10+ Best Free HR Software for Startups & SMBs in 2025

It makes it easy to sign in anywhere. It is easy to track how many hours you worked. It is easy to guide through the website/app.

I used Homebase for about 3 years. One of the main reasons our company bought Homebase was because everyone kept forgetting to clock-in through a machine at work so our company wanted to make clock-ins more convenient. I liked it when we transitioned to it, we were able to clock-in whether we were in office or remote. It helped track everyone's work time accurately. It also sent in our hours to payroll according to the scheduled pay time.

Sometimes people still forget to clock in with the app. When I used it about 2 years ago, I wish it sent us notifications to remind us to clock-in or out. The platform does go down sometimes.

I like Homebase because it is made for everyone to use. It is extremely easy to navigate Homebase.

I have more pros than cons for Homebase. I highly suggest the platform. It is organized and easy to navigate.

It is easier for managers or bosses to manage employee hours through the dashboard. It has more visibility on who is on time and who is late.

Medical offices, small organizations, remote workers

• Ease of use: Monday replaces manual spreadsheet updates and the amount of time I used to spend color coding and selecting from drop-down menus was horrifying.
• Ability to tag & share: I can easily tag anyone who needs to be aware of upcoming content or needs to review - including managers, stakeholders, legal partners, etc.
• Visibility of past content: I can grab past posts in 30 seconds; it's much easier than going to LinkedIn and trying to remember the date of posting, or scrolling through hundreds of enterprise posts to find a particular link.

Our Internal Comms team uses Monday.com, as does our Global Employer Brand team. We've used it for a few years now - I've only been at the company for ~9mos. I've personally used it since about day 3. The key benefit is easy content / calendar organization and ease of sharing and tagging others for visibility.

I'm going to struggle to find cons here. Nothing is ever perfect (much less Mondays - should they have named it FridayAfternoons.com?) but this tool is straightforward, doesn't try to do too much - that's key, and makes my life a little easier.

If there were a way for Monday to pull in metrics automatically, to house next to the social post links once live, that'd be great - but isn't really what the tool is for. It helps in scanning what's doing well vs where we can pull back, vs doing a big manual data pull.

An integration with Hootsuite or whatever social scheduling tool would be ideal. Once it's marked "Ready to Schedule" in Monday, if there was a way to auto-upload content to Hootsuite for any final refinements, that'd be awesome.

I haven't used a content management tool like this before. I used Basecamp for one summer years ago, but that was used for bigger projects vs singular social media post management, so isn't comparable based on my use of the tools.

• Usecases: Do you want a tool that does a wide variety of things? Monday.com is not your solution. Do you want a tool that makes content management very easy? Using Monday makes every day until Friday a little more bearable.
• # of Seats: I'm not in charge of vendor management so the price I listed was a guess; but consider who will actively use the tool, and whether the price is justifiable. (Hint: for the content / internal comms / social media manager, the answer is yes.)

Type A people with a high volume workload and no time for extra frills or a learning curve to use the platform.

• I like the software pricing of the tool, it is cheap to use for business purposes and hence does not affect the ROI of the company.
• I like the chat feature which you can use to broadcast your messages amongst the team at no extra cost.
• Event notifications make sure that our users never miss our internal meetings and events

Connecteam is faster and easier to use, which has helped us solve the problem of team management, team collaborations, and group work, it is helping us to share documents, and work plans with the team remotely, and, also we use it as decision-making tool where we use the chat feature of the software to chat with our team remotely to make important decision makings to our tool. I have used the solution for three years and eight months as an administrator of the software

The software has a lot of video tutorials that play automatically hence creating inconvenience, one should only play the video when needed and with his or her consent.It does not have a calendar integration which makes it hard for one to integrate a calendar within the software to track personal events and business events to prevent event conflicts, the text editor in the tool is too slow when you are creating event descriptions, it is impossible to add the ALT text on images that you add in the tool.

They have kept the pricing relatively lower to help even smaller businesses use the solution, and they have a responsive customer support team through the live chat

Good for HR, team leaders, and marketing teams

Pros -

1. Comprehensive HR Management:  It provides a centralized platform for managing all HR-related tasks, simplifying processes, and increasing efficiency.
2. Mobile Accessibility: It offers a mobile app that enables employees and managers to access HR-related information and perform essential tasks on the go.
3. Scalable and Customizable:  It offers scalability, allowing us to accommodate our growing needs. It's highly customizable, and allows us to tailor the software to our specific HR workflows and requirements.

