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11 Best HRMS Software Solutions in Q1 2024

Our team of HR tech experts have demoed and tested dozens of Human Resource Management Software tools. Based on this research, we present our top HRMS picks along with their features, pricing, pros & cons, and more below.

Rodrigo Vázquez Mellado
Written by
Rodrigo Vázquez Mellado
HR and B2B software analyst and advisor, tech writer and editor, former conversational designer
Contributing Experts
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Last Updated: Dec 13, 2023
TOP
Free HRMS for Global Teams
Deel
4.4
Popularity Score
4.6
User Score
4.5
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Free HRMS for Global Teams
Deel
4.4
Popularity Score
4.6
User Score
4.5
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
Top Vendor with Flexible Pricing
BambooHR
4.6
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Top Vendor with Flexible Pricing
BambooHR
4.6
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
HRMS for US-based SMBs
Paycor
4.1
Popularity Score
4.2
User Score
4.0
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
HRMS for US-based SMBs
Paycor
4.1
Popularity Score
4.2
User Score
4.0
Product  Score
Learn More
Over 3 million HR leaders trust our advice

Introduction to HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems)

Are you in the market for a world-class HRMS to help your team streamline employee onboarding, payroll, benefits management, and talent acquisition? If that’s close to your case, this guide will allow you to identify the best human resources management systems. We’ll also look at the main benefits of this type of software, how to get internal buy-in from stakeholders, and much more.

But what do we mean by HRMS? And what sets it apart from an HRIS or an HCM? While many people have different definitions, we agree with Oracle NetSuite when they explain that an HRMS is the most complete form of HR software, being able to tackle just about any HR process within the employee lifecycle, including payroll.

After extensive research, we've gathered the top HRMS software vendors, considering their HR management features, customer success, user experience, support quality, and implementation.

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Top HRMS Software

Deel

: Free HRMS for Global Teams

BambooHR

: Top Vendor with Flexible Pricing

Paycor

: HRMS for US-based SMBs

Ceridian

: Powerful HCM Suite for Enterprise

Rippling

: Mighty HRMS & More

WorkDay

: Enterprise-Focused HRMS

SAP SuccessFactors

: HRMS with Employee Experience Focus

UKG

: Full HRMS & ACA Tools

Zoho People

: Flexible, Cost-Effective HRMS

Namely

: Great HRMS for Mid-Market

Zenefits

: HR Essentials with Great UX

Our Criteria: Here's How We Chose The Top HRMS Software

How Did We Choose The Best HRMS?

To choose the best HRMS our experts conduct product demos with each vendor, incorporate user research, and gather feedback from HR tech leaders. The key areas we focus on when judging HRMS software are employee data management security, compliance and reporting, and employee experience.

Employee Data Management Security

Though known as “all-in-one” tools, the scope and scale of each HRMS system’s data management vary significantly, as does the dedication to security hygiene. Our top picks are security-focused companies with a good track record who use two-factor authentication, encryption, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) compliance.

Compliance and Reporting

Recordkeeping and documentation are critical, so we chose HRMS software that offers an array of compliance and reporting features.

To make it onto this list we require vendors to cover, at minimum, tax set-up and reporting, state and federal employment laws, wage and hour compliance, anti-discrimination and harassment prevention, and benefits regulations. Some tools below also offer global payroll and compliance features.

Employee Experience

As self-service options become more common in HRMS tools, the employee experience becomes more critical. In our experience, good UX/UI and overall ease of use is the most vital element of this feature, keeping employee frustration low and data accuracy high.

Our mission is to make it easy for HR and TA teams to buy, implement, and love their new software. If you want to learn more about our methodology, we invite you to explore our article on editorial guidelines.

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Compare the Top HRMS Software

Popularity Score
Best for
Key Differentiator
Pricing
Free Trial
Customers
Users Score
Product Score

Deel

Most Popular
4.4
Good bet for remote international teams w/ basic HR needs
Free core HR solution on top of a global payroll product
Starts at $49/month
No
15,000+
4.6
4.5

BambooHR

Most Popular
4.6
SMBs in need of a highly customizable tool, remote-friendly
HR management + a comprehensive recruiting suite
Custom Pricing
Yes
30,000+
4.5
4.4

Paycor

Most Popular
4.1
US-based SMBs in certain industries looking for a full HRMS
Very focused on payroll management + excellent HR features
Custom Pricing
Yes
40,000+
4.2
4.0

Ceridian

Most Popular
4.8
Large businesses with more than 1,000 employees
Very data-driven product, good for managing compliance
Custom Pricing
Yes
5,000+
3.8
4.5

Rippling

Most Popular
4.2
Teams under 2,000 employees looking beyond an HRMS
Scalable solution, very friendly with SMBs (US & beyond)
Starts at $8/employee/month
No
2,000+
4.2
4.1

WorkDay

Most Popular
4.0
Mid-to-large enterprises looking for an all-in-one platform
Enterprise-grade solution, still friendly to mid-size orgs
Custom Pricing
No
10,000+
3.9
4.0

SAP SuccessFactors

Most Popular
4.0
Large organizations in need of a personalized solution
Features for the whole breadth of employee experience
Starts from $6.3/user/month
No
5000+ companies
3.9
4.0

UKG

Most Popular
4.0
Businesses with more than 1,000 employees, everywhere
Lots of variety in features, workforce management focus
Custom Pricing
No
80,000+
4.2
4.1

Zoho People

Most Popular
4.0
Budget-conscious SMBs looking for a multilingual tool
Cost-effective tool with a wide range of features
Starts at $1.25/month
Yes
50m+ customers
4.3
4.1

Namely

Most Popular
4.7
US-based mid-market businesses (50-1,000 headcount)
Very focused in the mid-market US sector, great reporting
Custom Pricing
No
12,000+
4.1
4.6

Zenefits

Most Popular
4.0
Small businesses in the US looking for HR + payroll
Super easy to use, thanks to its modern-looking UX
Starts at $8/employee/month
Yes
10,000+
3.9
4.0
Phil Strazzulla
HR Tech Expert, Harvard MBA, Software Enthusiast

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Detailed Reviews of the Best HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems)

Deel

Visit Website
Deel
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.4 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.5 / 5

Why we picked Deel

Global teams big and small will appreciate a free HRMS that was built by a global team. Yes, their core HR solution is free, along with many useful modules like 1:1s, virtual networking, and pulse surveys.

