After evaluating 14 HR platforms, Rippling is my top pick overall, BambooHR is the most ideal for small teams, Gusto is optimal for new businesses, and ADP Workforce Now is the best fit for midsize firms.
How does HR software improve your business processes?
Human resources (HR) software systems unify administration, recruitment, payroll, training, employee engagement, performance management, and other essential HR functions.
This provides a secure database of employee data and a centralized view of the company. It also helps HR teams effectively manage each stage of the employee life cycle.
The right HR software solution can help optimize processes by automating manual tasks, organizing employee records, and building data-driven reports.
Moreover, advanced HR software solutions enable better workforce planning, financial forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
Which HR tools ranked the highest?
I reviewed 14 human resources software and narrowed them down to the best of the best:
Vendor
Best for
Starting price
*Pricing is for small businesses. Rippling also allows you to create a custom package with the features you want.
**Starting price for SAP SuccessFactor HCM’s Core HR module.
Did you know?
A Gartner study found that one of the top priorities of HR leaders is using AI to evolve the HR operating model, an area projected to drive 29% of AI productivity improvement. That makes software evaluation more important than ever. The best HR platforms don’t just help with day-to-day tasks. They also support automation, flexibility, and long-term growth.
Featured partners
- May 07, 2026: Robie Ann Ferrer made minor edits and format adjustments throughout the article to improve readability. She also updated the “What’s new” section to highlight new features or software improvements.
- Mar. 17, 2026: Robie Ann Ferrer revised the comparison table to provide better use case scenarios for the HR systems included in this guide. She also updated the article to reflect new research data and enhanced the feature sections of each software to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
- Feb. 27, 2026: Robie Ann Ferrer added a “What’s new” section to highlight product updates and feature enhancements that the software providers on our list introduced for the month. For February, this section contains updates from Rippling and BambooHR.
- Jan. 08, 2026: Robie Ann Ferrer used an updated scoring rubric and added Namely and Zoho People to the list of software evaluated. While Rippling and BambooHR retained their top spots, Gusto moved up to third place. Robie also made some revisions to the article to improve readability, as well as reflect rubric score changes and up-to-date pricing information.
2025
- Nov. 5, 2025: Hanna Sillo added user reviews for Rippling, BambooHR, ADP Workforce Now, SAP SuccessFactors HCM, and Gusto for practical insights.
- Jul. 15, 2025: Robie Ann Ferrer used a revised version of the original scoring rubric to compare 12 HR software. Trinet HR Platform was initially included, but she dropped it because TriNet has incorporated it into its HR Plus outsourced services. Then, she evaluated the dozen options on the list. As a result, Rippling replaced ADP Workforce Now as the best software for HR. Gusto also moved up from the honorable mentions list, while Deel didn’t make the top five. Finally, Robie made revisions throughout the article to reflect rubric score adjustments and added up-to-date product information for all vendors.
- Apr. 25, 2025: Hanna Sillo reviewed the pricing and fixed formatting errors on the page.
- Mar. 7, 2025: Hanna Sillo added a downloadable rubric and fixed formatting errors on the page.
- Jan. 31, 2025: Jessica Dennis evaluated old and new software and revised this page for 2025. Following an updated all-in-one HR evaluation rubric, she replaced Gusto with Deel as the best HR software for startups. She also dropped Workday HCM from her honorable mentions and replaced it with Paycor and Gusto.
- Beyond this, Jessica also reviewed the copy for accuracy and provided fresh analysis and expert insights to help with your purchasing decision.
2024
- Oct. 11: Robie Ann Ferrer updated SAP SuccessFactors’ pricing, added details on Gusto’s Al tool Gus, and reviewed the pros and cons for accuracy.
- Jul. 18: Jessica Dennis updated platform scores following the changes to module inclusion scoring, adjusted criteria weights, and added Paylocity and Deel to her honorable mentions, replacing Paycor.
- Jun. 10: Jessica Dennis adjusted scores across all platforms due to changes in performance management scoring, updated user review weighting, and new feature evaluations for Bob’s Hiring and Rippling’s Goals and News Feed modules.
- Apr. 30: Jessica Dennis adjusted each vendor’s scores following minor changes in our rubric for user ratings and how we score module inclusions.
- Jan. 22: Jessica Dennis added honorable mentions for Workday HCM and Paycor and corrected the overall score for Gusto after further research confirmed it lacks tools in its ATS for managing in-app interview scheduling.
2023
- Dec. 29: Jessica Dennis reevaluated our top choices for 2024 with an objective scoring rubric. As a result, Rippling replaced Namely as our pick for midsize companies, and Gusto replaced Bob for startups.
To evaluate the best human resource software, I collaborated with Irene Casucian, one of our expert research analysts, where we used a 73-point rubric to review and compare top online HR platforms. Our options included:
- ADP Workforce Now
- Rippling
- SAP SuccessFactors HCM
- UKG Ready
- BambooHR
- Bob
- Gusto
- Workday HCM
- Paycor
- Paylocity
- Deel
- Paychex Flex
- Zoho People
- Namely
We looked for functionalities that streamline essential HR processes, from recruiting and payroll to performance reviews and learning management.
In addition to checking customer support options, we researched the compliance tools, reporting, third-party software integrations, and customization features offered.
If available, we leveraged free trials and demos to assess each software’s functionality and ease of use.
I also added my expert rating to each criterion, where I considered the effectiveness of that area or feature. Then, I narrowed down the list to my top five recommendations (plus one honorable mention).
