Managing your data and tracking your employees can be difficult so having an effective HR software can make your HR processes simpler and reduce your administration burden. HR software can offer a wide variety of functions such as data storage, absence management, recruitment and payroll. There are many HR software providers, so we have explored below what the leading providers offer.
Topics
Featured: BrightHR
Some of BrightHR’s features:
- Manage staff holidays in a click
- Clock in and out with Blip our easy-to-use mobile app
- Log sickness and absences
- Store documents securely with unlimited cloud storage
- Plan shifts and rotas for ANY working pattern
- Manage and calculate your expenses with the PoP app
- Export payroll-ready data with ease
- Maintain legally compliant HR documents
- Track overtime and update your payroll
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers for HR software.
| Company | Free | Cheapest paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| ADP | Not stated | Not stated |
| Brightpay | Not stated | £49 |
| Clear Books | No | £2.70 per month per employee |
| Moorepay | Not stated | Not stated |
| MyPAYE | No | £1 per month per employee |
| Accentra Primo Payroll | Yes | £24.99 per year |
| IRIS Software Group | No | Not stated |
| People HR | No | £3 per month per employee |
| Breathe | No | £10 per month |
| Natural HR | No | Not stated |
| Cezanne HR | No | £130 per month |
| CIPHR | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cake By Sage | Not stated | Not stated |
| Zoho People | No | 66p per month per user |
| Bamboo HR | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cascade | Not stated | Not stated |
| CharlieHR | No | £4 per month per employee |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
1. ADP
Some of the features and benefits of ADP’s HR software.
- Offers a single solution for all HR needs
- Payroll
- Time, leave and absence management
- Talent and recruitment
- Reporting
- Lower costs from combining systems
- Improve productivity
- Up to 1,000 employees or 1,000+ solutions
- Scalable solution
- Integrates with other systems
ADP specialises in offering HR and payroll software packages that are designed to help manage up to 1,000 employees or over 1,000 employees, designed for small, medium and large businesses. Their system can include payroll, Human Capital Management, time and attendance, talent and reporting to allow you to use a single system.
ADP allows you to decide the level of service you need and what you pay for so that you can benefit from lower costs. The cloud-based system can help unify your organisation and improve productivity. The system features self-service management, document management, a range of tools, leave and absences, benefits administration and fleet management.
2. Brightpay
Some of the features and benefits of Brightpay’s HR software.
- Offers payroll software with some HR functionality
- Simple annual fee
- Easy to use
- Manage employee leave
- Employer dashboard
- Payslip viewer
- Desktop-based software
- Compatible with Windows and Apple Mac OS X
- Optional cloud add-on
- Offers a free trial
Brightpay is a people management software provider that offers a payroll system that also combines employee leave management, an employer dashboard and payslip viewer. Their software is offered on a single annual fee and is desktop-based and will work on Windows and Apple Mac OS X.
Brightpay’s software has received recognition from HMRC and it supports RTI submissions and auto-enrolment. The software allows you to do batch processes, journal integration and enables simple data transfer. They offer Brightpay Connect as an enhanced package which has a cloud add-on that enables cloud backup, leave management, self-service and access to dashboards.
3. Clear Books
Some of the features and benefits of Clear Books’ HR software.
- Offers software to run payroll and manage leave
- Simple pricing per employee
- Can integrate with other software
- Provides employee access to the HR portal
- Employees can request leave
- Creates payslips, P45s and P60s
- Ability to customise payslips
- Produce email, online or printable payslips
- Creates payment files compatible with RBS and NatWest
- Recognised by HMRC and can report RTI
Clear Books offers a range of accountancy software which is an online system that caters for small businesses and sole traders. They offer a payroll package which also combines some HR functionality such as managing staff level.
Clear Books has a simple pricing structure based on the number of employees in the system so it can match the size of your business. It helps to ease the burden of managing staff, leave requests and their pay through an easy to use payroll system which can track leave, calculate pay, tax and other deductions. It can produce online, email or printable payslips, P45s and P60s.
4. Moorepay
Some of the features and benefits of Moorepay’s HR software.
- Offers specialist HR software
- Cloud-based software
- All employee data will be stored in one place
- Securely protect your data
- Personnel management
- Absence management
- Performance management
- Recruitment and selection
- Employee self-service
- Can integrate with payroll system
Moorepay is a software provider specialising in HR and payroll systems which can manage time and attendance, payroll, payment services, people analytics and health and safety. It is a cloud-based system that is designed to a secure place to secure your data and allows you to access data from anywhere.
Moorepay’s HR software allows you to manage all HR functions from recruitment and selection through managing their performance. It includes personnel management to store all personal data, absence management with simple entry and data flows, employee self-service for booking leave and employee reviews, and safety management to track incidents and injuries.
5. MyPAYE
Some of the features and benefits of MyPAYE’s HR software.
