17 of the Best HR Software Solutions

The best HR software solutions streamline administrative work, organize employee information and give HR teams more time for strategic initiatives. Even better, companies with high employee engagement see 23% higher profitability.

Effective HR software will attract, retain and engage top talent, improving your company from the inside out. It also streamlines or automates a lot of operational HR tasks, so you have more time for creative and strategic projects. HR software can streamline your processes, but so can templates. See for yourself by using our Employee Complaint Form and Termination Letter Template.  

Effective HR software is:

• Powerful. It can handle a lot of data and use without issue.
• Scalable. It grows with you.
• Intuitive. It is easy to use.
• Accessible. It is available anywhere and at any time.
• Comprehensive. It offers a variety of features that work collaboratively.
• Secure. It keeps your HR data safe.

How We Selected These HR Software Solutions

This list includes HR software solutions for payroll, recruiting, workforce management, core HR administration and employee relations investigations. Products were selected to represent different HR use cases rather than ranked from best to worst. Product information was reviewed using publicly available vendor documentation. Features, packages and pricing can change, so buyers should verify their requirements directly with each provider. Case IQ is our own HR investigations and case management solution.

Compare the Best HR Software Solutions

HR software platforms support different parts of the employee lifecycle. Use this table to compare each solution’s primary function and determine which products are most relevant to your organization.

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The best solution for your organization will be powerful, scalable, intuitive, accessible and secure. Below are 17 HR software solutions designed to support different organizational sizes, industries and HR functions.

Case IQ

Case IQ provides employee relations and HR investigations case management software rather than a general HRIS or payroll platform. It helps HR teams receive complaints, assign cases, manage investigation workflows, store sensitive records, track corrective actions and report on workplace trends. Configurable permissions help restrict case information based on each user’s role and responsibilities.

Case IQ can integrate with an organization’s existing HRIS and other business systems, allowing investigators to use relevant employee information without replacing the organization’s core HR platform. It is designed for organizations managing employee complaints, misconduct allegations, harassment and discrimination cases, policy violations and other sensitive workplace matters. Book a demo to see how Case IQ supports the HR investigation process.

APS

APS is a unified payroll and HR software that is intuitive, easy to use and customizable. It offers core HR, payroll, timesheet tracking, recruiting, applicant tracking and onboarding. Solutions are offered as "packages" based on the needs of small, mid-size and growing businesses. Once a package is chosen, the user has the ability to add on extra tools or features that they require. APS builds their software platform from the ground up to focus on usability, reliability and compliance for the exact needs of each customer.

BambooHR

BambooHR's software promises to streamline HR's entire administrative role so that users no longer need folders, filing cabinets or sticky notes. Their online software system helps the HR department stay organized by offering a variety of features such as applicant tracking, employee self-onboarding, custom workflows and performance management. BambooHR also offers e-signatures which means no more waiting around to use the office printer. BambooHR's software solution works in nearly every industry. Finally, BambooHR provides guided steps for onboarding new employees.

Cezanne HR

Cezanne HR is a configurable, affordable, GDPR-compliant HR software system for growing companies in the UK and around the world. This HR software is committed to keeping things easy. Users just pick the modules that fit their needs, and with the help of smart set-up tools and expert support advice, they'll be up and running in no time. Plus, Cezanne HR's system is GDPR-compliant and uses the world's leading cloud infrastructure provider to keep data safe and secure. And with some of the most competitive pricing in this entire list (including no expensive up-front license fees or hidden extras), Cezanne HR is a good option for smaller, simpler businesses.

ClearCompany

ClearCompany is the world's fastest growing talent management platform. So far, they're helping more than 2000 clients hire, retain and engage more top talent. Their software solution offers one-click background checks and video interviewing for recruitment, a forms library and automated task notifications for onboarding, and goal updates and time-based reviews for performance management strategies. ClearCompany offers flexible software pricing based on user requirements. Users can sign up to access the entire platform, or just pick and choose the modules they need.

Deputy

Deputy calls their software the "complete staff management toolkit". It simplifies scheduling with a convenient drag-and-drop tool to create schedules manually as well as an auto-scheduling option. Streamline HR's day-to-day administrative duties with the Kiosk tool, which allows employees to clock-in from their mobile phones (with GPS location tracking). Then, employees can use the Tasking tool to see their objectives for the day. Other features available include Newsfeed - a workplace communication tool, Journaling - the performance management feature, Shift Swapping - to simplify schedule changes, and Payroll Integration - to integrate timesheets and payroll seamlessly.

Gusto

Launched in 2012 as ZenPayroll, Gusto's easy-to-use platform has automated and simplified HR tasks for more than 500,000 businesses worldwide. Gusto offers several free HR tools, plus paid features for things like payroll and benefits. Thanks to the payroll feature, Gusto customers don't have to manually file taxes, write checks or update employee information. According to their website, this means that Gusto customers spend 75 per cent less time managing payroll (and with fewer errors too). Gusto simplifies benefits administration for company owners, streamlining everything from medical, vision, dental, 401(k), commute benefits, college savings, life insurance or all the above.

JazzHR

JazzHR's recruiting system helps companies find, attract and hire the right person for any job. JazzHR's platform offers features to manage job postings, track applicants, manage interviews and other assessments, monitor offers and report on compliance. Their recruiting reports help users spot inefficiencies hidden in the recruiting process. This way, they can hire the ideal candidate quicker, saving time and money on things like employee turnover and training. Plus, their newest feature, JazzHR Crowd, helps users stay competitive by revealing key skills of top-tier candidates, comparing recruiting efforts to competitors and disclosing salary standards by position and location.

