Do you want to go straight to the answer? The best HR software for most people is Gusto or BambooHR.

The best HR software provides employees with the tools they need to manage company policies, compliance, planning, etc.

When HR solutions were first introduced, they were typically offered under license as on-premise software. But today, thanks to cloud technology, companies have much easier access to and can use HR tools to streamline their processes.

Whether you are buying for the first time or looking to switch from your current HR solution, you are in the right place. I will help you find the best HR software for your business.

The 7 best HR software

After studying dozens of HR solutions in the current market, I have selected the seven main ones that you should consider

• Gusto - The best human resources management software for payroll for small businesses.

• BambooHR - The best human resources management systems

• Sage Business Cloud People - The best for multinational organizations

• Zenefits - The best all-in-one software for human resources

• To know - The best HR software for medium-sized companies

• SAP SuccessFactors - The best software suite for supply chain management

• People HR - The best for candidate tracking and recruitment

Continue below to learn more about the features, benefits, prices, use cases, and potential drawbacks of each of them.

#1 - Gusto - The best HR software for payroll for small businesses

- Trusted by over 100,000 companies
- Pay and benefits
- Manage compliance
- Monthly pricing

Gusto is primarily known for its online payroll services. But the platform also has additional HR features, making it perfect for young and small businesses.

More than 100,000 small businesses trust Gusto for payroll and human resources management.

The platform is super easy to use. Business owners who manage payroll and HR themselves without a dedicated service can still navigate Gusto with ease.

Gusto automatically calculates and categorizes local, state, and federal taxes. It seamlessly integrates with tools such as Quickbooks, Xero, Clover, TSheets, and many more.

Gusto also allows you to manage health insurance. Over 3,500 medical, dental, and vision plans are available through Gusto's accredited advisors. Among the other social benefits offered by Gusto are the 401(k) retirement plan, the 529 savings plan, workers' compensation, CSS, life and disability insurance, and benefits related to commuting, etc.

Use Gusto to manage compliance with things like HIPAA, COBRA, the Department of Labor, IRS, ACA, and ERISA.

Here is a brief overview of Gusto's prices

• Core - $19 per month + $6 per person

• Complete - $39 per month + $12 per person

• Concierge - $149 per month + $12 per person

Gusto also offers a free plan for businesses that have not hired W-2 employees. You can use Gusto to pay 1099 contractors for only $6 per month per person.

All Gusto rates are monthly, so you can cancel at any time without long-term commitment. Start here.

#2 - BambooHR - Best Human Resources Management System (HRMS)

- For small and medium-sized businesses
- Over 1.56 million active employees
- Great mobile application
- 7 days free trial

For companies looking for a comprehensive human resources management solution, BambooHR is a smart choice. This software is used by over 17,000 companies and has more than 1.56 million active users.

As a human resource management system, BambooHR primarily focuses on the people in your company. The software specializes in hiring, onboarding, compensation, and company culture.

Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, the solution allows business owners and human resources services to easily collect, maintain, and analyze data regarding their employees. This information will help you recruit new talents and create a culture that empowers your team.

Here are some of the main features offered by BambooHR software:

• Employee files

• Service monitoring

• Vacation management

• Company calendar

• Boarding and disembarking

• Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

• Training

• Brand of the company

• Advanced Reports on Human Resources

• Custom workflows and approvals

BambooHR also offers an exceptional mobile application, perfect for both employees and human resources administrators. You can purchase add-ons for performance management and time tracking.

The price of BambooHR is not available online. You must contact their sales team to get a quote.

Unfortunately, payroll is not available for this software. You will therefore need to process your payroll elsewhere. Check out our guide to the best online payroll services for advice in this area.

Try BambooHR for free for seven days.

#3 - Sage Business Cloud People - The best for multinational organizations

- Designed for medium-sized businesses
- Support for international employees
- Local and national compliance
- Easy to scale

Sage offers a wide range of products for businesses of all shapes, sizes, and industries. From accounting tools to management and more, this is probably an organization that you are familiar with.

That being said, Sage Business Cloud People is a highly specific HR solution. It is designed for medium-sized businesses with a global presence.

Managing human resources when you have employees in different locations around the world can be very challenging. But Sage makes it easier for you by helping you create a unique global policy for your entire organization while complying with all local and national regulations.

