10 Best Free HR Software Tools for Startups & SMBs (2024)
The best free human resources software tested, reviewed, and compared by SelectSoftware Reviews' HR tech experts. Find details on features, subscription plans, and more below.
.png){kind=logo}
Top Free HR Software
Finding the best free human resources software is a decision that will have an impact on virtually every member of your organization, including future hires. Whether it’s for onboarding, payroll management, benefits management, or time-off requests, your next Human Resources software will become an integral part of your company’s day-to-day operation.
But what if you’re on a budget and can’t flesh out a high fee for every user just yet? Thinking of companies in this scenario, we decided to put together a list of 11 HR software solutions that have a completely operational free version. These are mostly not free trials but free software options that you can use for unlimited time and for a wide variety of HR purposes. They’re also tools that we would use ourselves and have a strong reputation with the HR managers in several industries that we've interviewed.
We are currently collecting HRIS pricing data through a quick and anonymous two-minute survey. By participating and contributing to the community, you will gain access to the complete data set!
We found the best free HR software by evaluating more than 30 tools on these key performance factors: payroll processing, recruitment and onboarding, performance reviews, employee management, and time-off management. Our real-world experience tells us that the first three of these elements matter most to teams looking for free HR software.
Our editorial team, all seasoned HR pros advised by industry leaders, led the research. We also gathered data from hands-on, user research.
- Payroll Processing
Payroll is usually the first process that growing teams need to automate, so we scrutinized this feature on each free platform we evaluated. Specifically, we collected data about integration partners to assess each tool's ability to connect with common HRIS software (time-keeping, attendance, etc). We also compiled user feedback and integrated notes from their experience, and we looked into each platform’s flexibility in payment options (hourly, salary, contract, etc.).
- Recruitment and Onboarding
This feature is critical for growing companies, so we consulted four thought leaders for their take on each platform’s approach. In addition to this “gut check,” we also evaluated for ease of integration (again, testing against common HRIS software), and we had our user research team run simulations of employee experience scenarios.
- Performance Reviews
Growing businesses often underestimate the importance of performance assessment, and many regret not adopting a system early on. For our evaluation we asked our HR experts with the most extensive knowledge of innovations and best practices to weigh in on the 30+ companies we assessed for this guide.They graded each on a pass/fail basis, assessing the software’s approach to goal setting, analytics/reporting, feedback/coaching, and overall UX/UI.
When researching a product, we gather and assess every data point available, from broad historical context to individual user feedback. Guides like this one are unique: our methodology is refined, scientific, and rigorous. To learn more about our process, read this blog on how we evaluate HR tech vendors.
Homebase
Deel
Zoho People
Bitrix24
Odoo
Orange HRM
Sentrifugo
Need Help? Talk to an HR Software Advisor!
Tell us more about your company & an HR Software Advisor will help you find the right software
Homebase
Homebase was built to manage hourly workers and keep track of their work. They're also used for hiring, onboarding, HR & compliance, health & safety checks, and labor cost controls.
PROS
- Separate dashboards for managers and employees
- Real-time communication features allow for schedule changes on the move
- Requesting and approving paid time off is easy
- Great scheduling templates help managers streamline work
CONS
- Limited third-party integration support
- Additional features are somewhat expensive
This is a comprehensive HR tool that specializes in hourly work. While their time tracking tools are quite refined, their free version also offers team messaging, an app for employees, a hiring tool, and integrations with POS & payroll software. Their basic plan is free for unlimited employees, as long as the team is limited to one location.
PokPok Restaurants, D'Amore's Pizza, Stella Taco, Blush Tea & Coffee, Legacy Farms
After the Basic free plan, Homebase starts at $14 per month.
Best For
Homebase is used by a wide array of small businesses in several industries, from restaurants and bars to retail, health, and hospitality.
You can use it on a website or an app. Overall, it is the same technique on the website or app. You sign into your company schedule and find your name. Once you find your name, you can click on start shift. When you want to take a break, there is an option for that too. Then you can log back in to end your shift.
It makes it easy to sign in anywhere. It is easy to track how many hours you worked. It is easy to guide through the website/app.
I used Homebase for about 3 years. One of the main reasons our company bought Homebase was because everyone kept forgetting to clock-in through a machine at work so our company wanted to make clock-ins more convenient. I liked it when we transitioned to it, we were able to clock-in whether we were in office or remote. It helped track everyone's work time accurately. It also sent in our hours to payroll according to the scheduled pay time.
Sometimes people still forget to clock in with the app. When I used it about 2 years ago, I wish it sent us notifications to remind us to clock-in or out. The platform does go down sometimes.
I like Homebase because it is made for everyone to use. It is extremely easy to navigate Homebase.
I have more pros than cons for Homebase. I highly suggest the platform. It is organized and easy to navigate.
It is easier for managers or bosses to manage employee hours through the dashboard. It has more visibility on who is on time and who is late.
Medical offices, small organizations, remote workers
Huge corporate offices with over 200+ employees
Deel
Deel recently launched their free HRIS which comes with many features you may only find in a more robust system such as 1:1's, pulse surveys, and more.
PROS
- Free to get started HRIS
- Integrates with best in class global payroll solution
- Full stack HR solution for global teams
- One of the best features of Deel is its customer service. They offer 24/7 in-app support and the fastest-in-class onboarding speed of 2-3 days. Users get access to local payroll experts in each jurisdiction, and support is available for contractors facing challenges setting themselves up as an LLC.
- Integrates seamlessly with common platforms like Quickbooks, Bamboo, Greenhouse, and more. They also offer custom integrations to automate and sync processes.
- Self-service approach; tech-enabled features so customers can jump in quickly and easily. Our user researchers found it quite easy to set up: the identity verification process consistently took less than 24 hours, and in some cases, it took mere minutes.
