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Join For FreeBest HR Software
Looking for the right HR software for your small business? These top HR software options offer great HR features and tools for a variety of business sizes and price ranges.
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WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Lead Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
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REVIEWED BY
Managing Editor
Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
HR software comes in many shapes and sizes: some have better payroll, others have better onboarding, others excel in benefits administration, and many do a decent job of all three. While every company has unique HR needs, every company needs HR.
Luckily, many great HR software options fit a variety of small business needs and budgets. We’ve narrowed the list down to the five best HR options so you can find the right software to make your life–and your employees’ lives–easier.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Summary | Next StepsSummary |
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Gusto
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ADP Payroll
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BambooHR
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OnPay
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Paycor
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Remote
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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents [hide][show]
- The 5 Best HR Software For Small Businesses
- Gusto: Overall best combined HR & payroll software
- ADP Payroll: Best scalable HR software
- BambooHR: Easiest HR software to use
- OnPay: Best mobile HR software
- Paycor: Best for customer support
- Remote: Best for businesses with global teams
- What Is HR Software?
- How Much Does HR Software Cost?
- How To Choose A Good HR Software Company
- The Bottom Line On Choosing The Right HR Software For Your Small Business
- HR Software FAQs
Table of Contents
- The 5 Best HR Software For Small Businesses
- A Closer Look At The Top Picks
- Gusto: Overall best combined HR & payroll software
- Gusto
- Gusto Pricing
- Gusto Features
- ADP Payroll: Best scalable HR software
- ADP Payroll
- ADP Pricing
- ADP Features
- BambooHR: Easiest HR software to use
- BambooHR
- BambooHR Pricing
- BambooHR Features
- OnPay: Best mobile HR software
- OnPay
- OnPay Pricing
- OnPay Features
- Paycor: Best for customer support
- Paycor
- Paycor Pricing
- Paycor Features
- Remote: Best for businesses with global teams
- Remote
- Remote.com Pricing
- Remote.com Features
- Methodology
- What Is HR Software?
- How Much Does HR Software Cost?
- How To Choose A Good HR Software Company
- The Bottom Line On Choosing The Right HR Software For Your Small Business
- HR Software FAQs
The 5 Best HR Software For Small Businesses
The best HR software helps you manage payroll, track employee hours, administer benefits, write performance reviews, and can even help with onboarding and offboarding. Out of the dozen HR software plus the two dozen payroll software options we reviewed, here are the best HR solutions for small businesses:
- Gusto: Overall best combined HR & payroll software
- ADP Payroll: Best scalable HR software
- BambooHR: Easiest HR software to use
- OnPay: Best mobile HR software
- Paycor: Best for customer support
- Remote: Best for businesses with global teams
A Closer Look At The Top Picks
| Price | Number Of Employees | Includes Payroll | Includes Time-Tracking | Number Of States Supported | Mobile App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $80/month + $12/person | Unlimited | 38 | |||
| ADP Payroll | Custom | Unlimited | 50 | |||
| BambooHR | Custom | Unlimited | Through Trax integration | 50 | ||
| OnPay | $40/month + $6/month per person | Up to 1000 | 50 | |||
| Paycor | $99-$199/month | Up to 1000 | 50 | |||
| Remote | Free - $599/mo | Unlimited | 50 |
Gusto: Overall best combined HR & payroll software
Payroll Processing Time
Next day-4 daysPricing Range
$40/month + $6/person - $180/month + $22/month per personBusiness Size
Small-medium sized businesses with up to 650+ usersPros
- Built-in time tracking
- Upfront pricing information
- Simple interface
- Solid feature set
Cons
- Advanced features not available on all plans
- Limited reporting
- Healthcare is only available in 38 states + D.C.
Why We Chose Gusto For Overall Best Combined HR & Payroll Software
Gusto is our top pick for best payroll software overall, and for small business owners looking for simple HR features, Gusto is a great choice.
