10+ Best HCM Software To Manage Your HR Needs in One Place (2025)

• Operational efficiency - Time spent on administrative tasks is reduced, such as manual clocking, time-tracking, and costing out of labor rates.
• The Talent Acquisition module helps fill roles more quickly with top talent by leveraging modern tools like texting and QR scan codes.
• Cost-effective solutions for a variety of organizations, including education, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, restaurants/hospitality, retail, and technology. Solutions are available for small, midsized, and large enterprise organizations. Paylocity streamlines HR tasks, minimizes compliance risk, and drives communication and collaboration with tools to improve employee engagement.

Since 2000, I have used Paylocity. Our previous HR systems were numerous. We moved the following processes into Paylocity, which offers an all-in-one HR solution:

• Payroll - Automated processes, tax compliance, and overall simplification of payroll processing.

• Workforce Management - Improved efficiency by automating scheduling, time tracking, and ease of use for employees via their phones.

• Human Resources Software - Automation of manual tasks such as reviewing time management and I-9 Work Authorization tracking. Simplification and access to real-time information via the mobile app allow everyone to view their pay info, tax forms, time off requests, update personal information, and complete tasks that previously required paper.

• Talent Management - This tool helps shorten the time to hire during the recruiting cycle, expands the reach of finding top talent by posting and sharing openings across many job boards, and enhances the candidate experience through texts and QR code scanning.

This aids in finding talent faster and making engagement easier. Additionally, this module is excellent for onboarding new employees by eliminating hours of onboarding paperwork, as every aspect of onboarding is done online through Paylocity.

There is a performance management segment that provides employees with the tools they need for career development and conducting reviews. Also within this module, compensation and a Learning Management System (LMS) are robust and automated, with a wealth of tools built in to help with employee engagement and retention.

• Benefits - We moved from manual to automated processes, reducing confusion through simplified, flexible benefits management and employee usage. Key takeaways: access anywhere via mobile or desktop, real-time information, employee education with step-by-step guidance videos/scripts, compliance with federal and state regulations for COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA, and ease of error reduction through automation.

• Employee Experience - Employees have access to the HR platform, increasing self-service adoption, building confidence, collaboration, and connection.

• Data - Paylocity helps bring data to life while keeping in tune and up-to-date with your workforce. For example, AI is used to provide key insights for identifying gaps and actionable recommendations on how to improve employee productivity and reduce turnover.

I do not have any cons to share about Paylocity.

In comparison to Workday, the ease of implementation and support was better with Paylocity. When I used Workday with a large enterprise organization supporting 10,000 employees, the assigned team was larger and divided into various segments. Paylocity supported a small service organization with fewer than 2,500 employees.

The criteria should include the following:

1. The available budget.
2. Types of systems and applications being integrated.
3. Company size.
4. Readiness to move away from paper and files into software/automation. Paylocity simplifies and streamlines critical payroll and HR processes.
5. Remember to allocate time and a team to help design the front end of the system and plan the rollout—this takes time and patience.

Paylocity has expanded and introduced the Modern Workforce Index (MWI), giving HR leaders real-time visibility into organizational health compared to similar companies based on NAICS codes and organization size.

Paylocity is primarily designed for small to medium-sized organizations. It simplifies and streamlines critical payroll and HR processes and functions.

I like BambooHR because it's user-friendly. I also like that it's a system where you can really track important data like job titles and salary changes. Finally, I like that BambooHR is easy to use.

We bought BambooHR to establish a centralized place that could securely store our employees' data for our HR team. We also wanted to create a seamless onboarding and offboarding process. The customer service is impeccable at Bamboo and they're always very helpful. It's also very user-friendly. I've used the product personally for one year.

I wish BambooHR offered a way for us to administer stock options and 401K directly through the program. I also wish we had a dedicated account rep, which we, unfortunately, do not have at this time. I would love to see more engaging ways for our employees to be onboarded, as well.

