Best HR and Payroll Software Systems in 2025

Deel simplifies the hiring process, particularly for contractors, making it incredibly user-friendly. The compliance features are invaluable, keeping us informed of legal changes across different countries. Moreover, the platform itself is straightforward and easy to navigate.

Our organization needed a system that would enable us to quickly hire contractors in Europe while scaling with our growth. Deel was chosen for its clarity, ease of setup, and cost-effectiveness. Initially, it was used for managing our European contractors, but as we transitioned from contractors to full-time employees, Deel's capacity to handle EOR and contractors across multiple countries proved ideal. We have been using Deel for just over a year, starting with contractors and recently expanding to include EOR services for our European employees.

Navigating the platform can sometimes be confusing when trying to locate specific features. Currently, Deel does not support adding US employees, necessitating separate HRIS systems for our US and international staff. Additionally, we occasionally encounter unexpected fees.

Deel offers a more affordable solution compared to its competitors, although it's important to consider potential hidden fees. While the platform's overall look and functionality are similar to others in the market, the differences are relatively minor.

When considering a tool like Deel, evaluate your hiring needs outside the US. Inquire about all potential costs, including benefits and administrative fees. Also, plan strategically for the countries you intend to hire in, as adding multiple countries can complicate the process.

Deel is actively developing new features aimed at becoming a comprehensive solution for US-based employers managing international hires. This ongoing evolution is geared towards creating a single platform that can accommodate a variety of HR needs.

Deel is exceptionally well-suited for SMBs to small enterprise businesses that need an efficient platform for managing contractors. It offers simplicity and ease of use that is ideal for businesses at this scale.

• It’s a useful tool for onboarding and payroll.
• I like the app, the design is very nice and it's easy to use.
• I have used other onboarding platforms and they are quite difficult to understand or process.

For over 3 years, our company has been using Paylocity for onboarding and payroll purposes, but not their ATS feature. This system has been extremely helpful to keep track of the onboarding activities, which helps to keep everything organized and in one place. Also, for Payroll, the app is easy to use and very clear from what I have heard from my teammates.

• I would say, the platform is not modern enough.
• They need to update it quite often. I haven't seen many changes since I started using it a year ago. Usually, I hear that they are launching new things, but I haven't seen it personally.
• The ATS platform is not good. That's why we didn't get on it. It was not suitable, pricing-wise.

Well it's efficient for what is needed. It is quite similar to when I was using Greenhouse in the past, but I believe Paylocity’s app is better than what I have seen before.

It has the right tools for what is needed, I would say the cost is worth it for what they offer. Also, Paylocity has been in the market for a while and a lot of companies are using them. That’s key to keep in mind. The external reviews are good as well! However, it is vital to thoroughly examine using demos and trials to see if it’s the right fit for your company’s specific needs.

It has helped the business as we didn't have a system like this before. That said, I haven't seen many changes since I started using it a year ago.

For small businesses that are growing/expanding or any company that has over 50 employees.

I like ADP's ADA health compliance features, I like their payroll processing features, and I like their report-generating tools

West Monroe has used ADP for 10 years now. We moved to ADP to streamline benefits enrollment and to process payroll. ADP was purchased to help West Monroe grow to scale. When it was first purchased we were at 300 employees. As of today, we are at 2000 plus employees who we process payroll and benefits for

I dislike their open enrollment platform, customer service is sorely lacking, and their employee benefits profile always has problems

ADPs reporting is intuitive and one of the only features i like and would recommend

People should think about how they want to grow with ADP. For example, West Monroe is now an international company, and ADP payroll and benefits only works well for those in the US

The updates in their reporting abilities have helped with our company's needs

ADP is good for payroll and tax admins

• Rippling is highly versatile, and the workflow builder is easy to use and customize.
• It scales well with business growth, making it a sustainable long-term solution.
• The platform supports comprehensive employee life cycle management, including onboarding, offboarding, performance reviews, and training.

I have been using Rippling for about a year. Our organization became increasingly reliant on global contractors, and Rippling has made it easy to manage contractors from different countries around the world. Payroll is highly efficient, and benefits administration is simple.

The reporting tool is user-friendly, allowing accurate reports to be generated with just a few clicks. The workflows and IT functions are powerful and straightforward, offering a high level of versatility across the platform.

• When modifying a workflow trigger, the entire workflow is deleted, which is frustrating.
• The cost can be high for small businesses, as each app comes with separate pricing.
• Rippling’s interface is not very user-friendly and has a learning curve, although manageable with time and effort.

Rippling stands out with its strong global support and nearly 24/7 live chat. Specialized support teams are available to help tailor the platform to specific organizational needs.

