Rankings & buying decisions
HR software & support
Start with records and leave. Add recruiting software or outside HR support only when that is where the work piles up.
Find the right starting point
Compare systems, test a shortlist or find outside HR support.
Lean HR teams
HR leaders
Founders
Choose a ranking for the work ahead
Organise everyday HR
BambooHR leads our three-product shortlist for a lean US HR team supporting around 75 people and keeping its existing payroll. Start there when scattered employee records, onboarding and time-off approvals are the work you need to fix.
Compare the three options →US · 250-person example · HR, talent and planningConnect HR, talent and planning
HiBob leads this three-platform shortlist for a US HR leader connecting core HR with talent and workforce planning. Our example is a 250-person company with owners and budget for the rollout, rather than a team only replacing employee spreadsheets.
Compare the three options →US · 20-person example · First HR/payroll setupSet up HR and payroll
Gusto Plus leads our shortlist for a US founder with 20 employees who needs multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling in one purchase. Its published subscription works out to $320 a month before optional services, benefits premiums and employment costs.
Compare the three options →UK · 75-person example · Keep your payrollCompare UK HR systems
Breathe, Charlie and five alternatives for records, leave and everyday HR.
See the UK ranking →Compare your finalists
BambooHR vs Rippling
A focused HR purchase or coordinated HR and IT: decide what belongs in the rollout.
Gusto vs OnPay
For US buyers whose immediate purchase is payroll.
Explore the products
US buying options
US teams replacing scattered records and onboarding while keeping payroll optional.
HRNew hires, job changes and departures updating HR, IT or finance products together
Core HR with talent and planning; US and UK payroll options are scoped separately.
Multi-state payroll with time tracking and scheduling
UK HR software assessments
Employee records, leave, documents and routine HR reports for a fixed headcount band
£175/month for 51–100 employees; VAT and optional products extra.
Employee records, onboarding, leave and regular performance reviews
£323/month for 50–99 employees; VAT and separate products extra.Sense HR Elite
Custom employee fields and screens, Report Writer, payroll connections and access roles
Elite: £6/employee/month paid annually or £7.20 billed monthly; VAT extra.
Onboarding and e-signatures in Core; performance reviews and timesheets in Pro
Price the edition that includes the required performance, workflow and access features.Cezanne
HR modules priced for changing headcount, with setup and data upload advertised as included
Module and average-headcount quote; minimum monthly fee must be confirmed.
HR records for several legal entities or custom system connections
Quote Core or Core Pro, Apps and the one-time setup fee together.Compensation, headcount planning or payroll alongside core HR.
Core HR and selected modules by quote; US and UK payroll scoped separately.
Buying for a more complex organisation?
The shortlists cover specific buying needs, not every enterprise requirement. For a complex rollout, test the shortlisted systems against your workflows before committing.
Test the workflows before signing
Use seven demo tests to assess permissions, payroll changes and data exports.
Prove the payroll connection works
Define who owns each field and how failed updates are resolved.
Rankings reflect the stated buying scenario and documented product scope. Sponsored placements are labelled separately. Sponsorship and editorial policy.