PROS

  • Exceptional customer service includes 24/7 in-app support and a speedy onboarding process of 2-3 days.
  • Users benefit from access to local payroll experts in each jurisdiction and support for contractors setting up as an LLC.
  • Seamless integration with popular platforms like Quickbooks, Bamboo, and Greenhouse, and the option for custom integrations to automate processes.
  • Deel's self-service approach and tech-enabled features allow for quick and easy adoption.
  • Effortless automated invoicing, available in English for both companies and contractors or employees.
  • 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

  • At the time of publication onboarding automation is an add-on, which might be costly for some companies.
  • Flexibility in altering contracts or service agreements is limited, often requiring an addendum for changes.
  • $5 fee per payout.
  • Currently, generating invoices in a language other than English is not possible with Deel.
  • 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.

Deel Review

Deel was originally a global payroll offering, that has since expanded their product to be a full fledged HRMS. While it's probably best for global teams that have international colleagues, their functionality could also be used by companies operating in just one country.

One of our favorite features of this HRMS is "connections" - a product where teammates can connect virtually to bond and learn more with one another. HR teams will also appreciate the onboarding workflows (including the ability to provision equipment globally!), background checks, remote location management, and perks.

Deel Customers

Deel Pricing

Best For

Deel in action
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BambooHR

Visit Website
BambooHR
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.6 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked BambooHR

BambooHR is a top-notch HR software known for its flexibility, user-friendliness, and reliability. It offers numerous features, including ATS, payroll, and performance management.

PROS

  • Flexible packaging and custom pricing options based on user requirements
  • Intuitive design ensures a user-friendly experience, simplifying HR processes for HR pros, managers, and the entire team.
  • Regular updates and customer support, BambooHR continuously strives to enhance its offerings.
  • 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 payroll functionality is limited to U.S. companies.
  • Customer success hours only suitable for U.S. time zones
  • Core HR tools must be purchased to use features like time & attendance,  surveys, and performance assessment.
  • 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.
BambooHR dashboard screenshot - one of the best human resource management system software

BambooHR Review

BambooHR offers flexible plans and a comprehensive platform that covers the entire employee lifecycle with full HRMS functionality, including recruiting, performance management, and many more. The platform also provides an integrated app marketplace for HR and recruiting vendors and a handy Human Resources glossary.

BambooHR Customers

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.

BambooHR Pricing

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 is an excellent choice for companies seeking a highly customizable HR product with pricing options that accommodate their specific requirements. It is worth mentioning that it is favored by partially and fully remote teams.

BambooHR in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

As the HR leader I use BambooHR for everything!! I store all of our important documents and records in Bamboo. I do all of our recruiting, offer letters, and onboarding through HR. Once we hire an employee they are given their own login information to be able to access the org chart as well as put their PTO in. I also run reports to track everyone's PTO, promotions, and other key performance indicators for employees.

What do you like about this tool?
  • BambooHR is easy to use and train employees on. BambooHR makes it very easy to create offer letters and email templates when it comes to recruiting.
  • BambooHR makes it easy to recruit and keep track of candidates, and the stages they are in in the interview process.
  • The BambooHR 'how can we help button' makes it super easy when you have a problem or a question to get a resolution.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

We are a small organization with roughly only 25 employees but we need a tool that could do it all. When making this decision we compared tools that could sit as an ATS system combined with an HRIS system. Not only can BambooHR fit in those factors, it can also have benefits and payroll implemented in their system if we wanted to stop using our other payroll system. We have been using BambooHR since March 2023 but I had used it at a prior organization so that was an easy decision to move forward with it.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • I wish BambooHR let you have candidate scorecards when recruiting.
  • BambooHR makes it easy to create onboarding documents but it does not always simplify the packets for each job function.
  • I wish BambooHR had the ability to open and close jobs more fluidly similar to Greenhouse - multiple openings in one job code for tracking purposes.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

BambooHR is a great product for a small growing organization that needs a product to do it all. Because we have a limited budget we needed to find an ATS that could also onboard and fit as a people management system. I think that BambooHR is cheaper and easier to use.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

When buying a tool like BambooHR I think they should consider price (this was our number one driving factor), and scalability. As we continue to grow, BambooHR will be able to grow with us.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

BambooHR has evolved over the years since I last used it. They have developed their reporting capabilities, added payroll and benefits to their system, as well as created a system to organize a 'talent pool'.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

BambooHR is good for a company with less than 400 employees that is looking to grow their organization, and manage current employees.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

BambooHR might not be a fit for companies that are larger than 600 employees or trying to make a lot of hires at any given time.

Paycor

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Paycor
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked Paycor

Paycor is popular among small and medium-sized businesses across states for managing payroll, budgeting, and time and labor management. While the greatest strength of Paycor is payroll, the platform is also known for being a well-established HRMS with positive employee experience features and scalability.

PROS

  • Paycor payroll solution and mobile app are both straightforward to use.
  • Intuitive self-service employee portal.
  • Offers multiple modules for small businesses and custom plans for teams with 50-1000 employees.
  • Unlimited payrolls.
  • Offers discounts frequently. Though not listed on their site, a free trial is available to those who contact the support team directly.
  • On-demand pay is available for all plans.
  • With the acquisition of the people development platform Verb, it has improved its employee learning experience.
  • Paycor payroll solution and mobile app are both straightforward to use.
  • Intuitive self-service employee portal.
  • Offers multiple modules for small businesses and custom plans for teams with 50-1000 employees.
  • Unlimited payrolls.
  • Offers discounts frequently. Though not listed on their site, a free trial is available to those who contact the support team directly.
  • On-demand pay is available for all plans.
  • With the acquisition of the people development platform Verb, it has improved its employee learning experience.

CONS

  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • Customer support is reported to be slow at times.
  • It is not a good fit for teams with 1000+ employees or those requiring advanced customization to meet their unique requirements.
  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • Customer support is reported to be slow at times.
  • It is not a good fit for teams with 1000+ employees or those requiring advanced customization to meet their unique requirements.
Paycor dashboard screenshot - one of the best HR Management System

Paycor Review

Aside from being one of the most well-established HRMS, Paycor stands out for its payroll capabilities. Running payroll on the platform is straightforward. We are a team with members of multiple contract types and nationalities, so we appreciate that it services both hourly workers and full-time employees, U.S.-based or otherwise.

The platform lets users choose their pay intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) and allows our team members to select their payment methods (on-demand pay, direct deposit, Paycor wallet). The best part is that these features, autorun, and off-cycle payroll runs are accessible to all users, including the Basic ones.

Self-service is another pro of Paycor. Through the portal, employees can access their onboarding, payroll, work schedules, and benefits enrollment (what could be better than autonomy?) They can also update their contact and banking information; then, notifications about changes are sent to admin users in real-time.

Paycor didn’t disappoint us with its latest mobile app version. It used to be very limited, but now we can access the whole self-service suite on mobile devices. Plus, all Paycor Scheduling subscriptions can access Team Chat — a real-time communication tool that lets members message individuals, groups, or channels within the app.