Consider how the organization plans to scale and whether the investment aligns with long-term growth. Training requirements should also be factored in, as the platform requires time to learn to use effectively.

Rippling’s support has improved significantly, with faster response times that enhance the overall user experience.

Rippling is well suited for small to medium-sized organizations that employ global contractors and are experiencing growth.

1. Super Simple: Onpay is easy to use, even for someone who’s not a payroll expert.
2. Tax Magic: It takes care of all our tax filings automatically, saving us a lot of time.
3. Great Value: For what it offers, the price is excellent, especially for a smaller team like ours.

We bought Onpay because our previous payroll system was outdated, causing delays and errors that made payroll days difficult. We needed something reliable and easy to use, especially for our small team. Onpay met all our requirements with its straightforward interface, automated tax filings, and affordable pricing. It also integrates well with benefits and handles employee onboarding efficiently. I've been using Onpay for about a year now, and it has significantly reduced our administrative workload.

1. Limited Customization: I wish there were more options to customize reports and dashboards.
2. Customer Support: The support can be slow at times, which is frustrating when you need quick assistance.
3. Advanced Features: It lacks some advanced features that larger businesses might need, making it feel a bit basic for more complex needs.

Onpay stands out with its straightforward, user-friendly interface and great value for money. Unlike some other tools I've tried, it's incredibly easy to navigate and doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary features. I appreciate that it automates tax filings, which many other tools don't do as effectively. While it might lack some advanced options that larger businesses may need, for a small team, it offers the right balance of functionality and simplicity at a great price.

1. Ease of Use: Choose a tool that is easy to navigate, so you’re not stuck figuring out complex menus.
2. Automation: Ensure it handles tax tasks and direct deposits automatically to make payroll days stress-free.
3. Support: Verify that the support team is helpful and quick to respond when needed.
4. Cost: Make sure it fits your budget without sacrificing essential features.

Onpay has improved over time by keeping things simple and adding useful features. They have perfected automating tax filings and direct deposits, making payroll days easier. The interface has become increasingly user-friendly, which is a big plus.

It is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses that need a payroll system without extra complexity. It’s perfect for those who want an easy-to-use platform that handles all the payroll essentials, such as automated tax filings and direct deposits. If you’re running a business and want something straightforward and affordable without all the complicated features, Onpay is an excellent choice.

Some of the pros of UKG are that we can easily transfer information from the applicant profile to create the employee profile with no additional steps. Another pro is the ability for our employees to clock in and out easily from their mobile devices. Lastly, our benefits and payroll are also processed within UKG, making it a more convenient process for our organization.

We purchased UKG in 2019 to help streamline our hiring process, onboarding, and payroll system. Some of the benefits of UKG include being an all-in-one hiring, onboarding, and payroll system. I am one of the administrators of our UKG system, so I use it extensively. I am very proficient in what the system can offer, along with its downsides. The tool has significantly improved our operational efficiency since its implementation.

Some cons we have found with UKG include not being fully HR compliant; for a couple of years, we have not been able to properly run our EEO-1 reports. We use UKG to complete our I-9s and E-Verify, but that is not without constant issues. Some reporting capabilities hinder us from gathering information conveniently, often requiring us to manually maneuver the reports. Lastly, the system undergoes quarterly updates; however, each update often causes another issue in UKG, which we are not notified about until we submit a ticket. This causes many problems and makes us lose faith in new updates.

Many of their competitors are now all-in-one systems, so there isn't much difference in that aspect. Some improvements are needed to make it a perfect system, but the mobile ability for employees makes it very convenient for our staff to clock in and out from various work locations, differentiating it from its competitors.

The criteria that people should think about when buying this tool include the price; it is not an inexpensive tool, especially if purchasing all of the extended platform options such as the advanced scheduler and the leave or training modules. If a full HR compliance system is needed without manipulating the data, this system may be problematic.

UKG consistently updates its system to make improvements. They try to listen to their customers and work on ensuring they meet our needs.

UKG is best for an organization that needs a basic HRIS system.

Namely has an extremely user-friendly interface that helps manage HR tasks efficiently. It integrates payroll, benefits, and performance management into one platform, simplifying key processes. The tool offers customizable reporting capabilities that provide insightful personnel data while maintaining compliance with regulations.

Namely, an automated HR solution preferred by our management after a long history of inefficient HR processes, has proven its relevance as all operations have been streamlined. Switching and gathering information from different platforms was difficult, especially when accustomed to one system's workflow.

Before introducing Namely, completing payroll, personnel records, and other internal processes was time-consuming and prone to errors. We aimed to implement automation to allow a focus on tasks like performance management rather than correcting discrepancies. Namely’s user-friendly interface, creative report design, and working tools played a crucial role in its successful implementation.