They're different because they have a very attractive interface and the response rate of the customer service team is higher. They also tend to offer a more diverse set of program features.

I'd recommend really digging in to make sure you're taking advantage of all of the features and integrations Bamboo has to offer. Also, I'd recommend smaller companies (less than 50 people) really consider if this is a tool that's right for their size.

The training content they've offered is impeccable.

I'd say an organization of at least 50+ people.

• Rippling has a clean, visually appealing interface.
• It offers strong integrations and is user-friendly for beginner admins.
• Implementation is quick and straightforward for organizations.

I consulted with a tech startup on a tech stack selection project, where they chose to use Rippling. My engagement lasted about six months, covering implementation and organizational change management.

Rippling is a workforce management platform specializing in HR management, compliance, and expense management. The organization needed an HRIS as it began scaling aggressively and required a system to streamline HR operations.

• The system lacks flexibility for complex HR requirements compared to platforms like Oracle or Workday.
• Customer support is among the weakest in the HRIS market.
• While onboarding is fast, it can be confusing, as Rippling prioritizes speed over thorough implementation.

Rippling targets the middle market, catering to fast-growing startups and mid-sized enterprises. It offers more features than basic HRIS options but lacks the depth and complexity of Workday. While many companies find it appealing, I don’t think it’s worth the price.

• Budget vs. features—how much are you willing to spend for the functionality you need? HRIS options vary widely.
• Organization size and HR complexity—ensure the system can handle your operational demands.

Founded in 2016, Rippling has effectively targeted fast-growing startups and mid-sized enterprises. However, its development team focuses more on UI enhancements than adding meaningful features.

• Companies that prioritize an intuitive interface for admins and employees.
• Those looking for more features than basic HRIS options but not ready to invest in enterprise-level solutions.

• Unified Platform: Combines payroll, HR, benefits, and workforce management into a single, seamless system, simplifying operations.
• Mobile-Friendly: Offers a user-friendly mobile app, allowing employees and HR managers to access schedules, pay stubs, and other information on the go.
• Continuous Innovation: Regularly introduces new features, such as updated time-off management tools and employee engagement functionalities.

My organization wanted to consolidate all HR functions into one platform rather than relying on multiple tools or platforms. After researching several options, they decided to try Paycor.

Paycor addressed all of my organization’s needs, including talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll, and more. It provided a unified solution that streamlined HR processes and reduced operational inefficiencies.

I worked with Paycor for seven months before being transitioned to a different position.

• Complexity for Small Businesses: The extensive feature set may be overwhelming for smaller businesses with simple HR needs.
• Learning Curve: Onboarding and training can be time-consuming due to the platform’s robust functionality.
• Lengthy Troubleshooting Times: Resolving technical issues or getting support can sometimes take longer than expected.

Paycor offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to streamline human capital management for businesses of various sizes. Its payroll automation, talent management, and workforce tools help save time, reduce compliance risks, and optimize operations. I prefer this tool because it provides an all-in-one solution that simplifies complex HR processes.

Businesses should carefully evaluate their specific needs and assess whether Paycor’s features align with their HR requirements. The cost is an important factor to consider, especially for smaller organizations. Companies should treat the tool as a modular solution, selecting only the services they need and adding additional features as required. This ensures that businesses maximize the value of their investment.

Paycor introduced the Paycor Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to simplify administrative tasks and enhance HR efficiency.

• Paycor is an excellent solution for medium-sized to large companies seeking enterprise-level HR assistance.
• It works best for organizations that require an integrated platform for talent acquisition, payroll, and workforce management.

I loved that the platform reached our global audience and that our employees could manage their own data in the system. I also liked the reporting functions and how easy it was to make benefit changes in the system from an administrative view.

We chose Ceridian because it was one of the only systems that had the global support we needed. We needed a robust system that would allow our employees to manage their data in the US, EMEA, Canada and Mexico, as well as hone into reporting functions easily for our COE. I used Ceridian for almost 4 years, managing benefits, reporting, and employee data. I trained my team how to use it, so they could emulate this training at their respective locations.

