Gusto
Best all-in-one people management solution
Overview
Gusto offers small businesses a full-service platform that combines payroll, benefits, time tracking, and HR tools in one user-friendly interface. It automates tax filing, compliance, and onboarding while helping managers run performance reviews, track PTO, and manage documents with ease. Gusto is a strong choice for teams that want simplicity, automation, and transparency without sacrificing functionality. While it doesn’t include native shift scheduling, it integrates with top tools like Homebase and 7Shifts.
Key Features
Integrated payroll, HR, time tracking, and benefits
Automated tax filing and compliance alerts
Hiring, onboarding, and employee document storage
PTO tracking, time approvals, and project costing
Performance management with self and 1-on-1 reviews
Org charts, surveys, and learning tools
Employee self-service portal and mobile app
300+ integrations, including with shift scheduling tools
Support for international contractors
Pros and Cons
Pros
All-in-one platform for HR and payroll
Transparent, tiered pricing
Strong compliance and reporting tools
Easy to use and quick to set up
Excellent customer support
Cons
No native shift scheduling
Basic tools on entry-level plan
Mobile app limited for admins
Pricing
Simple: $49/mo + $6/person/mo.
Plus: $80/mo + $12/person/mo (adds team management).
Premium: $180/mo + $22/person/mo (includes full HR suite).
Free until first payroll. No free plan.
Transform your payroll processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
Workday
Best AI-powered people management tools
Overview
Workday brings enterprise-grade people management to midsize businesses, with built-in AI tools for hiring, workforce planning, and operations. It offers personalized HR dashboards, shift scheduling, and predictive analytics to help managers make smarter decisions. Employees benefit from tailored career growth tools and a highly visual interface. While its payroll tools are limited to five countries, Workday supports integrations with global payroll vendors. It’s best for growing companies that need deep insights and automation.
Key Features
AI-powered analytics for compensation and talent gaps
Hiring, onboarding, and shift scheduling tools
Employee engagement and development tracking
Personalized HR dashboards and reporting
Financial and workforce optimization tools
Built-in communications and mobile app
Integration with global payroll providers
Pros and Cons
Pros
Industry-leading analytics and reporting
AI-driven workforce planning
Strong engagement and development features
Highly customizable platform
Cons
Limited payroll support (5 countries)
Pricing not transparent
Overbuilt for small teams
Pricing
Custom quotes only. User-reported pricing starts at $99/user/month.
No free trial or free plan.
Homebase
Best people management software for shift-based businesses
Overview
Homebase is built for hourly teams, offering time tracking, scheduling, and shift swapping in one streamlined platform. Designed for shift-based businesses, it includes auto-scheduling, break compliance, hiring tools, and built-in employee messaging. Engagement features like happiness surveys and team shoutouts make it easier to retain workers. While HR tools like onboarding and document storage are included in top plans, payroll requires an additional monthly add-on. Homebase is ideal for restaurants, retail, and other hourly teams.
Key Features
Auto-scheduling based on availability or sales forecasts
Shift swapping, time-off management, and PTO tracking
Employee happiness surveys and team messaging
Paperless hiring and onboarding tools
Compliance for breaks, wages, and certifications
Payroll add-on with automated tax filings
Integrations with popular POS and payroll tools
Mobile app for clock-ins, messaging, and requests
Pros and Cons
Pros
Built specifically for hourly teams
Easy-to-use scheduling and time tools
Strong engagement and communication features
Free plan available
Cons
Payroll is a separate add-on
Full HR suite only in premium tier
Minor app bugs and time-editing issues
Pricing
Free for 1 location (up to 20 employees).
Essentials: $20/location/month.
Plus: $48/location/month.
All-in-One: $80/location/month.
Payroll: $39/month + $6/employee.
14-day trial available.
UKG Ready
Best people management software for reporting & analytics
Overview
UKG Ready is a powerful workforce management solution for midsize businesses that need strong analytics, reporting, and customization. It combines core HR functions like time tracking, payroll, and benefits with deep operational data to help optimize staffing and reduce risk. The platform includes employee self-service, engagement tools, and robust automation capabilities. While smaller teams may find the setup complex, growing businesses that need scalable, insight-driven HR tech will benefit most.
Key Features
Time tracking, scheduling, and attendance tools
Onboarding, talent development, and employee engagement
Payroll and benefits management
150+ pre-built reports plus custom analytics
Employee self-service and mobile access
Workflow automation and compliance tools
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent custom and prebuilt reporting
Fully integrated HR and payroll suite
Designed for scalability and flexibility
Data-rich dashboards for workforce planning
Cons
No transparent pricing
Can be costly for smaller teams
Steep learning curve and support issues
Pricing
Custom quote required.
Enterprise plan pricing (UKG Pro) reportedly starts at $600/year per 5 employees.
No free trial or free plan.
ADP Workforce Now
Best people management platform for midsize businesses
Overview
ADP Workforce Now is a modular HR platform built for businesses with 50 to 999 employees. It combines payroll, time tracking, benefits, compliance, learning, and performance into a single, scalable platform. Managers can customize plans as they grow, with optional add-ons for recruiting, analytics, and compensation. ADP’s robust infrastructure and integration capabilities make it a go-to for midsize businesses with complex needs. However, many advanced tools come at a premium, making it less ideal for small teams.