I have been using Namely for [insert your time of use], and it has made our human resource processes more efficient, improving workforce management. It has also eliminated the problem of waiting for reports, a common issue in many companies that wastes valuable time.

Customer support at Namely is slow, especially when handling urgent issues. Some customization options, like those for reports, are limited and should be more flexible. Occasional system glitches or downtimes can disrupt important HR workflows and reduce productivity.

Namely's key differentiator is its all-in-one platform, featuring an intuitive user interface that combines payroll, benefits, and performance management in one system. This reduces the need for multiple tools. Compared to platforms like ADP or Workday, Namely is much easier for non-technical users. While competitors may offer more in-depth functionality in specific areas, Namely strikes the best balance between features and simplicity, making it ideal for midsize companies seeking a full-service solution.

When investing in an HR tool like Namely, key considerations include scalability—ensuring the platform can grow with your company—and integration capabilities with other systems such as payroll and benefits providers. Ease of use is critical, as a user-friendly interface leads to higher adoption and minimal training. Additionally, it's important to assess the level of customer support provided and how responsive the vendor is when issues arise. Customization options are another important factor, as the platform’s ability to adapt to your specific HR needs can significantly impact day-to-day operations.

Namely has evolved significantly over time, enhancing its platform to meet user demands with better integration features. Originally focused on core HR management, it has expanded to include payroll management, benefits administration, and compliance tools that help companies align with regulations.

The user experience has improved with a more intuitive interface, and customizable reporting has become more robust to extract meaningful data. Namely has also responded to customer feedback by improving its customer support and onboarding processes, addressing concerns about response times and implementation smoothness.

Namely is ideal for mid-sized organizations, typically with 50 to 500 employees, that want a user-friendly HR solution covering all key HR functions. It is especially suited for companies seeking an easy way to manage payroll, benefits, and performance management without the complexities of large enterprise systems.

Namely also works well for organizations that value employee engagement and want to use data-driven insights to improve HR practices continuously. Its intuitive design makes it accessible for HR teams with any level of technical expertise.

User-friendly interface: Workday's clean and intuitive design makes it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need.

Scalability: This makes it an ideal solution for growing businesses that require additional functionality over time. As a company expands or needs change, Workday can be customized to meet those evolving requirements.

‍Seamless integration: Workday offers robust integration capabilities with various third-party applications, ensuring a smooth flow of data across different systems. This compatibility with other software tools enables organizations to maintain a connected ecosystem, streamlining processes and reducing the need for manual data entry or reconciliation.

My organization was 10k plus employees and our old HRIS system was dated and clunky. I used it for approximately 2 years. We needed better self-service for not only employees but for managers as well with built-in approval processes. Additionally, we were looking for a tool that could handle the complex requirements of our global workforce, including compliance with local labor laws and regulations. Our previous system didn't have robust reporting capabilities, and it was challenging to extract useful data for analysis. Furthermore, it made it easier to manage employee data and processes across multiple systems. It also provided built-in compliance features, ensuring that we were meeting legal requirements in all countries where we had operations.

Cost: The investment in Workday is substantial, and not a good option for smaller companies.

Learning curve: While Workday's user interface is intuitive, the platform's extensive features may require some time to master. Adequate training and onboarding are essential for users to get the most out of the software.

‍Limited customization: Workday offers a wide range of built-in features and functionalities, but it may not be the best fit for organizations with highly specific or unique requirements.

While Workday has a long list of impressive companies that utilize their system I find SAP SuccessFactors does just as much and for slightly cheaper.

Functionality: Determine the features and capabilities that are most important to your organization. Consider aspects such as human resources, payroll, talent acquisition, time and attendance, performance management, financial management, and analytics. Ensure the tool you choose covers the required functionalities or can be easily integrated with other systems to create a comprehensive solution.

Scalability: Assess whether the tool can grow and adapt to your organization's changing needs. A scalable solution will allow you to add or modify features as your business evolves, ensuring long-term viability.

Integration: Examine the tool's ability to integrate with existing systems and third-party applications. Seamless integration is essential for streamlining processes and reducing the need for manual data entry or reconciliation.

‍User experience: Evaluate the tool's user interface and overall usability. An intuitive and user-friendly design will encourage adoption and make it easier for employees to effectively use the platform.

They have expanded product offerings and made some user experience enhancements.

Enterprise with large (1000k+) and global employees.

• BambooHR automates many tedious HR tasks, saving time for higher-value work.
• The system supports seamless collaboration across departments, keeping everyone aligned.
• The onboarding experience for new hires is smooth and creates a welcoming impression.