Ceridian is not the most user-friendly interface. It is not impossible to use, but for anyone who struggles with tech, it can be a challenge. Companies with large populations may also find it easy to get analysis paralysis, as all of the reports can be overwhelming and hard to sort through. Lastly, it only gets easier with practice, so if you are not on this platform often it will not get easier to navigate. One truly must familiarize themselves with it in order to understand how to navigate it.

What sets Ceridian apart is its global capability and reporting functionality. I have yet to come across another platform that can store the amount of data this can and pull it together in the same way Ceridian can.

The size and location of their organization/employees, data analytics, user interface and price.

I think they are trying to make a dashboard more user-friendly but otherwise, I think they know their strength and lean into that.

Large global organizations

There were several things I appreciated about Oracle. One attribute I appreciated was the simplicity of display on each page. There was not too much to sort through on each page that would distract or confuse me about what I needed to review or change. Another aspect I appreciated was the processing of transactions. The forms were simple, so processing was simple, and transactions would very rarely get "stuck" waiting on a particular user's approval the way it was implemented in our company. Lastly, I appreciate how the system would load quickly, and rarely was the system down, disrupting or delaying HR processes that needed to happen in a timely manner.

I worked for a Fortune 500 company that purchased Oracle PeopleSoft for their HCM software. I had used it for approximately seven years during my time there as the HRIS/HRMS system. My company purchased Oracle PeopleSoft with the intention to manage all People transactions, from pay, transfers, and all job-related information, in a timely and efficient manner. When you are managing tens of thousands of employees' data quality, ease of use and efficiency are key. The benefit of this system was having most of our employee data in one place for HR to manage employee information for the duration of the employee lifecycle.

There were a few things I disliked about the version of Oracle we had. It was limited to HR professionals to make changes to employees. For example, if HR was on training or vacation, managers were unable to make changes such as temporary upgrades or transfers. A second limiting factor was the lack of help tests. Without someone training you, you might not know how to navigate to the correct form you need. Lastly, Oracle seemed limited in its configurability options, so we had to use outside systems to manage all our HR processes (such as performance management ATS (recruiting)).

Oracle seems pretty antiquated to me and lags a bit behind the competition. While most HCM software is constantly evolving, the version of Oracle I used seemed to be a bit behind the competition. If I were deciding between various HCM systems, I would certainly add Oracle to my list to consider and compare for my needs, but I'm not sure it would make it to the top of the list for what we need.

There are a lot of criteria people should think about when purchasing human capital software. Cost, features, useability, tech support, and configurability are at the top of mind when considering unique business needs.

During the seven years I used Oracle at my company, I did not see much evolution. It remained pretty stable and served its purpose for that time.

I would say Oracle is a good fit for mid-sized organizations that are pretty stable (not in a high growth stage) and don't need a lot of customer support or configuration.

Workday is powerful, you can create almost any report and any feature that you can imagine (although, you need to know how to do it). Workday is scalable, you can do a lot in bulk. Workday is integration friendly, having an internal HRIS be able to integrate with other software is key to running smooth internal business operations.

Previously, we were using Gusto and BambooHR for our Payroll and HRIS sources of record. Gusto and BambooHR would not integrate with one another, and we were continually faced with "big company problems" using a "small company tool" like Gusto. Workday promised an all-in-one, scalable, and powerful tool we could use in order to meet our many Payroll and HR needs. We've been using it since January 1st, 2023, and I can say that it's definitely allowed the company to scale some work streams.

Workday is incredibly unintuitive, I wish it was more user-friendly. Workday doesn't have a support team and the Workday Resource Center is not super useful, I wish it had a support team we could call. Workday is very expensive since they hold a large chunk of the market and since it's difficult to move HRIS systems, they're able to get away with charging a lot of money -- I wish it was less expensive.

A lot more powerful, and a lot more scalable, but way less intuitive to use.