- Automated invoices, which are a breeze to do as long as they’re in English, both on the company and the contractor or employee’s side.
CONS
- The cost of global payroll compliance is out of reach for many teams
- Further, the HR portion of the tool is only offered as part of their global payroll products. You also have to set up a demo with their team to get started with the HR tool.
- Some of Deel’s best and most powerful services, like onboarding automation, appear to be add-ons, which might be too costly for some companies
- There is little to no flexibility when it comes to altering their contracts or service agreements, so many changes would require an addendum.
- There is a $5 fee per payout
- As far as we’ve seen, it’s not possible to generate invoices in another language.
If you're looking for a free HR software suite, this may be the best fit. Deel's free HRIS is a great new addition to this global payroll company's offering. No, it's not going to have all the bells and whistles of a $10/employee/mo solution. And, it's new so will be buggy, we're sure.
That said, Deel has a long track record of putting together great solutions in the very complex world of paying international contractors/employees. It's not surprising that they are offering their HRIS for free either. This is a great way to lock customers into their payroll offering, where they make more than enough money to stay afloat.
Overall, we'd recommend taking a look at this solution, especially if you're a global team that will need help with payroll/immigration/compliance in the future.
- Brex
- Doogle
- Duffel
- Andela
- HomeLight
- Makerpad
Pricing for Deel's HRIS is completely free! Here's how they support this offering through payroll:
- Contractors: At $49 per contractor per month, Deel takes care of payroll and compliance for contracts in 150 countries.
- Full-time: From $500, this plan lets you hire full-time employees in a new country without having to set up a legal entity there. Deel becomes an Employer of Record and hires the employee for you.
Best For
This is a great solution for companies that need a free HRIS, and may want to expand globally (or already have a global team). We see more and more teams starting remote first, and this is really an ideal solution for them.
We used Deel as a payment processor for our international employees. The system is customizable to pay contractors on a weekly, bi-weekly or semi-monthly basis. We were able to pay some contractors weekly, and another group semi-monthly. The system also allows for you to submit payments on behalf of the contractor or out of their usual payroll cycle in an off-cycle payroll. Reimbursements could be paid out by the use of the off-cycle payroll. They could be paid immediately after approval by the admin or included in the next payroll cycle run.
I liked the customization of contracts. I liked that our contractors could manage their funds after they were available. It was very easy to get help and a solution through their chat feature or by phone with a representative.
We were in search of an international HRIS tool to employ our international contractors and full employees temporarily. We chose Deel due to the ease of onboarding, customization, and 0 dollar up front cost to onboard our international contractors. We used the platform on a weekly basis to onboard and pay our contractors for 6 months. I especially liked that once a contract ended we could still pay out hours via an off-cycle payroll. This was helpful if a contractor missed a timesheet submission deadline. Another benefit to the platform that our contractors favored was the ability to withdraw their funds in their currency of choice; or split payments into various currencies. Once timesheets were approved and processed from an administrative perspective, funds were available, in most cases within 24hrs to the contractors Deel account.
As we were considering hiring international employees we could only do so by paying upfront cost before onboarding them, this was not ideal for us. I did not like that I couldn't set a semi-monthly rate for a few of our contractors. Onboarding manager wasn't easy to reach for quick questions when onboarding contractors.
The management fees were lower and contractors had more control over their funds.
If you are hiring contractors or employees and how many. Have a solid understanding of what countries they are located in, as this affects the management fee. Also, management fees are paid each payroll, which could get costly, so be sure the contractor or employee is aware of their pay schedule.
We only used this tool for about 6 months and did not see any significant changes during that time.
Remote first companies with employees or contractors across the world.
None
Monday.com
Monday.com offers customizable templates, automations, and a user-friendly interface for streamlining HR workflows and employee management. While not a complete HR solution, its flexibility and collaboration features make it a valuable tool for HR teams looking to optimize their processes.
PROS
- Monday.com is highly customizable with automations that enable HR professionals to tailor the tool to their specific needs.
- There are already over 200 pre-built templates you can use right away for different processes.
- The free plan offers a range of beneficial features, such as unlimited documents, up to 3 boards, and access to the pre-designed templates mentioned above.
- Free plan available, and affordable, scalable plans for small to midsize businesses
- Easy to learn and use
- Customizable dashboard
- Collaborative document creation with the ability to turn content in docs into tasks in projects with a few clicks
- Gamified progress tracking with visual celebrations for users
- Workflow automation for repetitive tasks
- Built-in communication tools reduce reliance on email
- Customized forms for in-house or client use that can be easily turned into projects
CONS
- Because Monday.com isn’t a traditional HR software, it does take some time to learn, customize and fully it up.
- Upgrading to the Standard plan is necessary to access all the integrations and automation capabilities.
- 3+ users are required to get on any of the paid plans
- Limited storage on the Basic plan
- Could be too complex for simple project management needs
- No phone customer support
- Tracking different conversations can be difficult because of all the clutter
While Monday.com isn’t your typical HR software, it offers a range of customizable templates and automations that make it a compelling choice for HR teams looking to streamline their workflow and employee management processes. Among its key strengths is the ability to centralize and organize employee data. From recruitment pipelines to employee performance reviews, the platform provides a single, easy-to-navigate hub for all HR-related information. This centralization not only improves efficiency but also enhances visibility for HR teams to make decisions more effectively.
Another area where Monday.com shines is in its employee engagement features. The platform offers a set of HR templates designed to simplify the process of conducting employee surveys, such as well-being and engagement assessments. By automating these processes and keeping all collected information in one place, Monday.com helps HR teams stay on top of employee sentiment and take proactive steps to improve retention.
Collaboration is at the heart of Monday.com, and this is evident in its HR offering as well. The platform's boards and dashboards make it easy for team members to work together, manage tasks, and stay updated on progress. Customizable automations further streamline processes by ensuring that timelines are met and tasks are assigned without manual intervention.
