HR Software

What is the best HR Software?

The best HR management software provides a centralized system for managing Human Resources (HR) functions such as benefits administration, payroll, performance reviews, PTO, recruiting, and culture management.

Best HR Management Software Features

  • Easy-to-Use Interface and Dashboards
  • Employee Management
  • Employee Learning and Training
  • Time and Attendance
  • PTO Requests
  • Onboarding and Training
  • Benefits Administration
  • Payroll Integration
  • Culture Management
  • Recruiting and Applicant Tracking
  • Employee Surveys
  • Performance Reviews
  • Reporting and Analytics
  • Mobile Tools

Best HR Management Software Benefits 

  • Automated processes for PTO tracking, benefits administration, and training
  • Improved HR processes such as time tracking, sick leave, payroll, and expense tracking
  • Reduced operational costs and increased productivity
  • Improved employee morale and satisfaction
  • Increased insight into employees and HR practices
  • Better employee document storage and organization
  • Eased tax compliance and adherence to labor laws

Human Resources (HR) is a business function that influences every aspect of your company, because it’s all about the people who work for your organization. The best HR management software can help your HR team with managing employee hours and compensation, processing job applications for open positions, administrating benefits and 401K, and conducting performance reviews. Having the right software in place not only streamlines and simplifies your HR functions, but also produces quantifiable results you can use to improve your processes, from hiring and training, to benefits and industry compliance. 

Cloud-based solutions are growing more popular among all types of businesses each year due to the benefits of convenience, mobility, and cost-effectiveness they offer for companies small and large. HR is no exception, and adoption of cloud-based HR management software and products is only expected to continue growing. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is positioned to play an impactful role in how companies recruit, screen, and hire new employees in the best HR management software. AI makes it possible to quickly search through applicants and other talent pools, using a predefined list of qualifications, so that businesses can streamline the process of finding and hiring the best people for their business.

Fortunately, there are many of the best HR management software available, each offering an array of powerful, effective tools to support your business. Selecting or switching to the perfect HR software system for your company involves deep business examination and thoughtful research and analysis of the features and system capabilities that will best suit your business now and scale with you as you grow. 

Top 10 HR

ADP Workforce Now / HireRoad / EPAY / UKG Ready / BambooHR / Bullhorn / Oracle Cloud HCM / UKG Pro / Zenefits / Zoho People

WH Score
8.7
Bullhorn
65reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Bullhorn CRM is a cloud-based solution built for enterprise-size companies that jointly manages and fosters prospect and customer relationships. Bullhorn provides complete CRM functionality. Whether you're in relationship management for the business services industry, a consulting firm that need...
WH Score
8.3
ProcessPro
9reviews
Starting Price:N/A
The developers of ProcessPro ERP believe that business owners who get more information concerning their operations, also get a lot more profits out of their businesses. ProcessPro is  an intelligent Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that is designed with specifications for batch proce...
WH Score
8.2
Oracle Cloud HCM
4reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Oracle HCM Cloud offers companies a complete, all-in-one software solution for managing human capital effectively and productively. Oracle is at the forefront of software innovation, and supports digital transformation, improves business agility, and provides software tools necessary to compete and ...
WH Score
7.9
UKG Pro
173reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) is a comprehensive workforce management solution that helps businesses of all sizes streamline and automate their HR, payroll, and time and attendance processes.
WH Score
7.8
SumTotal
5reviews
Starting Price:N/A
SumTotal Learn is an evolution of the aging, one-size-fits-all approach to learning management systems (LMS). Rather than simply throwing every possible feature into a single solution, the SumTotal team chose to focus on connecting the skills that your employees need for their careers with the measu...
WH Score
7.4
Zenefits
51reviews
Starting Price:$10 / employee / per month
Zenefits is a comprehensive, all-in-one HR software that streamlines the HR process for small and medium-sized businesses. With Zenefits, you can manage everything from employee benefits and payroll to compliance and time-off requests all in one place.
WH Score
7.1
Zoho People
21reviews
Starting Price:$0 / user / per month
Zoho People offers HR software that is "crafted to build a happier workforce." Their cloud-based HR systems offer a robust array of tools that help companies automate and streamline administrative HR tasks, improve productivity, and inspire employee satisfaction.  
WH Score
6.8
Namely
44reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Namely is a comprehensive HR software that helps companies manage their employees efficiently. It offers many features, including employee records management, performance management, benefits administration, and payroll management.
WH Score
6.5
Gusto
79reviews
Starting Price:$6 / employee / per month
Gusto offers a modern HR software system that is complete with tools for payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance. 
Workzoom
0reviews
Starting Price:$11.4 / employee / per month
Workzoom is a total HR management solution which offers different stakeholders a customized view of what matters most to them. While employees have the autonomy to collaborate via a self-service suite, managers can track performance with real-time dashboards.

