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10 Best HR Software Of 2026
Audited & Verified: Oct 12, 2026, 12:45am
How we analyzed
Our experts researched 27 human resource management platforms to find the best ones that are actually easy to use and fairly priced. We analyzed everything from easy onboarding to benefits administration and integrations. Read our methodology.
Quick Dive
HR software is a system of tools that help HR teams streamline their core processes, such as running payroll and managing employee benefits. Check out our top picks or learn more about how we determined the top 10.
Our Recommended HR Software Companies
Rippling reduces your work by automating certain tasks based on specific triggers.
On Rippling’s Website
Gusto lets you run unlimited payrolls each month and has plans for single-state and multi-state payroll.
On Gusto’s Website
According to our testing, BambooHR was one of the easiest HR software to set up and use.
On BambooHR’s Website
Because ADP has plans for businesses of all sizes, it’s a great pick if you think your business is on the cusp of growth.
On ADP Workforce Now’s Website
How We Picked the Best HR Software
How We Evaluate the Best HR Software
-
24
companies researched
We chose which companies to review based on features, reputation and accessibility
-
132,378
customer insights analyzed
Includes reviews on implementation, customer service and payroll
-
36
metrics examined
Most weight given to consumer satisfaction, payroll and benefits administration
| Company | Consumer Sentiment Index | Customer Service | Implementation | Payroll | User Experience and Usability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BambooHR
|
|
4
|
4
|
9
|
1
|
|
HR Cloud
|
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
6
|
|
Gusto
|
|
7
|
3
|
6
|
7
|
|
Uzio
|
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
|
UKG Ready
|
|
9
|
7
|
4
|
8
|
Staff Writer
Staff Editor
Kristy Snyder
As a staff writer for Forbes Advisor, SMB, Kristy helps small business owners find the tools they need to keep their businesses running. She uses the experience of managing her own writing and editing business for 15 years to provide expert assistance to other small business owners.
Expertise:
Rachel Williams
Rachel Williams has been an editor for nearly two decades. She has spent the last five years working on small business content to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. She’s well-versed in the intricacies of LLC formation, business taxes, business loans, registered agents, business licenses and more.
Expertise:
Kristy Snyder
As a staff writer for Forbes Advisor, SMB, Kristy helps small business owners find the tools they need to keep their businesses running. She uses the experience of managing her own writing and editing business for 15 years to provide expert assistance to other small business owners.
Featured Partners
1
Gusto
Yes
Yes
$49 per month plus $6 per user
2
Rippling
Yes
Yes
$20 per user per month
3
Paychex
Yes
Yes
Custom
4
Remote
Yes
Yes
$29 per user per month
Top HR Software Companies Reviewed
BambooHR
Our Expert Review
Our testing found that BambooHR is the best HR software for ease of use, earning a 4.9-star rating from our research team. We found setting up time tracking, time off policies and employee lifecycle management to be intuitive and seamless.
Throughout their experience, our tester found BambooHR provided guided steps that clearly highlighted their next steps. Even when our tester used the mobile app, they found it responsive and visually polished, with no noticeable friction during use.
We also love that the BambooHR interface is modern, lacking the clunky and outdated feel of some other HR software like TriNet. It includes everything you need in one platform, and you can add on payroll, benefits administration, time tracking and employer of record (EOR) services in addition to core HR features. And if you really can’t find the feature you need, BambooHR has 150 integrations partners.
The BambooHR interface is clean and easy to use, making it a good solution if you’re new to managing HR.
Pros & Cons of BambooHR
|
Includes compliance training courses |
Payroll, time tracking and benefits are add-ons |
|
Volume and non-profit discounts are available |
Performance management and employee community only on Pro plan and above |
|
Employee experience tools included |
No succession management features |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#4Customer Service
Ranked 4 out of 10For Customer Service- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 20% of people had negative sentiments
-
#4Implementation
Ranked 4 out of 10For Implementation
- 77% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 13% of people had negative sentiments
-
#9Payroll
Ranked 9 out of 10For Payroll
- 65% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 23% of people had negative sentiments
-
#1User Experience and Usability
Ranked 1 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 14% of people had negative sentiments
BambooHR has received a mix of opinions from users. Many appreciate its ease of use, user-friendly interface and the efficiency it brings to HR processes, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. Key areas of praise include its onboarding and employee management features, as well as excellent customer service.