While Monday.com may not offer the full suite of HR functions like payroll and benefits administration, it compensates with a wide range of templates that cover most other HR processes. From employee lifecycle packages to time off requests and HR service management, the platform's template library provides a solid foundation for HR teams to build upon.
The user-friendly interface and extensive customization options make Monday.com an attractive choice for organizations looking to complement their existing payroll software with a powerful HR workflow management solution. The platform's versatility extends beyond HR, with applications in project management, marketing, sales, and more, making it a valuable asset for businesses of all sizes.
Monday.com is used by 225,000+ companies including Lionsgate, Glossier, and Oxy.
The pricing of Monday.com’s platform ranges from $9 to $19, depending on the chosen plan. Additionally, there is a free plan that allows up to 2 user seats and 3 boards. For a detailed breakdown of pricing options, please visit the Pricing page on Monday.com.
Best For
Companies across different verticals can use Monday.com’s platform and customize it to their needs. The pricing is also scalable with a free plan for small businesses/startups.
I use Monday.com at least 3x/week to organize social media content. I group items by content topic, then completed (organic) and completed (paid) for the year so I can easily go back and check last year's post around X topic, even if it was longer than a year ago (which LinkedIn won't show).
The color-coding, different sections, and drag & drop functions make organizing incredibly easy; at my last org, I created a monster spreadsheet that people had trouble following, and it was really manual to keep updating the locations of "completed," the color coding, etc. I'd use it for content approval when my boss was getting used to my writing style, which was as easy as tagging her so she'd get an email alert, and changing the status to "For Review." When reviews were done, she'd change the status to "Review Complete.
- Ease of use: Monday replaces manual spreadsheet updates and the amount of time I used to spend color coding and selecting from drop-down menus was horrifying.
- Ability to tag & share: I can easily tag anyone who needs to be aware of upcoming content or needs to review - including managers, stakeholders, legal partners, etc.
- Visibility of past content: I can grab past posts in 30 seconds; it's much easier than going to LinkedIn and trying to remember the date of posting, or scrolling through hundreds of enterprise posts to find a particular link.
Our Internal Comms team uses Monday.com, as does our Global Employer Brand team. We've used it for a few years now - I've only been at the company for ~9mos. I've personally used it since about day 3. The key benefit is easy content / calendar organization and ease of sharing and tagging others for visibility.
I'm going to struggle to find cons here. Nothing is ever perfect (much less Mondays - should they have named it FridayAfternoons.com?) but this tool is straightforward, doesn't try to do too much - that's key, and makes my life a little easier.
If there were a way for Monday to pull in metrics automatically, to house next to the social post links once live, that'd be great - but isn't really what the tool is for. It helps in scanning what's doing well vs where we can pull back, vs doing a big manual data pull.
An integration with Hootsuite or whatever social scheduling tool would be ideal. Once it's marked "Ready to Schedule" in Monday, if there was a way to auto-upload content to Hootsuite for any final refinements, that'd be awesome.
I haven't used a content management tool like this before. I used Basecamp for one summer years ago, but that was used for bigger projects vs singular social media post management, so isn't comparable based on my use of the tools.
- Usecases: Do you want a tool that does a wide variety of things? Monday.com is not your solution. Do you want a tool that makes content management very easy? Using Monday makes every day until Friday a little more bearable.
- # of Seats: I'm not in charge of vendor management so the price I listed was a guess; but consider who will actively use the tool, and whether the price is justifiable. (Hint: for the content / internal comms / social media manager, the answer is yes.)
Type A people with a high volume workload and no time for extra frills or a learning curve to use the platform.
Orgs who wouldn't utilize the benefits (i.e. tagging others for review, which is a huge one) - this would be a waste of the tool.
Connecteam
If you’re tackling human resources with a high number of deskless employees, Connecteam is an essential tool to consider. Not only is it great for remote teams, it has a free version for small businesses.
PROS
- Stands out as one of the only fully-mobile HR tools for deskless workers in this category
- Well-priced, providing substantial value to the needs of SMBs
- Highly receptive to feedback, as evidenced by its track record of incorporating user suggestions as new features in the past
- One of the only fully-mobile HR tech tools for deskless workers
- Very adequately-priced for all it entails, SMB-friendly
- Quite open to feedback, having implemented user suggestions as features in the past.
CONS
- The communication hub lacks confirmation for sent and/or seen messages, leaving users uncertain about the status of their messages.
- Essential features like GPS tracking, valued by some teams, are only available in the higher-tier pricing plans.
- In the communication hub, the app offers no confirmation that messages were sent and/or seen.
- Certain features that some teams consider essential, such as GPS-tracking, are only available in the higher-tier pricing plans.
Established in 2014, Connecteam stands out as a leading HR app dedicated to deskless workers. Recognizing a significant portion of the global workforce is now remote, Connecteam seized the opportunity to address this underserved segment. While most HR management tools cater to white-collar employees, Connecteam saw the need to provide tailored solutions for deskless workers and has been filling this gap effectively over the years.
So, if you’re looking for a straightforward yet powerful and intuitive tool for managing employees that may not even have an email address (and has a free plan!) Connecteam is a tool you should demo.
From the Connecteam mobile app (iOS and Android), HR managers can handle tasks like staff scheduling, attendance management, timesheets, training, employee onboarding, and much more. Workers can interact with their side of this via their mobile devices as well, where they can create an account with nothing but a phone number.
Now, all this being said, Connecteam is a great tool for HR in general, used by many desk-based companies as well. For instance, among the users we interviewed for this piece, we had HR managers from a data migration company (Relokia), and an IT services firm (PhotoAiD).