Below is the breakdown of the evaluation criteria.
- HRIS and onboarding (13%): This section covers each platform’s human resources information system (HRIS) and onboarding features. I rated systems higher if their HR database is built around a centralized employee record rather than payroll data. I also gave extra points to software with employee self-service portals.
- Payroll and benefits (12%): I looked at whether platforms offer built-in payroll and benefits modules, automated tax filings, and employee benefits self-enrollment features. I also ranked platforms higher based on their compliance support and tools that improve the employee experience, such as financial wellness apps.
- Pricing (15%): Software with transparent pricing, scalable tiers, discounts, no long-term contracts, and free trials received the highest scores. I also considered each platform’s “value for money,” which determines whether the number of features in each price tier or module is competitive with other vendors in the space.
- Platform and interface (13%): This category looked at how easy each platform is to use, whether users can create automations, how well administrators can control employee access and permissions, and whether employee data is protected. I also considered each solution’s built-in features and how well it integrates with a company’s existing tech stack.
- Workforce management (12%): This criterion looks at features that control and monitor when, where, and how your staff work. I checked whether each platform offered native time-tracking, scheduling, and leave management modules. I also looked for approval workflows, automations, and built-in compliance controls for laws like the FMLA and FLSA.
- Talent acquisition (11%): This criterion covered each HR system’s recruiting capabilities, including candidate sourcing, screening, interview management, automated resume parsing, and ATS pipeline movement. I also gave extra points to platforms with AI and tools to engage candidates.
- Employee relations (11%): Employee relations scoring focused on performance reviews, learning management, and employee engagement tools. Platforms with native modules scored highest, especially those with advanced features like customizable training courses, goal tracking, peer-to-peer recognition, newsfeeds, community forums, and chat functions.
- AI, analytics & reporting (8%): Here, I looked for AI-powered tools that cover various HR functions, such as AI applicant screening or AI assistants for summarizing feedback. I also checked if basic and customizable reports are offered, including access to report templates and data export options.
- Support (5%): This examines the various technical support options available to users, such as live chat, phone, and email assistance. Platforms with comprehensive FAQs and knowledge bases ranked higher, and I also considered whether vendors offered business services like HR outsourcing to help companies offload administrative tasks.
To create this guide, I evaluated 14 HR software across nine core categories: HRIS and onboarding, payroll and benefits, workforce management, talent acquisition, employee relations, AI tools and reporting, platform and interface, customer support, and pricing.
I narrowed the list using a scoring rubric where each software was scored across 73 data points to ensure consistent comparisons. For platforms that offered free trials, I created demo company and employee profiles to test ease of use, HR functionalities, and overall system performance.
In addition to the scoring rubric and hands-on testing, my recommendations for the best human resources software are based on over eight years of experience writing about and evaluating HR systems for small to midsized businesses (SMBs). I also have 10 years of expertise handling various facets of human resources, including managing HRIS, time tracking, and pay processing software. These allowed me to provide insights to help business owners determine which HR platform best fits their needs.
Best human resources software: A quick comparison
| Our score (out of 5) | Ease of use | Extensive HR suite | Core HR in basic plan* | Payroll in basic plan | |
| Rippling Visit website | 4.18 | Moderate | ✓ | ✓** | ✓** |
| BambooHR Visit website | 3.8 | High | Moderate | Time tracking costs extra | Paid add-on |
| Gusto Visit website | 3.65 | High | Moderate | Time tracking in higher tiers | ✓ |
| ADP Workforce Now Visit website | 3.6 | Moderate | ✓ | Time tracking in higher tiers | ✓ |
| SAP SuccessFactors HCM Visit website | 3.56 | Low | ✓ | ✓ | Paid add-on |
| Paycor Visit website | 3.56 | Moderate | ✓ | Time tracking in higher tiers | ✓ |
*Includes new hire onboarding, employee database, time tracking, and self-service tools
**Depends on modules or features selected
The best HR software isn’t just the platform with the longest feature list. It’s the system that matches how your business actually runs. To narrow the options, I’d start with the operational problem you’re trying to solve.
If payroll and tax compliance are the main issues, Gusto or ADP Workforce Now may be the better fit. If your team primarily needs employee records, self-service tools, and fast adoption, BambooHR is stronger. Rippling makes more sense when HR work connects with IT, finance, and global operations, while SAP SuccessFactors is best reserved for enterprise-level HCM needs.
What’s new (as of May 07, 2026)
- Rippling: The provider added another compliance layer to its platform with Automated Compliance, starting with SOC 2 support. The new tools help you collect audit evidence, identify compliance gaps, and manage remediation across HR, IT, device, and app access workflows.
- BambooHR: Several updates were rolled out from late April to early May, such as AI-powered goal creation tools, improved EOR employee syncing and additional job fields, searchable job openings, a new currency selector for compensation benchmarking, and in-system background checks to help HR teams reduce candidate-screening friction.
- Gusto: Gusto announced over 70 new features during its Spring Showcase, but the most relevant ones for HR software buyers are the updates that make benefits administration, compliance, and payroll more proactive. These include in-system I-9 verifications, AI-driven benefits recommendations, and an Assisted Payroll Prep tool that flags unusual pay amounts or missing entries before payroll is submitted.