However, users have also shared concerns, with some pointing out its limitations in scalability, reporting and integration capabilities, issues with its mobile application and occasional glitches in functionality. There are also criticisms about its pricing, which some feel is high for the range of features offered, making it less ideal for larger organizations or those with complex HR needs. The sentiment towards BambooHR is mixed, with both positive experiences and areas for improvement highlighted by users.
HR Cloud
HR Suite only
HR Suite only
HR Suite only
Our Expert Review
Our research found that HR Cloud is the best HR software for onboarding and offboarding, earning a 4.8-star rating from our research team. You get a complete onboarding suite that includes personalized onboarding plans, a customizable employee portal, welcome emails and more.
HR Cloud provides an onboarding checklist for new hires so they always know what to do next.
There’s also an offboarding portal that includes automatic notifications when an ex-employee completes an action. We like the exit interview feature so you can collect feedback from departing employees, which could be useful for making structural or organizational changes to improve workplace culture.
If you upgrade to the Professional HR plan, you’ll also get a full host of recruiting and applicant management features, such as customized offer letter templates, job board integrations and interview scheduling. We think this is worth it, especially if you want to give your new hires a seamless experience from hiring to onboarding.
Pros & Cons of HR Cloud
|
Special pricing for small businesses |
Employee engagement only available in Culture HR plan |
|
I-9 and e-verify integration |
No option to add payroll or benefits |
|
Integrates with other HR and payroll systems |
No employee handbook tools |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#1Customer Service
Ranked 1 out of 10For Customer Service
- 93% of people had positive sentiments
- 4% of people had neutral sentiments
- 3% of people had negative sentiments
-
#1Implementation
Ranked 1 out of 10For Implementation
- 75% of people had positive sentiments
- 16% of people had neutral sentiments
- 9% of people had negative sentiments
-
#10Payroll
Ranked 10 out of 10For Payroll
- 85% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 7% of people had negative sentiments
-
#6User Experience and Usability
Ranked 6 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 17% of people had negative sentiments
HR Cloud generally receives positive feedback for its ease of use, efficient onboarding processes and excellent customer support. Users appreciate the platform’s ability to streamline HR activities, automate administrative tasks and provide a smooth onboarding experience with features like electronic signatures and customizable workflows. The integration with other tools, such as ADP, is viewed favorably, though some users report challenges with certain integrations and occasional technical bugs.
The mobile app receives mixed reviews, with some users finding it reliable and others noting performance issues. Overall, HR Cloud is seen as a user-friendly, customizable solution with strong customer support, though some features and integrations could be further optimized.
Gusto
Plus and Premium plans
Plus and Premium plans; add-on with Simple plan
No
Our Expert Review
Our testing found that Gusto is the best HR software for payroll, earning a 4.8-star rating from our research team. Not all HR software comes with payroll included, but Gusto gives you unlimited payroll runs with all plans, plus tax filings and payments.
In addition to providing the option for multiple pay rates and schedules, time off requests and approvals and multiple paycheck options, Gusto also lets you choose between single-state or multi-state payroll. This makes it a good option if you have a lot of remote employees spread across the country. Paying international employees is a little trickier, but Gusto does partner with Remote for employer of record services.
You have a lot of options for pay schedules in Gusto, including the ability to use one schedule for all employees or having different schedules based on compensation type, employee or department.
Outside of payroll, Gusto’s HR features are a little less robust than other software unless you subscribe to a higher tier plan. For example, you only get org charts and onboarding checklists on the Plus plan, which are pretty basic offerings of other software.
Pros & Cons of Gusto
|
Health insurance administration included on all plans |
Most companies will need to upgrade for more HR features |
|
Integrates with 152 apps |
Next- and same-day pay cost extra |
|
Robust employee self-service platform |
No learning management tools |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#7Customer Service
Ranked 7 out of 10For Customer Service
- 42% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 50% of people had negative sentiments
-
#3Implementation
Ranked 3 out of 10For Implementation
- 88% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 4% of people had negative sentiments
-
#6Payroll
Ranked 6 out of 10For Payroll
- 67% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 27% of people had negative sentiments
-
#7User Experience and Usability
Ranked 7 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 78% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 11% of people had negative sentiments
Gusto is frequently praised for its ease of use, modern interface and suitability for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly in managing payroll and HR tasks. Many users appreciate its affordability, straightforward onboarding and the comprehensive functionality it offers for payroll, benefits, and HR management. Customers often find Gusto helpful in reducing HR workload and facilitating compliance with tax filings.
