Gusto
Best all-in-one Zoho payroll & HR alternative
Overview
Gusto is the top all-in-one alternative to Zoho for small businesses seeking seamless payroll, HR, and benefits. Its intuitive interface, transparent pricing, and robust set of built-in tools make it easy to manage every stage of the employee lifecycle—from hiring to offboarding. Unlike Zoho, Gusto offers hundreds of pre-built integrations (including Zoho Books and Zoho CRM), saving you time and simplifying your tech stack without sacrificing flexibility.
Key Features
Fully integrated payroll, HR, time tracking, and benefits
AI-powered workforce and project cost reporting
Hiring and onboarding with org charts and company handbooks
PTO requests, balances, and approvals in one place
Employee self-service portal and mobile app
Support for international contractors in 120+ countries
Automated compliance and new-hire reporting
Performance reviews and engagement tools
Certified HR support available
300+ software integrations, including Zoho products
Pros and Cons
Pros
Intuitive, user-friendly platform
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Full-service HR and payroll in one tool
Dedicated HR support available
Integrates with Zoho and other top platforms
Cons
Shift scheduling requires third-party tools
Mobile app lacks full admin features
Advanced HR tools only in Plus or Premium
Pricing
Simple: $49/mo + $6/person/mo
Plus: $80/mo + $12/person/mo (adds time tracking, advanced HR)
Premium: $180/mo + $22/person/mo (includes HR expert support)
Free until you run your first payroll.
Transform your payroll processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
BambooHR
Best Zoho HR alternative for employee engagement
Overview
BambooHR is a purpose-built HR platform with powerful tools for employee engagement and performance—areas where Zoho often falls short. It’s ideal for small to midsize teams focused on employee experience, offering smooth onboarding, offboarding, and best-in-class engagement tools. While payroll, time tracking, and performance reviews are paid add-ons, the core HR functionality is among the best in the category.
Key Features
Best-in-class onboarding and offboarding
Automated workflows for PTO, salary changes, and more
Anonymous engagement surveys and visual reporting
Custom reporting on all employee data
Employee self-service and mobile app
Multiple PTO policies with automated accruals
Payroll and benefits as optional add-ons
125+ integrations, including QuickBooks and Slack
Pros and Cons
Pros
Industry-leading HR and engagement tools
Streamlined onboarding and offboarding
Strong data reporting and visual insights
User-friendly interface
Cons
Transparent pricing not available
Limited mobile admin features
Add-ons required for full functionality
No global payroll or contractor support
Pricing
BambooHR offers two plans (Essentials and Advantage) with optional add-ons for payroll, performance, benefits, and time tracking.
Pricing is quote-based and varies by company size.
Previously published pricing started around $108/month for the first 20 employees.
Free 7-day trial available.
Workday
Best AI-powered alternative to Zoho HR
Overview
Workday is a powerful HCM platform built for midsize to large organizations focused on data-driven decision-making and employee growth. It outperforms Zoho with AI-powered insights, robust analytics, and personalized HR experiences. From recruiting and onboarding to performance and compensation management, Workday helps teams optimize operations, uncover efficiencies, and support career development at scale.
Key Features
AI-driven skills mapping and workforce insights
Scheduling, shift swapping, and time tracking
Built-in communication and collaboration tools
Custom dashboards and mobile access
Integrated hiring, onboarding, and performance tools
Personalized development plans
Financial and operational analytics
Integrates with third-party global payroll providers
Pros and Cons
Pros
Best-in-class workforce analytics
AI-powered talent and compensation planning
Rich employee engagement and development tools
Scalable for growing teams
Cons
Pricing is not transparent
Payroll support is limited to five countries
Overkill for smaller teams
Pricing
Workday pricing is not public.
User reports suggest costs start around $99/user/month.
Contact sales for a custom quote.
No free trial or free version.
OnPay
Best Zoho payroll alternative
Overview
OnPay is a low-cost, high-value payroll platform that offers more coverage and support than Zoho Payroll—without the complexity. It includes payroll, onboarding, benefits, and compliance tools in all 50 states, with no confusing tiers or upsells. It’s a great fit for small businesses not already committed to the Zoho ecosystem but looking for a reliable, affordable payroll provider.
Key Features
Payroll and tax filing in all 50 states
Multiple pay schedules and unlimited runs
New-hire state reporting and compliance
Direct deposit, paper checks, and debit card pay
Built-in benefits administration
PTO tracking and document storage
Employee self-service with lifetime access
Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and more
Pros and Cons
Pros
Flat-rate pricing with full payroll support
Supports W-2 and 1099 employees
Benefits and compliance included
Great value for small businesses
Cons
Limited integrations (only ~11)
No international support
No live chat or email support
Charges extra to print/mail forms
Pricing
Flat rate: $40/month + $6/employee.
Includes payroll, HR tools, and benefits.
Extra charge for mailing W-2s/1099s.
Free 1-month trial available.
Remote
Best Zoho alternative for global teams
Overview
If you’re hiring across borders, Remote is a much stronger choice than Zoho Payroll, which lacks global support. Remote makes it easy to pay contractors, employees, and EOR hires in 100+ countries, with localized compliance, benefits, and onboarding. It’s ideal for startups expanding globally who want a user-friendly platform that centralizes payroll, contracts, and compliance.
