Whether your business is just starting out, or you have a mid-sized business growing rapidly, you should always be on the lookout for advantages that can push you past your own limits. 

Just think of a little extra stick to the bottom of basketball shoes, or sharper knife in a cook-off. Any little advantage can make a huge difference in the long run, right?

For businesses around the world with employees, one little advantage comes with the HR software tool you choose. 

It’s sort of a necessary evil when scaling a company — HR software tools have quickly become the human resource professional’s go-to, and businesses of all kinds consider incorporating these tools into their organization to alleviate HR issues in the organization and keep everyone on the same page. 

Discover the best HR software tools available, and how to determine which one is best for your team. 

The Top 10 HR Software Tools

1. SAP Success Factors

SAP SuccessFactors is a Human Capital Management (HCM) cloud-based software for small to mid-sized businesses that puts employees first. This software is a package offered by SAP, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provider.

SAP SuccessFactors stands out among competitors for its focus on Human Experience Management or HXM as coined by SAP, which aims to redefine the employee experience positively and improve the workplace environment.

This HR software tool offers solutions for performance management, employee experience management, core HR and payroll, talent management, HR analytics, and workforce planning all in one software. With HXM, leaders will see improved employee engagement and performance, making it one of the best HR tools available in today’s market.  

Pros:

• Great for mid-sized and enterprise businesses 
• HXM focused 
• Setup wizard available 

Cons: 

• Higher cost than competitors 
• Lacks integration options

Stats:

• Over 200 million cloud users
• 18,300 partners worldwide 
• 91% of Forbes Global 2000s are SAP users

Pricing:

To discover SAP SuccessFactors pricing packages, please contact their customer service to help you find a plan and price that works for you. 

Call SAP SuccessFactors → here 

Email SAP Success Factor → here

2. Gusto

Gusto removes time-consuming HR headaches for small businesses with its user-friendly, compatible software. For new HR managers, this software solution requires no prior knowledge of payroll or HR responsibilities. 

Gusto provides small business leaders with hiring and onboarding, payroll flexibility and scheduling, employee check management, and more on their cloud-based software, also available on a mobile app. 

With an easy-to-use platform, Gusto helps professionals with administration tasks and responsibilities from tracking employee performance, talent management, and payroll, in addition to calculating and filing local, state, and federal taxes. 

Pros:

• Great for small and midsize startups
• Mobile access
• Customizable reports 
• Also has a contractor-only version

Cons:

• No time tracking

Stats:

• 200,000 users
• Great User Experience Award and Supreme Software award – 2019

Pricing:

Ready to get started with Gusto? Explore their three payment plans: Core, Complete, and Concierge. Are you a contractor? Gusto has the plan for you.

Discover all pricing options → here

3. Deputy

Deputy offers small to mid-sized business owners the tools they need to increase productivity and streamline HR processes. The creators of Deputy had users in mind while making an exceptional user interface that allows for integrations with multiple other software, including Gusto, ADP, and Square. 

This software understands the countless responsibilities managers and business owners deal with each day. By creating a unique HR platform with features including scheduling and time tracking software, mobile app, shift planning software, task management options, and more, all available on a mobile app, Deputy helps ease the burden.

Pros:

• Mobile app 
• Unlimited number of users 
• Cheaper than most software 

Cons:

• Not an HR management tool
• Platform/website only offered in English 

Stats:

• Used in over 100 different countries 
• 250,000 workplaces served internationally 

Pricing:

Deputy is so confident in their software productivity they offer the first 31 days free. 

Discover all pricing options → here

4. Freshteam

Aimed at growing businesses, Freshteam has made our best HR tools list for its cloud-based solution to HR processes. Business owners who see growth in their future team up with Freshteam for faster hiring, onboarding, and recruitment. 

The most innovative solution for hiring and talent management for businesses searching for a user-friendly platform, Freshteam allows managers to screen candidates in seconds, create custom hiring workflows, and collaborate to hire new workers virtually. 

Freshteam’s cloud-based HRMS (human resources management system) software offers a mobile app for managers to stay up to date with their hiring process on the go. 

Pros:

• Customizable 
• End-to-end recruitment 

Cons:

• No payroll options 
• Limited integration possibilities 

Stats:

• Over 5,000 businesses trust Freshworks
• Forbes Cloud 100 Winner 2021 
• 1,000+ apps in the Freshworks Marketplace
• 120 countries 

Pricing:

Users can get started with basic Freshworks features for free. Growing businesses may want to take advantage of Freshworks other pricing packages, from Growth to Enterprise. 