However, the company receives criticism for limited scalability, with some users reporting issues as their organizations grow or when dealing with multiple states. Customer service experiences are mixed, with some praising the support team while others express frustration over unresponsiveness and resolution delays. The Gusto mobile app also receives negative feedback for usability.
Overall, Gusto is seen as a valuable tool for smaller companies, but it may pose challenges for larger organizations or those with complex HR needs.
Uzio
Our Expert Review
Our research found that Uzio is the best HR software for AI automation, earning a 4.7-star rating from our research team. Its AI tools are embedded directly into its payroll, HR and compliance features to provide intelligence insights and reduce your workload.
We particularly like how compliance rules are built into the system, meaning AI can make sure you’re following all payroll, tax and HR regulations so you don’t get into legal trouble. This is especially helpful as you’re planning out headcounts, creating hourly schedules or hiring employees in different locations.
Its AI Copilot tool can come in handy if you want to search for specific statistics or information without combing through reports or analytics. It uses natural language processing for queries, so you can ask it whatever you want and get a coherent answer. On the whole, though, Uzio is missing several key HR features I think most businesses will need, like hiring tools and performance management.
The Uzio AI Copilot can provide instant answers to your natural language queries, and you can even limit responses based on the information employees are authorized to access.
Pros & Cons of Uzio
|
Cannabis and healthcare industry compliance |
No hiring or onboarding tools |
|
Transparent pricing |
Limited integrations |
|
Comprehensive garnishments management |
No performance management features |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#2Customer Service
Ranked 2 out of 10For Customer Service
- 76% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 21% of people had negative sentiments
-
#6Implementation
Ranked 6 out of 10For Implementation
- 81% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 11% of people had negative sentiments
-
#3Payroll
Ranked 3 out of 10For Payroll
- 73% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 15% of people had negative sentiments
-
#4User Experience and Usability
Ranked 4 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 9% of people had neutral sentiments
- 19% of people had negative sentiments
Uzio receives mixed feedback from users. Many appreciate the platform’s user-friendly design and ease of navigation, which simplifies HR tasks like payroll processing and benefits enrollment. The customer service is often highlighted as responsive and helpful, and the integration of payroll, HR and benefits into a single platform is seen as a strong advantage.
However, some users face challenges with the mobile app, citing frequent crashes and bugs. Others mention issues with functionality, such as difficulties in clocking in or tracking time accurately and concerns over mandatory location tracking features. While the platform offers comprehensive HR solutions, frustrations with technical issues and limited integrations are notable.
Overall, Uzio seems beneficial for many, especially smaller businesses, but some aspects could be improved for a smoother user experience.
UKG
Yes
Yes
Yes
Our Expert Review
Our research found that UKG is the best HR software for reporting and analytics, earning a 4.5-star rating from our research team. The customizable reports available in UKG Ready provide benchmarks for comparing your company’s performance in various areas to industry standards, as well as sentiment analysis for gauging how well projects and new initiatives are being received by workers.
UKG’s people analytics tools use AI techniques to alert companies to potential problems and recommends proactive steps to prevent them. This takes a fair amount of analysis off your hands so you can focus on solutions rather than crunching data.
You’ll have access to hundreds of reports, including compliance, tax filing and reconciliation, workforce management, compensation and business rules. This can be extremely helpful if one of your big goals is optimizing your organization and finding ways to cut costs, improve productivity or expand your reach.
UKG reports can be viewed, sorted and filtered in many ways.
Pros & Cons of UKG
|
UKG people insights keep employers in tune with worker sentiment |
Lacks live chat support |
|
Benefits, payroll, talent management, time and attendance and culture all included |
The interface receives poor grades in many user reviews |
|
UKG Pro offers hundreds of reports on HR compliance, compensation and payroll |
Public pricing not available |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#9Customer Service
Ranked 9 out of 10For Customer Service
- 51% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 38% of people had negative sentiments
-
#7Implementation
Ranked 7 out of 10For Implementation
- 57% of people had positive sentiments
- 15% of people had neutral sentiments
- 28% of people had negative sentiments
-
#4Payroll
Ranked 4 out of 10For Payroll
- 71% of people had positive sentiments
- 9% of people had neutral sentiments
- 20% of people had negative sentiments
-
#8User Experience and Usability
Ranked 8 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 54% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 34% of people had negative sentiments
UKG Ready has received mostly negative feedback from users, with frequent complaints about the app’s poor performance, including difficulties in logging in, frequent crashes and slow loading times. Users also criticize its interface as non-user-friendly and complicated, often requiring multiple steps to complete simple tasks.