Rippling: Best overall HR software
Overall score
4.18/5.00
HRIS and onboarding
4.5/5.00
Payroll and benefits
4.94/5.00
Pricing
3.35/5.00
Platform and interface
4.69/5.00
Workforce management
4.5/5.00
Talent acquisition
3.88/5.00
Employee relations
3.65/5.00
AI, analytics & reporting
4.38/5.00
Support
3.4/5.00
What are the perks of using Rippling?
- Employee profile translation and localization for more than 150 countries.
- Finance and IT management tools available.
- Offers global payroll, employee of record (EOR), and professional employer organization (PEO) services
- Ability to use Excel formulas in reports for more detailed insights.
What are the downsides of using Rippling?
- There is no free trial, and it may be too expensive for basic HR needs.
- New users may need time to learn how to navigate through all its features.
- Scheduling requires the purchase of the Time and Attendance module.
- Lacks direct phone support; you need to request a virtual call through its chat tool
Why I chose Rippling
I picked Rippling as the best overall HR software because it does more than centralize employee data. It helps connect HR, payroll, IT, corporate spending, and admin workflows in one platform. These functionalities matter a lot, especially once a company starts scaling and handoffs, including day-to-day HR tasks, get messy.
Scoring 4.18 out of 5 in my evaluation, it’s one of the most flexible HR platforms I’ve reviewed. In addition to its customiizable reports that can visualize any dataset, its workflow builder makes it easy to automate complex tasks, whether it’s sending onboarding paperwork or provisioning app access. You don’t need technical expertise to create HR automations that save time.
However, I consider pricing as one of Rippling’s weaknesses. Its module-based structure may let you choose the features you want, but total costs can add up quickly if you need multiple modules. Plus, pricing isn’t all transparent. I had to visit Rippling’s page for small businesses to find its starter $40 monthly fee and $8 per-employee rate (as of this writing). It’s also unclear which modules are included in that package.
- Custom workflow automation: Rippling’s Workflow Studio lets you build multi-step workflows across HR, IT, and finance using triggers, logic, and automated actions. Unlike BambooHR’s more prebuilt workflows or SAP’s more technical setup, Rippling gives non-technical teams more control over processes.
- Unified HR, IT, and finance platform: Rippling combines employee data, payroll, app access, device management, and spend controls in one system. Compared to Gusto or Bamb ooHR that focus primarily on HR, this broader scope helps reduce system sprawl as companies grow.
- Global workforce management: The platform supports global payroll, EOR services, and international workforce management. This makes it more versatile than Gusto’s more limited global coverage and more accessible than enterprise HR tools like SAP.
- Compliance support: Rippling comes standard with Compliance 360, which monitors and notifies you of potential federal, state, or local labor law infractions. While ADP also offers strong compliance support, Rippling embeds this more directly into day-to-day workflows rather than treating it as a separate service layer.
- New hire assessment: Rippling’s AI-powered tool, Talent Signal, analyzes a new hire’s first 90 days and surfaces performance trends. This allows managers to step in earlier instead of waiting for formal performance or new hire reviews.
Rippling’s package for small businesses starts at $40 per month, plus an $8 per employee, per month (PEPM) fee. It comes with access to the system’s base product, Rippling Platform, which includes reporting, custom workflows, role-based permissions, and manager approvals. While Rippling’s small business page hints that it also features benefits administration and payroll (as of this writing), I recommend contacting the provider to request a quote.
What’s great about Rippling is that it works with you to create a plan that fits your business needs. It has a comprehensive suite of modules to streamline HR processes, track staff expenses, and manage business applications and computer devices. It can even help you with your PEO, EOR, and global payroll requirements.
“It’s not cheap, but if you’re running a lean team and need to stay compliant across time zones, it more than earns its keep.“
Santiago Nestares at Dualentry notes that Rippling has become one of the few systems their remote, global team relies on daily, simplifying the complexities of international hiring, payroll, and compliance.
However, he adds that the platform isn’t cheap, and some countries require extra setup. Still, it’s a trade-off they find worthwhile for a remote-first company that needs dependable global coverage.
Meanwhile, many reviews on G2 and Capterra highlighted Rippling’s easy-to-use all-in-one platform. Users like that it automates HR and IT processes, has solid reporting tools, and an extensive integration ecosystem.
However, some reviewers said that learning to use its features takes time, especially if you get several modules. A few others mentioned that while its support team is generally helpful, the response time can be slow when dealing with technical issues.
At the time of publication, Rippling reviews earned the following scores on these websites:
- G2: 4.8 out of 5
- Capterra: 4.9 out of 5
Is Rippling the right fit?
Rippling is one of our favorite HR software vendors, featuring in many of our top product pages. For more information about its capabilities, check out some of our articles below:
- Best Human Resources Management Software (HRMS)
- Best Contractor Payroll Software
- Best Global Payroll Solutions
- Best HR Outsourcing Companies
- Best Employer of Record (EOR) Services
BambooHR: Best for small businesses
Overall score
3.8/5.00
HRIS and onboarding
4.38/5.00
Payroll and benefits
3.73/5.00
Pricing
3.25/5.00
Platform and interface
4.75/5.00
Workforce management
3.46/5.00
Talent acquisition
3.83/5.00
Employee relations
3.14/5.00
AI, analytics & reporting
4.08/5.00
Support
3.5/5.00
What are the perks of using BambooHR?
- User-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate
- Comprehensive HRIS with strong reporting tools
- Customizable homepage and profile dashboards.
- Automated wellbeing surveys to track employee happiness over time.
What are the downsides of using BambooHR?