Connecteam’s free plan is geared towards small businesses, since it allows up to 10 users only. It’s free for life and includes features like the time clock, shift planning, checklists, as well as task and document management.
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that, should your team grow beyond 10 individuals, Connecteam’s plans are modestly priced and include more features as you level up. Also, each paid plan has a 14-day free trial you can take. For more information on their paid plans, and Connecteam in general, we recommend checking out our full review.
Best For
SMBs with up to 10 employees, with most of them being deskless workers.
I use the solution to connect and collaborate with the team remotely, to develop work libraries that help our new team understand how we operate, our ethics, and our code of conduct during the orientations at our workplace, I also use the tool to share documents online for the team to work and to provide feedback on through the chat channel
- I like the software pricing of the tool, it is cheap to use for business purposes and hence does not affect the ROI of the company.
- I like the chat feature which you can use to broadcast your messages amongst the team at no extra cost.
- Event notifications make sure that our users never miss our internal meetings and events
Connecteam is faster and easier to use, which has helped us solve the problem of team management, team collaborations, and group work, it is helping us to share documents, and work plans with the team remotely, and, also we use it as decision-making tool where we use the chat feature of the software to chat with our team remotely to make important decision makings to our tool. I have used the solution for three years and eight months as an administrator of the software
The software has a lot of video tutorials that play automatically hence creating inconvenience, one should only play the video when needed and with his or her consent.It does not have a calendar integration which makes it hard for one to integrate a calendar within the software to track personal events and business events to prevent event conflicts, the text editor in the tool is too slow when you are creating event descriptions, it is impossible to add the ALT text on images that you add in the tool.
They have kept the pricing relatively lower to help even smaller businesses use the solution, and they have a responsive customer support team through the live chat
Good for HR, team leaders, and marketing teams
May not be a good solution for support teams
Zoho People
Zoho People has a free plan that any business can sign up for. It is permanently free for up to five users, and provides essential tools such as a mobile app, employee database, and time off management. It has proven a solid starting point for many growing startups.
PROS
- Free plan includes essential HR features like employee data management and leave management.
- Available in multiple languages.
- All core HR features in a single dashboard
- Wide array of integrations
- User-friendly UI, constantly updated
- Available in multiple languages
CONS
- Free plan is limited to five users and 250MB of storage.
- The mobile app is occasionally buggy and slow to load.
- Since they offer so many modules, some may be not as robust as other products that have been more specific about covering certain needs. For instance, some teams have found their payroll offering to be quite basic.
- Not all that’s available in the web platform is available in the app
- Some users reported that the platform can be slow to load every now and then.
Zoho is a software company that makes everything from CRM to bookkeeping tools. The platform also offers a cloud-based HRMS that’s bound to check most boxes in any HR manager’s requirement list.
To test the product, we signed up for Zoho free plan and found that, while it has some limitations, it provides a strong set of basic features that are good for small business.
There is a five-user cap on the free plan (including one administrator), and storage is limited to 250MB. It includes basic HR functions like leave management and also some more exotic features like an AI chatbot.
“Zia” the chatbot, is a unique feature that helps employees find solutions to HR questions without requiring one-on-one help from an HR rep.
Employees simply ask a question, and the bot uses keywords to search the existing FAQs. If there are no matches, Zia automatically creates a new case that will be handled by an HR rep, and the database of FAQs grows.
Though the free plan features are basic, many users comment on the convenience of having multiple aspects of employee data available in one place. The mobile apps are also well-liked overall but are reported to lag occasionally.
However, 250MB of storage can be a deal-breaker for some teams. Additionally, customers on the free plan do not have access to 24/7 customer support, though they are offered support during normal business hours.
ZPE Systems, Cloudfronts Technologies, Zomato, SpiceJet, Foresight CFO.
Zoho People is free for up to five users. They also offer the following plans, billed annually,
- Essential HR: $1.25 per user per month.
- Professional: $2 per user per month.
- Premium: $3 per user per month.
- Enterprise: $4.5 per user per month.
Best For
The free version is a sound starting point for startups and budget-minded teams to take advantage of essential HR tools.
It offers several key workflows that we can leverage to enhance our HR operations.
- Employee On-boarding: Zoho People simplifies the onboarding process by automating tasks such as creating employee profiles, collecting necessary documents, and assigning onboarding tasks to relevant stakeholders.
- Time and Attendance Management: It enables accurate tracking of employee attendance, including clock-in/clock-out times, breaks, and leave requests.
- Leave Management: It ensures transparency in leave policies, simplifies the approval process, and maintains accurate leave records.
- Performance Management: It facilitates goal setting, performance evaluations, and feedback mechanisms. Managers can define objectives, track progress, conduct appraisals, etc.
- HR Analytics and Reporting: It allows us to generate reports on various HR metrics, such as employee attendance, leave utilization, performance ratings, and turnover rates. These insights enable data-driven decision-making and help identify areas for improvement.
Pros -
- Comprehensive HR Management: It provides a centralized platform for managing all HR-related tasks, simplifying processes, and increasing efficiency.
- Mobile Accessibility: It offers a mobile app that enables employees and managers to access HR-related information and perform essential tasks on the go.
- Scalable and Customizable: It offers scalability, allowing us to accommodate our growing needs. It's highly customizable, and allows us to tailor the software to our specific HR workflows and requirements.
We majorly use it for attendance & leave management. Zoho People helps in keeping a track record of each & every employee. Other than that it provides Efficient HR Management, Employee Self-Service, seamless collaboration between HR teams and employees, Comprehensive Analysis of key HR metrics, etc. I personally have been using it for the past 1.6yr
- Customer Support Response Time: The support response time is slower. This affects the resolution of critical issues.
- Pricing Structure: The pricing structure is relatively higher compared to other HR management software options in the market.