The interface is user-friendly on both the employee and administrative sides and offers basic HR features and benefits administration options. Having payroll and HR in one software makes things easier, which can save time and frustration hopping back and forth between multiple software or integrations.
Who Would Benefit From Gusto
- Businesses that need combined payroll & HR software
- Businesses that need easy benefits administration options & integrations
- Businesses that don’t need healthcare in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North or South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wyoming
ADP Payroll: Best scalable HR software
Payroll Processing Time
2-5 daysPricing Range
Custom pricingBusiness Size
Small to enterprise-sized businesses with 1,000+ employeesPros
- Rich feature set
- Extensive onboarding
- Highly scalable
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing
- Additional fees add up
Why We Chose ADP For Best Scalable HR Software
ADP is a giant in the payroll and HR industry, and as such, it has an incredibly rich feature set with everything from employee management to payroll to new-hire onboarding and more. From contractor-only payments to a full PEO option and everything in between, ADP is a good scalable HR software option for businesses of any size.
ADP's pricing is frustratingly not transparent, and you'll have to call to get a quote depending on exactly what services you need, but with multiple products and plans available, ADP can likely tailor-make an HR software quote for you.
Who Would Benefit From ADP
- Businesses that want combined HR & payroll
- Mid-size businesses or rapidly growing businesses that want an HR solution that will scale
- Businesses that need extensive HR features
- Businesses that want a ZipRecruiter integration
BambooHR: Easiest HR software to use
Payroll Processing Time
2 daysPricing Range
UndisclosedBusiness Size
Best for small businesses with 10+ employeesPros
- APIs integrate with HR software vendors
- Simple interface
- Very easy to use
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing
- Limited benefits administration
- Essential features only available as add-ons
Why We Chose BambooHR As The Easiest HR Software To Use
If a small business needs a comprehensive human resources management system, BambooHR has all the foundational requirements to manage your employees. It aims to make HR easy and intuitive, even if a company doesn't have a specific HR department or team. BambooHR leads the competition with its ease of use, intuitive interface for both employees and administrators and customization abilities. The software is loaded with advanced features to help simplify the HR process throughout the employee lifecycle.
Who Would Benefit From BambooHR
- Business owners who don’t have an HR department or manager
- Business owners who value ease of use and simplicity or who don’t have time to learn complicated software
- Business owners who already have payroll software (or don’t want to use Trax) and don’t mind having separate HR software
OnPay: Best mobile HR software
Payroll Processing Time
2-4 DaysPricing Range
$40/month + $6/month per personBusiness Size
Small to mid-sized businesses (1-500 employees)Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Strong HR features
- Solid mobile app
- Integrated worker’s comp
Cons
- Limited integrations
Why We Chose OnPay For Best Mobile HR Software
OnPay is an award-winning payroll software with built-in HR support at no extra cost, making it a cost-effective all-in-one payroll and HR software.
One of OnPay's biggest advantages is a high-functioning mobile app that makes managing HR on the go easier. HR features include built-in PTO tracking, employee and contractor portals, in-app messaging, performance reviews, and more. The ability to not only manage HR on the go but also message employees and send reminders in the app is a big plus for busy business owners.
Who Would Benefit From OnPay
- Businesses looking for affordable HR
- Businesses needing combined payroll & HR support
- Businesses looking for integrated, pay-as-you-go worker’s compensation insurance
- Businesses needing a capable mobile app for managing employees & time off requests on the go
Paycor: Best for customer support
Payroll Processing Time
Same-day - 4 daysPricing Range
Custom pricingBusiness Size
Small to large-sized businesses with 1,000+ usersPros
- Built-in payroll in all plans
- Cloud-based software
- Easy to use and set up
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing
- Limited benefits administration
- Average customer service
Why We Chose Paycor For Best Customer Support
Paycor is a great one-stop shop for a small business's HR and payroll requirements. The company focuses on ease of use and streamlining its interface and is fully committed to listening to clients and adapting/updating its software to respond to feedback. Paycor's hiring wizard feature, full-service payroll, and 1-on-1 HR support set Paycor apart and add to its impressive attention to customer support.