- Pricing isn’t all transparent and can be high with add-ons
- Payroll, time tracking, and benefits modules cost extra
- EOR is a paid add-on and is available via its partner vendor, Remote
- Compensation tools and HR benchmarks are limited to the highest tier.
Why I chose BambooHR
I chose BambooHR as my top pick for small business owners because, in my experience, it’s the easiest platform to use on this list. With a total score of 3.8 out of 5, I’ve found it strikes the right balance between simple, pre-built workflows that simplify HR tasks and advanced features to support complex hire-to-retire processes.
When I tested it, I liked how the homepage lets employees view PTO banks, request time off, or clock in for a shift with just one click. I also appreciate its pre-built reports and AI-driven tools that analyze employee feedback, providing deeper insights into workforce sentiment. You can even customize BambooHR’s homepage with widgets to access this information as soon as you log in.
While BambooHR offers a comprehensive suite of HR tools, pricing can be a drawback. Its plans mostly include hiring and talent management modules, so you have to pay extra for must-have HR system features, such as payroll, time tracking, and benefits administration.
- Compensation benchmarking: Its integration with Mercer allows BambooHR to provide compensation insights based on company size, industry, and location, along with tools for planning and approvals. This gives smaller HR teams more structure for pay decisions without moving into enterprise-level platforms like SAP.
- AI-powered feedback insight: BambooHR uses AI to summarize employee feedback and surface themes from reviews and surveys, such as its employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) topic summaries. This helps you identify sentiment trends faster and act on engagement data earlier.
- Digital document management and recordkeeping: The platform offers a more straightforward option for organizing HR documents. You can upload, share, and store company and personal files, as well as create legally recognized online forms that support electronic signatures.
- Employee self-service: Like most modern HRIS, its employee self-service portal includes preboarding checklists, benefits enrollment, paystub access, and time tracking tools. Employees can also update their information, update professional goals, and track training assignments from the same place.
- Salary bands, levels, and total rewards visibility: BambooHR includes built-in levels and bands for salary structure plus total rewards statements that show employees their broaders compensation package. This makes the platform more useful for pay transparency and career-path planning.
BambooHR pricing starts at $10.25 per employee monthly, but fees are based on the number of employees you have. If you have 25 or fewer workers, you get a flat monthly rate. If you have more than 25 employees, BambooHR will charge a PEPM fee.
It has three plans: Core, Pro, and Elite. The starter plan includes basic HR features for hiring, onboarding, time off and benefits tracking, compliance, and employee information management. You are granted access to additional tools, such as compensation and performance management, when you upgrade to higher tiers.
Add-on modules are also available if you want to add employee time tracking, payroll, and benefits administration to your plan. And if you decide to get both payroll and benefits, BambooHR offers a 15% discount for that bundle (as of this writing).
Since our last update, BambooHR has introduced an EOR module (powered by Remote) add-on for companies that need help hiring and paying international employees. Its features include a global employment cost calculator and automatic two-way data syncs between BambooHR and Remote’s HR systems.
BambooHR plans
| Core | Pro | Elite |
| Starts at $10.25 PEPM. | Starts at $17.50 PEPM. | Call for a quote. |
| Includes: • HR data and reporting • Hiring and onboarding Time off and benefits tracking • Employee satisfaction and feedback tools • HR intelligence and AI-powered analytics • Compliance alerts, templates, and how-to guides • One compliance course • Access to over 150 pre-built software integrations • Flexible Custom Report Builder | Everything in Core, plus: • Performance reviews • Employee Community tool with a centralized communications hub for updates, interest groups, and announcements • Upgraded AI tools • 15 compliance courses • Embedded EasyLlama courses • Time Kiosk app and physical time clock support | Everything in Pro, plus: • Salary benchmarking and compensation planning • Access to HR benchmark data • Custom dashboards and analytics • Premium support services • Advanced AI tools • Over 300 compliance courses |
“[I]t was one solution my CEO pointed out that was a game-changer for our company. It was a single point of truth for us and made life so much more transparent (which was badly needed) and personnel management easier.”
Amy Leger, CEO at 1Eleven Group, notes that BambooHR was a “game-changer” during her tenure as COO of a small communications agency, where she previously managed hiring, offboarding, staff reviews, and time off manually.
She says it brought long-needed transparency to hiring, onboarding, goal setting, and performance reviews, all in one platform. But she adds that setup was “pretty clunky” and not very intuitive for administrators, even though employees found it simple once configured.
Amy also shared one wish for improvement: a more granular time-tracking feature for client work. Still, Amy says BambooHR’s automation and organization made it one of the best decisions she made for her team.
On popular review sites such as G2 and Capterra, reviewers said its user-friendly platform centralizes HR data and helps them stay compliant. However, some users complained about occasional software glitches when clocking in or filing leaves.
At the time of publication, BambooHR reviews earned the following scores on these websites:
- G2: 4.4 out of 5
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5
Why is BambooHR so popular?
BambooHR is a versatile HR suite that can efficiently handle the employee life cycle. Because of its wide range of features, intuitive platform, and user-friendly interface, it appears in many of our buyer’s guides, such as:
- Best HRIS
- Best Employee Onboarding Software
- Best Leave Management Software
- Best HR Software for Small Companies
- Best HRMS
- Best HR apps
Gusto: Best for new businesses
Overall score
3.65/5.00
HRIS and onboarding
3.94/5.00
Payroll and benefits
4.2/5.00
Pricing
3.73/5.00
Platform and interface
4.19/5.00
Workforce management
3.66/5.00
Talent acquisition
2.9/5.00
Employee relations
2.93/5.00
AI, analytics & reporting:
3.45/5.00
Support:
3.5/5.00
What are the perks of using Gusto?
