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

The app for admins and employees is so well done that they hardly needed any instruction. Scheduling can be tricky for a new user, but once it's set up, changes are simple, and deploying the schedule is a breeze. The connection to payroll was very straightforward and always correct once the hours were approved and downloaded into payroll. Employees knew exactly what was happening and could immediately get a correction in place prior to the payroll download if they made an error.

I was working for a manufacturing company. The warehouse workers were not tracking their time properly when I came on board. They needed a solid solution quickly. To solve this problem, I looked towards the payroll company. I was seeking an app that connected directly to my payroll, provided complete accuracy, and allowed employees to know exactly where they stood at any given time.

Homebase connected beautifully to Gusto, one of their partners. Homebase has a scheduling feature that is very easy to use, allowing easy distribution of new schedules, changes, updates, etc., to employees. I installed this system in a hotel, and the staff loved it. The manager was computer illiterate and struggled a lot with the scheduling feature.

Suggestion: Ensure your manager goes through the Homebase training if they are unfamiliar with timekeeping/scheduling systems. Their help is available most of the time via live chat, and both admins and employees can use it.

I used Homebase for two years. I stopped because of their growing pains, as too many issues popped up. However, when I used it for the hotel, those issues had been resolved.

When they were growing rapidly, getting help could take time. During this time, the transmission of hours into payroll wasn't always working properly, which made the software unacceptable for us. That has since been fixed, as it worked fine for the hotel I put onto the system. The scheduling portion can be cumbersome for a person who is a novice. Ensure users who are doing the scheduling receive training if they're new to timekeeping software.

It's very similar to other timekeeping applications I've experienced. I prefer Homebase over most due to its simplicity and how much the employees liked the app.

Initially, ensure this timekeeping system integrates with your payroll provider, which is the most important. Determine if your employees will use their own cell phones or if you want to have a login portal. The best system for me was biometric, but adding that piece can be expensive. Employees did not mind having the app on their phone; they actually loved the feeling of control Homebase gave them. If you're seeking software that will help with scheduling your team, this one does well.

From the time I used it, they had many growing pains, including internal staffing changes and getting them up to speed. That's been resolved as far as I can tell from the hotel. This is a really good application for employees and employers.

Homebase is very good for hourly scheduled employees in hotels, restaurants, and other service-oriented businesses.

I like that Connecteam makes communication easy for our team. PTO requests go straight to the manager, and the forms are easy to use. I appreciate how user-friendly the app is. Some of my staff are older, but the app’s ease of use makes training simple.

Shift Requests are a convenient way for employees to request overtime, and this feature has helped us save money on overtime.

We decided to use Connecteam to track employee timesheets and their PTO. We were having trouble managing timesheets and vacation approvals previously. Connecteam has helped us save on overtime expenses. It has also improved transparency on available PTO for our employees. I have used Connecteam for 8 months.

The company setup and onboarding on Connecteam were difficult. The built-in AI chatbot helped me get through the process, but it could have been easier.

I wish Connecteam integrated with QuickBooks, which is where I run my payroll. It would be helpful if I could download my timesheet data into QuickBooks.

I also wish Connecteam had more reporting features.

Connecteam stood out from its competitors. We use their free version for 10 employees or fewer, which was a major selling point to upper management. None of the competition offers a free version.

If you have 10 employees or fewer, this is a great platform to explore. Connecteam includes everything you need for job scheduling, timesheet tracking, and PTO management.

I haven't noticed many changes since starting in January. I also haven't had any needs that the platform doesn't already meet.

Any business with multiple employees, multiple schedules, or benefits to manage will find Connecteam helpful.

It is affordable and user-friendly. The customer support that is available in the software is good and always active in responding to customers. The application is easy to use for most users. Zoho People is a great option for storing employee information and tracking time.

5 years ago our company started to use Zoho People to deliver exceptional digital HR experiences to our employees while managing the entire employee life cycle on a single platform. I like its simplicity and integration with other Zoho tools like Zoho Payroll, Zoho Books, Zoho Expenses, etc. I love that the request permission, approval, and tracking features are so helpful. I like that the interactive form builder allows us to create different forms that meet our needs and help our HR team.

Sometimes I run into difficulties in terms of data integration between other integrated programs. Zoho People software does not integrate with other similar applications. They only provide a limited number of administrators for Standard and Premium pricing plans. The system is cloud-based only and not flexible to use.

Zoho People comes with an employee portal, organization chart, self-service, performance appraisal, employee leaves management, and salary tool features. All the HR processes can be managed from a central location which can help users to save time and reduce costs. The software offers a fully-mobile self-service that can help employees to get easy access to their HR data from anywhere, anytime. It can help employees have better control over their work.