- Learning Curve: It has certain features, which may require a learning curve for new users. Getting familiar with the platform and understanding its functionalities might take some time, particularly for users who are not familiar with HR management software tools.
I have used Workday HCM in the past and I feel ZOHO People is better as it provides better UI at a very cheaper price. It is not possible for small or mid-size organizations to afford workday
Following things should be kept in mind while deciding on such tools-
- Size of the organization
- Goals of the organization regarding growth & increase in team size in future
- Price of the product
- Number of users it allows to access
Zoho People has evolved in the following ways -
- Continuous Feature Enhancements: Zoho People has consistently improved its feature set based on user feedback and market trends. It has undergone regular updates and enhancements to offer new functionalities and improve the overall user experience.
- Mobile Accessibility: Recognizing the growing importance of mobile devices, Zoho People has expanded its mobile capabilities.
- Integration Capabilities: It has focused on integration with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Recruit, and Zoho Analytics, to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for businesses.
- Automation and Workflow Customization: It has placed an emphasis on automation and workflow customization features. Users can define their own workflows, set up approval processes, and automate routine HR tasks.
- Self-Service Portals: It has expanded its self-service capabilities. The software offers self-service portals where employees can access their personal information, submit leave requests, manage time and attendance, view payslips, and collaborate with their teams.
IT companies
Academic Organizations like schools & colleges
BambooHR
BambooHR is a trusted name in human resources tech. In addition to numerous perks and flexible pricing options, they offer a free trial. Note that this is not a free free version, but it’s worth checking out as their custom pricing can be quite reasonable.
PROS
- Relatively cost-effective, with a free version that provides essential HR functionalities.
- User-friendly platform that simplifies HR processes even for those inexperienced in the field. For instance, managing employee data, time-off tracking, and document storage is quite simple.
- Conveniently mobile accessible. Certain HR tasks can be performed on the go with the BambooHR mobile app.
- Flexible packaging and custom pricing is the way they roll. You can pick out one or two packages and pick other modules as add-ons based on your needs.
- Very simple and straightforward tool, easy to use.
CONS
- The free version of BambooHR has limitations on certain advanced features and functionalities available to the paid plans.
- Customization options may be restricted in the free version, limiting the ability to tailor the tool to specific organizational needs.
- Support options may be limited for free users, with priority given to paid subscribers.
- Payroll is only available for US-based employees
- Customer support is only offered during US business hours.
- Some modules like time tracking, performance management, and surveys are only available as add-ons.
This list had to include one of the top names in human resources software. Unlike all the previous contenders, BambooHR doesn’t have a free version that you can use for unlimited time. However, they’re worth mentioning because they offer a free trial of their all-in-one software and then go out of their way to find a version that will suit you. Before they come up with a personalized quote that will fit your budget, however, they are also likely to extend your free trial upon request or even give you a free demo of the advanced features.
Among the 20,000+ companies that use BambooHR, you’d find names like Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, Asana, Change.org, University of Maryland, Grammarly, Stance, Postmates, Wistia, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and ZipRecruiter.
Pricing is not disclosed upfront, but they do offer a free trial of their all-in-one software and then go out of their way to find a version that will suit you. Before they come up with a personalized quote that will align with your budget, however, they are also likely to extend your free trial upon request or even give you a free demo of the advanced features.
Best For
BambooHR's free HR tool is a good choice for small businesses and startups looking for a no-cost solution to streamline essential HR processes. It provides a user-friendly interface and essential HR features to efficiently manage employee data, making it particularly suitable for organizations with limited resources.
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a hugely popular vendor with a massive array of tools for businesses and organizations. Some of their HR products are free, and for the same plan you can get several other business apps too.
PROS
CONS
While not solely HR-focused, Bitrix24 is used by more than 8,000,000 organizations all over the world. Nevertheless, the free plan also adds countless other features from the other Bitrix products. While more of a collaboration SaaS platform with a massive variety of tools like CRM, project management, and even a website builder, Bitrix24 also offers a highly reliable and intuitive HR information system. As of 2021, it includes over 25 HR tools. From those, several such as company structure, employee directory, and company knowledge base are included in the free version for unlimited users.
Saigon Newport Corporation, Properters, Endelza International
Best For
Companies looking for free HR tools with a bundle of other apps for business.
I use Bitrix24 every day for task management and HR management, though the software offers other interesting features. It allows me to create, assign, and track tasks easily, improving productivity and collaboration. I also manage employee information such as personal details, employment history, and performance evaluations with Bitrix24.
Additionally, I track vacation time, sick leave, and other HR-related activities. Although Bitrix24 has many useful features, I focus on tasks and HR management, which have streamlined our daily operations. I continue to explore its capabilities to enhance our productivity and performance.
- Mobile friendly: Users can access Bitrix24 on the go through its mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
- Diversity: Bitrix24 offers a wide range of features and tools, including project management, CRM, HR management, communication and collaboration, and more.
- Cost effective: Bitrix24 offers affordable pricing plans and also has a free version.
Our organization acquired Bitrix24 approximately three months ago as a complementary solution to our existing program. Due to some technical challenges, our previous program had been non-functional for an extended period, and we urgently needed a dependable tool to support our operations during that time.
After researching several alternatives, we opted for Bitrix24, impressed by its comprehensive functionality and intuitive interface. We were able to quickly create and manage tasks, projects, and communication channels, which were essential for effective collaboration within our team.
Although we have only been using Bitrix24 for a relatively short time, we have already noticed significant improvements in our workflow and productivity. We appreciate the platform's adaptability and flexibility, which enable us to tailor it to our particular requirements.
- Complex: New users may face a significant learning curve due to the complexity of the software.
- Integration: there might be restrictions on which apps can be integrated and the ease of integration.
- It could be restrictions on the extent of customization to tailor the platform according to your particular requirements.
