How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Gusto and OnPay publish the clearest entry pricing: $49 a month plus $6 per employee, which makes budgeting simple for teams under 50 people.
- Rippling and Deel are the strongest picks when employees sit in more than one country, with both offering free or low starting tiers for smaller headcounts.
- Zoho People costs $1.50 per employee per month and stays free up to five employees, making it the obvious budget option for very small teams.
- BambooHR, HiBob and Paycor do not publish prices, so expect a sales call and negotiate contract length before signing.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 BambooHR | small teams that want clean core HR | See website | Free trial |
 Gusto | US small businesses that need payroll plus HR | $49/month + $6 per employee/month (Simple) | Free trial until first payroll |
 Rippling | growing teams that want HR plus IT in one place | From $8 per employee/month + $35 base fee | No |
 Deel | companies hiring contractors and employees across borders | Free up to 200 employees | Yes |
 Justworks | teams that want a full PEO arrangement | From $59 per employee/month (Basic) | No |
 Paycor | mid-size companies that want deep payroll controls | See website | No |
 Namely | mid-size companies upgrading from spreadsheets | See website | No |
 HiBob | people-first companies that care about culture data | See website | No |
 Zoho People | tiny teams and nonprofits on a tight budget | $1.50 per employee/month | Yes (free up to 5 employees) |
 OnPay | small businesses that want simple flat payroll pricing | $49/month + $6 per person/month | Free trial (30 days) |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best HR software and HRIS options
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
BambooHR earns its place on almost every shortlist for teams between 25 and 200 people. The employee record system handles the basics (documents, time off, performance notes) without a long training period, and most HR managers report getting it running in days rather than weeks. The interface feels closer to modern consumer software than to the clunky systems many people associate with HR.
The honest catch is pricing opacity. BambooHR does not publish rates, so you cannot budget precisely before talking to sales. Payroll is also a separate add-on, which means the headline quote can climb once you add the pieces a growing team actually needs. If you want everything in one contract with one number, Gusto or OnPay may be a better fit.
What we like- Employee database and time off tracking are simple to set up
- Onboarding checklists keep new hire paperwork organized
- Reporting is easy enough for non-HR staff
Watch out for- Pricing is quote only, which makes comparison shopping harder
- Payroll is an add-on rather than built in
- Advanced features can push costs up fast
#2
Gusto
Best for: US small businesses that need payroll plus HR
Visit gusto.com
Starting price$49/month + $6 per employee/month (Simple)
Free planFree trial until first payroll
Gusto is the default recommendation for American small businesses, and the published pricing is a big reason why. The Simple plan at $49 a month plus $6 per employee covers payroll, time tracking basics, hiring and onboarding, so a 20-person team knows almost exactly what it will pay. Benefits administration, including health insurance, retirement plans and workers comp, runs through the same dashboard.
The main limitation is geography. Gusto is built for US payroll and US tax filings, so it cannot help if you hire contractors or employees in other countries. Deel or Rippling serve that need better. Gusto also keeps higher-end features (performance reviews, advanced reporting) on its Plus and Premium tiers, which cost more per employee.
What we like- Pricing is published and easy to understand
- Full-service payroll covers all 50 states
- Benefits administration is built in
Watch out for- Built mainly for US-based teams, not global hiring
- Support wait times can grow during tax season
- Some advanced HR features need higher tiers
Starting priceFrom $8 per employee/month + $35 base fee
Free planNo
Rippling started as an HR system but has grown into something broader: it also manages laptops, passwords and software access for your team. That makes it attractive for companies around 50 to 500 people where IT onboarding has become a real burden. The published starting price of $8 per employee per month plus a $35 base fee looks reasonable on paper.
In practice, Rippling prices by module, so the final number depends on which pieces you switch on. Payroll, benefits, global hiring and device management each add to the bill. Ask for a full quote with every module you expect to use in the first year, not just the base HR product. The global payroll coverage is a genuine strength for teams hiring across borders.
What we like- One system covers HR, payroll, devices and app access
- Global payroll supports many countries
- Automation rules reduce manual admin work
Watch out for- Published pricing only covers the starting point
- Modules add up as you activate more
- Smaller teams may find the platform more than they need
#4
Deel
Best for: companies hiring contractors and employees across borders
Visit deel.com
Starting priceFree up to 200 employees
Free planYes
Deel built its name on making international hiring legal and simple. The standout detail is the free contractor tier: you can manage and pay up to 200 contractors at no cost, with localized contracts, tax forms and compliance handled per country. For startups paying developers or designers abroad, that alone can replace a patchwork of spreadsheets and wire transfers.
Beyond contractors, Deel offers employer of record services in more than 150 countries, so you can hire full-time employees where you have no local entity. Those services are quote based, and costs vary a lot by country. Deel also sells global payroll and HRIS products for companies that want one system across borders, though the free tier does not cover those.
