integrations
Each Personal Profile gives a brief summary of everything you need to know.
A standout feature of this tool is the extensive list of integration opportunities, both with first party and third party software. ADP scored favorably in the Integrations section of the evaluation criteria.
ADP HCM solutions integrate seamlessly with one another, with popular business software applications, and with leading payroll, HR, and financial systems, including most ERPs. Through their standard APIs, integration options include Quickbooks, Wave, Xero, FinancialForce, Infor, Oracle, SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, and more.
One con of the system is that you may have to log into different websites/portals to access different elements of HR information (like vacation versus 404K versus time card, and so on). A seamlessly unified platform would be preferred.
ADP starts at $10/user/month and has a free demo.
Pros
- Robust mobile app
- Company, state, federal forms all in one portal
- Super easy to verify time
Cons
- Entering hours in military time
- High minimum user requirement
- Lag when manually updating multiple times entries
Sage HRMS - Best HRMS for small business
Employee information can be compiled and stored in a secure HR database.
This software excels in training through their various wizards designed to help with each unique HR process such as entering new hires, training, pay raises, job changes, and more.
Sage provides a comprehensive list of first party add-ons that can be used to integrate different solutions into your HRMS workflow.
Sage HRMS tends to prioritize first party integration solutions, which can put users at a disadvantage if they have other project management or payroll tools they need to connect. They lost a few points in the Integrations evaluation because of this.
Sage starts at $10/user/month and has a free demo.
Pros
- Can upload Excel sheets into payroll module
- Great new hire Wizards
- Easy payroll history reports
Cons
- Not built for large enterprises
- No self-service access
- Requires manual export to some payroll systems
PeopleStreme - Best HRMS payroll software
Store HR related data like Learning Activities, Qualifications, and Approvals List.
PeopleStreme did well in the evaluation criteria for Usability, as the software is easy to use with an intuitive dashboard system. Additionally, they provide highly responsive troubleshooting with support offered promptly when needed.
Integrations include other Ascender tools, GO1, Australian HR Institute (AHRI), Broadbean, CT Management, Indeed, Intercheck, SEEK, and Workpro.
One con is that the data can be a bit tricky to assess at a glance, as the internal candidates are a) identified only by number, not name and b) are not flagged in the event of duplications (ie, candidates that apply for multiple roles within the company).
PeopleStreme offers pricing upon request and has a free demo.
Pros
- Ability to personalize responses to candidates en masse
- Payroll for complex configuration and requirements
- Can manage a very high recruitment workload
Cons
- Limited custom branding options
- Best reporting features limited to higher plans
- Inability to identify same candidate twice
HR Cloud - Best-combined onboarding and engagement HRMS solution
Gamify HR social elements with social-media-esque functions.
The Onboard solution has features for automating manual onboarding processes, as well as features for ensuring employees are equipped on their first day and throughout the onboarding process, such as self-service, employee profiles, customizable new hire portals, and customizable onboarding workflows.
HR Cloud’s Workmates solution includes powerful tools to help remote teams collaborate, communicate, and even recognize and reward their peers. Features here include employee feeds, announcements, an employee directory, communication and messaging tools, and employee analytics. Workmates also has a great feature to help employees become advocates for your business.
Additionally, HR Cloud’s HR Suite provides a number of powerful, proven HR solutions to improve the way you manage the entire employee lifecycle, including performance management, leave tracking, and a mobile employee app. The suite also includes advanced reporting features, org charts, and the ability to create surveys to collect employee feedback.
HR Cloud offers easy integrations to leading applications and systems such as ADP, Quickbooks, UltiPro, Compass, TalentLyft, Checkr, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and many more.
HR Cloud solutions start at $6 per user per month, and they offer a free demo of all solutions.
Pros
- Customizable onboarding workflows and checklists
- Employee-centric employee experience platform
- Effective intra-employee recognition and reward tools
Cons
- HR Cloud does not include payroll
- Not originally built for enterprise businesses
- Integrations are lacking, but HR Cloud continues to develop new integrations
Built for Teams - Best ORG charts
Built for Teams’ org chart sketches out where everyone stands in the company.
This tool has a relatively tame learning curve and even those who are not particularly tech-savvy should be able to make ample use of it. Thus, it scored highly in the evaluation considerations for Usability.
Integrations include Google Suite, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, ADP, Slack, other payroll systems, and more.