Learn more about HR Software

What is Human Resources (HR) Software?


Human Resources (HR) software is a centralized suite of tools for managing workforce needs like benefits administration, payroll, recruiting, culture management, and more. HR software is also called Human Resources Management System (HRMS), Human Resources Information System (HRIS), and Human Capital Management (HCM). These systems combine various systems, features, and functionalities to support companies in streamlined, efficient practices when it comes to managing human resources

What is Human Resource Management System (HRMS) Software?


HRMS is a set of centralized tools for managing payroll, benefits, training, talent acquisition, time & attendance, and training in one centralized, efficient system. 

What is the Use of HRMS? 

Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS) are used to streamline and centralize HR practices, activities, and processes into a single system. HRMS solutions can help a business gain insight into their HR processes while providing tools to properly manage all employee lifecycle needs and ensure compliance with tax and labor laws, and managing employee lifecycles. 

What are the Common Features of Human Resources (HR) Software?

The most common features in HR software include:

  • Centralized Employee Data
  • Benefits Administration
  • Payroll Management
  • PTO Requests & Automation
  • Self-Service Tools
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Talent Management
  • Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding
  • Culture Management
  • Performance Reviews

Does HR Software Do Payroll?

Many HR systems include payroll tools in their suites of features and functions. While HR software is mostly designed around the needs of employees like PTO, benefits, onboarding, and talent acquisition, many of the modern HR software systems also provide tools to manage, track, and process payroll for employees within the system as well. 

Why Do You Need a HR System?

The main reason that most companies need an HR system is to save time, automate employee time off, PTO, and training processes and tasks, and improve productivity. 

What Do You Need From an HR system?

The top things you will need from an HR system are:

  • Self-service access and tools
  • Intuitive dashboards, modules, and features for benefits, payroll, recruiting, performance management and PTO
  • Insightful reporting and analytics 
  • Employee feedback tools like performance reviews and surveys
  • Communication channels and access for employees
  • Documentation Storage for employee handbooks, benefits explanation, and other documents needed regularly when onboarding new employees or managing existing talent
  • Automation and workflow management

What are the Main HR Functions? 

The main HR functions include: 

  • Human resources management and planning
  • Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding
  • Employee performance reviews
  • Ongoing training and career development
  • Bonuses, incentives, and rewards.

What are the Main Types of HR Software?

The main types of HR software are HRIS, HRMS and HCM. Each type of HR software has a unique feature offering and focuses on key HR functions needed. Depending on what features and tools your business needs for managing human resources, one type of HR software may work better than the others.  

What Should an HR System Include?

An HR system should include:

  • HR Management 
  • Recruiting, Applicant Tracking, Hiring, and Onboarding
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time & Attendance
  • PTO and Leave
  • Training and Career Development
  • Payroll

What are the Benefits of Human Resources (HR) Software?

The benefits of Human Resources (HR) software include:

  • Automated processes such as PTO tracking, benefits administration, and training
  • Improved HR processes such as time tracking, sick leave, payroll, and expense tracking
  • Reduced operational costs and Increased productivity
  • Improved employee morale and satisfaction
  • Increased insight into employees and HR practices
  • Better employee document storage and organization
  • Eased tax compliance and adherence to labor laws

Who Uses Human Resources (HR) Software?

Those who use Human Resources (HR) software include:

  • Small business owners or executives
  • HR executives
  • HR admins
  • Team Managers
  • Employees 
  • Job Applicants

What are the Challenges with Human Resources (HR) Software?

The challenges with Human Resources (HR) software can include issues such as:

  • Centralizing all HR tools needed into a singular, easy to use system
  • Properly tracking PTO, medical leave, and other time-off requests 
  • Scheduling issues
  • Ensuring correct administration of benefits for eligible employees
  • Correctly processing payroll every pay period
  • Securely storing employee forms, handbooks, and other documentation

How to Buy Human Resources (HR) Software?

You can use the following checklist to help you determine how to buy the best HR software for your business.

  • Focus on business needs and growth goals driving the decision to get a new or upgraded HR system.
  • Plan for data migration, implementation costs, IT involvement, and any downtime that may impact ongoing employee payroll, benefits, and career development.
  • Make a plan to support user adoption through training.
  • Understand the HR processes you’re looking to streamline and automate.
  • Don’t skip the product demos offered by HR software vendors to show features and functionality.
  • Understand reporting and analytics needs for HR and people management.
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