Best HR Software for Startups in 2025

As a startup entrepreneur, you have a lot on your plate. You’re wearing many hats and trying to do everything yourself in order to save money. One area where you can’t afford to skimp is human resources. Hiring and managing employees is critical to the success of your business, so you need the best HR software out there. 

In this guide, we will discuss the best HR software for startups and break down the pros and cons of each option. We’ll also provide pricing information and feature breakdowns so that you can make an informed decision about which software is right for your business.

Unsure if Gusto is right for you? Continue reading our comprehensive review below to learn more and explore your options.

Whether you’re looking for HR software that will consolidate all of your employee management needs into one or a specialized service for a task like onboarding, there are a variety of HR software available to startups today. 

When choosing software, it’s important to consider price, features included, integrations, and scalability. Switching HR software is difficult, therefore, choosing the right one for your business can save you time and money in the future. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best HR software for startups whether you’re looking only to run payroll or recruit a new team. 

11 Best HR Software for Startups in 2025:

1. Gusto – Best HR Software Overall
2. Breezy HR — Best for Hiring
3. OnPay – Best for Smaller Businesses
4. QuickBooks – Best for Growing Startups 
5. ADP – Best for Combined HR and Payroll
6. BambooHR –  Best for Managing Employee Lifecycle
7. Rippling – Ideal for Medium-Sized Businesses 
8. TriNet – Best for HR and Benefit Integration
9. Remote – Ideal for International Startup Teams
10. Deputy – Best for Time-Tracking 
11. Culture AMP – Best for Employee Engagement
12. Greenhouse – Best for Onboarding

1. Gusto

Hiring and processing employees is a task all on its own but payroll management is another aspect startup entrepreneurs don’t always account for. Gusto is solid HR software for startups for payroll that offers full-service management as well as a number of other HR tools to help you run your business. With Gusto, you’ll be able to automate paychecks, offer health benefits, and keep track of employee PTO all in one place.

Pricing 

Gusto offers four pricing packages that have a flat monthly fee as well as a monthly employee fee:

• Simple Plan: $40/month plus $6 per employee/month 
• Plus Plan: $80/month plus $12 per employee/month
• Premium Plan: $180/month plus $22 per employee/month
• Contractor Only Plan: $35/month plus $6 per employee/month

Features

• Automate your payroll management
• Paperless and direct transactions available
• Year-end forms and tax prep automated for you
• Automate employee benefits like healthcare, 401(k), and college savings

Pros

• All-in-one payroll management system
• Complies with all HIPAA, ACA, and ERISA standards
• Automations save time on tedious tasks

Cons

• May need customer support to undo specific actions

Learn more by reading our full Gusto review.

2. Breezy HR

Breezy HR is an all-in-one hiring and performance management solution. With Breezy, businesses can easily post job openings on more than 50 job sites, automate prescreening and scheduling, and track the performance of employees. There are a variety of pricing options to choose from as well as free plans for Breezy’s hiring and performance management software. Plus, with features and packages that grow with your company, you can continuously improve employee performance, set goals, and reward top workers. 

Pricing 

Breezy offers two categories of pricing: hiring and performance. 

For the company’s hiring packages, here are four hiring packages to choose from: 

• Bootstrap Plan: Free forever
• Startup Plan: $157/month
• Growth Plan: $273/month
• Business Plan: $439/month

For Breezy’s performance packages, users can choose from the following four options: 

• Bootstrap Plan: Free forever for up to 10 employees
• Startup Plan: $83/month for 11 to 99 employees
• Growth Plan: $129/month for 100 to 199 employees
• Business Plan: $249/month for more than 199 employees

Features

• Branded career site to house job postings 
• Employee self-service portal 
• Goal templates with setting and tracking tools
• Unlimited users for hiring features 

Pros

• Free plans available for hiring and performance features 
• Wide array of plans to choose from for a variety of HR needs
• Robust customer support and educational offerings included in all packages

Cons

• No packages with both hiring and performance tools

Learn more by reading our full Breezy HR review.

3. OnPay

OnPay is one of the more affordable HR payroll solutions out on the market, and it offers a full suite of tools for startups. With OnPay, you’ll be able to automate payroll, payment workflows, and tax filing. The software also offers integrations with other business software like QuickBooks and Xero, so you can manage everything in one place.

Pricing 

With one of the best pricing options available, OnPay only has one plan: a flat fee of $40 per month with an additional $6 per person added for each month.