The platform is ideal for businesses with 200 to 5,000 employees. Small businesses should look elsewhere for their human resources needs.

Sage is robust enough to adapt to the growth of your medium-sized business. It has everything you need to attract, retain and manage your workforce globally.

Compared to other human resources services on the market today, setting up Sage Business Cloud People is a bit complex. The company advertises that it offers a "quick implementation," but if you read the fine print, you will see that you can be up and running in just 90 days.

Three months is a long time to settle in. So if your human resource needs are time-sensitive, this platform is probably not for you.

The prices for Sage Business Cloud People are not available online. Contact their sales team to book a free demonstration.

#4 - Zenefits - The best all-in-one software for human resources

- An all-in-one HR solution
- Starting from $8 per month
- Free salary for one year
- 14 days free trial

Zenefits is our top overall recommendation for the best all-in-one human resources software. More than 11,000 companies trust it and over 400,000 employees use it.

As an all-in-one HR solution, Zenefits offers features for compensation packages, employee onboarding, PTO and request management, employee management, and more.

Zenefits has built-in compliance and assurance features to help you avoid accidental errors. The software automates the majority of compliance tasks and document filings with authorities.

With Zenefits, you can increase employee productivity throughout your organization. Your staff can use Zenefits for things like self-onboarding, benefits selection, and document signing.

Here is a brief overview of Zenefits plans and pricing:

As you can see, these rates are very affordable. Depending on the size of your organization and the needs of your human resources department, there is a plan for everyone.

Payroll is not included in any of the basic plans, but you can add it for $6 per employee.

For a limited time, Zenefits is offering a free year of salary to help small and medium businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some restrictions; for example, you must subscribe to an annual human resources subscription plan.

Try Zenefits for free for 14 days.

#N°5 - To know - The best HR software for medium-sized businesses

- Designed for medium-sized businesses
- Easy to scale
- Integrated payroll processing
- Many integrations

This is a comprehensive HR solution for medium-sized organizations.

More than 1,400 companies trust it, which means it is not as popular as some other options on our list. But don't be fooled by this number. In fact, the HR solution has everything you need to manage a medium-sized HR department.

With Namely, you will benefit from basic features such as:

• Employee management

• Boarding

• Talent Management

• Benefits administration

• Payroll

• HR Compliance

• Analytic

• Recruitment

• Time and presence

• Comparative analysis

The software processes over 10 billion dollars in salaries each year, which is why it's great to have this feature integrated.

You will have access to live HR advisors, a learning management system, a living manual, and OSHA logs to manage your HR compliance. The Agency has also enhanced its benefits consulting services, for example..

The software is easy to use, and employees love it. It only takes a few clicks to access pay stubs and request time off, from the web portal or mobile application.

On average, human resources services save 11 hours per week by switching to Namely. Imagine how much more productive you could be with an extra 572 hours per year at your disposal.

It integrates with third-party tools for candidate tracking, electronic signature, time and attendance management systems, background checks, international payroll, etc. If you are already using a tool and cannot find it in the list of pre-established integrations, you can create your own using the secure Namely API.

The pricing of Namely HR is not available online. You must request a demo and a free quote.

#6 - SAP SuccessFactors - Best HCM Software Suite

- Ideal for small and medium enterprises
- All-in-one product range
- Analysis of HR
- Personnel management tools

SAP SuccessFactors specializes in HR software for Human Capital Management (HCM). The SAP SuccessFactors HXM suite brings a unique touch to human capital management and human resources management system.

If you are not familiar with the acronym HXM, it is probably because it is not an industrial term. SAP coined the term "Human Experience Management" for this suite of products.

This cloud-based human resources software is segmented into four product categories:

• Employee Experience Management

• Basic human resources and salaries

• Talent Management

• Analysis of human resources and workforce management

As you can see, the product range covers everything your human resources department may need.

The platform is robust and feature-rich, but it is likely to be excessive for most small businesses. I recommend SAP SuccessFactors to large enterprises and SMEs. A small and medium-sized business would benefit more from some of the advanced features offered in this product suite, particularly in terms of analytics and workforce management.