There are still parts we don’t like. While Paycor offers several support channels, the support team is sometimes slow to respond. We’d also love to see improvements in reporting and analytics. The lower-priced plans have minimal reporting capabilities, and even the enterprise plan users may still find the tool lacking.

Paycor Customers

Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Detroit Zoo, The Cincinnati Bengals, The YMCA.

Paycor Pricing

Paycor doesn’t publish its pricing on the website. You need to get in touch with customer support to get a quote.

Best For

Small and medium-sized companies in the U.S. that are looking for a one-stop shop for their HR needs. Particularly, businesses in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverage, nonprofits, and professional sports organizations are likely to make the most out of Paycor’s features.

Paycor in action
Reviewer's Rating
6/10

We use Paycor twice per month when payroll is due. They send reminders to make sure we don't forget to do the payroll as that would be terribly embarrassing if we missed a payroll. With many remote employees in different states, Paycor enables us to not have to research all of the various state tax laws. For that we are very thankful.

What do you like about this tool?

Easy to use. Keeps track of all state regulations and taxes. Provides solid customer assistance.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

Paycor is an easy-to-use payroll solution for small businesses. Often, a small organization doesn't have a person who is dedicated to HR completely as they perform other duties. We wanted something that was easy to use and Paycor was.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Wish customer service got back to us quicker. Would like them to lower the price, although it is in line with others in the space. Would appreciate more proactive advice.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

It has an easy-to-use and understandable interface.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Will it expand with you as your company expands? Do you need personal assistance?

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

It has continued to improve the product and keep abreast of the many disparate tax laws.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

SMBs

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

I can't think of any.

Ceridian

Visit Website
Ceridian
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.8 / 5
User Score
3.8 / 5
Product Score
4.5 / 5

Why we picked Ceridian

Ceridian makes Dayforce, a modern cloud HR platform that can manage the entire employee lifecycle.

PROS

CONS

Our reviewer took screenshot of Ceridian HRMS System dashboard during the demo

Ceridian Review

Although it’s labeled as an HCM, Dayforce by Ceridian also includes a comprehensive payroll tool. Dayforce integrates data from every stage of the employee lifecycle, empowering informed decision-making and data-backed insights.

Its flexible rules engine enables efficient handling of intricate regulatory demands, delivering real-time updates and calculations.

Ceridian Customers

  • Guitar Center
  • Danone
  • Spirit Aerosystems
  • El Pollo Loco
  • Crescent Bank

Ceridian Pricing

Pricing for the Dayforce HCM suite is not provided up front.

Best For

Enterprises with over 1,000 employees.

Ceridian in action
Reviewer's Rating
7/10

As an HR leader working in the COE, I used Ceridian as an administrator. I had access to add and remove reports, run reports for North America, Canada, and Mexico, and control benefits administration - including open enrollment, life event changes, reconciliations, etc. I used Ceridian as the main HRIS for the company I was employed in at the time.

What do you like about this tool?

I loved that the platform reached our global audience and that our employees could manage their own data in the system. I also liked the reporting functions and how easy it was to make benefit changes in the system from an administrative view.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

We chose Ceridian because it was one of the only systems that had the global support we needed. We needed a robust system that would allow our employees to manage their data in the US, EMEA, Canada and Mexico, as well as hone into reporting functions easily for our COE. I used Ceridian for almost 4 years, managing benefits, reporting, and employee data. I trained my team how to use it, so they could emulate this training at their respective locations.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Ceridian is not the most user-friendly interface. It is not impossible to use, but for anyone who struggles with tech, it can be a challenge. Companies with large populations may also find it easy to get analysis paralysis, as all of the reports can be overwhelming and hard to sort through. Lastly, it only gets easier with practice, so if you are not on this platform often it will not get easier to navigate. One truly must familiarize themselves with it in order to understand how to navigate it.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

What sets Ceridian apart is its global capability and reporting functionality. I have yet to come across another platform that can store the amount of data this can and pull it together in the same way Ceridian can.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

The size and location of their organization/employees, data analytics, user interface and price.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

I think they are trying to make a dashboard more user-friendly but otherwise, I think they know their strength and lean into that.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

Large global organizations

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Small businesses operating on a local scale.

Rippling

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Rippling
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Rippling

Rippling is a mighty HRMS solution for growing teams, ideally medium-sized, to handle payroll, budgeting, and time and labor management with efficiency and autonomy. The ability to integrate with 500+ apps makes Rippling a strong bet for teams looking to share data between all of their business software.

PROS

  • Rippling provides an end-to-end HCM with great automation features.
  • Supports both US payroll and global payroll in over 100 countries.
  • Auto-translates receipt line items and converts their currencies for the reviewer.
  • Robust integration capabilities.
  • The benefits module enables users to collaborate with their preferred broker and choose from 4,000 options.
  • Modules are available for individual purchase or as part of a suite, but the Core HR module is mandatory in any package.
  • All-in-one platform for employee management + PEO services offered, and even a suite of other IT products 
  • With 500 integrations, it’s very likely that they integrate with other key tools from your tech stack.
  • Operates globally with any currency
  • Workflow automation
  • Analytics opportunities
  • Provides a holistic view of company outflows—headcount costs included

CONS

  • Payroll automation not available.
  • No complimentary trial.
  • Support not provided 24/7, additional charges for phone support.
  • Not suitable for businesses with 2,000+ employees.
  • Total buy-in to Rippling is essential 
  • Very SMB-oriented, in case you’re a larger company. 
  • New features tend to be buggy in ways that tech teams are not accustomed to fixing
Rippling dashboard screenshot - one of the best HRMS Software Company

Rippling Review

Rippling has emerged as a leading HRMS platform, providing an extensive array of HR management functionalities.
Since its launch in 2016, it has continuously evolved to prioritize efficiency, autonomy, and a user-friendly interface.

Rippling Customers

Vox, Maximum Games, Superhuman, Compass Coffee, Highnoon.

Rippling Pricing

Rippling pricing starts at $8 per employee per month. For a personalized quote, you need to reach out to their sales team.

Best For

Rippling is an excellent choice of an HRMS for US-based and international teams that don’t have more than 2,000 employees.

Rippling in action
Reviewer's Rating
6/10

We use Rippling for all HR processes - hiring, onboarding, training, time and attendance, etc. We also use the pulse tool for surveys of our employees. We have built workflows to support onboarding and schedule management when someone takes time off. It's a daily tool for us.

What do you like about this tool?