Don't purchase Workday if your company is small (0-500-ish employees). Don't purchase Workday if you're not struggling with scale.

Workday has allowed us to spend less time processing workflows that affect the end user, allowing for more automation, which means less risk, which means fewer errors.

Mid-size to Large companies.

It makes training compliance much easier for us. It is good for large enterprise environments. It is highly customizable.

My organization bought SAP-Success Factors to use as an LMS tool. We've been using it for about 4 years. Prior to using SAP-Success Factors, getting our large pool of employees to complete mandatory training was difficult. Now we can create our own training content and manage its delivery much more easily. It also allows us to track compliance on training more easily.

It can be difficult to get the support we need from our SAP representative quickly. It is so customizable that it can be difficult to predict the effect of small changes to the software. The integration with reporting can be slow.

Success Factors is very robust and highly customizable, and that differentiates them from competitors.

You should consider the cost, and it can be prohibitive for smaller organizations. It is also so customizable that you will need someone on staff to become an expert to really use it to its fullest. It's also good to consider if you actually need a product this customizable or whether something more plug-and-play would work better for you.

We are constantly meeting with our SAP rep to tweak our setup. They are willing to work with us on this, but it is sometimes a lengthy process.

Success Factors is great for a large enterprise-level organization that needs highly customizable software.

UKG Pro’s greatest strength lies in its full-suite of payroll and HR tools. It’s all blended together in a “sandbox” environment so users can freely explore the system. In addition to these, it also includes extensive reporting tools which makes work much easier and quicker.

My company transitioned to UKG Pro after frustrations with our former HRIS. One of UKG’s greatest strengths is the program’s ease of use. Not only is it easy for our HR representatives to use, but for our employees as well. We’ve been using UKG Pro for a little over a year now and already it’s proven to be leaps and bounds above some other systems I’ve used. With UKG Pro, you’re getting an excellent value for your money.

UKG Pro is on the expensive side and, to boot, they’re not transparent about their pricing. I also did not appreciate the lack of a free or “trial” mode to try out the product before spending so much for it. Also, scaling up (or down) can be cumbersome as a custom set up is required.

UKG Pro is far more intuitive than other HRI Systems I’ve used in the past. It’s among my favorites for its ease of use and customizability.

When buying this type of tool you want to pay close attention to what is important for your company. You’ll always want to take into consideration pricing. But beyond this, look at the features provided. Does it include a full-suite? Does it integrate well with other systems you’re currently using? You’ll want to really do your research.

I can’t speak too heavily to its evolution. I can acknowledge that they have implemented a few smaller quality of life changes to make the experience run smoother.

This is a good software for larger, very typically structured, organizations. If you’ve got more than 200 employees, this software will make your life easier.

I like the management tools. I like the feel and workflow of the product. I also like the overall aesthetics.

We chose Sage People for a client of ours. Our client had 250 employees and limited HR personnel. They needed simple solutions, extensive reporting, and ease of use for weekly payroll and recordkeeping. Sage People provided easy ways to manage the volume of work the company generated in HR, making it possible for just two people to handle.

The first thing I noticed is that it has issues linking to other applications. Bridges were sometimes needed when this should not have been necessary. The system can be clunky at times and hard to maneuver. It would be easier to navigate and resolve issues if many areas were not so unnecessarily complicated.

Sage is much more comprehensive than most payroll and HRIS systems. You get more value for your investment, including customizations that improve the program's utility.

Consider what type of management tools you want readily available. Identify who will be using the system and for what purposes. If you have unique needs, Sage is a strong option because their integration teams can help customize the program to better align with your business model.

I remember this program in its early stages, and it has become much more intuitive and robust. Over the years, Sage has incorporated feedback from various companies and industries to evolve into a viable solution that nearly any organization can use.

Sage is well-suited for management-minded users and employers focused on compliance with payroll laws and regulations. It also works well for companies that prioritize accuracy and need access to customizable reporting.