While some users mention the app’s potential for navigation and feature accessibility once fully understood, the general sentiment toward its functionality is unfavorable. Additionally, customer support and implementation processes have been highlighted as areas needing significant improvement.
TriNet
Yes
Yes
Yes
Our Expert Review
Our research found that TriNet is the best HR software for HR outsourcing, earning a 4.3-star rating from our research team. As an administrative services organization, TriNet provides a personalized support team to help reduce your administrative burden and stay compliant with your HR operations, all while allowing you to stay the employer of record.
In our opinion, one of the most valuable aspects is that TriNet experts can help you navigate HR- and payroll-related federal, state and local rules, which are often a hurdle for newer businesses. With TriNet, you’ll be more confident you’re following the law and avoiding hefty fines or penalties.
You’re not totally hands-off with TriNet. You’ll have full access to the HR platform, which lets you control applicant tracking, job posting and hiring on your own. You can also manage employees and run payroll.
All TriNet HR Plus plans use the TriNet HR Platform, which offers self-service access to workforce data, time tracking, attendance, time off, performance management and more.
Pros & Cons of TriNet
|
24/7 live chat support |
Pricing isn’t transparent |
|
Automated onboarding and analytics dashboards |
Not as many integrations as competitors |
|
Performance management, time tracking and employee feedback included |
Not ideal if you already have HR staff |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#3Customer Service
Ranked 3 out of 10For Customer Service
- 36% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 58% of people had negative sentiments
-
#10Implementation
Ranked 10 out of 10For Implementation
- 42% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 46% of people had negative sentiments
-
#5Payroll
Ranked 5 out of 10For Payroll
- 48% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 44% of people had negative sentiments
-
#10User Experience and Usability
Ranked 10 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 49% of people had positive sentiments
- 20% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
TriNet receives a range of opinions from users, with a predominantly negative sentiment about its services. Positively, some users appreciate its comprehensive HR and payroll platform and the ability to handle multi-state payroll, benefits and compliance, which can be particularly beneficial for businesses with complex needs. The setup and onboarding processes are often described as straightforward, and some users find the platform user-friendly with valuable resources.
However, many users report significant dissatisfaction, citing issues with customer service, high costs, complex interfaces and recurring errors in payroll and benefits management. Customer support is frequently described as slow and unhelpful, with difficulties in addressing urgent issues. The increase in fees and lack of customization options also frustrate users, especially smaller businesses. While some users find the services efficient and time-saving, others feel let down by the overall experience and are considering switching to alternative providers.
ADP Workforce Now
Add-on
Only on Premium plan
Add-on
Our Expert Review
Our research found that ADP Workforce Now is the best HR software for scaling businesses, earning a 4.0-star rating from our research team. ADP Workforce Now accommodates up to 1,000 employees, and if you outgrow that, it’s easy to upgrade to its enterprise software, ADP Lyric HCM, for 1,000+ employees.
ADP Workforce Now also works well if you’re scaling internationally, as it links up with ADP Global Payroll so you can hire anywhere in the world. Plus, ADP has HR outsourcing in the form of a full-service professional employer organization (PEO) and a la carte options.
But we also like how the tools within ADP Workforce Now promote growth. For example, you get access to analytics and benchmark tools that give you a deeper look into your workforce’s performance, helping you make decisions that will empower your bottom line. You also get enhanced HR tools like compliance reporting, employee development tracking and an employee portal that’ll help as you grow.
ADP Workforce Now comes with benchmark reporting to make it easier for your company to grow.
Pros & Cons of ADP Workforce Now
|
Full-service payroll in all 50 states and more than 140 countries |
Must subscribe to Premium plan for workforce management |
|
Nearly 200 pre-made reports to choose from |
Talent acquisition, performance management and learning management are all add-ons |
|
Can add a la carte modules for more scaling |
Very expensive compared to competition |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#6Customer Service
Ranked 6 out of 10For Customer Service
- 47% of people had positive sentiments
- 7% of people had neutral sentiments
- 46% of people had negative sentiments
-
#9Implementation
Ranked 9 out of 10For Implementation
- 62% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 26% of people had negative sentiments
-
#1Payroll
Ranked 1 out of 10For Payroll
- 73% of people had positive sentiments
- 7% of people had neutral sentiments
- 20% of people had negative sentiments
-
#9User Experience and Usability
Ranked 9 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 65% of people had positive sentiments
- 12% of people had neutral sentiments
- 23% of people had negative sentiments
ADP Workforce Now has garnered a wide range of feedback, with users expressing both satisfaction and frustration. Positively, some users find the platform user-friendly, efficient and beneficial for integrating HR and payroll tasks, making employee management straightforward for companies. It is often praised for its robust features that cater to small and large businesses alike, with special mentions of its smooth payroll processing and accessibility to payroll data.