Rippling is quite comprehensive and has more functionality than other HRIS I have used, such as the pulse/survey tool right within the platform. It also integrates with Slack, so notifications and reports can be sent there. I like the workflow options as well, which allow you to set things up to launch when certain conditions are met, e.g. send an onboarding survey a month after start date.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

We are a relatively new company and did not have an HRIS in place. After looking at a few we opted for Rippling because of the functionality it offered as well as integrations and automations. We have been using it for about 9 months.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Rippling has been around for a few years but it feels like they are still working out some bugs. There are certain things that just don't work the way you'd expect. We have recently implemented their global payroll app for our Canadian employees and it doesn't do things like break out vacation time, etc. It has a reporting function but it's a bit hard to get exactly what you're looking for and the charts that it creates don't always display information in the most relevant way.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Rippling is quite user-friendly in terms of interface. It has more functionality than others I've used and they're doing a great job figuring out how to incorporate integrations to make it really useful.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

It's very good for US employees but is missing a few features for global payroll at this time. Best to understand how all modules are priced so you know what's worth implementing and don't end up paying for functions you don't use.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Rippling has taken suggestions when we've found things that could be improved or added (TBD if those things are implemented). They have added some features in the last few months so definitely seem to be continuing to grow the platform.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

HR teams, I think it would be good for organizations with over 50 employees

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Very small organizations, those primarily based outside the US

WorkDay

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WorkDay
Learn More
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked WorkDay

Workday is a highly favored HRMS solution specifically designed for enterprises. It offers a single source of workforce administration, engagement, and compensation and benefits data. This approach caters to all worker types, including contingent workers, employees, contractors, and retirees, making it a versatile solution for managing diverse workforces.

PROS

  • Workday configurable process flows make it easy to scale processes to a global level while adapting them to local requirements.
  • Employee and Manager Self-Service
  • AI-driven skills cloud helps identify workers with the skills gap.
  • Has a mobile app.
  • Provides phone support, email support, community, and live chat support.
  • Compliance with SOC 2 Type 2 standards
  • Accessible customer support from the community, live chat, and telephone.
  • Compatible with 300 HR systems such as ERP/GL, CRM, HR, and PSA.
  • Configurable dashboard with AI and ML-driven insights.
  • Ability to maintain real-time alignment of budgets and workforce plans.
  • SOC 2 Type 2 compliance.

CONS

  • Lacks pricing transparency.
  • No free trial.
  • The implementation process can be very time-consuming (~5 months on average).
  • The interface may pose challenges for new users, and training may be necessary to familiarize oneself with all product features.
  • Their mobile app isn’t very user-friendly.
  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • No free trial for its talent management software.
  • Time-consuming implementation period (average 4.5 months).
  • Challenge navigating for first-time users may require training.
  • Issues with logging in were reported by users.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Workday HRMS System dashboard during the demo

WorkDay Review

Workday stands out with its impressive adaptability to individual users. Leveraging machine learning, it offers tailored recommendations based on user roles, whether they are employees, contractors, managers, recruiting agencies, applicants, or retirees.

The tool is particularly well-suited for businesses with multiple global branches. It allows for global consistency while enabling customization of workflows to accommodate local differences, ensuring a seamless experience across the organization.

Workday's reporting capabilities are also noteworthy because they sync HR data with finance and integrate with various HR tools. This can be used for analytics that provides visibility into the workforce’s capabilities, making it easier to identify gaps and develop talent.

While Workday's HRMS suite is popular among large enterprises and global teams, the mobile app needs work. Both Android and iOS users have reported issues with the time clock system, frequent crashes, and sign-in problems. Workday's implementation process also has room for improvement, having received mixed reviews from users and HR teams.

WorkDay Customers

Quicken Loans, AstraZeneca, Target, Dell, Bank of America.

WorkDay Pricing

The exact pricing details of Workday aren’t disclosed on the website. Contact Sales for a quote.

Best For

This platform is best for large, global organizations looking for an all-in-one tool. It offers insights into the workforce, fosters employee engagement, and facilitates adaptability to industry, situational, and regulatory changes.

WorkDay in action
Reviewer's Rating
6/10

There are many reasons we'd use Workday, but some key work streams include: running payroll end to end, running the hire-to-retire process end to end, pulling important reports, and analyzing internal demographic data, etc. We use Workday multiple times per day, and we're currently still configuring some key features that we did not launch on 1/1/23, so we're still spending a lot of time on the tool.

What do you like about this tool?

Workday is powerful, you can create almost any report and any feature that you can imagine (although, you need to know how to do it). Workday is scalable, you can do a lot in bulk. Workday is integration friendly, having an internal HRIS be able to integrate with other software is key to running smooth internal business operations.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

Previously, we were using Gusto and BambooHR for our Payroll and HRIS sources of record. Gusto and BambooHR would not integrate with one another, and we were continually faced with "big company problems" using a "small company tool" like Gusto. Workday promised an all-in-one, scalable, and powerful tool we could use in order to meet our many Payroll and HR needs. We've been using it since January 1st, 2023, and I can say that it's definitely allowed the company to scale some work streams.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Workday is incredibly unintuitive, I wish it was more user-friendly. Workday doesn't have a support team and the Workday Resource Center is not super useful, I wish it had a support team we could call. Workday is very expensive since they hold a large chunk of the market and since it's difficult to move HRIS systems, they're able to get away with charging a lot of money -- I wish it was less expensive.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

A lot more powerful, and a lot more scalable, but way less intuitive to use.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Don't purchase Workday if your company is small (0-500-ish employees). Don't purchase Workday if you're not struggling with scale.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Workday has allowed us to spend less time processing workflows that affect the end user, allowing for more automation, which means less risk, which means fewer errors.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

Mid-size to Large companies.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Small companies, or companies where the HR or finance teams are very small.

SAP SuccessFactors

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SAP SuccessFactors
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors is one of the big names in HR software. They’re currently pushing the boundaries of the HCM category itself, calling their product an HXM suite (for Human Experience Management).

PROS

CONS

Our reviewer took screenshot of SAP SuccessFactors HRMS Software dashboard during the demo

SAP SuccessFactors Review

SAP is trying to transform traditional human capital management into a more employee-oriented endeavor. Through their HXM, they are trying to position the worker’s experience as the main filter for how companies engage with their people. Their product helps HR managers deliver experiences that resonate with employees while shaping their strategy.

Although not branded as an HRMS, SuccessFactors does cover all the features you’d expect from this category. This includes cloud payroll and benefits administration, even for a global workforce.

SAP SuccessFactors Customers

  • American Airlines
  • Ernst & Young
  • Hero Group
  • Terex
  • Watco Companies

SAP SuccessFactors Pricing

Pricing for SAP’s HXM suite is only available upon request.

Best For

Enterprises looking to improve UX

SAP SuccessFactors in action
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UKG

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UKG
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.2 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked UKG

UKG is the merger of Ultimate Software and Kronos. As such, it brings more than 7 decades of experience with HCM tech into the workforce management space. UKG Pro, their HRMS, offers features like people analytics, benefits administration, and payroll.