We majorly use it for attendance & leave management. Zoho People helps in keeping a track record of each & every employee. Other than that it provides Efficient HR Management, Employee Self-Service, seamless collaboration between HR teams and employees, Comprehensive Analysis of key HR metrics, etc. I personally have been using it for the past 1.6yr

1. Customer Support Response Time: The support response time is slower. This affects the resolution of critical issues.
2. Pricing Structure: The pricing structure is relatively higher compared to other HR management software options in the market.
3. Learning Curve: It has certain features, which may require a learning curve for new users. Getting familiar with the platform and understanding its functionalities might take some time, particularly for users who are not familiar with HR management software tools.

I have used Workday HCM in the past and I feel ZOHO People is better as it provides better UI at a very cheaper price. It is not possible for small or mid-size organizations to afford workday

Following things should be kept in mind while deciding on such tools-

1. Size of the organization
2. Goals of the organization regarding growth & increase in team size in future
3. Price of the product
4. Number of users it allows to access

Zoho People has evolved in the following ways -

1. Continuous Feature Enhancements: Zoho People has consistently improved its feature set based on user feedback and market trends. It has undergone regular updates and enhancements to offer new functionalities and improve the overall user experience.
2. Mobile Accessibility: Recognizing the growing importance of mobile devices, Zoho People has expanded its mobile capabilities.
3. Integration Capabilities: It has focused on integration with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Recruit, and Zoho Analytics, to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for businesses.
4. Automation and Workflow Customization: It has placed an emphasis on automation and workflow customization features. Users can define their own workflows, set up approval processes, and automate routine HR tasks.
5. Self-Service Portals: It has expanded its self-service capabilities. The software offers self-service portals where employees can access their personal information, submit leave requests, manage time and attendance, view payslips, and collaborate with their teams.

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IT companies

I like that the process and layout is very similar regardless of which product and service you use from them - quite intuitive. It supports employers ability to maintain compliance by listing out requirements and flagging missing items or expired items. Lastly, being able to file 1099s digitally is a luxury I hadn't had previously. A total time saver.

We implemented Deel initially as a way to pay our onshore 1099 contractors, track their contracts and contact information outside of our HRIS. After two years, we had a new problem to address and changed our Deel platform to include an EOR. We had offshore contractors that we wanted to bring on as full-time employees to retain them and ensure compliance with the IRS. The change was seamless and the EOR is intuitive, informative and our offshore employees have been satisfied with the service from their end.

I think there is room to improve the connection between employer and the EOR service representatives in that a dedicated point-of-contact that is in house with Deel and not an international partner. Another consideration for EOR is having to pay a month's salary deposit up front for payroll is not ideal for cash flow. Lastly, I would love to see more employee and contractor features that you might find on a traditional HRIS because I believe it would be a better and more enriched experience for them.

For 1099 contractor management, oftentimes you use an ERP or accounting SaaS which has limitations. Deel bridges the gap between accounting SaaS/ERPs and an HRIS. For EOR, Deel is middle of the road in value. It is a great option for smaller OPEX budgets, but there are other EOR companies who offer more desirable features and better in-house service partners.

Consider the number of contractors or employees you would need for the upfront and annual costs to be justified. Whether or not you are familiar with global payroll, consider how much compliance support you need or is desirable for you. Lastly, consider whether you are up to converting your local currency to the international currency. Deel does not currently offer this in the employee profile, they only show the employee's local currency.

There is better customer service and help tutorials. Further, I have found there is an increase in the amount of educational materials available through Deel in order to stay current on contractor and global payroll trends and compliance.

I have known it to be used by HR and Finance professionals alike. Payroll administrators, regardless of where they fall organizationally, will find this tool beneficial. I believe organizations where these contracts or payrolls are relatively straightforward can benefit. Running payroll and paying invoices takes 10 mins or less per pay period.

1. Mobile friendly: Users can access Bitrix24 on the go through its mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
2. Diversity: Bitrix24 offers a wide range of features and tools, including project management, CRM, HR management, communication and collaboration, and more.
3. Cost effective: Bitrix24 offers affordable pricing plans and also has a free version.

Our organization acquired Bitrix24 approximately three months ago as a complementary solution to our existing program. Due to some technical challenges, our previous program had been non-functional for an extended period, and we urgently needed a dependable tool to support our operations during that time.

After researching several alternatives, we opted for Bitrix24, impressed by its comprehensive functionality and intuitive interface. We were able to quickly create and manage tasks, projects, and communication channels, which were essential for effective collaboration within our team.

Although we have only been using Bitrix24 for a relatively short time, we have already noticed significant improvements in our workflow and productivity. We appreciate the platform's adaptability and flexibility, which enable us to tailor it to our particular requirements.

1. Complex: New users may face a significant learning curve due to the complexity of the software.
2. Integration: there might be restrictions on which apps can be integrated and the ease of integration.
3. It could be restrictions on the extent of customization to tailor the platform according to your particular requirements.