- User-friendly interface
- Gusto-brokered health insurance integrated with all payroll plans
- Offers EOR and global contractor payroll services
What are the downsides of using Gusto?
- Advanced HR features like applicant tracking and performance reviews reserved for higher plans
- The starter plan is only for single-state pay runs
- Same-day and instant payments cost extra
- EOR services limited to 11 countries (as of this writing)
Why I chose Gusto
Gusto’s base platform is payroll, but it also offers a wide range of HR features like onboarding and time tracking, plus workflow tools that make HR tasks easier for users. I gave it an overall score of 3.65 out of 5, largely because of its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Navigating between modules felt simple, and it even handles some of the trickier administrative processes, such as state registration services, R&D tax credits, and government notice reporting.
It’s well-suited for people who are brand new to HR software. Gusto provides a solid foundation to help you build confidence in core HR processes, while preparing you to eventually move into more advanced all-in-one systems like Rippling as your business grows.
However, Gusto isn’t suitable for larger organizations due to its limited scalability. It becomes unwieldy as you add more employees and develop more complicated work cadences. It also lacks Rippling’s advanced reporting automation-building capabilities, and you have to upgrade to higher tiers for additional HR features like recruiting and surveys. Functionalities that BambooHR offers in its starter plan.
- Full-service payroll: Gusto runs payroll and automatically handles federal, state, and local tax filings. COmpared with Rippling and ADP Workforce Now, it offers a simpler, more guided setup that’s easier for new and small businesses to manage.
- Automated pay runs and compliance workflows: Gusto automates pay calculations and compliance-related tasks behind the scenes. If you don’t expect any changes to your payroll, you can activate its automatic pay run feature that starts and completes the process for you. These help reduce manual work and avoid errors tied to tax filings.
- Integrated benefits: Gusto simplifies the benefits setup by acting as a licensed health insurance broker, offering access to a wide range of medical, dental, and vision plans. You don’t need to bring your own broker, although Gusto lets you do that for a fee. It can help you compare plans, enroll employees, and stay compliant with benefits-related regulations.
- Employee onboarding and self-service setup: The platform supports offer letters, onboarding checklists, tax forms, and employee self-service in one system, making it easier to standardize hiring and onboarding without adding extra tools.
- Gusto Wallet: Gusto provides employees access to pay, savings tools, and financial insights through a mobile app. This adds a practical financial wellness layer that supports employee experience.
Gusto pricing starts at $49 monthly plus $6 PEPM. It offers three plans: Simple, Plus, and Premium. There’s also a contractor-only payroll package that costs $35 monthly plus $6 per contractor per month*. Like the other human resource management software on my list, Gusto has add-on tools and services if you want to enhance your selected plan’s features.
Gusto plans
| Simple | Plus | Premium |
| $49/mo. + $6 PEPM | $89/mo. + $14 PEPM | $180/mo. + $22 PEPM |
| Includes: • Unlimited single-state full-service payroll • Auto-run payroll • Two- and four-day direct deposits • Basic support • Employee self-service • Gusto-brokered health insurance • New hire self-onboarding • Basic PTO policies • Custom admin permissions • Reports for payroll and time off • Email provisioning and deprovisioning tools | Everything in Simple, plus: • Unlimited multi-state full-service payroll • Next-day direct deposits • Job postings and applicant tracking • PTO management • Time tracking and scheduling • Time kiosk • Software provisioning and deprovisioning • Reimbursement and expense claim management • Workforce costing and custom reports • Employee directory and printable org charts | Everything in Plus, with: • Dedicated customer success manager • HR templates for handbooks, job descriptions, and policies • Proactive federal and state labor law compliance alerts • Access to certified HR experts • Full-service payroll migration and account setup • Health insurance broker integration • R&D tax credit discount • Priority support |
Gusto contractor-only plan
- Monthly fee: $35 plus $6 per contractor*
- Includes unlimited US contractor payments, four-day direct deposits, and 1099-NECs at the end of the year
Add-ons
For the Simple plan only (free with the Plus and Premium tiers)
- Next-day pay: $15/mo. + $3 PEPM
- Time tracking: $6 PEPM
- Performance reviews: $3 PEPM
For the Simple and Plus plans only (free with the Premium tier)
- Priority support: $30/mo. + $3 PEPM
- HR resources: $50/mo. + $5 PEPM; includes compliance alerts and access to HR experts and HR templates
For all plans
- Same-day pay: $90 per payroll
- Instant pay: $100 per payroll
- State tax registration: Prices vary by state
- R&D tax credits: Pay 15% of identified tax credits
- Health insurance broker integration: $6 per month per eligible employee
- 401(k) retirement savings: Price varies by 401(k) integration
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): $2.50 per month per participant**
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum**
- Dependent care FSAs: $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum**
- Commuter benefits: $4 per month per participant, with a $20 per month minimum**
- Workers’ compensation: Price of premiums only
- Life and disability insurance: Price of premiums only
- International contractor payments: Price varies by foreign exchange rate, with a $5 per-payment fee to US-based bank accounts
- Gusto Global: $699 PEPM; EOR services available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Spain (as of this writing)
- Gusto Money Plus: $19 per month; includes tools for managing company funds for payroll, invoicing, and bills payments
*For new clients, Gusto waives the $35 monthly base fee for the first six months. This could change anytime, so please explore its website for the latest deals.**Annual $200 service charge covers HSAs, FSAs, dependent care FSAs, and commuter benefits.