PROS

  • Leveraging years of experience in HCM and workforce management technology, UKG Pro and UKG Ready offer a comprehensive solution.
  • By providing UKG Pro as an HRMS solution and UKG Ready for workforce management, you can access a range of features that address diverse HR requirements through a unified set of tools.
  • You can configure user visibility within the system.
  • The Ultimate Community provides on-demand information and networking opportunities for UKG Pro users.
  • Includes an iOS app and an Android app for employees.
  • Super robust product, packing years of experience with HCM and Workforce Management technology 
  • Since they offer UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management, you could arrive at a combination of products that suits many of your HR needs from the same set of tools.

CONS

  • In comparison to more recent tools, both UKG Pro and UKG Ready might lack a clear focus or distinctive selling proposition tailored to specific types of businesses, meaning niche operations might find it challenging to adapt.
  • The Android app has some issues with logging in.
  • Not very budget-friendly with SMBs.
  • All-in-one is not ideal for teams who require only a handful of specialized functionalities.
  • Compared to newer tools, UKG Pro and UKG Ready tend to miss a unique selling point or a specific focus on a certain type of business. While they work great for bigger companies in all sorts of industries, very niche operations might have a hard time adapting to the tool. 
  • Similarly, ​​UKG offers many solutions under one umbrella, so it's not the best fit if you're looking for only a handful of specific use cases.
UKG HRMS Platform dashboard screenshot

UKG Review

UKG offers a wealth of features and expertise to support the HR needs of large enterprises. From hiring and onboarding to performance management and succession planning, this platform aims to provide a holistic solution for HR needs. UKG has utilized its 70 years of experience in the field and companies' mergers to deliver such comprehensive solutions.

In addition to its wealth of features, we found the platform configurability and the outstanding support from the Ultimate Community to be particularly noteworthy aspects of our experience with UKG.

As administrators, we can control access to specific user groups. Tailored access is a significant advantage for teams prioritizing robust data security.

Although UKG's user interface boasts an attractive aesthetic, the plethora of features can be overwhelming. However, the Ultimate Community proved invaluable, providing access to loads of information and insights from previous conversations. The ability to ask questions and seek assistance from other users was also highly beneficial.

UKG exhibits noteworthy strengths, but we did encounter a few drawbacks during our assessment. Unlike newer specialized tools, it may lack the specificity needed by niche businesses. Furthermore, some users have reported issues logging into the Android app. Finally, this product is not priced for teams looking for a low-price solution.

UKG Customers

Tesla, Marriott, Yamaha, Aramark, Puma, Sony Music, Samsung.

UKG Pricing

  • Pricing for UKG is not disclosed on their website.
  • Typically, the pricing is based on a per-employee-per-month model, with options for annual or monthly billing options.
  • UKG Pro licenses generally start at around $600.00 per year for every 5 users. For an exact quote, please reach out to a sales representative.

Best For

UKG is an excellent choice for large companies operating in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia/Pacific regions, with a minimum employee count of 1000.

UKG in action
Reviewer's Rating
9/10

I’ll use UKG Pro every working day. Our primary use for it is payroll and timekeeping. Even still, we use a myriad of the other features. This includes employee benefits administration, hiring and onboarding, compensation management, talent management, and a few others. This program also provides a lot of flexibility and freedom in its application.

What do you like about this tool?

UKG Pro’s greatest strength lies in its full-suite of payroll and HR tools. It’s all blended together in a “sandbox” environment so users can freely explore the system. In addition to these, it also includes extensive reporting tools which makes work much easier and quicker.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

My company transitioned to UKG Pro after frustrations with our former HRIS. One of UKG’s greatest strengths is the program’s ease of use. Not only is it easy for our HR representatives to use, but for our employees as well. We’ve been using UKG Pro for a little over a year now and already it’s proven to be leaps and bounds above some other systems I’ve used. With UKG Pro, you’re getting an excellent value for your money.

What do you dislike about this tool?

UKG Pro is on the expensive side and, to boot, they’re not transparent about their pricing. I also did not appreciate the lack of a free or “trial” mode to try out the product before spending so much for it. Also, scaling up (or down) can be cumbersome as a custom set up is required.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

UKG Pro is far more intuitive than other HRI Systems I’ve used in the past. It’s among my favorites for its ease of use and customizability.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

When buying this type of tool you want to pay close attention to what is important for your company. You’ll always want to take into consideration pricing. But beyond this, look at the features provided. Does it include a full-suite? Does it integrate well with other systems you’re currently using? You’ll want to really do your research.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

I can’t speak too heavily to its evolution. I can acknowledge that they have implemented a few smaller quality of life changes to make the experience run smoother.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

This is a good software for larger, very typically structured, organizations. If you’ve got more than 200 employees, this software will make your life easier.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Smaller organizations, namely those with less than 150 employees, should consider other options. UKG Pro is among the most expensive HRIS I’ve used.

Zoho People

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Zoho People
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Zoho People

Zoho People is a complete solution for HR teams that offers a free plan in addition to other affordable options. Their tool can take on basic HR tasks like time and attendance, performance assessment, learning and development, employee engagement, and payroll management.

PROS

  • All core HR features in a single dashboard.
  • A wide array of integrations.
  • Available in multiple languages.
  • Has a free version and a free trial.
  • All core HR features in a single dashboard 
  • Wide array of integrations 
  • User-friendly UI, constantly updated 
  • Available in multiple languages

CONS

  • Payroll function was found to be too simplistic for some teams.
  • Mobile apps offer a scaled-down version of what’s available with the web version.
  • Occasional reports of slow load times.
  • 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.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Workday Human Resource Management System (HRMS) dashboard during the demo

Zoho People Review

Overall, we were quite impressed with this tool. It’s built solid with smart features, and it scales well. The forever-free plan is a major plus, even with limitations around total users (the upper limit is five) and a scant 250MB of storage.

Zoho’s mobile apps offer on-the-go convenience, and the core HR functions are all in good working order.

One remarkable aspect is the Cases feature. This functionality empowers users to submit their support inquiries within designated HR categories, ensuring swift responses from dedicated agents. It's a straightforward and efficient solution that saves valuable time.

Equally impressive is Zoho People, which accomplishes two goals at once - fostering enhanced collaboration while bolstering security through its access control feature. Administrators are able to easily assign access permissions to members which enables both effective collaboration and robust security measures.

Announcements empowers managers to share vital company information using a wide range of content types, formatting choices, and location-specific visibility settings, ensuring that important announcements reach the right audience in the right way at the right time.

Our experience with the browser-based self-service feature was good. It provided a centralized platform for accessing employee records, leave management, timesheets, and policy documents. However, we had some challenges with the mobile app. There were occasional lags during check-ins and facial recognition processes, and certain tools, like payroll, were more basic functionally compared to other similar tools in this space. There have been user reports of loading delays, be we didn’t experience this.

