10+ Best Employee Management Software in 2025

The software is laid out very nicely, making it easy to find anything, and all employee documents are in one place. Reports are easy to find and customize. Their help desk is extremely knowledgeable. If they can't help you, it's elevated via a ticket system to an in-house engineer. Gusto is so user-friendly that an employee can learn what they need to know in minutes.

Gusto was purchased for a small company's payroll, HR management, and processes.

We needed to simplify payroll, become fully HR compliant, and organize processes (handbook, reviews, job descriptions, tax documentation, etc. for the team). HR at the time had worked with various large platforms that would not suit our needs because they were overly complicated with a cumbersome setup for a small company.

Combined with features we would never use, these platforms were an unworkable option. This led us to find a vendor specific to small businesses. A colleague of the owner suggested Gusto. After one demonstration, we decided to go with the full suite of offerings (Premium) but later reduced to Plus. Once you learn the features, you know what you can do without and save some money.

One problem we had, which Gusto was unable to solve at the time, was timekeeping. We added a timekeeping system that partners with Gusto for a seamless hourly staff payroll. There are lots of options listed within Gusto.

I've used the Gusto tool for four years. All our HR problems were solved. Gusto works perfectly for a small business (under 100 employees). Payroll is a snap. Managers approve their employees' time, it's filtered into the Gusto system, and ready for final approval/submission within minutes.

Additionally, you have a window to pull back payroll to make changes. All adjustments (healthcare, court-ordered payments, etc.) are easily set up via each employee, and changes can be made within seconds. Employees can update their personal or tax information right in their app, which is very convenient for them.

Gusto simplified the entire onboarding process, along with payroll, handbooks, employee reviews, etc. Gusto needs to add their own time clock system (if they haven't already), but their time clock partners work extremely well.

One last point, if you want to be very specific about which employee's information their manager is allowed to see, Gusto has levels of permissions for managers and employees built into the software.

It would be nice if they had a timekeeping system (that wasn't on the internet), reducing the need for another app. It would also be nice if Gusto had an applicant tracking system. PTO can be cumbersome to figure out on an accrual basis.

Gusto is by far the best payroll, HRIS software I've used mainly due to its simplicity and speed.

How many employees do you plan on running through the system? Payroll over 100 could be run better on a different platform. Understand what Gusto cannot do that you'll need to add on (timekeeping app, harassment training). What does your accounting firm do for you that Gusto can automate? 940/941 filings, tax setup for unemployment in each state.

I'm a fan of their customer service; however, many think they're too slow. Growing pains, Gusto's management will catch up. They've streamlined even more in the last four years.

The entire HR department and all managers with staff in small business can find Gusto to be a great fit.

• Leapsome’s user-friendly design makes it easy to recognize colleagues and boost morale with positive feedback.
• The platform functions as both a learning management system and an organizer for meetings, reviews, and surveys.
• It’s intuitive and quickly adopted by employees, improving morale by encouraging shared feedback and appreciation.

My organization adopted Leapsome to centralize and improve multiple HR functions within a single platform. We wanted a solution that could integrate goal-setting, OKRs, performance reviews, employee learning, and engagement into a cohesive system. Leapsome’s all-in-one design has been key in enabling streamlined performance tracking and employee development. It has also helped promote better communication and engagement with features like 360-degree feedback, surveys, and recognition tools. I have personally used Leapsome for two years, and it has consistently proven valuable to our team.

• The platform’s workflows could be better optimized for smoother use.
• The UI/UX for completing a learning path could be improved to provide a more seamless experience.
• Some internal management processes still rely on outdated methods.

Leapsome differentiates itself with customizable performance and 360° reviews that are straightforward to use. It supports goal alignment and tracking across the organization, fostering transparency and accountability.

Through employee engagement surveys, it provides insights into company culture that help in strategic decision-making. Leapsome also encourages a culture of continuous growth with real-time feedback and praise.

These features create a holistic approach to performance management, employee development, and engagement that stands out from competitors.

I recommend researching the platform’s functions to ensure it aligns with your organizational needs. Leapsome offers many valuable features, though some may require further development.

Leapsome has remained relatively consistent, though there is room for further updates to meet evolving user requirements.

The platform’s versatility makes it suitable for various types of organizations and industries.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Mid-size to Large companies.

Reports can be customized to fit specific needs. BambooHR shows when candidates or employees have viewed emails, which is helpful when they claim otherwise. It provides tracking for performance reviews.

The company I have a contract with did not have an ATS and was using Excel, which is outdated for tracking and consolidating information. I was tasked with researching and finding a solution that would work for a small company and fit our budget and needs.

I implemented BambooHR with the representative and have been using it for over four years. The primary reason we needed it was to track all candidates and create historical data, which is also required by law. We also use it to acknowledge birthdays, track training courses (in the healthcare field), complete 90-day probation evaluations, and monitor one-year anniversaries.

Additionally, we run reports for various departments. One of the most useful features is the ability to email and respond directly to candidates without copying and pasting results into Excel. A helpful bonus is the ability to see when candidates or employees open emails.

Many extra features are expensive. Sometimes, you must schedule a call or meeting to receive clear answers. Some reports are not configured to pull exactly what you need or lack sufficient options.

The pricing works for us—BambooHR meets our needs on a small scale. We operate two different companies and were not able to nest them under the same system, even though they are similar.

Add-ons are billed separately. After implementation, someone within the company needs to become the expert on the system. The implementation period was quick and somewhat rushed.

They have added new features that are either free or included in the selected package, which is a plus. They also offer many tutorials and a self-help support page.