“[W]ith the increasing work from home landscape, it truly makes onboarding seamless, even when teams are remote or scaling quickly.”
Sara Celotto, Fractional COO at The Vision Catalyst, LLC, shares that Gusto has been her go-to HR system for more than a decade, helping her manage payroll, benefits, compliance, onboarding, and performance reviews across multiple law firms and founder-led businesses. She says it keeps everything organized and easy to manage, even as teams grow or work remotely.
However, Sara acknowledges that a few of her clients have experienced occasional hiccups, such as delayed tax filings. Despite that, she continues to use and recommend Gusto for its intuitive design, affordability, and reliability across industries.
Many of the reviewers on G2 and Capterra also mentioned Gusto’s intuitive interface and simple-to-use tools as its best features. While several users appreciate its efficient payroll module, a few others said that it can get pricey depending on the number of employees and the add-on features purchased.
At the time of publication, Gusto reviews earned the following scores on these websites:
- G2: 4.6 out of 5
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5
HR software battle: Gusto vs other tools
Want to see how Gusto compares with other human resources software? Check out some of our product comparison articles:
ADP Workforce Now: Best for midsized companies
Overall score
3.6/5.00
HRIS and onboarding
4.25/5.00
Payroll and benefits
4.29/5.00
Pricing
1.06/5.00
Platform and interface
3.75/5.00
Workforce management
4.16/5.00
Talent acquisition
3.93/5.00
Employee relations
3.71/5.00
AI, analytics & reporting
4.08/5.00
Support
4.38/5.00
What are the perks of using ADP Workforce Now?
- Narrative insights to assist with people data analysis.
- Optional HR advisory services for enhanced compliance.
- Extensive product line for fast-growing companies.
- Global payroll support for over 140 countries.
What are the downsides of using ADP Workforce Now?
- Benefits administration is only available on the Plus plan and higher.
- Time and schedule management is only available in the highest tier
- Some features, like job postings, are powered through third-party partnerships
- Hiring, performance reviews, and learning management are paid add-ons.
Why I chose ADP Workforce Now
ADP Workforce Now is optimal for midsized businesses, especially those with plans to scale. It can function as a simple HRIS, but its wide range of features, smart workflows, and open API allow it to transform into a full-scale human capital management (HCM) platform when your business grows.
I gave it an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 because of its scalability, customization options, proactive alerts, and compliance features. I like its analytics that provide actionable insights on staff performance and workforce trends. You can even use it to support strategic initiatives, like reducing turnover.
What’s also great about ADP is its extensive product and HR services catalog that caters to businesses of all sizes. It can even support global payroll and HR resources outsourcing (HRO) needs.
However, ADP Workforce Now can be pricey depending on the add-on modules you plan to get. Some tools, like job postings and hiring, cost extra—features that BambooHR offers in its starter tier. It also has a learning curve for new users, given the breadth of HR features it offers. Plus, you have to sign up for a different ADP solution if you need global payroll or a PEO service.
- Breadth of intergrations: With ADP Marketplace, you can find solutions to integrate with ADP Workforce Now and consolidate your date across your entire HR tech stack. It can connect with performance management, employee engagement, recruiting, learning management, time clock software, and financial wellness tools.
- Advanced payroll functionality: Run regular or certified payroll, create multiple payroll schedules to cover different employee classifications, and compute tip credits for your service staff to reduce the likelihood of payroll errors. It can even prepare a general ledger file you can upload into your accounting system for easy ledger updates.
- Benchmarking: Using ADP’s U.S. client base of more than 42 million employees, you can see benchmark numbers in your industry and location for creating competitive total compensation packages, comparing turnover, and tracking average time to fill rates in various roles. This is unlike BambooHR compensation insights, which relies on data from Mercer surveys.
- AI-powered ADP Assist tool: This chat-based AI tool is designed to help you navigate HR, payroll, and compliance workflows. In addition to saving you time, it provides faster access to policy and workforce information without having you go through multiple parts of the platform.
ADP Workforce Now offers three subscription tiers to choose from: Select, Plus, and Premium. However, it does not reveal starting prices for any of its plans; you must contact ADP’s sales team for a quote.
All Workforce Now plans include new hire onboarding, payroll, compliance reporting, a centralized employee database, a self-service portal, and access to the AI-powered ADP Assist tool. However, employee benefits and workforce management are reserved for higher tiers. You will also need to pay extra for additional HR functions, such as recruiting, talent development, compensation tracking, and advanced analytics.
ADP Workforce Now plans
| Select | Plus | Premium |
| Call for a quote. | Call for a quote. | Call for a quote. |
| Includes: • Payroll and tax filings • Basic reporting and analytics • Onboarding and offboarding workflows • ADP Assist • Voice of the Employee (staff engagement surveys) • Digital recordkeeping and unlimited storage | Everything in Select, plus: • Benefits administration | Everything in Plus, with: • Time tracking • Leave management • Scheduling |
Add-on modules
Learning management
Talent acquisition
Performance management
Compensation management
HR assist (regulatory compliance assistance)
Analytics and enhanced insights
“It’s really more like the modules checking some very basic boxes for what you need a payroll system to be able to do.”