Bitrix24 distinguishes itself from other similar tools in several ways. Its main strength lies in providing a comprehensive set of tools for project management, collaboration, communication, and customer relationship management, all in a single platform. This makes it an efficient and convenient solution for businesses and teams of all sizes.

Bitrix24 offers a unique social intranet feature, enabling team members to communicate and collaborate in a social media-like environment, which can be more engaging and intuitive than conventional project management tools.

Having used several project management and collaboration tools in the past, I can confidently say that Bitrix24 is one of the best. It offers a broad range of features and customization options, which can be tailored to suit the specific needs of my team.

When buying Bitrix24, it's essential to evaluate your team's needs, the level of complexity of your projects, the level of support and resources provided, and the cost. By considering these criteria, you can ensure that Bitrix24 is the right fit for your team and budget. Make sure to evaluate the pricing plans and compare them with other project management and collaboration tools to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

Bitrix24 has continuously improved its platform by introducing new features and functionalities to enhance its project management, collaboration, and communication capabilities. These improvements include advanced project management tools like Gantt charts, resource allocation, and time tracking, as well as collaboration features such as task assignments, file sharing, and team messaging. These upgrades have significantly strengthened Bitrix24's platform, making it a more complete and reliable solution for teams and businesses of all sizes.

Bitrix24 is an exceptional platform for teams and businesses that require a complete set of tools to manage their projects, enhance collaboration, facilitate communication, and maintain customer relationships. It is the perfect choice for organizations seeking an all-inclusive platform that can simplify their operations and boost their productivity. Additionally, Bitrix24's social intranet feature makes it an ideal solution for teams that prioritize engagement and collaboration among team members, enabling them to work seamlessly and efficiently

I like that it has the ability to consolidate multiple features/apps into one software program. I enjoy the "Discuss" feature, which essentially creates a company intranet allowing employees to communicate with others privately or with groups/departments. I also like that it allows me to send documents requiring a signature without having to use another external app, such as DocuSign.

My organization chose Odoo because it is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that promises to consolidate and automate several processes. I work for a manufacturing facility that produces food and beverage items, and the processes from creation to delivery of our products include many steps and a lot of paperwork to remain compliant with industry regulations.

We wanted a tool that could be used by several departments, including production, accounting, fulfillment, distribution, and HR. We were hoping we could use Odoo to house our timekeeping, scheduling, and payroll as well. I have been using Odoo for about three months.

I think it is a complex system that requires months of training before it can be fully functional. We cannot use it for payroll because it doesn't track and record tax payments and would require manual journal entries each time. I don't like that the timekeeping feature doesn't allow us to use biometrics (fingerprints via hardware device) when employees clock in and out of their shifts. Although it can integrate with several apps, these drawbacks keep me from recommending it as an HR solution.

Odoo has several functions that it offers to automate processes company-wide. I find the interface to be mostly user-friendly. There are some navigational difficulties when visiting one "app" and then returning to the dashboard, and their training videos could use some work. I find it about average as far as an ERP goes.

Identify exactly which processes you intend to utilize this service for and have a realistic implementation plan. If you're only using it for two or three processes, then a shorter training and implementation plan may work. If you have four or more processes you're looking to integrate, allow yourself and your team several months to meet with their implementation team and demo the trial software so that you can familiarize yourself with it before rolling it out to employees. Training is vital to understanding the full capabilities of the system.

They seem to have a lot of options for different processes that they say continually expand, such as inventory, appointments and to-do lists, project boards, discussion boards, manufacturing, shop floor, quality assurance, etc.

A mid to large-sized manufacturing facility that wants all employees using the same software to meet as many business needs as possible will find Odoo very useful.

• We initiate requests on the WebHR portal and we are able to see the progress status, whether the requests were approved or pending; In short, we like its transparency.
• There is a chatbot where we can directly communicate with HR employees for guidance.
• The HR manual and all circulars are easily available and can be searched by text or date.

Earlier, our organization’s human resource department shared the updated HR manual via email. All queries by the employees were entertained through email as well. It was a hectic exercise as many follow-ups were needed and, sometimes, we lost track of the email threads. In order to overcome this, our organization transitioned to WebHR. The platform automated the requests initiated by the employees, while tracking the changes and approvals.

• Upgrades sometimes take 2 or 3 working days of downtime which is a hurdle for employees.
• Uploading the relevant PDF documents for case submission and approval takes time.
• WebHR isn’t the most user-friendly; new users do need some guidance on how to use it. Guide book needs to read out for fresh employee to use the web HR as it is not much user friendly.

Well, earlier we were using emails for all types of queries and approvals so we have not used any other software yet.

This is a good platform where employees and HR connect with each other and communicate easily.

It is very necessary for our organization with a large number of employees. Each of our needs and requests are important, and it is HR's duty to resolve them promptly.

I am associated with the banking industry and I believe it is good for banking and other industries as well.