BambooHR is a good fit for small businesses that do not require extensive customization or frequent large-scale changes.

Honestly, I do not like UKG, but these are 3 pros:

1. The org chart is nice to be able to see who each person reports to (although only HR is able to see it)
2. The HR checklist tasks are useful to keep track of tasks.
3. The ability to filter reports before exporting is useful.

Our organization bought UKG to replace our old HRIS. We previously were with BambooHR but moved to UKG so that we could move payroll internally. We have been using the tool for one year. This tool provides the bare minimum needed for an HRIS as we have the basic version. We have used the tool for one year, but we are already looking for a new HRIS to move to because we have had a very bad experience with both the tool and customer support. I personally use the tool daily to run reports and review the organization chart.

1. Pulling reports is so complicated. It is not streamlined at all.
2.  When conducting payroll, we get LOTS of error flags that we have to go through (and by LOTS I mean 75-100)
3. The org chart is only accessible by the HR dept.
4. It is just not user-friendly. I often have to hold the hands of our employees to show them how to submit a PTO request, change their personal info, etc.

This tool is much worse than similar tools in my opinion. The reason we switched was so that we could have an internal payroll solution, but after just 1 year we are already looking for a different tool.

The first criteria people should consider is whether the tool meets all of their requirements. That is the reason we switched to UKG because our old system did not meet our new requirements. Next, people should consider whether it has add-ons that support their business. We are looking for a system that has a built-in performance management solution, as well as L&D functions.

No. The customer support has not been helpful to us.

Small companies that want to do internal payroll but do not need all of the bells and whistles (and who do not mind spending a lot of time on payroll and pulling reports). I do not recommend the tool.

• I like it because it helps us with accountability, we can support and appreciate our coworkers. We can communicate easily. I like it overall.
• It’s a great tool to keep track of the performances of employees.
• I like the fact I can create objectives and goals to work on

Our organization saw a need to have this tool because it helps to track our employees and their progress. As you can provide feedback to your manager or peers, there is transparency in the process and the employees can be heard. We have used this tool for over a year and it has impacted us in a positive way. When our employees feel appreciated, we see better results, we can show appreciation weekly and it’s noticed by everyone in the company.

• Well, I would say sometimes employees like privacy and as shown to everyone on the appreciation piece, some people might not like it.
• Also, the responses to questions, are not anonymous, and sometimes people won't be honest to the fullest, fearing they would lose their job.

It's the first time I use a tool like this. So, I can’t really comment on the competitors.

They need to think about how this tool will improve the culture, and environment and also understand that the business will be impacted in a positive way as the employees are being heard. If someone has an idea, they can communicate via 15five.

It has helped me to share my thoughts on how I feel or for any new ideas that can help the business.

Any company wanting to give feedback and appreciation to employees.

1. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for both HR staff and teams.
2. Integrations: It integrates payroll, benefits administration, and performance management, streamlining processes and eliminating the need for scattered Google Sheets.
3. Employee Self-Service: The self-service portal allows employees to manage their personal information, view pay stubs, and access benefits details independently, saving us time from routine administrative tasks. This is the future of HR, as automation should be adopted across the board.

At Impactable, we chose Namely because we were overwhelmed by managing too many HR systems that didn’t integrate well. It was challenging to keep up with payroll and benefits manually, so we needed a solution that could consolidate everything and simplify our processes, allowing us to focus on developing the new platform.

Namely turned out to be a great choice. It has a user-friendly interface that even the least tech-savvy among us can navigate with minimal training. The employee self-service portal was something we didn’t realize we needed, but it has been incredibly helpful in allowing the team to manage their own holidays and benefits without constantly contacting HR.

The analytics and reporting tools, while not initially a priority, have also proven useful. I’ve been using Namely for two years now, and overall, it has greatly improved our organization’s efficiency.

1. Customer Service Issues: The customer service can be slow and sometimes unresponsive, which is disappointing given the quality of the product.
2. Integration Challenges: It took time to get the integrations working correctly, and we had to invest considerable effort in training everyone to manage them.
3. Reporting Features: The reporting features are difficult to use and have limited customization options, which was a letdown.

Namely is much easier to use compared to other HR tools, with everything from payroll to benefits consolidated in one place. It has a sleek interface, and the employee self-service portal allows staff to manage their own information. Unlike some competitors, Namely offers solid reporting tools and continuous updates, keeping the platform modern and efficient. Overall, it simplifies HR tasks better than many competitors, although I haven’t used many similar tools recently, so they might have improved as well.

1. Ease of Use: Ensure the platform is user-friendly for both HR staff and employees.
2. Integration Capabilities: Look for seamless integration with existing systems such as payroll, benefits, and other HR tools you already use.
3. Customer Support: Check the quality and responsiveness of customer support, as effective support is crucial for resolving issues quickly.
4. Feature Set: Evaluate the range of features offered, such as employee self-service, performance management, and reporting capabilities, to ensure the tool meets all your HR needs. Avoid tools that require additional services to cover all necessary functions, as there are comprehensive solutions available.

The interface has improved, and integrations are smoother. However, customer service hasn’t seen much improvement.

Namely is particularly well-suited for mid-sized organizations with 50 to 1,000 employees across various sectors such as media, technology, and eCommerce. It's ideal for companies looking for an all-in-one HR solution that integrates payroll, benefits, and performance management. Businesses that require comprehensive analytics and reporting tools to make informed HR decisions will also benefit significantly from Namely’s features.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It is very good for small and medium size companies.