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Best HRIS Systems Of 2024

Written By
Small Business Expert Writer

Reviewed

|Small Business Writer
& 1 other
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

A human resource information system (HRIS) helps companies manage the administration of their people. These systems are used by HR managers to handle payroll, training modules and talent acquisition. Forbes Advisor dug into the details of dozens of the top HRISs on the market and rated each to find the overall best HRIS solutions for small businesses.

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The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We reviewed 25 providers using a detailed methodology to help you find the seven best human resource information systems for small businesses. Our ratings consider factors, including pricing, general features, the availability of a mobile app, benefits tracking and learning management tools, additional features (including shift scheduling and live customer support) and reviews and ratings. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team

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The Best HRIS of 2024


Best for Small Businesses

Paycor

Paycor
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

$99 per month plus $5 per employee per month

Learning Management Tools

Yes

Live Customer Support

Yes

Paycor
Learn More Arrow

On Paycor's Website

$99 per month plus $5 per employee per month

Yes

Yes

Editor's Take

While Paycor is the only plan on our list that has a monthly fee on top of the per-seat fee, it does waive all setup fees and regularly has a promotion to get three months free. This gives you time to try the software before making a financial commitment.

The Basic plan is a payroll plan that takes care of processing payroll and paying its applicable taxes. This plan is $99 per month plus $5 per employee, per month. It allows employees to create a portal to manage their own accounts and access pay stubs, benefits contributions and available paid time off (PTO). Upgrading to the Essential plan allows administrators to manage new hires with ease. This plan is $149 per month plus $7 per employee, per month.

The Core plan is the most popular option at $199 per month plus $8 per employee, per month. This plan gives HR administrators access to more reports and a support center. There is a career management segment that helps employees pave a path for growth within the company. If that isn’t enough, the Complete plan adds compensation planning and the analytics pro tool to help decipher where your productivity is coming from.

Learn more: Read our full Paycor review.

Who should use it:

Paycor is an excellent option if you are a small business needing a comprehensive HRIS management solution.

Pros & Cons
  • User-friendly and easy to understand
  • Robust human capital management (HCM) software
  • Creates new hire packets
  • Payroll integration a breeze
  • More expensive than its top competitors
  • Difficult to assign PTO
  • Doesn’t lock timecards after approval
  • Lacks pricing transparency

Best Drag-and-Drop Solution

monday.com

monday.com
4.9
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

Free; $9 per seat, per month (if billed annually; three seat minimum)

Learning Management Tools

Added cost

Live Customer Support

Yes

monday.com
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Read Forbes' Review

Free; $9 per seat, per month (if billed annually; three seat minimum)

Added cost

Yes

Editor's Take

As a comprehensive HRIS, monday.com allows you to track employees’ hours, new hire pipelines, and get employees engaged with well-being programs. It’s used by some of the biggest business names in the world, including Hulu, Canva and Coca-Cola, giving credibility to a dynamic platform with all the bells and whistles you need.

Many small businesses start with the free forever plan that offers HR administrators two seats with up to three boards. You can create an unlimited number of documents from more than 200 templates. Administrators can utilize the apps to encourage employee engagement and interaction.

While the free version is good to start with, many companies upgrade to the Basic or Standard plan. The Standard plan is the most popular. In the Basic plan, administrators get the addition of free viewers, 5GB of storage and prioritized customer support. This plan is $9 per seat, per month, with annual billing and a minimum of three seats. Those opting for the Standard plan will pay $12 per seat per month (if billed yearly) for the addition of Gantt views, timeline views and calendar views. There is also guest access and 250 automations per month allowed.

If you still need more, you can upgrade to the Pro plan for $19 per seat, per month (if billed yearly). This plan comes with all that the previous plans offer plus time tracking, 25,000 automations and integrations per month and a dashboard with up to 10 boards integrated in it.

Learn more: Read our full monday.com review.