What we like- Contractor management is free for up to 200 people
- Localized contracts cover 150 plus countries
- Immigration and visa support are available
Watch out for- Pricing for employer of record services is quote based
- The free tier is aimed at contractors, not full HR
- Support quality varies by region
Starting priceFrom $59 per employee/month (Basic)
Free planNo
Justworks operates as a professional employer organization, which means it becomes the employer of record for tax purposes while your team keeps day-to-day control. That arrangement takes payroll taxes, workers comp and benefits compliance off your plate entirely. Basic starts at $59 per employee per month, and Plus at $99 adds more features.
The tradeoff is control. In a PEO, some HR policies run through the PEO's framework, and customization has limits. For companies that just want HR handled, that is fine. For companies with unusual pay structures or equity arrangements, a regular HRIS like BambooHR with your own payroll may be simpler. There is no free plan and no free trial, so use the sales demo to judge the interface.
What we like- PEO model means Justworks handles taxes, compliance and benefits
- Transparent per-employee pricing
- Access to big-company benefits plans
Watch out for- The PEO model means shared employment, which some owners dislike
- Customization is limited
- Pricing is per employee with no volume breaks on Basic
#6
Paycor
Best for: mid-size companies that want deep payroll controls
Visit paycor.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Paycor suits companies in the 100 to 1,000 employee range, especially those with hourly workers, shift differentials or multi-state payroll. The system grew out of payroll, so pay runs, tax filings and garnishments get more attention than in HR-first products. Recruiting, onboarding and performance modules round out the suite.
Expect a sales process. Paycor publishes no pricing, and its packaging has changed over the years, so ask for itemized quotes and confirm which modules are included. Implementation for mid-size teams can take several weeks, so plan the switch between payroll cycles. Companies under 50 people will likely find Gusto or OnPay simpler and cheaper.
What we like- Payroll engine handles complex pay rules well
- Recruiting and onboarding modules are mature
- Reporting covers compliance needs in detail
Watch out for- Pricing is quote only and packages can be hard to compare
- Implementation can take weeks for larger teams
- The interface feels dated in places
#7
Namely
Best for: mid-size companies upgrading from spreadsheets
Visit namely.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Namely targets the same 50 to 500 employee band as BambooHR but leans further into being a full platform. Payroll, benefits and time management share one employee record, which removes the syncing headaches that come with separate tools. The onboarding workflows handle offer letters, documents and task assignments in one flow.
The company went through restructuring in recent years, so it is worth asking about product roadmap and support staffing during your evaluation. Pricing is quote only, and contracts typically run annual. For companies that like the Namely approach but want published pricing, Gusto Premium or Rippling deserve a look.
What we like- HR, payroll and benefits live in one database
- Onboarding workflows are well designed
- Newsfeed-style interface feels familiar to employees
Watch out for- Pricing is quote only
- Smaller teams report that support can be slow
- Some integrations need manual setup
#8
HiBob
Best for: people-first companies that care about culture data
Visit hibob.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
HiBob, known for its "Bob" platform, positions HR as a culture tool rather than an admin chore. Engagement surveys, performance reviews and people analytics sit alongside the core HR database, and the design is noticeably more modern than most competitors. Remote and hybrid teams get features like time-off planning across time zones.
Two things to know before a demo. First, HiBob does not run payroll itself in the US; it integrates with payroll partners, which adds a vendor relationship to manage. Second, pricing is quote only and tends to suit teams of 100 plus. Smaller companies should compare the total cost against BambooHR before committing.
What we like- People analytics and engagement surveys are built in
- The interface is modern and mobile friendly
- Strong support for hybrid and remote teams
Watch out for- Pricing is quote only
- Payroll is handled through partners, not natively
- Smaller US teams may find it more than they need
#9
Zoho People
Best for: tiny teams and nonprofits on a tight budget
Visit zoho.com
Starting price$1.50 per employee/month
Free planYes (free up to 5 employees)
Zoho People is the price leader by a wide margin: $1.50 per employee per month, free for up to five employees. If you already use Zoho Books, Zoho CRM or other Zoho products, the shared login and data connections make it an easy addition. Leave tracking, attendance and basic performance features cover what a small team needs.
The product will not win design awards, and US payroll is not its strength, so many American teams pair it with Gusto or OnPay for pay runs. Support is ticket based, and response times lag behind the bigger vendors. For nonprofits, startups and teams under 25 people that need HR records without a big bill, it is hard to beat.