Susan Snipes, Head of People at Remote People, shares that ADP Workforce Now covers the payroll essentials her team needs, such as accurate tax calculations and standard HR modules for benefits and time tracking.
However, she says the platform is difficult to set up and maintain, often requiring help from customer support. Susan adds that onboarding feels clunky, reporting is hard to customize, and compliance issues have occasionally caused frustration. She hopes ADP will modernize its system rather than layering fixes onto an outdated framework.
Meanwhile, many of the reviewers on G2 and Capterra said ADP Workforce Now makes it easier to run payroll and HR day-to-day. They also like having basic HR tools together in one platform, instead of toggling through different systems.
Other reviewers mentioned that while it has a lot of HR features, the costs and learning curve were steeper than expected. Some also noted that the interface feels a bit dated and that its mobile app can be glitchy.
At the time of publication, ADP Workforce Now reviews earned the following scores on these websites:
- G2: 4.2 out of 5
- Capterra: 4.4 out of 5
What’s the right ADP product for me?
ADP’s vast product catalog means there are solutions for all companies. ADP Workforce Now, for example, is ideal for SMBs with over 50 employees but less than 1,000. If finding the right ADP software is intimidating, here’s a breakdown of its other major products:
Roll by ADP
Best for solopreneurs or small businesses with 2–10 employees. Roll by ADP is not a full HR suite, but its simple mobile-only interface is great for paying employees and storing basic staff information. And if you’re tech-averse, its AI chat function allows you to run payroll from a simple text conversation.
RUN Powered by ADP
Best for businesses with 2–49 employees. RUN Powered by ADP offers basic payroll and tax support. In its higher price tiers, you can also access unemployment insurance management, a basic applicant tracking system (ATS) powered by CareerPlug, handbook creation, and a learning management system (LMS).
ADP Vantage HCM
Best for businesses with over 1,000 employees. ADP Vantage HCM offers advanced HR capabilities, particularly in workforce analytics. Although ADP Vantage has features similar to RUN and Workforce Now, it focuses on using your people dataset for strategic decision-making, like minimizing business costs.
SAP SuccessFactors HCM: Best for large enterprises
Overall score
3.56/5.00
HRIS and onboarding
4.38/5.00
Payroll and benefits
3.58/5.00
Pricing
1.24/5.00
Platform and interface
3.88/5.00
Workforce management
4.03/5.00
Talent acquisition
3.75/5.00
Employee relations
4.24/5.00
AI, analytics & reporting
4.08/5.00
Support
3.63/5.00
What are the perks of using SAP SuccessFactors HCM?
- Intelligent text-based employee sentiment analysis.
- 24/7 customer support via online chat, phone, or email.
- Accessibility support, including zoom, high contrast themes, screen reader support, and keyboard navigation.
- Native integration with SAP’s entire product line.
- More than 2,000 standardized HR metrics.
What are the downsides of using SAP SuccessFactors HCM?
- Too expensive for small teams.
- Confusing line of product tiers and integration options.
- Complex user interface.
- Few plug-and-play integrations outside of SAP products and partners.
Why I chose SAP SuccessFactors HCM
I found SAP SuccessFactors Human Capital Management (HCM) impressive thanks to its customizable features and extensibility options tailored for enterprises. It earned an overall score of 3.56 out of 5, given its comprehensive suite that covers everything from core HR functions to advanced talent management. Its AI-powered features also help provide employee self-service tools and recommendations for skills-based learning.
I especially liked how SuccessFactors integrates with other SAP products—like enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management, financial management, and customer relationship management. This creates an open flow of data across functions that are usually siloed. You could essentially operate almost all of your business processes from one platform.
However, SAP SuccessFactors HCM requires a significant investment, with its core product’s minimum 1,000 user requirement. Plus, its advanced features and complicated interface can feel overwhelming if you’re new to HR software or prefer something sleeker. I recommend Rippling if you want a more modern interface or BambooHR if you require easy-to-learn HR tools.
- Predictive analytics: SAP SuccessFactors leverages data from its modules to inform high-level business decisions. It analyzes lagging indicators like retention and sentiment, and uses machine learning to predict future data trends based on past performance. For example, it can forecast future recruitment ratios (e.g., male-to-female) based on historical hiring, enabling proactive strategy adjustments to meet recruitment equity goals.
- AI capabilities: The platform uses AI natural language processing to assist with workforce planning and streamline administrative HR tasks. One of my favorite use cases is its AI writing assistant, which helps managers craft and deliver constructive feedback to employees. If you have managers with several direct reports, this can ensure they complete the performance review process on time.
- Joule AI copilot: Its fully integrated generative AI assistant, Joule, operates much in the same way as ChatGPT. It learns from the way you work and prior conversations you have to complete transactional, informational, and navigational tasks. Considering SAP’s somewhat difficult-to-navigate user interface, Joule is great for taking you directly to the pages you need to get information or complete a process.
- Succession planning: This tool takes a skills-based approach to developing employees and filling talent pipelines for critical roles. It utilizes the organizational chart and employee profiles to come up with succession planning strategies to nurture high performers, address skills gaps, and identify key positions that have a relatively high impact if they become vacant.
- Enterprise HCM suite across the employee lifecycle: SAP SuccessFactors supports core HR, recruiting, onboarding, performance, learning, and compensation. Compared with Rippling, it is more complex but better suited for large organizations with global operations.