Who should use it:

The monday.com employee management system is an excellent option for HR managers seeking a drag-and-drop solution that keeps them organized and on task.

Pros & Cons
  • Free forever plan available
  • Easy automations
  • Keeps you organized
  • Drag-and-drop functionality
  • Lacks features needed
  • Unable to customize reports

Best for Easy Setup

Rippling

Rippling
4.7
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

$8 per user, per month

Learning Management Tools

For an added fee

Live Customer Support

Yes

Rippling
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On Rippling's Website

$8 per user, per month

For an added fee

Yes

Editor's Take

Rippling believes that you should be able to customize your plan to suit your needs. Go through the list of features Rippling offers, and it will create a customized platform that meets your needs at a price that makes sense. Plans start at $8 per user, per month.

Some of the features that you can choose to include start with Rippling Unity. This is a way to keep all employee information centralized and helps with document management and storage. Employees can access the portal through an intuitive and responsive mobile app. Process payroll on the cloud easily, working with all 50 states and international employees. Opt for time and attendance tracking that notifies employees of break and overtime policies. Employees can clock in via an app or through the mobile kiosk. Go one step further and manage all benefits through Rippling. All benefits are synced with payroll and allow for employee self-service to manage their accounts.

When it comes to recruiting, take advantage of applicant tracking with job board integrations, messaging templates and customized screening questions. Appointments are integrated with calendars for convenience. Then, take employees to the next level of success with learning management opportunities. This allows you to get compliance courses out of the way with automated course enrollments. You can see who is where in the course with progress tracking and alerts.

Learn more: Read our full Rippling review.

Who should use it: 

Rippling is great for companies looking for a solution that doesn’t take a lot of work to set up and get used to. Its simple interface is intuitive for most people.

Pros & Cons
  • Useful automatic reports
  • Payroll, benefits, time and attendance tracking and more
  • Constantly updated software
  • Professional employer organization (PEO) services available
  • Technical service not helpful
  • Errors in administration
  • Pricing is not transparent

Best for Payroll Integration

BambooHR

BambooHR
4.7
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

$108 per month for 20 employees + $5.40 per each additional employee per month

Learning Management Tools

Limited, available in Advantage plan only

Live Customer Support

Yes

BambooHR
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On BambooHR's Website

$108 per month for 20 employees + $5.40 per each additional employee per month

Limited, available in Advantage plan only

Yes

Editor's Take

BambooHR simplifies the choices with two comprehensive plans. The first is the Essentials plan that takes care of most needs of a small HR office. The plan’s features include maintaining employee records, reporting and analytics and time off management. There is a mobile app for employees to use to gain access to the portal as needed while on the go. Those with the Essentials plan have access to email support as needed.

HR administrators who need more can upgrade to the Advantage plan. This adds the ability to onboard and offboard employees with the required documentation. There is an applicant tracking system that allows contracts and forms to be signed with e-signatures. HR administrators can survey employees with well-being questionnaires and track training in real time. In the Advantage plan, administrators get access to phone and chat support.

BambooHR does not disclose its prices. You’ll have to inquire to get a free quote or to customize a plan that suits your unique needs.

Learn more: Read our full BambooHR review.

Who should use it: 

BambooHR is a great choice for companies that want a solution that integrates payroll into the HRIS for convenience and employee self-service.

Pros & Cons
  • Centralized employee database
  • Templates and approval workflows
  • Intuitive self-service portal
  • Many standard reports included
  • Does not offer free plan
  • Base plan does not include payroll, applicant tracking and other basic features

Best for Intuitive Layout

Workday

Workday
4.6
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

Not disclosed

Learning Management Tools

Yes

Live Customer Support

Yes

Workday
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Read Forbes' Review

Not disclosed

Yes

Yes

Editor's Take

Workday is a comprehensive HRIS solution. It has multiple products that you can choose from that include Workday Financial Management, Workday Human Capital Management, Workday Adaptive Planning, Workday Peakon Employee Voice and Workday Strategic Sourcing. In essence, Workday can integrate all processes needed to effectively run your team from one primary portal.