However, many users have criticized the customer service, citing difficulties in resolving issues, lack of responsiveness and problematic communication as significant drawbacks. Some users also report challenges with technical support and glitches, while others find the platform’s design outdated and navigation cumbersome.
Overall, while ADP Workforce Now provides comprehensive HR and payroll solutions, its customer service and technical difficulties present notable areas for improvement.
Zoho People
With Zoho Recruit add-on
Workforce and Enterprise plans only
With Zoho Recruit add-on
Our Expert Review
Our testing found that Zoho People is the best HR software for affordability, earning a 4.0-star rating from our research team. It has a completely free plan for up to three users, and even its lowest level paid plan is just $4 per user per month.
Zoho People’s low prices come with a big caveat: Most SMBs need more HR management features than are available in the high-end Enterprise plan. The Enterprise version doesn’t include recruiting or payroll, for example, and even the company’s People Plus package requires paying extra for the Zoho Payroll add-on.
Additionally, our testing team ran into some hurdles when trying out the software. They had issues locating and managing onboarding. Onboarding tasks could not be created or assigned, making the workflow clunky compared to competitors. Customer support was also lacking. When they had a question, there was no chat support available, and the in-app knowledge base didn’t have the answer, either.
Our testing team found that Zoho People was difficult to set up, meaning you might get what you pay for.
Pros & Cons of Zoho People
|
Prices start at $4 per user per month for Essential HR |
Zoho Payroll add-on for Zoho People is sold separately |
|
Zoho People Plus adds recruiting, expense management and other features |
Performance and compensation management in high-end plans only |
|
Free plan provides basic HR for companies with up to three employees |
Entry-level Essential HR lacks time and attendance tracking |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#10Customer Service
Ranked 10 out of 10For Customer Service
- 31% of people had positive sentiments
- 18% of people had neutral sentiments
- 51% of people had negative sentiments
-
#8Implementation
Ranked 8 out of 10For Implementation
- 54% of people had positive sentiments
- 19% of people had neutral sentiments
- 27% of people had negative sentiments
-
#7Payroll
Ranked 7 out of 10For Payroll
- 79% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 15% of people had negative sentiments
-
#5User Experience and Usability
Ranked 5 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 55% of people had positive sentiments
- 14% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
Zoho People receives a range of feedback with mixed opinions from users. Many appreciate its comprehensive HR management functionalities, such as streamlined onboarding, attendance and leave management, and the integration within the Zoho ecosystem. Users often highlight its user-friendly interface and customization options, which make it suitable for small to mid-sized businesses.
However, there are recurring criticisms about the mobile app’s limitations, occasional bugs and performance issues. Customer support is frequently mentioned as slow or unresponsive, which adds to the frustration when dealing with technical glitches. While the software is praised for simplifying HR tasks and reducing manual effort, there are concerns about the steep learning curve for new users and additional costs for advanced features.
Overall, Zoho People is seen as a capable HR tool, but improvement in support and mobile functionality is needed to enhance user satisfaction.
Rippling
Yes
Yes
Yes
Our Expert Review
Our research found that Rippling is the best HR software for workflow automations, earning a 3.8-star rating from our research team. You can build a hyper-custom trigger using any attribute or field and automate actions in any part of Rippling or connected third-party apps.
Imagine an employee entering an expense report in Microsoft 365 that automatically generates a reimbursement payment in Rippling that’s ready for a manager’s approval. That’s a relatively simple example of the automation possibilities delivered by Rippling’s comprehensive HR and payroll package for small businesses.
The workflow automations can be applied to a company’s compliance, benefits, time tracking and other components, promising to free up time for managers and employees to spend on more important tasks.
You can choose whatever triggers you want in Rippling or pick from commonly used conditions.
Rippling is actually what we use here at Forbes Advisor, so we asked our HR department to weigh in. They noted that it’s user-friendly and saves them time in almost every task. Plus, they said it’s extremely easy to use.