Bitrix24 distinguishes itself from other similar tools in several ways. Its main strength lies in providing a comprehensive set of tools for project management, collaboration, communication, and customer relationship management, all in a single platform. This makes it an efficient and convenient solution for businesses and teams of all sizes.
Bitrix24 offers a unique social intranet feature, enabling team members to communicate and collaborate in a social media-like environment, which can be more engaging and intuitive than conventional project management tools.
Having used several project management and collaboration tools in the past, I can confidently say that Bitrix24 is one of the best. It offers a broad range of features and customization options, which can be tailored to suit the specific needs of my team.
When buying Bitrix24, it's essential to evaluate your team's needs, the level of complexity of your projects, the level of support and resources provided, and the cost. By considering these criteria, you can ensure that Bitrix24 is the right fit for your team and budget. Make sure to evaluate the pricing plans and compare them with other project management and collaboration tools to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.
Bitrix24 has continuously improved its platform by introducing new features and functionalities to enhance its project management, collaboration, and communication capabilities. These improvements include advanced project management tools like Gantt charts, resource allocation, and time tracking, as well as collaboration features such as task assignments, file sharing, and team messaging. These upgrades have significantly strengthened Bitrix24's platform, making it a more complete and reliable solution for teams and businesses of all sizes.
Bitrix24 is an exceptional platform for teams and businesses that require a complete set of tools to manage their projects, enhance collaboration, facilitate communication, and maintain customer relationships. It is the perfect choice for organizations seeking an all-inclusive platform that can simplify their operations and boost their productivity. Additionally, Bitrix24's social intranet feature makes it an ideal solution for teams that prioritize engagement and collaboration among team members, enabling them to work seamlessly and efficiently
In some cases, larger enterprises may not find Bitrix24's customization options and integrations suitable for their specific needs. Due to its limitations, more specialized software solutions may be required to meet their unique requirements adequately.
Odoo
Oddo offers a massive variety of HR & business solutions that can cover many needs for a company. Plus, they do it in several languages.
PROS
CONS
The interesting thing about Odoo is that they divide nearly all their feature offerings into stand-alone applications. Any of these is free for unlimited users and unlimited time until you either need more space or add another application. This is an excellent choice if you only need, say, time off tracking or a payroll app, and can be quite cost-friendly if you require only a few additional applications. It’s also comforting to know that, with Odoo, you only pay for what you use.
Odoo is used by companies like Southern Wine Group, BizTech College, and XB Press Buyer.
Best For
Companies looking to fulfill a specific use case for free, or those that would like many of their business tech tools to come from the same vendor.
I primarily use Odoo to communicate with employees and access some of their HR information and pictures. The company I work for hopes to also use Odoo for scheduling, although this hasn't been set up yet. During our orientation call with Odoo representatives, we learned that we couldn't use the system for timekeeping because it did not possess the ability to use biometrics for identifying staff when clocking in and out of shifts.
We also had the intention of using Odoo for payroll, then learned that there are limitations with this software because Odoo will not record and file taxes on the employer's behalf. The only other function I use within Odoo is the "Sign" app, which allows me to send documents to employees that require a signature.
I like that it has the ability to consolidate multiple features/apps into one software program. I enjoy the "Discuss" feature, which essentially creates a company intranet allowing employees to communicate with others privately or with groups/departments. I also like that it allows me to send documents requiring a signature without having to use another external app, such as DocuSign.
My organization chose Odoo because it is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that promises to consolidate and automate several processes. I work for a manufacturing facility that produces food and beverage items, and the processes from creation to delivery of our products include many steps and a lot of paperwork to remain compliant with industry regulations.
We wanted a tool that could be used by several departments, including production, accounting, fulfillment, distribution, and HR. We were hoping we could use Odoo to house our timekeeping, scheduling, and payroll as well. I have been using Odoo for about three months.
I think it is a complex system that requires months of training before it can be fully functional. We cannot use it for payroll because it doesn't track and record tax payments and would require manual journal entries each time. I don't like that the timekeeping feature doesn't allow us to use biometrics (fingerprints via hardware device) when employees clock in and out of their shifts. Although it can integrate with several apps, these drawbacks keep me from recommending it as an HR solution.
Odoo has several functions that it offers to automate processes company-wide. I find the interface to be mostly user-friendly. There are some navigational difficulties when visiting one "app" and then returning to the dashboard, and their training videos could use some work. I find it about average as far as an ERP goes.
Identify exactly which processes you intend to utilize this service for and have a realistic implementation plan. If you're only using it for two or three processes, then a shorter training and implementation plan may work. If you have four or more processes you're looking to integrate, allow yourself and your team several months to meet with their implementation team and demo the trial software so that you can familiarize yourself with it before rolling it out to employees. Training is vital to understanding the full capabilities of the system.
They seem to have a lot of options for different processes that they say continually expand, such as inventory, appointments and to-do lists, project boards, discussion boards, manufacturing, shop floor, quality assurance, etc.
A mid to large-sized manufacturing facility that wants all employees using the same software to meet as many business needs as possible will find Odoo very useful.
Accounting and HR-based organizations will find it hard to get the most out of Odoo.
Orange HRM
OrangeHRM takes the time to understand your business and tend to be flexible enough to find an iteration of their solution that fits you. Their tools are used by thousands of users worldwide.
PROS
CONS
This is one of the most trusted and more established names in human resource management software. They offer all the necessary features to run an HR department in the modern era, except for payroll management. Their open-source version is completely free and quite scalable, but it does require you to manage your own servers.
Thousands of companies use one version or another of OrangeHRM. Some remarkable names include Johnny Rockets, Duke University, and RedHat.
Best For
Sentrifugo
We love Sentrifugo because it is a fully-fledged open-source HRMS that's completely free, making it a good choice for small and medium sized businesses.