Key Features
Contractor payments in 180+ countries
Global payroll and EOR services in 80+ countries
Pay in 100+ currencies with no conversion fees
Localized compliance and benefits administration
Tax guidance and risk assessments for contractors
One-click invoice approvals and bulk payments
Owned legal entities—no third-party outsourcing
Employee self-service portal and mobile app
Country-specific holiday and leave policy guides
Pros and Cons
Pros
Centralizes all global hiring and payroll
Owned entities = faster support
Smooth onboarding and great UI
Helpful local compliance resources
Cons
No transparent pricing for global payroll
EOR pricing can get expensive
No PayPal or Payoneer payment support
Lacks time tracking or labor cost tools
Pricing
Contractor payments: $29/month per contractor
EOR: $599/employee/month (annual); $699 month-to-month
Global payroll with owned entity: custom quote
Free 30-day trial (contractors only). No free plan.
ADP Run
Best Zoho alternative for learning and development
Overview
ADP Run offers a scalable, feature-rich alternative to Zoho—especially for small businesses looking to grow. It includes payroll, tax filing, time tracking, and a massive HR library. What really sets ADP apart is its a-la-carte Learning Management System, offering one of the largest course libraries for compliance and career development.
Key Features
Payroll, benefits, and HR in all 50 states
700+ third-party software integrations
Learning Management System (LMS) with compliance and skills training
Time tracking, PTO, and applicant tracking tools
24/7 support and HR help desk
Document templates, checklists, and compliance alerts
Employee self-service and mobile app
Pros and Cons
Pros
Extensive LMS and training resources
Scales well with growing teams
Dedicated HR support in higher tiers
Trusted, enterprise-level infrastructure
Cons
Pricing is unclear and add-ons add up
Interface feels outdated
Contractor payments require separate tool
Slow customer service reported by some users
Pricing
ADP Run offers four tiers, from payroll-only to full HR + LMS access. Reported pricing starts at $59/month + $4/employee, but actual costs vary widely based on features.
Free trial: 3 months on select plans. No free version.
Homebase
Best Zoho alternative for shift-based businesses
Overview
Homebase is purpose-built for restaurants, retailers, and other hourly businesses that need more than Zoho’s basic shift tools. With advanced scheduling, automated labor forecasting, and built-in communication, it helps teams stay efficient and engaged. It’s the top Zoho alternative for shift-based workforces that want to simplify payroll and scheduling.
Key Features
Auto-scheduling based on availability or sales forecasts
Built-in team messaging and shift feedback
Mobile app for time tracking and shift swaps
Compliance tools for breaks, wages, and sick leave
Employee happiness surveys and shout-outs
Secure document storage and onboarding tools
Payroll add-on with automated tax filings
POS and accounting integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
Tailored to shift-based teams
Automated scheduling saves managers time
Strong team engagement features
Affordable pricing tiers
Cons
Payroll add-on can be pricey
Must upgrade for full HR features
Some reports of software bugs
Time edits can be clunky
Pricing
Basic: Free for up to 20 employees (1 location)
Essentials: $20/location/month
Plus: $48/location/month (adds hiring & PTO)
All-in-One: $80/location/month (adds HR & compliance)
Payroll add-on: $39/month + $6/employee/month
Free 14-day trial and free plan available.
Compare All
| Pricing | Free Trial | Free Plan | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | Small businesses needing an all-in-one Zoho alternative for payroll, HR, and benefits | ||
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | SMBs focused on employee engagement, onboarding, and HR workflows | |
 | Custom enterprise pricing | Midsize–enterprise teams needing AI-driven workforce analytics and optimization | ||
 | $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) | Small businesses wanting a simple, affordable Zoho payroll replacement | |
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Teams hiring and paying international employees or contractors |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Growing SMBs needing payroll with learning and compliance add-ons | |
 | Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | Shift-based businesses needing scheduling, time tracking, and basic HR |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| Custom enterprise pricing | |
| $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Free; paid plans $24.95+/location |
FAQ
Which is better than Zoho?
Gusto is better than Zoho for most small businesses needing full-service payroll and HR in one platform. It offers transparent pricing, U.S.-wide coverage, and deep integrations—something Zoho struggles with unless you stay entirely within its ecosystem.
What are the disadvantages of Zoho?
Zoho’s biggest disadvantages are limited integrations, fragmented functionality, and inconsistent global support. While affordable, its tools often require purchasing multiple add-ons or using third-party workarounds to match the experience of more robust platforms.
Do big companies use Zoho?
Most large companies do not use Zoho as their primary HR or payroll platform. It's designed for small to midsize businesses and startups, especially those using Zoho’s CRM or productivity tools. Larger organizations typically prefer systems like Workday or ADP.
How is Zoho so cheap?
Zoho is cheap because it’s modular and self-managed, offering basic functionality at low cost. However, once you start adding features like benefits, compliance, or international payroll, total costs can rival competitors with stronger native features and support.
Is Google or Zoho better?
Zoho is better for all-in-one business management, while Google Workspace excels at collaboration tools like email, Docs, and Drive. They serve different needs, but Zoho includes built-in business apps that Google lacks—like CRM, payroll, and HR modules.
