8 Best HR Software of 2024

BambooHR: Best overall HR software

BambooHR stands out for its comprehensive, user-friendly platform carefully tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. The software streamlines HR processes, from hiring and onboarding to performance management and payroll. And beginners are in luck since its user interface is simple and beautiful. No specialized knowledge is needed to get started.

It isn’t perfect, though. It lacks many advanced options. For example, there are neither advanced analytics nor employee-facing financial tools, like debit cards. There’s also no international payroll support.

Why we chose it: BambooHR is celebrated for its intuitive design and all-encompassing HR functionalities, making it the best choice for businesses seeking to optimize their HR operations without overwhelming their teams.

Pricing

• Core: Custom pricing.
• Pro: Custom pricing.

Features

• Elaborate onboarding and recruiting tools.
• Beautiful, user-friendly interface.
• Full-service tax filing.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full BambooHR review.

Rippling: Most comprehensive software

Rippling goes above and beyond the classic HR package. It also delivers in-house management of employee information technology (IT) devices plus accounting tools. As a result, you can keep tabs on computers issued to staffers while also watching your finances.

The title also impresses with its built-in international support. You can manage people worldwide without needing third-party software. As a result, everything needed for long-term growth is included.

In the event you discover something’s missing, don’t worry. Rippling lets you download custom formulas and functions called Recipes. You can also build your own with its elaborate API. Both avenues let you craft the title into your perfect HR oasis.

Why we chose it: Rippling’s ability to seamlessly integrate HR functions with IT and financial management tools sets it apart, offering unparalleled efficiency and control over a wide range of business operations.

Pricing

• Starts at $35 plus $8 per employee, monthly.
• Plans are customized and require speaking to a sales agent.

Features

• Unified HR and IT management.
• Automated payroll and tax compliance.
• Customizable employee onboarding.
• Over 500 integrations with third-party applications.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full Rippling review.

ADP Workforce Now: Best outsourced HR option

The ADP Workforce Now platform is the best of both outsourcing and self-service. You can let the company’s world-class professional employer organization (PEO) services handle mundane tasks. Yup, you can pass off duties like payroll, data entry and tax calculations.

But you can still reserve the more decadent aspects of human resources for your in-house team. For example, ADP Workforce Now includes deep analytics. You can rapidly uncover pay gaps, hiring trends and industry-wide benchmarks, among other crucial pieces of intel. Meanwhile, your employees will enjoy free financial tools through Wisely by ADP.

This seamless blend of hands-on power and relief from the mundane makes Workforce Now our top pick for outsourced HR options.

Why we chose it: ADP’s status as a household name makes it a trustworthy choice for businesses seeking to outsource their HR operations to a reliable partner while still keeping many operations in house.

Pricing

• Custom pricing.

Features

• Outsourced payroll and tax filing.
• Powerful, rich analytics.
• Employee-facing financial tools.
• Superior scalability.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full ADP Workforce Now review.

Workday HCM: Best enterprise solution

Much like ADP, Workday HCM is designed for larger organizations and enterprises. Indeed, it solves every payroll and HR need with plenty of scalability to boot.

But the title stands out for its coverage of other enterprise needs. It also handles accounting, inventory management and even customer relationship management (CRM), among lots of other elements. In fact, it seamlessly connects to enterprise resource planning software to offer holistic coverage of your business.

Why we chose it: Workday’s extensive reach beyond traditional HR and payroll makes it an excellent choice if you want all-encompassing oversight of your entire business.

Pricing

• Custom pricing.

Features

• International support.
• Accounting and inventory tools.
• Employee-facing morale perks.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full Workday review.

Gusto: Best payroll-centric solution

Gusto shines as a gentle and forgiving solution. Known for its simplicity and effectiveness, Gusto boasts an automated, hands-free payroll function. You’ll still score other goodies like benefits management and HR tasks. And best of all, there is no need for complicated technical knowledge. Everything is beginner-friendly and transparent.

The title lacks long-term scalability, though. There are higher subscription tiers, including a customized plan. But due to its focus on simplicity, you won’t get the same intense coverage seen in ADP and Workday.

Why we chose it: Gusto’s transparent pricing and straightforward payroll focus make it stand out, and it simplifies payroll, tax and benefits management. While it lacks advanced tools, like rich analytics, this platform is tough to beat if you need an easier way to keep people paid.

Pricing

Gusto has three main payroll plans:

• Simple: $40 per month plus $6 per employee per month.
• Plus: $80 per month plus $12 per employee per month.
• Premium: Custom pricing.

Features

• Automated payroll processing.
• Employee benefits management.
• Simple onboarding and compliance.
• Helpful customer support.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full Gusto review.

Deel: Best free pick

If cash is tight, then Deel is your hero. It offers some simple HR solutions for international employees, free of charge. You can score tools like time-off tracking, onboarding and record keeping without opening your wallet.

However, the free option is pretty limited. But the platform’s zero-dollar offering is a rare treat if you just want a quick way to tackle simple HR needs.

SEE: The Best Free HR Software | TechRepublic

Why we chose it: Deel’s free option makes it easy to learn the ropes of international HR management without forking over tons of cash upfront. Conveniently, premium options are available as your business grows.

Pricing

• Deel HR: Free for businesses with less than 200 employees, with custom pricing for those with more than 200.
• EOR: Starts at $599 per month.
• Contractors: Starts at $49 per month.
• Global Payroll: Custom pricing.

Features

• International personnel management.
• Basic analytics, like retention trends.
• Org chart generator.
• Customization and scalability with premium plans.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full Deel review.

Paycom: Best for growing corporations

Think of Paycom as a comprehensive HR solution without all the complexities of ADP. The title is more straightforward and user-friendly. Plus, it focuses more on saving you time. These qualities are great for growing businesses that need next-level solutions but lack a full-fledged staff and budget.

One of the platform’s chief features, Beti, lets staffers verify their payroll data independently. This distributed approach saves you time and only requires you to confirm any requested changes. Other tools, like automated wage garnishment handling, also let you do more with less.

And you’re especially in luck if you employ lots of time-based workers. That’s because Paycom delivers excellent time tracking perks, like biometric punch clocks and AI-powered schedule predictions.

Why we chose it: It’s not as complicated as ADP or Workday. Yet, it still packs a punch and helps businesses safely jump to their next growth stage.

Pricing

• Custom pricing.

Features

• Complete employee lifecycle management.
• International payroll.
• Time tracking features and punch clocks.
• Employee safety and vaccination tracking.

Pros and cons

For more information, read the full Paycom review.

Paylocity: Best focus on company culture

Paylocity is unique for its keen eye on employee morale. It solves all the classic HR and payroll needs. But it also folds in fun stuff, like its Community feature that resembles a social media platform. With this perk, employees can share their thoughts, joys and personal accomplishments professionally.

There are other tools, too. You can gain top-notch insights on employee morale via the title’s Employee Voice function. This concept is a psychologist-crafted proprietary spin on the classic staff survey. As a result, workers feel more heard and welcomed. You, in turn, get deeper insights that can reduce turnover, saving you money in the long run.

Many other worker-centric morale builders are included with Paylocity, making it the perfect platform if you want to boost your staffer’s hearts and minds.

Why we chose it: The emphasis on fostering company culture through technology sets Paylocity apart, making it the top choice for businesses prioritizing employee engagement and satisfaction.

Pricing

• Custom pricing.

Features

• Enhanced communication tools.
• Employee engagement surveys.
• Comprehensive payroll services.
• Customizable reporting.

Pros and cons:

For more information, read the full Paylocity review.