Like most enterprise HR software, SAP does not disclose pricing for its full SuccessFactors HCM suite, so you must contact its sales team for a quote. The overall cost is based on the size of your company, the products you need, and the number of administrative users.
However, SAP does reveal the starting price for its SAP Core HR module, which includes time tracking, automated global pay processing, AI-enabled self-services, and a centralized people data management tool. At the time of publication, it costs $18 per month and requires at least 1,000 users and a minimum contract of one year.
Similar to most of the HR software on my list, you can enhance its core platform with add-on features, such as recruitment, workforce management, learning and career development, analytics, and access to its AI assistant, Joule. So if you decide to get SAP SuccessFactors HCM’s entire integrated suite, you may end up paying hundreds of dollars per year per employee.
If you want to negotiate for better rates, I suggest bringing quotes from similar providers. Be sure to ask about discounts when bundling any of its products and services.
Note: SAP SuccessFactors also offers several sales-specific modules, which I did not outline in the chart above. For more information, check out the SAP SuccessFactors HCM website.
“The SAP tool helps to keep rotas and contracts organised, which is vital when managing shift patterns for large workforces, especially when hourly rates are involved.”
Wendy Makinson, HR Manager at Joloda Hydraroll, shares that SAP SuccessFactors HCM works well for their shift-based manufacturing and logistics operations. She says the time and attendance and employee central modules have been especially valuable for keeping rotas and contracts organized.
However, Wendy mentions that initial integration took time—particularly when configuring complex structures like overtime and shift rotations. Now that it’s running smoothly, adding or updating employee data is straightforward, though she’d like to see a simplified interface for shop floor kiosks. Overall, she describes the platform as a positive and reliable HR solution.
Reviewers on G2 and Capterra also consistently praised its scalability and depth of features. Others said that its enterprise-grade suite is sufficient to support the complex HR needs of large, global workforces.
The biggest drawbacks that users raised were about its steep learning curve, limited or overly technical customizations, and dated interface. Some reviewers also reported delays in getting support when resolving advanced issues.
At the time of publication, SAP SuccessFactors HCM reviews earned the following scores on these websites:
- G2: 3.9 out of 5
- Capterra: 4 out of 5
Honorable mention
HR software is a broad and segmented product category. Below are some runners-up that I think performed well in specific categories and may better suit your business’s needs.
Paycor: Best for companies with field and frontline workers
Overall score: 3.49/5.00
When to choose Paycor
Similar to BambooHR and ADP Workforce Now, Paycor offers an all-in-one HCM platform that caters to the needs of various businesses. It’s ideal for midsized companies, and its mobile and tablet kiosk apps make it optimal for those with frontline and field workers, providing you with multiple options to track their work time and HR records.
Paycor is also the only one in my roundup that allows managers to submit group punches for employees, which is great for deskless employees whose work locations change daily. Pair this with Paycor’s badge, PIN, biometric, or telepunch timeclock hardware for stronger time management processes, especially in industries like restaurants and manufacturing.
Why it didn’t make the list
Paycor is a much more dated-looking platform than competitors like Rippling. Much of its data is still formatted like an Excel spreadsheet, increasing the learning curve for small businesses. For example, its pay grid for payroll processing can significantly speed up pay runs for advanced users, but can be very confusing if you’re unfamiliar with payroll.
It can also get pricey, depending on the features you want. Monthly fees aren’t published on its website, and its pricing matrix can be confusing since it offers different plans for small, midsized, and large companies. And while it has a feature-rich platform, the starter package for those with fewer than 49 employees includes only payroll tools. You have to upgrade to higher tiers if you want HR functionalities like onboarding, recruiting, and talent development.
Need help selecting the ideal solution for your business? Check out our article on how to choose the best HR system, including our HR software pricing guide.
Find your new HR software
What are the types of HR software?
There are three main categories of HR software: HRIS, HRMS, and HCM. Although they are often used interchangeably, there are several technical differences between them. Some HR software also focuses on specific human resources functions, like recruiting, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, performance management, employee engagement, and learning management.
Core HR software
Function-specific HR software
How is AI changing HR functions?
Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword in HR tech anymore. It’s changing how core functions operate. While many human resources software vendors have offered some level of automation for years, such as automated pay runs, modern AI tools take it further. It can analyze patterns, make predictions, and deliver recommendations across the entire employee lifecycle.
Here are a few areas where AI is showing up in today’s HR platforms:
- Recruiting and talent acquisitions: AI is speeding up sourcing and screening. Tools now scan resumes, match candidates to job descriptions, and even suggest interview questions based on the role. For example, SAP SuccessFactors and ADP Workforce Now use AI-driven matching to surface top candidates fasters, cutting time-to-hire and reducing bias.
- Performance and engagement insights: AI tools are starting to offer sentiment analysis, eNPS breakdowns, and trend tracking across performance review and staff surveys. Platforms like BambooHR include AI-powered summaries of open-text feedback so HR teams can spot issues before they escalate.
- Workforce planning and decision support: HR software like Rippling and SAP SuccessFactors are using predictive analytics to forecast attrition risk, model compensation changes, or flag compliance gaps. These insights allow HR leaders to act proactively instead of reactively.
- Self-service and virtual HR assistants: Some platforms now embed AI chatbots to handle routing employee questions about PTO, benefits, and onboarding paperwork. This frees up HR teams to focus on higher-level or strategic HR work while improving the employee experience.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about HR software