Key Features
Integrated payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance
Time collection, scheduling, and PTO accruals
Learning management and performance tools
Self-service and mobile app access
700+ integrations
Custom reporting and analytics
Add-on modules for recruiting, compensation, and talent
Pros and Cons
Pros
Scales easily with growing teams
Deep feature set and integration options
Access to PEO and HR outsourcing
Extensive learning and development tools
Cons
High cost with add-ons
Limited tools in small business packages
Interface feels outdated
Pricing
Small business plans (Run): 4 tiers starting at $62/month.
Workforce Now: Select, Plus, and Premium plans with add-on modules.
No transparent pricing—custom quote required.
Free trial: 3 months on select plans.
BambooHR
Best purebred HR management system
Overview
BambooHR is an HR-first platform built for small and midsize businesses that want best-in-class onboarding, performance, and employee data management. With tools for custom workflows, PTO tracking, and reporting, it helps streamline HR processes while keeping employees engaged. Payroll, benefits, and time tracking are available as paid add-ons. BambooHR is ideal for teams that already use other systems or want to prioritize people management without investing in an all-in-one solution like Gusto or ADP.
Key Features
Onboarding, offboarding, and self-service
Automated workflows for PTO and salary changes
Custom reporting and data visualizations
Performance management and employee engagement tools
Payroll, benefits, and time tracking as add-ons
125+ integrations
Mobile app with self-service access
Pros and Cons
Pros
Clean, intuitive HR experience
Top-tier onboarding and performance tools
Robust reporting and visual dashboards
Easy to use for admins and employees
Cons
Many core features are paid add-ons
No global support
No upfront pricing
Pricing
Quote-based.
Essentials plan includes core HR features.
Advantage plan adds onboarding, ATS, and wellness tools.
Add-ons: payroll, benefits, performance, and time tracking.
Free trial: 7 days. No free plan.
monday.com
Best people management software for productivity
Overview
monday.com is a productivity-focused platform with customizable dashboards and automation tools that support goal tracking, workflows, and performance reviews. While it’s not a full HR suite, it complements people management with pulse surveys, onboarding templates, and integrations with popular HR software. Its clean, visual interface is ideal for managing team tasks, OKRs, and employee development. It works best as an add-on to your existing stack—or as a lightweight people ops platform for startup teams.
Key Features
Custom dashboards for OKRs, goals, and team tracking
Workflow automation and HR templates
Performance reviews and pulse surveys
PTO and time tracking available
Team communication and internal task management
CRM and project management modules
200+ integrations and app marketplace
Pros and Cons
Pros
Streamlined workflows and automation
Beautiful dashboards to track team progress
Excellent customer support
Transparent, flexible pricing
Cons
No native payroll or benefits tools
Automations not available in basic plan
Not a complete HR solution
Pricing
Basic: $9/seat/month (limited features).
Standard: $12/seat/month (adds automations, timeline view).
Pro: $19/seat/month (adds time tracking, charts).
Enterprise: Custom quote.
Free trial: 14 days. Free plan for up to 2 users.
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 people management platform with payroll, HR, and benefits | ||
 | Custom enterprise pricing | Midsize–enterprise teams needing AI-powered workforce analytics and planning | ||
 | Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | Shift-based businesses managing hourly teams, scheduling, and engagement | ||
 | Custom pricing | Growing SMBs that prioritize advanced reporting and workforce analytics | ||
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Midsize businesses needing scalable people management with compliance and L&D | |
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | HR-focused teams prioritizing onboarding, performance, and employee engagement | |
 | Basic $9/user/month; Standard $12/user/month; Pro: $19/user/month | (14 days) | (2 users) | Teams focused on productivity, goals, and people ops without native payroll |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| Custom enterprise pricing | |
| Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | |
| Custom pricing | |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| Basic $9/user/month; Standard $12/user/month; Pro: $19/user/month | (14 days) |
FAQ
Which is the best employee management software?
The best employee management software depends on your business size and needs. Gusto is a top pick for small teams wanting an all-in-one platform, while Workday and ADP Workforce Now serve larger organizations with advanced tools, automation, and scalability.
What software do HR people use?
HR professionals use platforms like Gusto, BambooHR, ADP, and UKG Ready. These tools help manage payroll, benefits, onboarding, compliance, and employee data. The right software depends on whether the HR team needs simplicity, integrations, or advanced workforce planning features.
What are the 5 C’s of people management?
The 5 C’s typically refer to Clarity, Consistency, Communication, Courage, and Compassion. These are key qualities that guide managers in building trust, addressing issues, and supporting team development. People management software helps reinforce these values through structured tools and feedback systems.
What is the main employee management system?
There’s no single “main” system, but leading options include Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, and BambooHR. Each covers core functions like payroll, time tracking, and performance management, with varying degrees of customization, analytics, and integration support.
Is people management software suitable for small businesses?
Yes, many platforms are built specifically for small businesses. Tools like Gusto, OnPay, and Homebase offer affordable, easy-to-use solutions that automate admin work and help teams stay organized without enterprise-level complexity.