Pros & Cons of Rippling
|
Automated workflows can be triggered by any data or third-party app |
Fewer reporting options than competing HR software |
|
Employees and managers get controlled data access for building custom workflows |
The user interface can take some time to learn |
|
Compliance services cover insurance, PEO, Employer of Record and payments |
Confusing and obfuscated pricing structure |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#8Customer Service
Ranked 8 out of 10For Customer Service
- 59% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
-
#2Implementation
Ranked 2 out of 10For Implementation
- 85% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 9% of people had negative sentiments
-
#2Payroll
Ranked 2 out of 10For Payroll
- 82% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 13% of people had negative sentiments
-
#2User Experience and Usability
Ranked 2 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 80% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 12% of people had negative sentiments
Rippling receives a mix of positive and negative feedback from users. Many appreciate its all-in-one platform for managing HR, IT and payroll services, praising its intuitive design, ease of use and ability to streamline processes like onboarding and benefits management.
Users frequently mention the platform’s versatility in integrating with other tools and its effectiveness in providing a centralized location for employee information. However, there’s significant criticism regarding customer support, with complaints about unresponsiveness and slow issue resolution. Users also report glitches and bugs, particularly with the mobile app, and some express frustration over hidden fees and contract terms.
Overall, while the platform is seen as helpful and efficient by many, others struggle with technical and support challenges.
Personio
Our Expert Review
Our testing found that Personio is the best HR software for time and attendance, earning a 3.7-star rating from our research team. It’s one of the few HR software that offers time and attendance tracking on its base plan, and our team also found it was one of the fastest software to set up policies with.
When our testing team set up time tracking configuration, it only took them one minute and 37 seconds to get things up and running—the fastest setup in our top 10 list. The user interface made it easy to create distinct tracking profiles, and assignment to new hires was straightforward via the organization tab. Time off policies were also easy to create and guided step by step.
Personio makes it easy to create new time off policies and scored highly in our testing.
We like that you can also set up local customization and advanced working hour policies to avoid breaking labor laws wherever your employees are located. This makes Personio excellent for remote teams spread out across multiple states.
Pros & Cons of Personio
|
Over 200 integrations available |
E-signatures limited to 8% of employees on Core plan |
|
Works with international teams |
Recruiting, surveys, performance and development and compensation management are all add-ons |
|
Fast and effective AI chat support based on our testing |
Not suitable for companies with less than 10 employees |
Consumer Sentiment Index
- 0–5 Poor
- 5–7 Fair
- 7–10 Good
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5.
-
#5Customer Service
Ranked 5 out of 10For Customer Service
- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 18% of people had negative sentiments
-
#5Implementation
Ranked 5 out of 10For Implementation
- 69% of people had positive sentiments
- 13% of people had neutral sentiments
- 18% of people had negative sentiments
-
#8Payroll
Ranked 8 out of 10For Payroll
- 81% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 14% of people had negative sentiments
-
#3User Experience and Usability
Ranked 3 out of 10For User Experience and Usability
- 63% of people had positive sentiments
- 18% of people had neutral sentiments
- 19% of people had negative sentiments
Personio garners mixed feedback as an HR software solution, praised for its ease of use, intuitive interface and comprehensive feature set that makes managing HR tasks straightforward for both employees and managers. Users appreciate its ability to centralize HR processes like time tracking, absence management and document storage. It’s also noted for improving efficiency and streamlining communication with tools like Slack and Outlook.
However, criticisms include limited mobile app functionality, occasional bugs, lengthy loading times and an interface that some find outdated or unintuitive at times. Customization options, user training and support services are highlighted as areas needing improvement. Despite these challenges, Personio remains a valuable tool for many organizations.
Comparison: The Best HR Software
Use this table to get a better idea of how the best HR software compares.
| Provider | Details |
|---|---|
| Learn More On BambooHR's Website | Ratings  Rating  Best For Best for Ease of Use Starting Monthly Price $10 per employee |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for Onboarding and Offboarding Starting Monthly Price $295 (up to 50 employees) | |
| Learn More On Gusto's Website | Ratings Rating Best For Best for Payroll Starting Monthly Price $49 + $6 per employee |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for AI Automation Starting Monthly Price $30 + $13 per employee | |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for Reporting and Analytics Starting Monthly Price $20 per employee (36-month contract)* | |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for HR Outsourcing Starting Monthly Price $66 per employee* | |
| Learn More On ADP Workforce Now's Website | Ratings Rating Best For Best for Scaling Businesses Starting Monthly Price $160 per employee* |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for Affordability Starting Monthly Price Free; otherwise $4 per employee | |
| Learn More On Ripplings' Website | Ratings Rating Best For Best for Workflow Automations Starting Monthly Price $10 per employee* |
| Ratings Rating Best For Best for Time and Attendance Tracking Starting Monthly Price $5 per employee* |
Most Popular is calculated from the number of times each affiliate product was selected by Forbes Advisor users over a six-month period.