Its intuitive interface makes running analytics and reports a breeze. Payroll integration takes the guesswork out of managing time cards and running payroll with taxes and benefits paid properly. HR administrators will appreciate the talent management tools that help track and onboard new hires with automated paperwork and data storage. Workday customizes quotes based on your needs.

Learn more: Read our full Workday review.

Who should use it: 

Workday is a wonderful solution for HR managers seeking something that is laid out simply and intuitively. The layout is easy for anyone to understand.

Pros & Cons
  • Comprehensive feature set fulfills most company needs
  • Finance and HR in one
  • Modern, user-friendly interface
  • Spreadsheet generation
  • Lacks transparent pricing
  • Editing hours is not intuitive
  • Poor training modules

Best for Reporting

Zenefits

Zenefits
4.6
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

$8 per month, per employee (billed annually, five user minimum)

Learning Management Tools

No

Live Customer Support

Yes

Zenefits
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Read Forbes' Review

$8 per month, per employee (billed annually, five user minimum)

No

Yes

Editor's Take

Zenefits simplifies the process of choosing an HRIS by only offering three options. These are robust options that cover the needs of any HR administrator. The first plan is the Essentials plan, which runs $8 per month, per employee (if billed annually). In this plan, you get access to automated onboarding, time off tracking and integrations into Slack and other office applications. There is an analytics dashboard that makes managing resources easy. Even with the Essentials plan, administrators gain access to the mobile app that allows employees to self-serve PTO needs and access payroll and benefits.

Administrators can upgrade to the Growth plan, which costs $16 per month, per employee (if billed annually). In this plan, they get everything from the Essentials plan plus configurable people analytics, compensation management and performance management. This makes managing a team much easier as you can process performance reviews and goals in one central place.

The Zen plan is designed to engage employees by adding engagement surveys and a people hub where employees can connect. The Zen plan runs $21 per month, per employee (if billed annually).

Learn more: Read our full Zenefits review.

Who should use it: 

Zenefits is perfect for companies looking to simplify the reports generated regularly to monitor and manage their workforce properly.

Pros & Cons
  • Competitively-priced plans starting at $8 per month, per employee
  • Dynamic software
  • Intuitive interface
  • Ample reporting features
  • Does not offer a free plan
  • Lacks customization capabilities
  • Users report payroll tax issues
  • Five user minimum on HR core plan

Best for Free Solution

ClickUp

ClickUp
4.4
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Price

Free; $5 per month, per member (billed annually)

Learning Management Tools

Yes

Live Customer Support

Yes

ClickUp
Learn More Arrow

On ClickUp's Website

Free; $5 per month, per member (billed annually)

Yes

Yes

Editor's Take

ClickUp has five plans to choose from but is the best in class when it comes to giving HR administrators a lot of features in the forever free plan. In the free plan, you get 100MB of storage to maintain files and documents. Unlimited tasks allow an unlimited number of members to access the portal. Administrators can collaborate on documents or use whiteboards for reminders and brainstorming. There is real-time chat so employees can get answers quickly. The free plan also allows administrators to email from the portal and use Kanban boards to manage sprints and workflows. It packs a lot into the free plan.

When you upgrade to the Unlimited plan for $5 per member, per month (if billed yearly), you get unlimited storage, integrations and dashboards added. Guests can sign in with temporary credentials. Administrators can create goals and portfolios for team members and have the tools to manage resources effectively.

If you still need more, there is the Business plan for $12 per member, per month (if billed yearly). This adds advanced public sharing options and automations. Administrators can also implement workload management to ensure that employees are not overwhelmed. This is important for employee well-being. The Business Plus plan adds team sharing, custom role creation and custom permissions. This plan is $19 per member, per month (if billed yearly). If you find that you still need more, contact sales for a custom quote on an Enterprise plan.

Learn more: Read our full ClickUp review.