One downside to note is that it is not currently possible to cancel requests, like paid time off, after they have been submitted in the system. The HR team can do it but having this power in the hands of the individual user would be ideal.
Built For Teams starts at $30/month and has a free demo.
Pros
- Easy to define a custom hiring workflow
- Robust, data-driven org chart tool
- Accurate, flexible PTO tracking software
Cons
- Limited “away” statuses; no customization
- Can’t see full calendar in the app
- Limited OT tracking and reporting
VAIRKKO - Best HRMS with LMS add-ons
The Scheduler tool helps you manage your workforce availability.
With a modest monthly price, and one that can be adjusted according to which solutions are needed by your company, and a substantial free trial means that VAIRKKO scored highly in the Value for Price section of the evaluation criteria.
VAIRKKO offers a variety of their own products as add-ons to integrate varying degrees of service into your plan; however, their site offers no details about the possibility of third party app integration (ie, with Slack and so on).
One thing VAIRKKO could do better (per the above note) is offer more options for third party apps and add-ons. This is the most prominent critique of the software.
VAIRKKO starts at $4.99/user/month and has a free 30-day trial.
Pros
- Branding customization, logo and colors
- Great for tracking CEU’s
- Easily add unpaid breaks into your staff’s time card
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Mobile app isn’t as fully functional as web
- Using multiple add-ons will greatly increase cost
Workday - Best time-off management
Workday helps you analyze the cost of labor with handy visualizations.
A highpoint of the software is its flexibility to manage user-input change, everything from the ability to audit change logs to the ability to mass rescind changes, and so on.
Integrations include 10x Psychology, Accu-Time Systems, Accurate Background, Achievers, Adobe, ADP, Amazon Business, AON, Aptitude Software, Ascend Software, Automation Anywhere, Avalara, Box, BetterUp, BountyJobs, Checkr, data.world, docusign, Google Cloud, Microsoft systems, Salesforce, and more.
Although it is not uncommon for software solutions to not disclose pricing arrangements, Workday takes it a step farther by not disclosing information about plan levels, any free trial offers, or even live demos. The lack of transparency lost them marks in the area of Value for Cost.
Workday offers pricing upon request and offers a free video demo on their homepage.
Pros
- Intelligent process automation from attract-to-pay
- Flexible organizational structures and modeling
- Benefits and employee transactional data in the same system
Cons
- Complex goals and self-appraisal process
- Pre-screening questionnaires are not customizable per job posting
- Can only drag-and-drop single entries on the Candidate Grid
PeopleBookHR - Best HRMS reporting
Track leave types like medical or casual, as well as usage hours.
One of the things this software does best is deftly managing sales made in the field; this tool allows HR administrators to easily track any sales representative’s performance and then derive useful reports from the data presented.
PeopleBookHR did not mention the possibility of third party app integrations on their website.
As per the above note, a con of PeopleBookHR is their lack of integration options. If you are looking to connect other tools to your HRMS, you will want to go with another solution. Thus, they lost some points in the evaluation of Integrations.
PeopleBookHR offers pricing upon request and has a free trial and demo.
Pros
- Includes incident recording and tracking
- Manual or upload input for time logs
- Create customized panel for employee reviews
Cons
- Slight learning curve
- No multi-lingual support
- Comparatively high pricing quotes
Best HRMS Software Summary
Other HRMS Systems
Here’s a few more that didn’t make the top list. If you need additional suggestions for handy human resources management system software, check these out.
- CakeHR – Best for benefits administration
- UltiPro – Best for complex employee data
- People HR – Best for managing employee performance
- Collage HR – Best white-labeled enrolment dashboards
- Namely – Best HRMS for mid-sized businesses
- Gusto – Best employee self-service finance tools
- Zenefits – Best for employee turnover prevention
- Rippling – Best electronic document management
- BambooHR – Best form managing HRMS benefits
- Zoho People – Best free HRMS software
- OrangeHRM – Best open source HRMS
What Do You Think About These Human Capital Management Tools?
Whether you need employee scheduling software or human resources processing, there is an HRMS tool that can help you out. Have you tried out any HRMS tools listed above? What HR technology do you go to for your day-to-day needs? Are there any HRMS solutions that you would add to this list if given the chance?
Not looking for a solution this comprehensive just yet? You might want to check these out:
- 10 Best Employee Scheduling Software For Small Business (2021)
- 10 Best HR Software To Manage Payroll & People In 2021
Comment below to weigh in! Here are other ways to get involved:
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