Best HR Software Pricing
Use this table to compare monthly and annual pricing for the best HR software, as well as see which software offer a free trial.
| Company | Starting Monthly Price | Starting Annual Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | $10 per employee | Annual pricing not available | 7 days |
| HR Cloud | $295 (up to 50 employees) | $236 per month (up to 50 employees) | N/A |
| Gusto | $49 + $6 per employee | Annual pricing not available | N/A |
| Uzio | $30 + $13 per employee | $27 + $11.70 per employee per month | N/A |
| UKG | $20 per employee (36-month contract)* | Annual pricing not available | N/A |
| TriNet | $66 per employee* | Annual pricing not available | N/A |
| ADP Workforce Now | $160 per employee* | $1,920* | N/A |
| Zoho People | Free; otherwise $4 per employee | Free; otherwise $3 per employee per month | 30 days |
| Rippling | $10 per employee* | Annual pricing not available | N/A |
| Personio | $5 per employee* | $4.50 per employee per month* | 14 days |
Best HR Software Features
Compare the best HR software for small businesses to see if they offer performance management, succession management and compensation management tools.
| Company | Performance Management | Succession Management | Compensation Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | Pro and Elite plans | No | Elite plan |
| HR Cloud | Professional HR and Culture HR plans | No | No |
| Gusto | On Plus and Premium plans | No | On Plus and Premium plans |
| Uzio | No | No | Yes |
| UKG | Yes | No | On Plus and Advanced plans |
| TriNet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADP Workforce Now | Add-on | No | Add-on |
| Zoho People | On Talent and Enterprise plans | No | On paid plans |
| Rippling | Yes | No | Yes |
| Personio | Add-on | No | Add-on |
Best HR Software Customer Support Options
You should be able to contact your HR management software if you have a question, so this table shows the different ways you can reach out to the top small business HR software.
| Company | Live Chat | Phone Support | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HR Cloud | No | No | Yes |
| Gusto | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Uzio | No | Yes | Yes |
| UKG | No | Yes | Yes |
| TriNet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADP Workforce Now | No | Yes | No |
| Zoho People | On Premium and Enterprise plans | Yes | Yes |
| Rippling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Personio | No | Yes | Yes |
User Opinions of HR Software
Forbes Advisor collects consumer sentiment both directly through NPS surveys and indirectly by collecting customer feedback across the internet using the Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI). This is how real customers described their opinion of the top HR software:
| Company | CSI Rating | Satisfaction Level | Common Positive Sentiments | Common Negative Sentiments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | 8.0 | Very Satisfied | Ease of use, user-friendly interface, excellent customer service | Limitations in scalability, issues with mobile application, glitches in functionality |
| HR Cloud | 8.4 | Very Satisfied | Ease of use, efficient onboarding processes, excellent customer support | Challenges with certain integrations, occasional technical bugs, mobile app performance issues |
| Gusto | 7.3 | Satisfied | Ease of use, modern interface, affordability | Limited scalability, issues dealing with multiple states, customer service unresponsiveness |
| Uzio | 8.1 | Very Satisfied | User-friendly design, ease of navigation, responsive customer service | Mobile app crashes and bugs, problems clocking in, limited integrations |
| UKG | 6.8 | Satisfied | Navigation and feature accessibility | App performance issues, non-user-friendly interface, poor customer support |
| TriNet | 5.7 | Neutral | Multi-state payroll, benefits and compliance, straightforward onboarding, user-friendly platform | Customer service issues, high costs, complex interfaces |
| ADP Workforce Now | 6.4 | Satisfied | User-friendly platform, robust features, smooth payroll processing | Difficulties resolving issues with customer service, technical glitches, outdated platform design |
| Zoho People | 6.8 | Satisfied | Integration with Zoho ecosystem, user-friendly interface, customization options | Mobile app limitations, occasional bugs, unresponsive customer service |
| Rippling | 8.1 | Very Satisfied | Intuitive design, ease of use, versatility of integrations | Unresponsive customer support, glitches and bugs, hidden fees and contract terms |
| Personio | 7.8 | Satisfied | Ease of use, intuitive interface, comprehensive feature set | Limited mobile app functionality, occasional bugs, lack of customization options |
Featured Partners
1
Gusto
Yes
Yes
$49 per month plus $6 per user
2
Rippling
Yes
Yes
$20 per user per month
3
Paychex
Yes
Yes
Custom
4
Remote
Yes
Yes
$29 per user per month
How To Choose the Best HR Software
Finding the best HR software for small businesses begins by understanding the different types of HR applications and the essential features to look out for. Then, consider the specific needs of your company and whether the HR software you’re considering integrates into your tech stack.