Who Would Benefit From Paycor
- Businesses looking for full-service payroll
- Businesses with a large amount of employees (and a large budget)
- Businesses that value customer service
Remote: Best for businesses with global teams
Payroll Processing Time
4 daysPricing Range
$0/mo - $599/mo per employeeBusiness Size
Good for small-medium-sized businessesPros
- Free HR management software
- Great for businesses with an international workforce
- Pay employees in their local currency
Cons
- Expensive for small businesses
- Limited customer support hours
Why We Chose Remote.com For Best Global and Remote Hiring
Remote.com is a workforce management tool designed for companies with remote employees or companies with a global workforce. It aims to assist businesses with managing their global employees across multiple countries, and it offers everything from onboarding and offboarding to payroll and human resources management.
Its base product is an Employer of Record service that helps your company hire and manage payroll in 75+ different countries. By using Remote.com, you can hire from a country without having an entity there.
Who Would Benefit From Remote.com
- Businesses that want to hire globally
- Businesses that want to streamline remote and global teams
- Businesses that need an Employer Of Record to establish entities in other countries
- Businesses that appreciate a sleek interface and easy UI experience for both employers and employees
Methodology
Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing payroll providers since 2018. Our writers have tested more than 75 different payroll software systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate payroll providers.
When comparing different apps, we consider over seventy data points, including the speed and cost of payroll runs, federal and state tax filing features, HR integrations, employee management tools, time tracking, and more. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from several vantage points. The payroll apps we pick are widely available and relatively easy to train on, with robust features and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at features such as employee and client portals, user onboarding services, PTO management, benefits administration, multistate compliance, and more.
We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.
75+
Vendors evaluated
76
Attributes assessed per vendor
26
Features weighed
20+
Combined years of experience
What Is HR Software?
Human resources software, or HR software, simplifies human resources tasks. HR software makes it easy for businesses to perform various tasks, including but not limited to completing onboarding tasks, termination tasks, maintaining legal compliance, running payroll, managing benefits, and maintaining employee records.
HR Software VS Payroll Software
While some payroll software companies offer built-in HR or higher-tier plans with HR support, the two are not necessarily synonymous. Payroll software focuses specifically on paying your employees, tracking hours worked, and managing time off, while HR software focuses on managing your employees through onboarding, training, benefits administration, etc.
How Much Does HR Software Cost?
The cost of HR software varies by a number of factors, including the size of your business and the features you need. On the lower end, expect to pay around $6-$8/month per employee. On the higher end, you may pay $60+/month per employee.
How To Choose A Good HR Software Company
With so many HR options on the market, it’s important for small businesses to be able to identify the good from the bad. A good HR software company should have:
- Competitive pricing
- Strong HR features
- HR support in all states your business operates in
- Multiple customer support avenues
- Positive customer reviews
- Strong security measures & positive uptime records
- Upfront policy cancellation criteria & no long, locked contracts
The Bottom Line On Choosing The Right HR Software For Your Small Business
When it comes to picking the right HR software for your small business, it helps to know what you need.
Figure out which HR features your company needs and whether or not you need built-in time tracking, payroll, or want a fully dedicated HR manager or PEO instead.
Any HR software worth checking out should have options for syncing employee information, managing payroll, assisting with onboarding, running benefits administration, managing worker performance, and navigating all aspects of your company’s legal HR compliance requirements.
Ultimately, HR is about hiring the best people, growing the best people, and retaining the best people for your company’s growth. The best HR software for your small business should help you achieve those goals and make you and your employees’ lives easier.
No matter which HR software you choose, always remember to do your research, take advantage of free trials, and fully explore your options before making a commitment. Good luck!
HR Software FAQs
Chelsea Krause
Lead Staff Writer
Chelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been with Merchant Maverick helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho.
View Chelsea Krause's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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