The price of SAP SuccessFactors is not available online. You will need to contact the customer service team by phone, email, or live chat to get more information.

#N°7 - People HR - The best for candidate tracking and recruitment

- Applicant tracking system
- Starting from $5 per month
- Secure high-level talents
- Essential features of HR

People HR software is best known for its candidate tracking and talent recruitment features. But it also offers a wide range of essential human resources resources that you can benefit from. This British company provides human resources services to companies worldwide.

Regarding the essential elements of HR, People HR provides features for:

• Automation of repetitive HR tasks

• Centralized information platform for employees

• Vacation planning and absence management

• Time sheets and time tracking

• Expense reports and approvals

Payroll is not integrated with People HR, but the software integrates with ADP, Sage Payroll, Ceridian, and Activpayroll.

The ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is the feature that truly makes People HR shine. It allows you to easily attract, identify, and secure top talent. Post open positions, search for talent, manage your list of pre-selected candidates, and send an offer directly through the platform.

Here is a quick overview of the plans and pricing of People HR:

• Team - $5 per employee per month

• Professional - $6 per employee per month

• Business - $8 per employee per month

• Elite - $10 per employee per month

As you can see, the rates are extremely affordable, even for small organizations. It is worth noting, however, that recruitment and candidate tracking features are not available in the Team or Professional plans. You will need to upgrade to the Enterprise or Elite plan to access these features.

Try it for free; no credit card is required.

What is HR software?

Human resources software help businesses of all sizes manage various aspects of HR processes. From employee onboarding to payroll, benefits, and training, HR software makes it easier for your staff and employees by providing the tools you need.

Without HR software, organizations are faced with a bottleneck in the HR department. The only way for employees to access information is to call the HR department, send an email, or physically go to the HR office.

These scenarios are not realistic for the modern workforce, especially with so many people working remotely or in the field.

How to find the best HR software for your company

With the number of HR solutions available on the market, finding the best option for your business may seem like a daunting task.

Fortunately, I will explain to you what factors and elements to consider when evaluating possible solutions. This is the methodology we used to choose the winners on our list.

Company size

The first way to narrow down your options is to consider the number of employees you have. Start-ups and small businesses with 20 employees will not have the same needs as a company with 200 or 2,000 employees.

Start-ups and small businesses should turn to solutions like Zenefits or Gusto. Namely and SAP SuccessFactors are more suitable for medium-sized businesses.

It is important to ensure that your HR software can evolve with you as your company grows.

Human resource needs

Why exactly do you need HR software?

My needs may not be the same as yours. Not all software provides all HR capabilities. You must therefore identify the main reason why you are looking for HR software.

For example, you will not find payroll in the list of features of most software on our list. In most cases, you will have to pay an additional fee to get payroll on the few platforms that offer it.

Other solutions address specific needs, such as Human Capital Management (HCM), Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). Some providers cater to ultra-specific needs, such as HR management software for managing international employees.

Additional features

In addition to your basic needs, you should consider other additional features offered by the software you are evaluating.

Mobile applications and self-service tools for employees are pleasant to use. Time tracking, leave management, integration tools, and dozens of other features may not necessarily be part of the "basic HR features" list. But they remain very useful if you want to optimize your human resources service.

Don't let a long list of additional features distract you from your primary human resources needs.

Price

Most HR software is charged on a monthly basis per employee. These rates can start from $5 per employee per month.

Some platforms charge a base fee for your basic plan, then charge a fee per employee in addition to it. Other software applies different fees per employee depending on the features available in the plan you have chosen.

Not all human resources solutions have transparent pricing available online. In some cases, you will need to contact the sales team to request a quote and a demonstration. Before committing long-term, always try the software by testing it for free when available.

Conclusion

What is the best HR software on the market today? In general, there is no one-size-fits-all solution..

If your priority is small business payroll, choose Gusto. For a complete HRIS, try BambooHR or Zenefits. Medium-sized companies should learn to use solutions like Namely. People HR is our top recommendation for candidate tracking and recruiting.

Check out SAP SuccessFactors for a suite of HCM products. For medium-sized organizations with international employees, we recommend Sage Business Cloud People.

No matter the size of your company, your industry or your human resources needs, you can find what you are looking for using this guide.