The price of the solution is low and most people can afford it. Customer support includes online and email user support. Easy to learn and use.

They offer cloud-based hosting, which means IT resources are retrieved through web-based tools and applications and you don't need to buy servers and additional hardware equipment.

It is very good for small and medium size companies.

One pro of Deel is that it’s always very easy to get in touch with support.

We have used Deel for at least a few years. I have personally used Deel for just over one year. The pain point we were trying to solve was implementing a seamless payroll process for our international team.

We have also used Deel as an EOR for our international employees. We initially started using Deel specifically for our international team, and it worked really well for those employees.

The key benefit it provides is simple payroll processing, regardless of where the person resides. The site is easy to use and navigate. Another benefit is the responsiveness of the support team.

One con of Deel is the offboarding process and its unclear procedures. I wish they would improve this part. Another con is that support often passes you between multiple people, none of whom have prior context, which leads to repeating the same information.

Deel is fine, but I think their competitors are better. I prefer every other payroll platform I have used over Deel.

One criterion to consider before using Deel is what your team structure looks like. Deel is helpful because employees or contractors can be onboarded regardless of location. I found that, for us, it made the most sense to use Deel specifically for our international team.

I can’t think of any specific changes that have been made in the one-plus year I’ve used Deel.

I can’t think of any specific changes that have been made in the one-plus year I’ve used Deel.

• Monday is very user-friendly.
• It is an excellent organizing and tracking tool.
• It helps keep our team on the same page and aligned.
• It is flexible, allowing for customization with colors, column types, status updates, dates, and more formatting options.

We bought a subscription to Monday.com to track deliverables and ensure we were all on the same page. It is very helpful for listing key items we focus on each month, assigning responsibility for each item, allowing owners to update their status, add comments, and even assign a due date. The entire team can access a board and make updates in real time. It is extremely helpful in keeping our team organized and connected with clear communication. We use it in every meeting to review items, their status, and check where we stand with each. We reorganize priorities daily, which is simple in the tool by just dragging and dropping. It's a very user-friendly tool and aesthetically pleasing to use.

• One con is the cost.
• There are so many features that it can be overwhelming at first, but once you get used to it, it's great.
• I wish it had more colors for the labels, or the ability to create custom colors using RGB.

I really like how easy it is to use and how organized it is. I've used a similar tool, but it wasn’t as aesthetically pleasing. I enjoy the little celebration that goes off when you mark an item as complete. It's the small details that set Monday.com apart from its competitors.

You should weigh the pros and cons of what you need versus the cost. There are a lot of features, so if you won’t use most of them, you might want a lower-tier plan with fewer features. Also, as your company grows, more people will need access to the boards, which can increase the cost. Overall, I think the cost is worth it. In our company, Monday.com has greatly improved alignment and communication.

It has added more features over the years and updated its user interface to be more aesthetically pleasing (such as adding confetti when a status is marked complete). They now have a mobile app, which is also very useful.

I think it's good for both small and large companies. It's especially useful for administrative tasks, marketing, HR, finance, operations, tech, and IT departments. However, I don't think it would be ideal for a warehouse or manufacturing environment.

• BambooHR is highly user-friendly, making it easy for organizations to integrate into their processes.
• It offers customizable fields and charts, allowing organizations to tailor the system to their needs.
• The platform receives frequent updates based on client feedback, continually improving the user experience.

I used BambooHR in my previous organization, which chose to purchase it for its user-friendly design. The company needed an HR management system that could centralize all employee information while also supporting performance reviews and document storage.

BambooHR provided these features while maintaining a simple and intuitive interface. The platform allowed HR teams to manage employee data efficiently without the complexity of more advanced systems.

• While some customization options are available, they are relatively basic.
• The performance review module only allows customization of questions but lacks options for adding charts or more detailed evaluations.
• The cost can be high, especially when considering add-ons, making it less accessible for smaller companies.
• Larger companies often require more customization, and while BambooHR may be more cost-effective, its limitations can be restrictive.
• The system is more payroll-focused, which may be unnecessary for organizations looking only for HR management features.

BambooHR is more affordable and easier to use than competitors like Paycom, Rippling, and ADP. While those systems offer more robust features, they are also more complex to set up and navigate. BambooHR’s simplicity makes it a strong choice for organizations that prioritize ease of use over advanced functionality.

A company should consider cost and, based on its budget, determine which system best fits its needs. Customer support is another critical factor, as implementing a new system comes with a learning curve, making reliable support essential, particularly in the first 6–12 months.

Additionally, organizations should assess which modules they need most and how well those features integrate to ensure accurate and efficient data management.

BambooHR has added more customization features over time to better meet user needs.

Small to medium-sized organizations can benefit from BambooHR.

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.