At the time, the organization was experiencing challenges with recruitment and was using an outdated HRIS. They adopted BambooHR, which was extremely helpful due to its built-in ATS. This enabled faster and more streamlined recruitment processes.

Over time, the organization transitioned away from the previous HRIS entirely, as BambooHR proved to be an effective all-in-one solution. It handled several key HR functions efficiently, which added value across the organization.

• More customization options would be beneficial, as there are limitations on the number of workflows that can be created.
• The ATS is fairly basic and lacks features like resume screening, which is a drawback.
• Pricing became a concern as the organization grew—while manageable at first, costs increased significantly with scale.

BambooHR is a strong option for small to mid-sized businesses that don't require complex systems. The simplicity and ease of use make it accessible and easy to adopt.

Scalability and customization are two important factors to consider. For small businesses needing a basic, user-friendly system, BambooHR is a great option that’s cost-effective and easy to learn.

I am unsure, as I have not used BambooHR recently.

BambooHR is well suited for small organizations and users with limited HRIS experience.

Paycor had a simple interface that was easy to navigate. We were pleased with its all-in-one HRIS solution, which replaced multiple separate systems we had previously integrated. It was a cost-effective solution for a business of our size.

We used Paycor at a previous organization I worked for. We selected it over competitors because we felt it was the best fit for the size of our organization (about 200 employees). The main reason we chose it was to use it as an all-in-one solution for HRIS. We used it for approximately four years.

Customer service at Paycor left a lot to be desired after implementation. There were extra fees for special requests that were not explained upfront. Annual renewals became more expensive over the years.

It is a cost-effective solution compared to many competitors. Reports are customizable and easy to generate. With some other HRIS tools, report generation was more difficult. Since implementation, customer service has been lacking.

Other HRIS providers tend to emphasize customer service and client partnerships more. Paycor met our needs at the time, but more robust systems would better serve larger organizations.

There are a few key factors to consider when purchasing an HRIS/payroll tool. One is customer service and how well the provider supports your organization after the sale. This is especially important for small organizations that rely on strong customer support to save time.

Cost is another factor, but pricing may vary depending on the organization's size, with some providers offering significant discounts for larger businesses.

Organizations should also clarify their specific needs by creating lists of "must-haves," "nice-to-haves," and "not needed" features. This helps avoid paying for unnecessary functionality and can serve as a bargaining tool during negotiations.

During the time I used it, I observed that they kept up to date with wage and labor laws by state, which was crucial for compliance. Over the four years I used it, they implemented software updates to ensure the system functioned smoothly. Although we did not use this feature, they added integration capabilities with other tools over time.

Paycor is well-suited for mid-sized businesses that have HR experts on staff and need an easy-to-use tool.

I love their customer service, they always have an answer for you and make my job so much easier. The interface is fantastic, and the design is very appealing, which is a huge factor for someone that uses it quite often. I also really like the admin dashboard, Gusto will list outstanding tasks with their deadlines and will prompt you with helpful information to finish the task.

My company is a portfolio company for High Alpha Innovation. Gusto is the go-to HRIS for all portfolio companies. We have been using it since we started in 2020 and have even used it for one of our own portfolio companies. Gusto is a very easy-to-use tool that has fantastic customer support. When you're working for a start-up, you don't want to spend a long time on payroll and Gusto really helps with that. It's also very easy to set up a new instance of Gusto for a company - it took like two hours and was a painless experience due to Gusto's interface.

Sometimes the outstanding tasks aren't accurate, we recently had tasks pop up for an employee that has been gone for two years. This is very specific, but I wish that you could make some employee documents private to employees, all the documents you upload are automatically public and don't give you an option. I dislike their benefits -- we ran a quote before and it took a few weeks to get back the quote and it was incredibly expensive.

The only similar tool I've used is a PEO called Justworks. I'm not sure if it's a fair comparison, since PEOs pretty much do everything for you. I will say, it was nice that you could set up Gusto in a day and run payroll the next day if needed. For Justworks, you have to wait until the system start date, which can be weeks later.

I think that customer service is a huge buying criteria, especially if you have an inexperienced team. It's invaluable to have experts that you can call or chat with at any time. Cost is definitely a big factor that differs from organization to organization. It's sometimes worth it to pay a little bit more to make your life easier and that's what we've found with Gusto. Lastly, I think that it's important to have an easy-to-use system for both HR and employees. Payroll is VERY important which makes it vital to have a system that is easy to comprehend.

Gusto has become more well-rounded over the years. Last year, they added performance reviews into the mix. It's definitely not perfect and not very customizable, but it's a free add-on, which can be a huge value to organizations that don't have performance management built out.

Small to mid-sized organizations. I think it could work for a small start-up, but would be better for slightly more mature organizations.