This platform is a good place for a growing company to start, and this has been attested to by multiple users reporting that their team started with the free plan and grew into a higher tier.

Zoho People Customers

ZPE Systems, Cloudfronts Technologies, Zomato, SpiceJet, Foresight CFO.

Zoho People Pricing

Zoho People has five plans:

  • Free: up to 5 users and 250MB of storage.
  • Essential HR: $1.25 per user per month when billed annually.
  • Professional: $2 per user per month billed annually.
  • Premium: $3 per user per month billed annually‍.
  • Enterprise: $4.5 per user per month billed annually.

Best For

While Zoho offers custom pricing for organizations with over 500 employees, its existing feature sets are particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The tool's multilingual capabilities enable it to cater to global teams effectively, ensuring seamless collaboration and communication across language barriers.

Zoho People in action
Reviewer's Rating
10/10

I use Zoho People for tracking time and leaves. Besides, it is great to chat with other team members. The platform includes an organizational chart, compensation, and training modules. It has great reporting features as well. I can easily check all my records, such as my pay stub for every month of the year, company employee list, and vacation schedule. etc.

What do you like about this tool?

It is affordable and user-friendly. The customer support that is available in the software is good and always active in responding to customers. The application is easy to use for most users. Zoho People is a great option for storing employee information and tracking time.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

5 years ago our company started to use Zoho People to deliver exceptional digital HR experiences to our employees while managing the entire employee life cycle on a single platform. I like its simplicity and integration with other Zoho tools like Zoho Payroll, Zoho Books, Zoho Expenses, etc. I love that the request permission, approval, and tracking features are so helpful. I like that the interactive form builder allows us to create different forms that meet our needs and help our HR team.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Sometimes I run into difficulties in terms of data integration between other integrated programs. Zoho People software does not integrate with other similar applications. They only provide a limited number of administrators for Standard and Premium pricing plans. The system is cloud-based only and not flexible to use.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Zoho People comes with an employee portal, organization chart, self-service, performance appraisal, employee leaves management, and salary tool features. All the HR processes can be managed from a central location which can help users to save time and reduce costs. The software offers a fully-mobile self-service that can help employees to get easy access to their HR data from anywhere, anytime. It can help employees have better control over their work.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

The price of the solution is low and most people can afford it. Customer support includes online and email user support. Easy to learn and use.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

They offer cloud-based hosting, which means IT resources are retrieved through web-based tools and applications and you don't need to buy servers and additional hardware equipment.

What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

It is very good for small and medium size companies.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

It would be a bit challenging for big corporations as Zoho People doesn’t offer unlimited employee profile support.

Namely

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Namely
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Popularity Score
4.7 / 5
User Score
4.1 / 5
Product Score
4.6 / 5

Why we picked Namely

Namely helps you streamline many of the day-to-day HR processes, including onboarding, attendance tracking, and performance management. It also packs a robust payroll and benefits administration module and reporting functionality that gives you insights into market trends.

PROS

  • Namely’s UI is highly rated by users. It’s quite clean and easy to navigate despite how feature-rich Namely is.
  • The employee onboarding module has an easy-to-use wizard that correctly guides new hires through the steps they need to complete and tasks they need to do.
  • On top of the platform's built-in features for data management, recruiting, onboarding, time off tracking, payroll, and benefits administration, Namely offers managed payroll and benefits administration services in case you require more help.
  • The majority of users are able to navigate Namely without any issues. They find the UI to be intuitive and clean, despite the fact that the platform has lots of features. 
  • Namely’s employee onboarding module gets a alot of praise from users. It features an easy-to-follow wizard, which helps new hires get on quickly and be clear on what they need to do. 
  • Besides the platform’s built in features for data management, recruiting, onboarding, time off tracking, payroll and benefits administration, there are also managed payroll and benefits administration services you can opt for to reduce the burden on your internal teams. 

CONS

  • Namely predominantly serves U.S.-based companies, which means it isn’t a good fit for companies that you need to pay and give benefits to employees in other countries.
  • The implementation process can be lengthy, spanning a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
  • For a platform as big as Namely, we were surprised by the lack of employee development features such as skill training, career pathing, succession planning, etc.
  • Before buying Namely, you should verify whether it is compatible with your current benefits provider, as there have been a few instances reported where Namely’s team encouraged users to switch to other providers that cost more.
  • Namely primarily operates in the U.S., which means if you’re looking for a global payroll and benefits provider, this platform isn’t for you.
  • Though many praise the platform’s ease of use, it does take long to implement it. Namely’s own team says that an average implementation takes between 6-8 weeks.
  • For a platform of Namely’s size, there currently aren’t any features that focus on employee development such as skill training, career pathing, succession planning etc. 
  • You’ll need to check beforehand if Namely can work with your existing benefits provider, if you have one. There have been a few reports (but not few enough to ignore) about Namely’s team convincing customers to change their benefits provider to providers that charged them more. 
Our reviewer took screenshot of Namely Human Resource Management Software dashboard during the demo

Namely Review

Namely’s HRMS helps mid-market companies (50-1000 employees) manage several HR processes in one centralized location. For starters, it can help you store and organize your employees' info as your system of record (SOR). You can also use it to onboard new employees through an intuitive wizard and e-signatures, check and approve time-off requests, as well as customize and conduct performance reviews.

The platform has built-in features for payroll management and benefits administrations that you can use, or opt for Namely’s managed payroll and benefits services and have them take care of relevant processes on your behalf.

Namely Customers

Namely is used by hundreds of businesses, including The Channel Company, Greenhouse, OneLogin, and MacStadium.

Namely Pricing

Namely doesn’t have fixed pricing plans. They like to tailor their offering according to each customer’s needs, and as such, each customer gets a unique quote. To learn more about Namely’s pricing and to get a quote, you can reach out to their Sales team.

Best For

Namely is a great HRMS for the mid-market (50-1,000 employees).

Namely in action
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Zenefits

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Zenefits
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked Zenefits

Zenefits is a widely-known HRMS for its ease of use and modern-looking UI. It's designed for SMBs and offers real competitive prices.

PROS

  • Zenefits stands as one of the leading names in HR tech and payroll software for American SMBs.
  • Easy-to-navigate UI.
  • Provides mobile app with a feature-rich self-service for employees.
  • Transparent and budget-friendly pricing.
  • Offers a free trial.
  • It’s one of the top names in HR tech and payroll software for American small businesses. 
  • Their platform is one of the best-looking and easiest to figure out among the sector. 
  • Zenefits can grow with you. Its pricing plans allow you to pay and tweak as you go, add certain modules when you need them, or get rid of them if you don’t.