What we like- Extremely low pricing with a genuinely free tier
- Integrates with the rest of the Zoho suite
- Attendance and leave tracking work well
Watch out for- The interface is functional rather than delightful
- Payroll is limited outside certain countries
- Support is ticket based with slower responses
#10
OnPay
Best for: small businesses that want simple flat payroll pricing
Visit onpay.com
Starting price$49/month + $6 per person/month
Free planFree trial (30 days)
OnPay keeps things deliberately simple: one plan, $49 a month base plus $6 per person, covering full-service payroll, HR tools and benefits administration. There are no tiers to decode and no upsell maze. The company publishes its pricing right on the homepage, which is refreshing in a category where most vendors hide behind contact forms.
That simplicity is also the limit. OnPay is built for US small businesses and offers no global hiring features, so international teams should look at Deel or Rippling. Advanced people analytics and engagement tooling are thinner than what HiBob or BambooHR provide. For a straightforward American team that wants payroll done right at a predictable price, OnPay is one of the easiest yeses in this list.
What we like- Pricing is published on the homepage with no hidden tiers
- One plan includes payroll, HR and benefits admin
- US-based support gets strong reviews
Watch out for- Built for US teams only, no global payroll
- Fewer advanced HR analytics than BambooHR or HiBob
- The single-plan model means less customization
How we chose
We built this list from vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra and Reddit. We checked each product's homepage to confirm it is still sold today and fits the HR and HRIS category, and we pulled pricing only from the vendor's own published pages. Where vendors publish no price, we say so directly. We weighted fit for US small and mid-size companies, since that is who reads Rankite, and we favored products with transparent pricing and a free plan or trial where possible.
What to check before you buy
Payroll tax handling is the first thing to verify. Full-service payroll means the vendor files and pays your federal, state and local taxes; some cheaper plans leave filings to you. Ask specifically which tax filings are included and who pays penalties if a filing is late.
Contract length comes next. Several HRIS vendors sell annual contracts with auto-renewal, and early termination fees can be steep. A month-to-month option, or at least a short initial term, gives you room to switch if the software does not fit.
Integrations and data export
Confirm the HRIS connects to your accounting software, time tracking and benefits carriers. Just as important, ask how you get your data out. A clean CSV or API export of employee records, pay history and documents protects you if you ever leave.
Support hours and implementation
Ask whether support is US-based, what hours it runs, and whether onboarding help costs extra. Some vendors include a dedicated implementation manager; others charge for setup or leave you with documentation. Get the timeline in writing, especially if you are switching payroll providers mid-year.
HRIS pricing, explained
HR software pricing usually follows one of three models. Per-employee per-month pricing (Gusto, Justworks, Zoho People) scales with headcount and is easy to forecast. Base fee plus per-employee pricing (Rippling, OnPay) adds a flat monthly charge on top, which matters more for very small teams. Quote-only pricing (BambooHR, Paycor, Namely, HiBob) means the number depends on modules, headcount and contract length, and you should always get at least two quotes to compare.
Watch for the extras that do not appear in the headline number: payroll add-ons, benefits administration fees, implementation charges and per-pay-run fees. A $6 per employee plan can cost far more once benefits and tax filings are added, so ask for the all-in monthly total for your exact headcount before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What is an HRIS?
An HRIS (human resource information system) is software that stores employee records and handles HR tasks like onboarding, time off, benefits and payroll. Small teams often start with payroll software and add HRIS features as they grow past 20 or 30 employees.
How much does HR software cost for a small business?
Expect $40 to $150 per month in base fees plus $5 to $15 per employee per month, depending on features. Gusto and OnPay publish $49 a month plus $6 per employee. Quote-only vendors like BambooHR and HiBob usually cost more once payroll and extra modules are added.
Do I need a PEO like Justworks?
A PEO becomes the employer of record for taxes and benefits, which removes compliance work but also reduces your control over some HR policies. It fits teams that want HR fully handled. If you prefer to keep employment direct, choose a regular HRIS with full-service payroll instead.
Can HR software handle contractors and international employees?
Some can. Deel and Rippling support contractors and employees in many countries, while Gusto, OnPay and Justworks focus on US teams. If even one team member lives abroad, confirm tax and compliance coverage for that country before you buy.
Is there really free HR software?
Yes, with limits. Deel lets you manage up to 200 contractors free, and Zoho People is free up to five employees. Free tiers usually exclude full payroll and benefits admin, so growing teams still end up on a paid plan.
How long does it take to switch HR systems?
Simple switches take one to two weeks; mid-size implementations take four to eight weeks. Time the move between payroll cycles and confirm who migrates historical pay data, since clean records matter for tax season.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.bamboohr.com
- https://www.gusto.com/
- https://www.rippling.com
- https://www.deel.com
- https://justworks.com/
- https://paycor.com/
- https://namely.com/
- https://hibob.com/
- https://www.zoho.com/people/
- https://onpay.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.