Discover all pricing options → here

5. BambooHR

BambooHR is the perfect cloud-based solution for human resource management software (HRMS) for small and mid-sized businesses. Business owners approve of BambooHR to increase employee engagement and employee performance. 

This software has some of the best HR tools for hiring, onboarding, compensation, and overall workplace culture. BambooHR automatically gathers data and stores it in a single, secure database where HR managers can use powerful reporting tools for performance management. 

Implementing BambooHR within your business increases the expectation of great hiring, onboarding, compensation, and workplace culture software, improving your business from the inside out. 

Pros:

• Easy-to-use mobile app 
• Best HRMS 
• 7-day free trial 

Cons:

• Not a payroll platform
• Limited integration options

Stats:

• 30,000 onboards per month 
• Trusted by 17,00+ companies 

Pricing:

BambooHR made our best HR tools list for their great HRMS software and their add-ons. When business owners choose BambooHR, they are pleased to find two pricing packages with multiple add-ons to suit their business needs. 

Discover all pricing options → here

6. Sage Business Cloud

Sage Business Cloud made our best HR tools list because it is the best cloud-based software for multinational companies with global teams. Offering 24/7 online and phone support, HR managers rest easy knowing Sage Business Cloud supports their larger businesses and enterprises. 

Targeted at businesses with 200-5,000 multinational employees, Sage Business Cloud supports different currencies, international holiday calendars, multiple languages, and payroll tax laws. 

Sage Business Cloud helps increase productivity within workspaces to track expenses, manage cash flows, and send and track invoices on one platform that professionals appreciate. Equipped with dual portals, employees and managers experience the Workforce eXperience (WX), and HR directors interact with the HR information system (HRIS). 

Pros:

• For global, enterprise teams
• Great integration options
• Multinational 
• Dual portals

Cons:

• 90 day wait period for full reporting features
• On the expensive side

Stats:

• Operating in over 150 countries
• 400,000+ users 
• 95% retention rate

Pricing: 

Sage accounting offers two pricing plans. If you’re just starting, try Sage Accounting Start. On the other hand, a developed business ready to grow should choose Sage Accounting which offers a tempting 70% off during the first six months. Both plans have a free trial period. 

Discover all pricing options → here

7. Zenefits

Zenefits understands the stress of time-consuming human resource administration responsibilities, so they decided to eliminate that stress by offering an award-winning People Ops platform for all start-ups and small businesses. 

Since 2013, Zenefits has become one of the top HR software solutions by offering compensation packages, employee onboarding, PTO management, and more. Furthermore, Zenefits increases employee productivity and includes payroll integrations. 

Automating multiple tasks, Zenefits has built-in features helping to prevent accidental mistakes for employees and leadership alike. 

Pros:

• Great for teams of all sizes
• Competitive prices
• Easy-to-use UI (user interface)
• 14-day free trial 

Cons:

• Limited mobile app 
• Confined payroll platform

Stats:

• Trusted by 11,00+ businesses 
• 50+ integration partners
• Top 5 Payroll software by AdvisoryHQ

Pricing:

With base plans offered monthly and annual starting at $8 per month per employee, Zenefits offers competitive pricing. In addition, find add-ons that will help your business grow and adapt to change. 

Discover all pricing options→ here

8. Namely

For small to mid-sized businesses, Namely provides HR, talent management, payroll, and benefits all packaged up into this one user-friendly software.

Aimed at businesses with 25-1,000 employees, Namely is a cloud-based payroll software and HR solutions platform, allowing HR managers to access what they need through a mobile app. With features that include onboarding, payroll, talent management, recruiting, and more! 

If your business needs software with seamless integration, Namely has a roster of partners to help with whatever HR feature Namely does not have! 

Pros:

• Increases employee productivity 
• Easy integrations 
• Strong employee management features

Cons:

• Implementation takes up to 8 weeks
• Switch to Namely on the first day of a new quarter
• Limited compensation features 

Stats:

• Saving the average client 11 hours per week 
• 75% of clients see an increase in employee engagement 
• 77% of clients state Namely has helped their business grow 

*All stats courtesy of Namely

Pricing:

With pricing starting at $12/employee, Namely can become expensive for organizations larger than 1,000 employees. Contact Namely to get a quote that will fit your business. 