CONS

  • As oriented to small businesses as the tool is, it doesn’t offer custom plans for enterprises.
  • No phone or dedicated account manager. Customer support can be hard to reach at times.
  • Zenefits is oriented toward the US market, not a good option for teams with employees in other countries.
  • As oriented to small businesses as the tool is, it doesn’t give you the chance to create a custom bundle of the services and/or modules you’d like to have. For instance, Zenefits does not offer a standalone ACA module. Therefore, you will need to purchase an entire HRIS plan if you want to access that offering.
  • In addition, Zenefits focuses on small to mid sized companies. If you're an enterprise organization, you may want to consider another option. 
  • Zenefits is also rather focused on the US market at this point. So, if your team is mostly in another country and you need more of a local know-how, it might not be the best bet for certain modules like payroll and benefits.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Workday HRMS Software Solution dashboard during the demo

Zenefits Review

Zenefits is an awesome HRMS for startups and SMBs to manage their onboarding, offboarding and almost everything in between. In addition to its many features, the HR tool offers a budget-friendly pricing structure, plus a great UI. Zenefits' pricing starts at $8 per month per employee and covers a set of core features — time tracking and scheduling, integrations, and apps. The interface is designed to be simple and quick enough for managers, executives, and employees to get themselves familiar with the tool after a few minutes of navigating the tool.

Zenefits’ payroll and benefits can accommodate multiple requirements from users. The offerings are designed to work for not only full-time employees but part-timers, contractors, and freelancers. Users are given the flexibility to bring their broker to the system or choose from Zenefits’ benefits plans, which cover health insurance, HSA, FSA, commuter, 401k, and so on. However, as oriented to SMBs in the U.S. as the tool is, the payroll and benefits that Zenefits provides aren’t suitable for teams having employees outside of the country.

Zenefits Customers

Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, Asana.

Zenefits Pricing

Zenefits offers three base plans with a free trial. Below is the pricing detail when billed annually:

  • Essentials plan costs $8 per month per employee.
  • Growth plan costs $16 per month per employee.
  • Zen plan costs $21 per month per employee.
  • Zenefits also provides add-ons for services like Payroll and Recruiting, which are priced at $5 per month per employee.

Best For

Entrepreneurs, startups, and SMBs businesses in the U.S. will likely take advantage of Zenefits’ HRMS offerings.

Zenefits in action
Reviewer's Rating
5/10

I use Zenefits for HRIS, payroll, benefits, PTO, time tracking and handbook creation and updates. We are currently using Zenefits on a daily basis as it is easy to process off-cycle payroll runs. The extensive library of resources available on a wide range of topics helps in finding a clear answer on whatever issue you may have. Complex issues are easily resolved via email. Communication with support is clear, concise and thorough.

What do you like about this tool?

It makes managing benefits, HR documents, and time off requests so easy! I love having a simple tool to manage all things important in one place. Whether its from my desktop or the mobile app, I can access everything I need. Leveraging Zenefits for all of our HR records helps us streamline and reduce paperwork, while making things accessible in one place for all administrators and managers, and limiting sensitive personal information to only HR personnel. Employees can easily update their direct deposit information, taxes, address via self-service through the mobile app.

Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

My organization had grown substantially and had no HRIS, payroll or benefits platform in place; prior to this growth, everything had been done manually. Selecting Zenefits was an easy choice due to pricing, ease-of-training employees and ongoing support. We utilized Zenefits for two years for its payroll, core HR functions, time tracking, benefits and PTO functionality. Its valuable insights and attractive pricing make it a great choice for smaller businesses.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Zenefits cannot appropriately cap 401k contributions resulting in overcontributions for many employees. Some integrations are challenged/non-existent and require uploads and data feeds. There is no dedicated account manager. Tax notifications can be difficult to get answered, often taking several weeks or months after submission. For several weeks, Zenefits was sending HR-related alerts to my personal email.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

I prefer Zenefits as an interim in-house solution for establishing in-house frameworks. It is ideal for small organizations with uncomplicated HR needs. Zenefits provides the necessary core functions and versatility required for a growing organization at a reasonable price and satisfactory customer service. Where more complex matters are concerned, I believe Zenefits struggles with viability.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Zenefits is perfect for smaller organizations with uncomplicated needs and limited budgets. Possible integrations should always be considered; the absence of ability to integrate can be a tremendous burden on time, reducing ROI. It is also critical to consider the expertise of HR employees where HR technology is concerned, as well as any training and support needs as these are critical to the internal success or failure of any platform.

How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?
What specific type of user or organization is this tool very good for?

Zenefits is good for small organizations with less than 50 employees, either locally or nationally.

What specific type of user or organization would this tool not be a good fit for?

Larger organizations with complex needs such as large workforces, international employees, contractors, multiple EIN's, multiple integrations and/or complex tax matters.

Benefits of the Top HRMS Software

While some people new to HR software think of an Human Resource Management Systems as little more than a database to keep track of essential employee records, these tools can offer much more nowadays. Here are the key benefits of using best-in-class human resource management software whether you're a small business or a Fortune 500 company:

  • Better employee experience: The benefits of an HRMS don’t just fall on your business, but also on your employees. A user-friendly employee portal can allow your employees to review and update their info, navigate benefits options, and request time off. All of this can lead to increased employee satisfaction and engagement.
  • Drive employee performance: Your HR system should actually drive employee performance through performance reviews, engagement surveys, performance management capabilities, and customizable integrations with other tools you use to build culture.
  • Save time with HR automation: With the right HRMS, tasks like new employee onboarding, offboarding, benefits and payroll administration, and time tracking and attendance management, can all become quick and simple. For example, once they are set up, HR doesn’t have to spend tons of time each day maintaining or editing the system’s policies unless there are drastic changes that need to be made. In turn, with fewer operational tasks to manage, the HR department can focus their time and energy on more strategic initiatives. These can include optimizing employee lifetime value, lowering the turnover rate, and improving employee productivity and wellbeing.
  • Increased compliance: Provided that you and your team are careful with the setup and initial data entry, an HRMS can greatly improve HR’s data accuracy. This would come in handy during EEOC audits, wrongful termination lawsuits, and all the other fun stuff that HR pros have to deal with. Also, since many tasks are automated, the right HR software can also avoid human input error. Lastly, some vendors even adapt to unforeseen circumstances like the pandemic and vaccine mandates, expanding their offering with immunization tracking and other safety and compliance tools, for example.
  • A more organized HR department: If you’re starting from a handful of spreadsheets and manual processes, an HRMS eliminates the hassle of sifting through files to find the employee data that you need. Since many of these systems have searchable databases, you can easily access the information you need in seconds. Also, in the case of an HRMS, since it would also include payroll, the platform can become a one-stop-shop for all your employee info. 
  • HR intelligence: As any operation grows, it becomes increasingly important to analyze its data. An HRMS lets you create custom reports, making it easier for your HR and finance teams to analyze metrics like turnover rate, hiring costs, and employee engagement, as well as using that data to make more informed decisions.
  • Workforce management: The HRMS vendors that are best-in-class HR technology companies will offer tools that help progressive HR departments with human capital management. For example, you will find employee engagement built right into many new human resource management software options, along with intuitive employee onboarding, easy-to-access payroll and benefits, mobile-first time tracking and attendance, and payroll management.  All of this is done through a cloud-based offering that updates as new modules roll out.
  • Streamline recruiting: Some HRMS platforms can also act as a lightweight ATS (and some have a full-fledged ATS built in). The recruiting features of an HRMS could let you collect resumes, review candidate info, and speed up employee onboarding and training, providing new hires with a seamless transition into your company. Custom workflows also help you ensure that no key steps or necessary documents are overlooked in the onboarding process.