Essential HR Software Features
Core features of HR software include payroll, benefits administration, automatic alerts and reminders, e-signatures and mobile access.
- Payroll: Payroll software helps HR staff or payroll administrators run payroll more efficiently and error-free through automatic payroll runs, compliance checks, tax filing and other helpful features. Payroll is essential because paying your employees correctly and on time should be a key priority.
- Benefits administration: For employers offering benefits to their employees, benefits administration tools help them select the right benefits package. They also help companies administer benefits in a manner that’s compliant with federal regulations such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
- Automatic alerts and reminders: HR teams typically juggle several different tasks, so HR software’s automatic alerts remind them to complete tasks, such as running payroll and collecting new hire benefits elections, in a timely and compliant way.
- E-signatures: The ability to electronically send, sign and submit documents streamlines and accelerates workflows such as the onboarding process, as opposed to printing out, scanning and sending emails back and forth.
- Mobile access: Mobile app versions of HR software enable on-the-go access to functions your employees might need such as clock-in and clock-out functionality or a candidate messaging tool for recruiters to stay connected with job candidates.
Plenty of software on this list have these features, but I think UKG Ready and Rippling are good choices because they let you pick exactly which features you want to include in your plan.
Value
In many cases when it comes to HR management system software, the cheapest offering isn’t the most valuable. A lot of times, it’s worth it to pay slightly more to get a fuller feature set that will better benefit your company. Even though they’re a little more, I think the software that offers the best value are BambooHR and Gusto.
To assess an HR platform’s true value, compare total costs against tangible benefits and intangible benefits. Key ROI criteria include cost savings, productivity improvements, employee engagement and retention, compliance risk reduction and scalability for future growth to name a few. Although this kind of values exercise takes time for an organization, it ultimately provides valuable insights and rewards.
— Carli Meyer, executive vice president of consulting at Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage
Company Size Considerations
To arrive at the HR software solution that’s best for your company, take your current size and needs into account while also considering anticipated workforce and business growth that will require more data and more sophisticated features.
Rippling, UKG and ADP are all vendors that provide a range of products to different market segments, so they’re worth checking out if you anticipate a lot of future growth in head count. That way, you can add features as needed or upgrade to a new price tier or product from that vendor.
Software Integrations
If you’re looking for modular, à la carte-style solutions or a less comprehensive HR software system, you’ll need to ensure that those systems will communicate with other applications your company currently uses.
Some HR systems have built-in integrations to work with other software, while others require manual API connection or don’t work at all with a particular solution. In particular, I think that Personio and Rippling have the best integration selection.
Ask yourself—can this system integrate well with our current ecosystems? You don’t want something that is very complicated to integrate and even more complicated to disintegrate it.
— Mohamed Yousuf, CEO and founder of Smart Workforce AI, an AI-powered scheduling and forecasting company
Forbes Advisor former Staff Writer Dennis O’Reilly contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What HR software is the best for your business?
If you’re on a budget, Zoho People, Personio and BambooHR are some of the more affordable HR software for small businesses. If you’re looking for a modular HR software where you can pick and choose the exact features you need, consider something like UKG Ready or Rippling. TriNet is good if you don’t have a large HR department and want to outsource, while Gusto and ADP Workforce Now are good if you want to prioritize payroll.
What are the main types of HR systems?
The three most common types of HR systems are HR information systems (HRIS), human capital management (HCM) software and HR management systems (HRMS).
Why is HR software so important?
HR software is important because it helps management perform key actions on time while empowering employees to take charge of their own accounts. It also automates routine HR tasks to allow HR managers and staff to focus on the most important parts of their work, including interactions with employees.
What’s the difference between an HRIS and HRMS?
An HRMS is a more advanced and sophisticated HRIS that layers added capabilities on top of the database contained within the HRIS. An HRIS stores employee data, allowing employees and HR personnel to view and modify employee information and run basic reports based on that data. An HRMS augments the HRIS by storing more varied data sets. These data sets power additional capabilities such as an applicant tracking system and a performance management module.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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