- Offers a payroll system with HR functionality built-in
- Simple fee per employee
- Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses
- Employee records
- Salary information
- Holiday calendar
- Disciplinary
- Training
- Branded payroll service with HMRC filling
- 24/7 cloud access
MyPAYE offers software solutions for small to medium-sized businesses who require payroll and basic HR functionality, and services for outsourced payroll for accountants. Their software is scalable, and the charges are based on the number of employees recorded in the system which you buy credits for by BACS or credit card.
MyPAYE’s built-in HR functionality includes job history, salary reviews, holiday calendar, disciplinary, training, next of kin and medical recording with full reporting capabilities. It offers multi-level access control so you can control what people can see and edit. They have an easy importer tool to make setting up the system simple.
6. Accentra Primo Payroll
Some of the features and benefits of Accentra Primo Payroll’s HR software.
- Payroll software that incorporates HR functionality
- Suitable for bureaus and accountants
- Offer a range of plans including a free plan
- Cloud-based system
- Employee self-service portal
- Reduce administrative work
- Employees manage their details
- View payslips and P60s
- Access to HR policy documents
- A modern and functional interface
Accentra Primo Payroll is a software provider who creates payroll software that incorporates some HR functionality. They offer software to payroll bureaus and accountants who they provide a range of plans to that cater for different levels and they offer a free plan. It can assist in managing clients’ accounts, communications and billing.
Accentra Primo Payroll offers a cloud-based employee self-service portal that helps to reduce administrative work as it allows employees to manage their profile and access payslips, P60s and HR policy documents, and upload personal documents such as sick notes and proof of address.
Accentra Primo Payroll website
7. IRIS Software Group
Some of the features and benefits of IRIS Software Group’s HR software.
- Offers a HR management software
- Helps improve employee engagement
- Accessible software
- Feature-rich
- Cloud-based
- Scalable solution
- Add modules when you need them
- Includes recruitment and attainment
- Performance management
- Reporting
IRIS Software Group is a business software solution provider whose systems include accountancy software designed for accountants and business, HR management, payroll management and education management. They provide a quote once you contact them about the services you require.
IRIS Software Group’s HR management software has been designed to help businesses to improve their employee engagement through their compliant software that is feature-rich. The software is cloud-based which enables you to access the software from anywhere. It is a scalable solution that can grow with your business and your needs as you can add modules when required.
8. People HR
Some of the features and benefits of People HR’s HR software.
- Specialist HR software provider
- Fee per employee pricing
- Helps to make smarter business decisions
- Will make lives easier
- Requires no technical knowledge
- Connects your workforce
- Automates repetitive tasks
- Recruitment module
- Reporting
- Friendly experts to support you
People HR was set up by some HR veterans who created the software to help HR professionals to make the most of technology. They started as a small business and have grown into an international business. Their pricing plans as based on a fee per employee.
People HR’s software has been designed to help businesses to make smarter decisions based on the information and to reduce workloads by removing repetitive tasks and automating them. Their software is simple to use and requires no technical knowledge. Their software includes personal data management, recruitment, employee performance and reporting. You can also engage staff through the People app available on Android and IOS.
9. Breathe
Some of the features and benefits of Breathe’s HR software.
- Offers essential HR software
- Simple monthly fee
- Designed for SMEs
- Cost-effective
- Reduce admin
- Staff holiday planner
- Absence management
- Recruitment
- Appraisals
- Offers a free trial
Breathe is a specialist HR software provider that brings together all your HR data in one system. Their software is simply priced with a single monthly fee. They offer a free trial to let you sample their software capabilities.
Breathe offers software that can help you to manage all employee data and documents, manage holiday requests, monitor absence, organise HR documents, manage recruitment, payroll, track expenses and manage performance. The software helps to empower managers and give them the tools they need. It also helps to streamline reporting, enhance performance, reduce time spent on admin and it will integrate with other software.
10. Natural HR
Some of the features and benefits of Natural HR’s HR software.
- HR software designed for mid-sized businesses
- Easy to use
- Self-service
- Store employee data
- Manage expenses
- Integrate with payroll
- Reduce admin burden
- Manage time off
- Reporting functionality
- Provides support through knowledge base and support team
Natural HR is a specialist HR software provider who believes one size doesn’t fit all. They designed their software to help businesses to manage remote employees as well as those in the office. It was created to be an easy to use system that is intuitive enough for self-service.
Natural HR’s software allows you to store employee data, manage expenses, integrate with your payroll, manage time off and produce reports. It is designed to grow with your business as you can unlock more functionality when needed. It reduces your admin burden whilst helping you to make informed decisions with its reporting and analytics.
11. Cezanne HR
Some of the features and benefits of Cezanne HR’s HR software.
- Cloud-based HR software
- Fixed monthly fee
- Designed for mid-sized and growing organisations
- Flexible modular system
- Employee records
- Performance management
- Payroll
- Recruitment
- Intuitive self-service
- Connect employees through mobile apps
Cezanne HR is a specialist HR software provider that has designed their system to be easy and intuitive to use and offers self-service which can help you to save time and reduce your admin burden. Its modules include core HR, employee records, absence management, performance management, recruitment, time tracking and payroll.