Namely

Namely offers an all-in-one HR platform that equips mid-size companies with the tools to operate more smoothly and efficiently. Namely helps their users address the most time-consuming HR tasks such as payroll deductions and taxes, employee benefits, performance reporting, scheduling and time management. Namely partners effortlessly with other systems their customers may already use such as Adobe, SimplePay and Bonusly. Namely's social tool called Modern HR works like a social media app with customizable profiles, a news feed, time-off tracking and event calendars.

Paycor

Paycor is an all-in-one cloud-based solution that helps companies simplify, streamline and manage their HR-related duties. Paycor's business platform is divided into solutions for small, mid-sized and large businesses. Depending on the users need, Paycor offers features that help with: recruiting and hiring, payroll services, onboarding, Workers' Compensation, tax compliance, time and attendance, benefits, ACA solutions, reporting and analytics. Especially handy is the "Solution Finder" tool available on Paycor's website. Customers simply answer a couple of questions about their company's current processes and systems, and the Solution Finder will recommend the ideal software.

People

People is a centralized platform that covers all the administrative HR essentials including posting a new job opportunity or drafting a plan to improve staff performance. The platform integrates with the other apps their customers use. The features let users work collaboratively (but still confidentially) with advanced user permissions, and work or check in from anywhere with the dedicated mobile app.

Planday

Planday is an advanced employee scheduling software trusted by respected companies including Dunkin' Donuts, Best Western and Carlsberg. The company offers a free 30-day trial and unlimited customer support. Their cloud-based software means there is nothing to install and can be accessed from anywhere. Planday offers extra helpful features such as scheduling templates, so users can publish quickly. The software also shows financial reports as the schedule is being built, so users can watch in real time how working hours, payroll costs and revenue are stacking up against financial targets.

Rippling

Rippling is an all-in-one HR, IT, and payroll platform designed to simplify employee management by automating administrative tasks across HR, IT, and finance departments. It offers comprehensive features including onboarding, payroll processing, benefits administration, device management, and workflow automations that integrate with multiple third-party applications. Rippling’s intuitive interface and powerful automation capabilities help organizations streamline payroll processing, manage employee data efficiently, and reduce HR workload. This platform is especially well-suited for mid-sized businesses seeking a unified system to manage the entire employee lifecycle with strong integration capabilities. Rippling is rated 4.8/5 across multiple review platforms.

Sage

Sage helps startup, small and medium-sized companies in a variety of industries streamline accounting, payroll, people, HR, asset management, payments and more. Each feature has multiple levels to match a company's needs, size or complexity. And if price is a concern, Sage offers flexible pricing depending on required features, number of users and billing schedules.

SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors is a cloud-based human resource software and human capital management (HCM) system used by companies around the world. SAP provides everything from basic HR tools to payroll to talent and performance management. The SAP advantage, as they like to call it, comes from more than 40 years of business software and solutions experience. Their proven track record, large network of partners, industry-leading innovation and end-to-end business integration is what makes them a viable option for companies of all sizes. SAP SuccessFactors has 100M+ active users across 60 industries, 200 countries and is available in more than 40 languages.

SAP SuccessFactors is primarily suited to organizations that need broad HCM capabilities, international support and integration with other SAP products. Buyers should evaluate the specific modules required, supported countries and languages, implementation resources, integration requirements and total cost directly with SAP.

UKG, Formerly Kronos‍

UKG, formerly Kronos offers three solutions to meet the HR needs of various industries such as retail, banking, government and healthcare. The Workforce Dimensions Suite helps companies improve their operational oversight. This suite offers tools for timekeeping, scheduling, analytics, data collection, pay, performance and acquisition. The Workforce Ready Suite is an all-in-one cloud platform that offers a more detailed look at the workplace and additional tools for accrual tracking, leave management and mobility. The Workforce Central Suite provides critical insight into workforce efficiency, productivity and compliance. The more advanced tools let users monitor budgeting, forecasting and task management. Finally, UKG integrates with other systems using file feeds and API connections.

Workday Human Capital Management

Workday Human Capital Management is a cloud-based platform designed to help midsized and large organizations manage their global workforce. Its capabilities include core HR, recruiting, talent and performance management, workforce planning, compensation, benefits, learning, time tracking and analytics. Workday also connects HR and workforce information with financial and operational data, giving organizations a more unified view of their people and business. Workday Onboarding integrates with its broader HCM suite for seamless experiences.

Workday is particularly relevant for organizations with complex structures, large employee populations or operations across multiple locations and countries. Buyers should evaluate which modules they require, available payroll coverage, integration needs, implementation resources and total cost, as Workday is broader and more complex than many small-business HR platforms.

How to Choose the Best HR Software Solution

The best HR software solution depends on the process your organization needs to improve. Payroll platforms, recruiting systems, scheduling applications, HCM suites and HR case management software solve different problems and should not be evaluated as interchangeable products.

Before selecting a platform, document your required workflows, users, integrations, security controls, reporting needs and implementation resources. Then ask each vendor to demonstrate those requirements using realistic HR scenarios. If your priority is managing employee complaints and workplace investigations, Case IQ can complement your existing HR technology with configurable intake, investigation workflows, permissions and reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions About HR Software Solutions

What are HR software solutions?

HR software solutions help organizations manage processes such as employee records, payroll, recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, performance management and employee relations investigations. Some platforms support several functions, while others specialize in a particular HR workflow.

How do you choose the best HR software solution?

Identify the HR processes you need to improve, the people who will use the system and the platforms it must integrate with. Then compare usability, configurability, reporting, security, implementation support and total cost using realistic HR workflows.

What is the difference between an HRIS and HR case management software?

An HRIS primarily manages employee records and administrative processes. HR case management software helps teams receive, investigate, document and resolve employee complaints, misconduct allegations and other sensitive workplace issues.