Pro Tips on HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems)

Pitfalls of Buying a Human Resource Management System

The benefits of using HR management software are substantial, but there are many common mistakes made 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 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.
  • 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 common for them 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 HR software. Employees won’t need the same features as managers, and they’ll each weigh the importance of 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. 
  • Overlooking security and support: Just because there’s a budget constraint doesn’t mean 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.

How Are Most HR Management Solutions Priced?

With most of the vendors listed on this roundup, pricing is on a per-user-per-month basis. Some of them will have an additional monthly base rate, and the majority of them will offer custom pricing based on your business’s needs. Some of them also offer independently priced add-ons, which is great for small businesses who want to pay only for the features they’ll actually use. 

Now if you’d like to get a rough idea of what you can expect to budget based on your organization’s size, we’ve put together the following estimates taken from our own experience and conversations with our HR expert council:

Number of employeesEstimated annual cost
100$12,000
500$48,000
1,000$72,000


Key HRMS Software Features

In order to build a list of requirements and use it effectively to evaluate vendors, it will help to know which are the key HRMS software features and how these can support your goals. 

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the key difference between an HRMS and HCM software and an HRIS is that an Human Resource Management System also includes payroll, budgeting, and time and labor management. Let’s look at each of these in more detail: 

  • Payroll: An HRMS is great for paying your employees in the same platform where all their other HR processes are handled. A regular payroll solution has features like automated deposits, pay slip generation, and calculation for vacation days, sick days, overtime, etc. Some of the vendors we mentioned here can help you pay people in several parts of the world, not just the U.S., but you can also look at our global payroll roundup if that’s important to you. 
  • Budgeting: Some of these systems also let you create and approve budgets for the entire Human Resources department. These can cover expenditures, adjust forecasts, and plan for future costs. Some of these may also provide a cost analysis overview, reporting, and integrations with some of the main accounting software. 
  • Time and labor management: This concept encompasses everything related with managing time for a workforce. A module with this name should support all types of time entry for employees, let you create time cards, calculate overtime, keep track of absences, and of course, integrate all this with the payroll system.

Questions to Keep in Mind When Demoing HRMS Software

As you start demoing various HRMS software solutions, it’s important to prepare and attend these meetings with some questions already in mind. These inquiries should aim to answer whether the solution in question will indeed address the main use cases and core needs you’re looking for.

Of course, the most concerning of these questions shouldn’t be saved for the demo at all, but rather handled prior through an email thread, for instance, so you won’t waste time on a demo if X or Y solution turns out to be incompatible with your core needs. 

Further, the demo should also help check certain boxes that your internal stakeholders care about, such as integrations, security, data management, self-service portals, features, etc. 

You should write down a list of those questions, share it with your team, and maybe have stakeholders add to it as well. While that list will be unique, here are some common questions when demoing an HRMS (Human Resource Management System) that should help get you started: 

  • What integrations are key for us? Does it integrate with ATS, payroll, or any other systems you might have that impact workforce management?
  • Does this solution have single sign-on (SSO) capabilities?
  • Are there multiple authorization levels for different types of users?
  • Is there a maximum number of employees it will support across the workforce?
  • What types of reporting capabilities does it have?
  • Does it include features to help HR communicate with employees (i.e. mass emails, filtering messages by criteria)?
  • What kind of tasks can we automate or streamline with this tool? How many hours can we expect to save doing so? 
  • How much technical training will be required?
  • What kinds of technical support are provided?
  • What recruiting capabilities are built in?
  • Which HR processes will be automated?
  • How will information be exchanged with carriers (for employee benefits)?
  • Does it accommodate benefits carriers’ rules?
  • How can we import employee data into this system? (API, Excel spreadsheets, employee records, other databases, and paper documents)
  • What built-in security measures does it contain?

FAQs on Buying HRMS Software

Moving on, here are some of the most frequently asked questions from HR professionals when it comes to human capital management software: 

What is the best HRMS system?

While some of the top vendors in HRMS software are UKG, SAP SuccessFactors, Namely, and Rippling, “the best” is really a matter of your business size and requirements. There are many HRMS vendors, out of which there are likely one or two that will align with what you’re looking for. 

What is the difference between HCM, HRMS, and HRIS?

The main difference between HRIS, HRMS, and HCM is that the former two refer to a specific type of software, systems of information, as their names imply (human resource information system and human resource management system). HCM, on the other hand, stands for human capital management. This is a set of business practices around the acquisition, management, and optimization of a business’s workforce. 

What is HCM software?

HCM software is a software tool that takes most features you would expect out of a labor management platform but builds it purposefully for the business practices that encompass human capital management. This software puts together widely varying features such as workforce planning, performance reviews, and employee onboarding in a single management platform where they can all help to generate insights that drive broader business decision making.

How come definitions of HCM, HRMS, and HRIS vary so much? 

This is a good question precisely because the definition of each term varies widely from vendor to vendor, and among HR professionals as well. That being said, the differences between each software category are all about features and use cases. Most thought leadership indicates that HRIS is the most circumscribed type of solution, focusing on core HR needs. HRMS takes it up a notch in features, while still sticking to HR use cases, and HCM is about rounding up all those features with strategic planning for the business in mind, with the workforce as the main component to analyze and optimize.

Final Advice on Buying HRMS software

To wrap this up, we’ll assume you’ve read everything above and have a couple of vendors in mind to reach out to and book a demo with. To send you off to this part of the buying process, there’s one last piece of advice that can help a great deal when evaluating HRMS software providers. 

These demos should revolve around your HR requirements, and you should try to avoid having one-size-fits-all demonstrations whenever possible. To do this, share your list of requirements and questions beforehand, asking them to show that specific functionality. Since reporting is such a big part of HR management these days, you could even give them data for them to run into the system.

This way, you and your team will get to truly see how much of a fit the tool is for you, as well as gauging other factors like intuitiveness and overall user experience. Couple this guide with our very own HR and recruitment software buying organizer and you’ll be on your way to find the perfect platform for your HR needs.

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