PROS
CONS
Sentrifugo is a great option if your company would like to pursue the open-source route, but this HRMS is more clearly aimed at small-to-medium-sized businesses. It’s completely free, except for the fact that, since it’s open-source, you have to maintain your own servers. That being said, the Sentrifugo platform is easy to configure and extremely customizable.
Sentrifugo is completely free, but you need to take into consideration the cost of hosting it yourself.
Best For
SMBs that would like an open-source HRMS.
WebHR
WebHR is completely free for teams with 5 or fewer employees. A perk of this product is that if you decide to upgrade, you can do it on a per-module basis instead of buying a whole suite.
PROS
CONS
While not the prettiest-looking software out there, WebHR is a good solution for SMEs that need a social tool and would like to be able to add or delete modules as they go. WebHR is free if you have less than 5 employees and, depending on the modules added, it can be as little as $1 a month per staff member. The base modules that it bundles together are enough for most HR departments and include a built-in messenger and discussion forum. Other modules such as Payroll and Recruitment can be added for meager fees that don’t exceed $2 per employee per month.
According to their website, some of the companies that use WebHR include Nissan, WaterAid, zameen.com, and Budget.
WebHR's pricing after the free version depends on the amount of modules you add. As mentioned above, it can be as little as $2 per user per month for all the base modules.
Best For
Companies looking for a free tool that would like the option of upgrading at any time to be low-cost.
WebHR has plenty of convenient features. Firstly, we can download the HR manual for our reference through it. Furthermore, we may raise requests for staff loan, whistleblower, and hospitalization claims. WebHR also has an integrated chatbot which offers assistance in addressing a wide range of HR-related inquiries.
- We initiate requests on the WebHR portal and we are able to see the progress status, whether the requests were approved or pending; In short, we like its transparency.
- There is a chatbot where we can directly communicate with HR employees for guidance.
- The HR manual and all circulars are easily available and can be searched by text or date.
Earlier, our organization’s human resource department shared the updated HR manual via email. All queries by the employees were entertained through email as well. It was a hectic exercise as many follow-ups were needed and, sometimes, we lost track of the email threads. In order to overcome this, our organization transitioned to WebHR. The platform automated the requests initiated by the employees, while tracking the changes and approvals.
- Upgrades sometimes take 2 or 3 working days of downtime which is a hurdle for employees.
- Uploading the relevant PDF documents for case submission and approval takes time.
- WebHR isn’t the most user-friendly; new users do need some guidance on how to use it. Guide book needs to read out for fresh employee to use the web HR as it is not much user friendly.
Well, earlier we were using emails for all types of queries and approvals so we have not used any other software yet.
This is a good platform where employees and HR connect with each other and communicate easily.
It is very necessary for our organization with a large number of employees. Each of our needs and requests are important, and it is HR's duty to resolve them promptly.
I am associated with the banking industry and I believe it is good for banking and other industries as well.
I don't think any organization will dislike this platform as it improves alot of processes for employees and HR.
Pitfalls of Choosing Free HR Software Systems
The benefits of using HR management software are substantial, but there are many common mistakes when buying and implementing a new tool that you should consider at every step of your search. We list them below along with ways to avoid them:
- Rushing the decision: Often, teams get carried away by the look of an interface, good reviews, and functionality of a product, while neglecting their own needs. They then realize that their new shiny tool is lacking a key feature when it’s too late.
Design and reputation are important when vetting any software, but they must be considered at the service of a broader goal. Any software decision must be preceded by the proper identification of a team’s needs, past issues, the main concerns of the workforce, and the overall objectives of the company. Are you even sure than an HRIS is the tool you need? - Lack of awareness: This is probably not your case because you’re reading this, but some HR managers tend to choose a tool without fully understanding the kind of features available and what they do. It’s a common situation to be looking for new software systems to address one or two major pain points, without considering that the same decision could alleviate lots of other HR processes.
- Not consulting teammates: This can be disastrous when implementing all kinds of tech tools, let alone HR software, as it's one of the main reasons tech projects fail. Employees won’t need the same features as managers, and they’ll each weigh importance on each feature differently. Checking with other employees in every department can be a painstaking process, even in a small business, but in the long run, it’s worth it. Even if the software is free, having to change vendors after implementation can be quite costly.
- Overlooking security & support: Just because there’s a budget constraint, it doesn’t mean that these important aspects should be ignored in favor of whatever software can do the most for the least. Often, and particularly among the vendors we’ve selected for this guide, the handling of sensitive employee data and customer support can still be excellent. However, as with any other feature, it should be considered with your team’s particular needs in mind.
Benefits and ROI of HR Software Solutions
The main benefit of having the right HR software at the core of your department is that everyday processes can be streamlined or even automated, freeing up time to focus on more strategic efforts. If an HR manager is not consumed by repetitive tasks like filing paperwork or keeping track of PTO balances, he or she can focus instead on finding ways to increase employee satisfaction, improving retention rates, or working with other managers to find the best possible fit for each opening.
In more quantitative terms, recent research from Greenhouse, an Applicant Tracking System, shows that automating the onboarding process can reduce the time usually invested by 50%. If you consider the hourly rate of this HR professional at $33 USD per hour and contemplate that an average onboarding takes 11 hours and is normally done for 30 new employees per year, you’re talking about $5,450 in annual savings thanks to the automation.
Pricing for Each HR Software Vendor
All of the software that we’ve discussed here is completely free in some form or another. Some of them put a user cap of either 5 or 50 employees, while others have free unlimited basic plans, or cost nothing because they are open source.
Below, you can compare each of these options according to their pricing model to see just how free are they, what’s their catch, and which one does fit your needs:
Key Features to look for in HR Management Systems
In case you’re new to HR software, what kind of features should you prioritize in your pick? Although these are free, it might not make sense to base your selection solely on the number of features, while certain options could work better in regard to user experience and integrations, for instance, even if their feature list is shorter.