Features

• Employees can take advantage of self-onboarding
• Options for paying 1099 contractors available
• Tax accuracy guarantee included
• Integrated health benefits

Pros

• Automates all your tax payments
• Can create custom payroll reports

Cons

• Only Android mobile app available

Learn more by reading our full OnPay review.

4. QuickBooks

QuickBooks offers a comprehensive suite of tools for startups, combining payroll services with accounting features. This platform provides solutions for paying employees, managing benefits, and handling bookkeeping tasks all in one place. With various plan options, QuickBooks can accommodate startups at different stages of growth.

Pricing 

QuickBooks offers three main pricing tiers for their combined payroll and accounting services:

• Payroll Core + Simple Start: $42.50/month for the first three months then $85/month (plus $6 per employee/month)
• Payroll Core + Essentials: $57.50/month for the first three months then $115/month (plus $6 per employee/month)
• Payroll Premium + Plus: $92/month for the first three months then $184/month (plus $9 per employee/month)

Features

• Full-service payroll with automated taxes and forms
• Employee portal for self-service
• Health benefits and 401(k) plan options
• Accounting tools including expense tracking and invoicing

Pros

• All-in-one solution for payroll, benefits, and accounting=
• Includes HR support in higher tiers
• 30-day free trial available (with no discounted pricing)

Cons

• Can be more expensive than some standalone payroll or accounting solutions
• May have more features than very early-stage startups need

5. ADP

ADP Workforce Now is a complete HRIS (human resources information system) software solution for businesses of all sizes. While many HR software options cover the recruitment, onboarding, and management of employees, ADP takes it a step further with combined payroll services. Startups looking to utilize a singular platform for all of their employee management needs may be best suited by ADP’s extensive suite of features. 

Pricing 

ADP doesn’t disclose pricing on its website. You will have to request a quote from the company to receive pricing information. 

Features

• Payroll processing in some plans 
• New hire onboarding 
• Customizable dashboards 
• Automated time tracking

Pros

• HR and payroll software combined in some plans
• Employee self-service portal
• Easily integrates with other software 

Cons

• No pricing available on the website 
• No free trial available 

6. BambooHR

BambooHR is no stranger to the HR industry, and it’s hailed as one of the best HR software for managing the employee lifecycle. With BambooHR, you’ll be able to keep track of employee data, performance reviews, and time-off requests all in one place. The software also tracks valuable data input like retention and turnover so you can make more informed decisions about your employees.

Pricing 

For as good as BambooHR is, they don’t make it easy to see how much they cost. You’ll have to contact the business to discuss a quote based on the number of employees you have and what features you’re looking for.

Features

• Creates a centralized employee database
• Includes applicant tracking system
• Generates accurate data reporting
• Tracks employee performance

Pros

• Easy to use with a sleek and modern interface
• Provides enough data for startups to improve employee processes

Cons

• Lacks an attendance features for employees
• Confusing pricing options

7. Rippling

Startups looking for a comprehensive solution for all their employee needs may find what they need in Rippling’s impressive suite of features for workforce management. Rippling consolidates all the necessary HR software functionality into one singular platform, from payroll to benefits administration. 

Pricing 

Rippling requires custom pricing for its packages. To get an estimated cost for your business, you must request a quote on the Rippling website.

Features

• Payroll and benefits management
• ACA and COBRA assistance 
• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) included
• Time management capabilities

Pros

• All-in-one comprehensive platform 
• Easy to set up and utilize 
• Robust suite of features not offered by competitors

Cons

• Not ideal for early-stage startups
• Pricing information is scarce

8. TriNet

For the startup that is looking for an all-in-one solution for their HR and benefits needs, TriNet (previously Zenefits) is the best choice. With this software, you’ll be able to automate both payroll and benefits while also getting access to an expert team of HR professionals. Not only is the software intuitive to use, but it also features a list of add-ons that can make your HR process easier to manage.

Pricing (Annual)

TriNet offers three packages priced per employee monthly, but it also offers “add-ons” like payroll services for an additional monthly fee per employee:

• Essentials: $8/employee/month
• Growth: $16/employee/month
• Zen: $27/employee/month

Features

• Automated PTO tracking
• Insurance benefits are tracked
• 401(k) management abilities
• Mobile app for convenient tracking

Pros

• Integrates your HR and benefits processes seamlessly
• Offers an extensive list of automated benefits for employee tracking

Cons

•  No on-demand phone support for customer service, ticket model only

9. Remote

Timing couldn’t be better for Remote, as many workforces are transitioning to hybrid and fully remote setups. With this software, you’ll be able to manage your payroll and benefits for employees working anywhere in the world. It’s one of the best HR software that offers legal and HR experts in almost every single country, so you never have to feel cautious about how you’re handling your HR process.