Discover your quote at Namely → here

9. Workday

Workday knows that the world is constantly changing; therefore, they created an enterprise management cloud to help adapt to whatever comes next. As a result, the collaboration of financial, operational, and employee data comes together in one management platform. 

Workday is one of the largest software companies on this list. It’s different from other software for its ability to help create, execute, and analyze plans on the same platform that enables HR managers to increase employee engagement. 

Offering financial, human capital, and talent management along with enterprise planning, Workday’s features make time-consuming administrative tasks easy. 

Pros:

• Best for Human Capital Management (HCM)
• Finance focused
• Quick and easy demos

Cons:

• Limited integrations
• No language translations 
• Trouble managing multiple transactions

Stats:

• 97% customer satisfaction

Pricing: 

Workday does not offer public pricing; therefore, businesses should request a quote to improve an HR experience. 

Discover all pricing options → here

10. Cezanne HR

Streamline employee onboarding processes with UK’s leading cloud HR system made for small and mid-sized businesses. Cezanne separates HR functions into different modules and allows users to begin with the modules that matter most to their organization and add more as they grow and change. 

Global features allow companies to simplify global human resources, bringing employees together to improve productivity and engagement. Enhance your global reliability with free language translations, multi-currency and international capabilities. 

Pros:

• Ten languages support
• Multiple currencies 
• Time-saving automation 

Cons:

• 5,000 maximum number of users
• No free trial 

Stats:

• Trusted by thousands of HR professionals
• UK leading cloud HR system
• Trusted in over 100 countries 

Pricing:

Help Cezanne match your business with an HR pricing plan that will increase business HR productivity. Book a demo and get a quote with ease. 

Discover how to book a demo → here

What is HR software?

Human resource management is an essential business function that can be the source of much frustration. 

HR software is a digital solution that allows an organization to automate and optimize human resource tasks.

In a business landscape that’s constantly changing, an HR software solution will help your organization streamline processes to increase overall productivity and work management.

Investing your HR responsibilities into a cloud-based software equips business owners with the possibility to integrate with other software and customize the software to fit their business’s needs. 

Key Features to Consider

Business owners implement HR software as a cloud-based solution for their HR departments. Keep up with business on the go with a mobile app, allowing leaders never to miss a beat when they’re away. 

Increase workplace productivity and decrease time-consuming tasks with software that improves efficiency and employee engagement with useful features. 

Features of HR software 

• Track employee life cycle 
• Tax assistance 
• Securely storing employee data 
• Reporting and analytics
• Payroll 
• Time-off and benefits management 
• Employee engagement 
• And more! 

Software integration with existing programs

• Benefits management
• Scheduling 
• Payroll
• Applicant Tracking
• Employee Performance Tracking

Choosing the Right HR Software for Your Team

Ready to dive into the world of HR software but unsure how to navigate the many options available? 

When choosing the right HR software for your team, be sure to have a detailed understanding of your business and what you are looking for from software. 

Consider your team size.

Many HR software options are built for organizations of a specific size. Choosing the right option starts with knowing your team size – including factoring in the growth you hope to have in the future.  

These details will help ensure you’re getting the best software for your dollar.  

What are your needs?

Are you looking for software targeted at assisting with payroll? Or is employee productivity more critical to your team?

Assessing your business needs will help determine how you can optimize your HR software to decrease the time spent on the process.  

Whether it’s compliance management, employee engagement, payroll, or employee life cycle tracking, there is an HR software specializing in what you need. 

Features

The gift that keeps on giving. Plenty of HR software on the market today offers pricing plans that allow business owners to include various features for an extra cost. 

These features may include flexible spending accounts, tax assistance, health insurance, and more. What features would you like your HR tool to incorporate?

Pricing

One of the most important factors to consider before investing in HR software is pricing. 

How much are you willing to pay right now? How much will you be willing to pay a year from now?

Many HR software options offer a range of plans to ensure that your HR software will grow as your business grows. 

Closing Thoughts

No matter the size, industry, or services it offers, every business can benefit from HR software. Automating HR processes, improving employee productivity and engagement, and easy integration with other software are just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you activate an HR software solution for your business.

 Based on some key qualifiers, below are our top recommendations: 

• Gusto – Best for payroll in small businesses
• Freshteam- Best for employee life cycle tracking 
• Sage Business Cloud- Best for multinational businesses 
• Deputy- Best for scheduling 

Ultimately, the HR software a business chooses will help them save time and improve systems already in place, improving workplace culture.