Cezanne HR’s software can help you to streamline your HR processes and save time as well as enabling you to connect your employees through their secure online tools available through mobile apps. They offer transparent pricing with no hidden charges. It is a secure system that provides effortless updates.
12. CIPHR
Some of the features and benefits of CIPHR’s HR software.
- Cloud-based HR software
- Help keep organisations connected
- Improve work efficiency
- Suitable for remote workers
- Empowers staff to manage their data
- Securely hosted in UK based data centres
- Highly configurable
- Reporting and analytics
- Provides a suite of integrations
- Expert support available
CIPHR is a specialist HR software provider that offers HR, payroll, recruitment and learning software. They have designed their software to be flexible and scalable so that it can grow with your organisation. They offer a system that provides a single solution, or it can integrate with other systems.
CIPHR’s software is easy to use and accessible from anywhere and can enable you to send rapid communications that allow you to monitor response rates. Their software includes self-service which allows employees to manage their data and reduce the admin burden. It also features absence management, eRecruitment and onboarding, payroll integration and analytics, and dashboards to better inform decisions.
13. Cake by Sage
Some of the features and benefits of Cake by Sage’s HR software.
- Offers versatile HR software
- Assists businesses to manage staff remotely
- User-friendly
- Mobile-ready
- Track, manage and engage staff
- Communicate
- Reporting
- Self-service
- Access HR documents, company documents and payslip
- Offers a six-month free trial
Cake by Sage is one of Sage’s software tools that is dedicated in supporting businesses with their HR functionality. They offer HR software to complement their accountancy and payroll solutions. They have designed their software to be versatile and user-friendly to help businesses to manage their staff whether they are office-based or working remotely.
Cake by Sage’s HR software helps you to get visibility of your workforce and allow you to manage and organise them through tools including communication, organisation chart, reporting and asset management. Employees can access the software remotely through self-service so that they can view payslips, make absence requests, schedules, policies and updates.
14. Zoho People
Some of the features and benefits of Zoho People’s HR software.
- Customisable HR software solution
- Monthly fee per user
- Automate HR tasks
- HR case management tool
- Recruitment
- Onboarding
- Attendance management
- Time tracking
- Appraisals
- Integrates with other apps
Zoho People is the HR software solution offered by Zoho who is a business software provider that have a suite of software solutions. They have designed their HR software to take care of your HR processes so that you can focus on your staff.
Zoho People’s software offers a customisable solution that allows you to automate and speed up your HR tasks and build forms that meet your business needs. It also allows you to streamline your recruitment process and manage their onboarding experience as well as manage ongoing performance through appraisals. You can track time, leave and attendance including managing timesheets.
15. Bamboo HR
Some of the features and benefits of Bamboo HR’s HR software.
- HR software that helps you organise your records
- Data and analytics
- Recruitment management
- Automated preboarding and onboarding tools
- Self-service
- Time tracking
- Absence
- Benefits tracking
- Engagement measuring
- Reduce your administration
Bamboo HR is a specialist HR software provider that has created a system that helps you to collect and organise all your HR data into one single place. Their software will help to reduce administrative tasks and focus on your people instead, and also empower your people through self-service functionality.
Bamboo HR’s software allows you to better manage your people data and use analytics to make more informed decisions. It supports your recruitment by providing tracking and evaluation to help you make the right decisions, then automated preboarding and onboarding with their tools. It can track time, paid time off, employee benefits and measure employee engagement.
16. Cascade
Some of the features and benefits of Cascade’s HR software.
- Offers fully customisable HR management system
- Reduces administration of HR and payroll
- Manage processes effectively
- Assists you in rolling out best practice
- Increase employee engagement
- Expenses
- Recruitment
- Attainment
- Training
- Payroll
Cascade is part of IRIS which a well-established software provider and their Cascade software has been designed to help businesses to improve employee engagement. Their system creates a central resource that will help streamline your processes and increase involvement. They offer a modular design that can be added to.
Cascade’s HR modules help to manage a variety of HR management which include payroll, recruitment, training, expenses, timesheets, workflow and auto-enrolment. They provide employee access to help engagement and empower staff through their self-service which allows them to do their HR administration and can be accessed through their mobile app.
17. CharlieHR
Some of the features and benefits of CharlieHR’s HR software.
- A single system for all your HR needs
- Monthly fee per employee
- Store HR data securely
- Manage time off and sickness
- Performance management
- Payroll
- Onboarding
- Employee engagement
- Provides access to HR advisors
- Offers a free trial
CharlieHR is a specialist HR software provider that offers a single system for small businesses that caters for all HR data needs. They offer a system that is easy to set up and is GDPR and ISO27001 compliant and they provide access to professional HR advisors. They also offer customers a free trial.
CharlieHR’s software provides a safe place to store HR data and have greater visibility of your data. It allows you to better manage your staff time off and manage leave requests, manage employee performance as well as track perks and rewards. It can also help you to onboard new employees through collecting and store information.
Also see: HR Consulting: Costs & Benefits Of HR Consultancy Services