Pricing 

Remote offers a several different pricing and package options: 

• Employer of Record Plan: Starts at $599/month when billed annually 
• Payroll Plan: $50 per employee/month
• HR Management Plan: Free 
• Remote Talent Plan: Starts at $119/month
• Contractor Management Plan: $29 per contractor/month 
• Contractor Management Plus Plan: $99 per contractor/month

Features

• 401(k) tracking available
• Full benefits dashboard and management
• Includes employee benefits administration
• Centralized employee database

Pros

• Excellent for tracking remote employee benefits
• Full list of HR benefit features available

Cons

• Can be tricky to implement
• Confusing pricing options

10. Deputy

For companies looking for a targeted time-tracking solution, Deputy is a solid choice. With scheduling, time-tracking, and insights for matching staffing to your budget, startups with brick-and-mortar locations can easily manage staff using the Deputy platform. 

Pricing 

Deputy offers three plan options: 

• Starter Plan: Free for up to 100 shifts per month 
• Premium Plan: $6 per user/month 
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing

Features

• Scheduling and time tracking 
• Demand planning to match staffing with budget constraints
• Labor compliance tools 
• Easy integrations with other software 

Pros

• Competitively priced
• Free plan available 
• A la carte features available 

Cons

• Lacking features offered by competitors 
• Best only for specific use cases

11. Culture Amp

A positive company culture is integral to keeping employees engaged and reducing turnover. Culture Amp is a unique HR software offering culture-focused HR services geared towards employee engagement, performance tracking, and skill development. However, the service doesn’t offer many of the same features as other HR solutions on this list. 

Pricing 

Unfortunately, Culture Amp doesn’t include pricing information on its website. To obtain pricing information, you will have to request a free quote. 

Features

• Employee engagement tools from onboarding to exit 
• Performance management tracking 
• Employee development resources 
• Community of business leaders 

Pros

• Culture-first approach prioritizes a positive work environment
• Multiple plans available 
• Unique features available with each plan 

Cons

• No pricing information available 
• Doesn’t include payroll services

12. Greenhouse

A major part of human resources is recruiting the right team for your company. Greenhouse offers robust solutions for sourcing, hiring, and onboarding team members all on one platform. While the platform does offer over 400 integrations, it doesn’t include many of the HR software features competitors do. 

Pricing 

Greenhouse offers plans for enterprise and small to midsize businesses. However, to obtain information about pricing, you will need to request a quote on their website. 

Features

• Recruiting tools including robust data and reporting
• Customizable onboarding tools 
• Integrations with over 400 softwares 
• Goal setting, tracking, and measurement tools 

Pros

• Data-based hiring support 
• Robust onboarding tools 
• Collaborative platform 

Cons

• No pricing information available 
• Limited functionality

Honorable Mentions

With so many HR software solutions available to startups, there is a litany of solid choices for entrepreneurs to consider for their businesses. Here are a few honorable mentions for employee management software that may benefit your company. 

Monday.com

For startups looking for a more dedicated task management platform, Monday.com offers an easy-to-use platform for teams to collaborate and track projects. Plus, the dashboard is highly customizable, making it applicable to a wide range of projects, teams, and business types. 

Namely

Namely is an HR software complete with compliance, benefits, and payroll functionalities. The platform also offers add-ons for managed payroll and benefits to enhance your suite of features. 

GoCo

GoCo offers a wildly robust set of features, including payroll, onboarding, benefits, time-tracking, and compliance. The service offers a variety of use cases as well to ensure it meets your business’s unique needs. 

Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is an online workspace for businesses, allowing them to manage products, leads, and human resources. If one of Bitrix24’s four plans works for your company’s needs, you can anticipate utilizing this one platform for a plethora of software functions, from CRM to HR software. 

Cezanne

Startup founders looking for automated but still comprehensive HR software can look to Cezanne to fulfill their needs. From absence management to onboarding, Cezanne offers a variety of unique and helpful features. 

PeopleSpheres

Juggling a bunch of different software can be time-consuming and expensive. PeopleSpheres is a great option for consolidating several HR software into one platform without sacrificing valuable features and functionality. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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