HR management software can be the difference between overstaffing the HR department, perhaps even the company, or making all HR processes as productive and efficient as they can be. However, to achieve that ideal scenario, your HR tool of choice should have all the features you need or it’s going to be back to square one.
In that spirit, let’s take a look at the common features that most HR professionals consider must-haves:
- Employee management: This feature will have the employee database at its core and is where you can keep track of most things about the relationship of an employee with the company. A high-end employee management feature should include self-service, meaning that the employee can also access and update his or her information.
- Performance Reviews: Since every employee’s information should already be within the HR system, it makes sense for their evaluation to be managed there as well. This tool should allow feedback to be gathered from both parts and is also where new goals can be set for workers & teams.
- Payroll Processing: The best HR software usually comes with a fully-functioning tool to manage payroll and keep track of salaries. However, since payroll and accounting practices can vary depending on your location, many vendors prefer to sit this one out. If your HR tool doesn’t come with this function, it’s imperative that it can integrate easily with a payroll processing system.
- Recruitment & Onboarding: If the idea is to concentrate all employee data in one place, why not handle recruitment from there as well? Many HRMS come with a basic Applicant Tracking System that can do everything from publish a job posting to onboarding a new employee.
- Time Off Management: Any HR professional knows that keeping track of employee schedules and time-off is one of the department's main functions. The HR solution should have a module or app that addresses this as well, whether it’s through time-tracking (if you need that), attendance-keeping, as well as eliminating complexities from the leave request process. Bonus points if it also comes with a calendar that every employee can consult in order to know who’s off on a given day.
Demo Questions for Vetting HR Software
So let’s say you’ve selected 1 or 3 options for your new HR management software that will likely fulfill your business needs. Then, the next step would be to give them all a try and see for yourself which one works best. Now, while most of the tools we’ve listed here are extremely easy to get started with (as in, just create a user, a password, and use the web version), most of them also give you the option of requesting a demo.
Whether you’re asking for a demo or just using the software for the first time, it’s wise to step into it with a game plan and some key questions in mind. For this, you should first decide the needs of your organization, the key tasks and HR processes that need to be automated or managed, and any particular integrations you may require.
After doing such a self-analysis, you should come up with a list of questions like the following.
- Which features stand out as the ones I need to try out?
- How seamless will the integration between this tool and our current tech sack be?
- Will other people on the team find value in using this tool?
- In what ways can this tool enhance candidate experience?
- What are the sticking points that would make me or my colleagues apprehensive about transitioning to this platform?
- How well does the vendor manage information security concerns?
- What initial insights can I draw about the quality of customer support? Does the platform provide a helpful help center with high-quality support articles?
Implementing an HR software
Once you select the HR system that is right for you, the implementation process will vary depending on their operation. If you’re talking about an open-source solution like OrangeHRM or Sentrifugo, the process will likely entail a lot of communication and collaboration with their team. On the far other end of the intricacy spectrum, a cloud-based tool like Freshteam or SnapHRM gets you up and running within minutes. Each vendor page will explain their particular process in much more detail, and many will call or email you shortly after you’ve set up an account or asked for a demo in order to address questions or solve any issues you might be having.
If you'd like to read up a bit more on what to do after implementing a new HR tech solution, including proved processes and tips from an expert, we recently put together a brief guide to an HR software implementation.
Free HR Software FAQs
What is free HR software?
Free HR software is any tool or solution that aims to improve the functionality of a company’s HR team.
What does HRIS stand for?
HRIS stands for Human Resource Information System.
What does HCM stand for?
HCM stands for Human Capital Management.
What does HRMS stand for?
HRMS stands for Human Resource Management System.
What’s the difference between HRIS, HCM, and HRMS?
On a surface level, there isn’t a huge difference between HRIS, HCM, and HRMS. They are all people management systems for companies. However, there can be some subtle differences. An HRIS is an all-encompassing in-house software for managing people, procedures and policies. An HCM has all the features of an HRIS, but often includes talent management capabilities. An HRMS has all of the features of an HRIS and HCM, but often includes payroll and time and labor management capabilities.
Why use free HR software?
Reasons to use free HR software include: saving time with automation, improving employee experience, improving employee performance, increased compliance, better organization, streamlined hiring, better business intelligence, and workforce management.
What are some key features of free HR software?
There are many key features of free HR software, such as: employee self-service portal, time and attendance management, onboarding capability, custom reporting, benefits administration, employee database, recruiting functionality, training and development management, company document storage, and compensation management.
Last advice for choosing your free HR platform
If you’ve made it this far, then it’s likely that you already have a couple of options in mind but aren’t quite sure which free software to settle on yet. The best advice we can offer here is to set up an account with them and try the tool for yourself. You really can’t tell if some of the features and user experience will work exactly as you’d like them to until you start using them.
Fortunately, these are all free and take minutes to set up, so don’t feel bad or awkward about creating an account with several vendors, even talking to some of their sales representatives, and then sticking to one choice. In the end, this decision will probably shape a good part of every day of the following years for your HR department, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If you're in need of a spreadsheet to help you organize this process, be sure to try our HR & Recruitment software buyer organizer. It's free ;)
Lastly, remember to check with each of your internal stakeholders, making sure that their questions are addressed as well, and even demoing the product with them. The decision will be much wiser if it's enriched by the input of the whole team.
About Us
- Our goal at SSR is to help HR and recruiting teams to find and buy the right software for their needs.
- Our site is free to use as some vendors will pay us for web traffic.
- SSR lists all companies we feel are top vendors - not just those who pay us - in our comprehensive directories full of the advice needed to make the right purchase decision for your HR team.