Who should use it:

ClickUp is excellent for growing businesses that are looking for a free solution that covers their needs. Businesses can grow from the free solution to a paid plan when they are ready.

Pros & Cons
  • Free forever plan available
  • Real-time chat with the ability to save communications
  • Unlimited storage
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security
  • Easily organizes projects via Kanban boards
  • Its interface can be difficult to read
  • Too many push notifications

Compare the Best HRIS Solutions


What Is an HRIS?

An HRIS helps those in HR departments or otherwise running a company to organize and track employees. One of the key components of an HRIS is managing payroll, but these systems are not limited to that. Those using the software will be able to manage employee performance, track competency and set training schedules. The system becomes the central place where employee data is held, making it the streamlined hub for human resources teams to handle any situation that arises with an employee in an organized and documented manner.


Benefits of an HRIS

Getting a reputable HRIS can significantly benefit your company. Here are some key benefits of using an HRIS software solution:

  • Organization: An HRIS keeps personnel data on hand and easily accessible. Folders store files in an organized fashion that helps HR administrators find what they need in a flash.
  • Regulatory compliance: Automated onboarding and offboarding protocols make businesses less likely to encounter compliance issues.
  • Positive face to employees: The employee portal gives employees access to information that they would otherwise need to contact someone for. This saves everyone time and is a good way to engage employees and keep them happy.

How To Choose the Best HRIS

There are many HRISs to choose from. Of course, you want to choose a system that meets your budget, is easy to implement and offers all the solutions that you need. When making your decision, consider these areas before you finalize your purchase.

Essential Features

Most HRISs have a common set of features offered in the solution. But managers should review each solution to ensure that it has these features and that they meet their HR needs.

Essential features that an HRIS should have include:

  • Onboarding management: A good HRIS makes onboarding a breeze by sending new hires the right forms and training to get settled in properly. It collects e-signatures on forms and stores them in the employees’ files.
  • Database management system: The HRIS should eliminate the need for bulky employee files. All pertinent data should be held in a digital employee file that is easy to access by managers and employees.
  • Employee self-service: Employees should be able to access their files and update information as needed. This may be updating tax information for payroll purposes or changing an address and contact information. Good systems give employees the access that they deserve.
  • Time management: HRISs should offer the ability to manage time off and attendance. Some HRISs use biometric devices to manage attendance, making sure it is accurate and a true reflection of employees’ work. HRISs will also manage time off, both paid and unpaid, to ensure shifts are covered and employers are not left without the proper notifications of having people out.
  • Payroll management: One of the most critical features of an HRIS is payroll management. The system allows managers to quickly and easily process payroll for each employee and files the right tax paperwork at the right times.
  • Performance management: Managers need to have impartial ways to manage performance. HRISs have a feature where employee reviews are regularly scheduled and conducted, providing necessary feedback to employees. These systems also allow employees to self-assess their performance, helping create self-awareness of their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Mobile application: The best HRISs have a mobile application that allows managers and employees to access data on the go. This makes it possible to manage teams from anywhere, keeping data accurate and up to date.

Types of HRIS Software

There are four common types of HRISs. Take a look at the following to better understand what type of HRIS is best suited for your company’s needs:

  • Operational HRIS: Operational HRISs focus on internal data when gathering and processing information. You might use internal data to better improve your company’s diversity among employees.
  • Tactical HRIS: This type of HRIS uses data to allocate resources properly. Data helps managers recruit, design job descriptions, train and develop employees to grow within the organization.
  • Strategic HRIS: This type of HRIS looks at the organization’s goals and mission and cultivates data that helps in workforce planning.
  • Comprehensive HRIS: Comprehensive HRISs are an all-in-one solution that collects HR files, recruiting details and employment development data. It becomes the hub for all workforce-related information.

Stakeholder Considerations

Different professionals in your organization need to be able to work with the HRIS. Stakeholders include:

  • HR: These professionals need to access employee data to help in the management and development of team members.
  • IT professionals: Work to implement the HRIS solution seamlessly into the organization’s software solution.
  • Payroll: Use HRIS solutions to easily and efficiently manage and process payroll so that employees get paid correctly and on time.
  • Managers: Access data to help them train and develop team members to be more productive parts of the organization.

What Does an HRIS Cost?

HRIS platforms have a wide range of costs depending on the provider you decide to work with. Some platforms, such as ClickUp and monday.com, have free programs that are great starting points. Other platforms start at low as $5 per month, per user, but may have a monthly fee associated with the subscription. For example, Paycor has a monthly subscription fee starting at $99 per month plus a per-user fee of $8 per month.

Because most platforms have you pay per user, you can save on costs by limiting the number of users allowed to access the system. Give access only to those who are essential in managing your teams.


HRIS vs. HCM vs. HRMS

There are three human resource systems that you may hear about that are similar in function. These are a human resource information system (HRIS), human capital management (HCM) and a human resources management system (HRMS).

An HRIS is focused on basic employee data, whereas an HCM seeks to give you more engagement with employee performance. The HRMS is more detailed in management and reporting. Choose an HRIS if you just need to track a lot of data with minimal interaction. Choose an HCM if you want to spend time developing employees. The HRMS is the best choice if you need to run a plethora of reports while managing employees.

In practice, many HRISs, such as Paycor, extend and cover the needs of HCMs and HRMSs, eliminating the need to choose.


Methodology

Forbes Advisor uses an unbiased five-star rating system to rank each company we researched. To determine the best human resources information systems for small businesses, we analyzed 27 different companies across five information categories and 34 unique criteria. Each of these categories were weighted to favor the features that small business HR teams find valuable in an HRIS provider

Here are the categories we used to rank the providers that made the top of the list:

Pricing

When it came to pricing, we wanted to see if there was a free trial or free version available and then determined if the pricing was considered expensive, moderate or cheap. This accounted for 10% of our weighted scoring.

General Features

When considering general features, we looked to see if the software solution offered a mobile app as well as an online portal. Preference was given to solutions that offered applicant tracking, payroll and benefits administration, time tracking, e-signatures and learning management tools. We also considered if there were alerts or reminders offered. Access creating org charts, the ability to provide contractor payments and performance reviews were other general features we considered important. General features accounted for 30% of our total score.

Additional Features

Additional features that we considered “nice to have” included software integrations to ease workflow, shift scheduling options and engagement tools. Bonus points were given to companies with PTO tracking, custom branding and live customer support. These additional features amounted to 20% of the total score.

Third-party Reviews

We considered what customers on major review sites had to say about the software and what they were rated. Preference was given to companies that had a 3.5-star or better rating on G2 and Capterra, and we considered the number of reviews in our scoring as well to help reduce bias. Reviews accounted for 10% of the total score.

Expert Analysis

Finally, based on our market research and the categories listed above, we also ranked additional criteria from customer reviews, such as any standout features, popularity, ease of use and value for the money. These final criteria made up 30% of the total score.

Learn how we evaluate HR management systems.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does an HRIS help employees?

An HRIS gives employees a central place to access their benefits without having to contact HR. This helps employees to stay engaged and use their time efficiently.

What are HRIS platforms used for?

HRIS platforms give HR professionals and managers a central place to capture, track and manage employee data. It helps with everything along the employee life cycle from onboarding to dismissal.

How do I implement an HRIS?

Work with your IT department to allow employees to get the right access to the HRIS. Those in HR departments and managers will have more access to data than employees will have. Employees will be able to access their own profiles.

Are HRIS solutions secure?

HRIS solutions are designed to protect the sensitive data that HR records possess. Organizations can help ensure security by requiring data to be accessed only while using a virtual private network (VPN).

Is an HRIS hard to learn?

Navigating the ins and outs of an HRIS will take some time. Training and tutorials can help accelerate the learning curve so that you can utilize all the capabilities of the software solution.


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