Small business Human Resources Information System (HRIS) software is designed to simplify day-to-day Human Resources (HR) tasks by bringing everything into one platform. It assists companies in their efficiency by keeping employee records organized, automating payroll, and ensuring compliance, as well as reducing repetitive work.

Regardless of what a company requires, a simple payroll or a system that can accommodate an international labor force, modern HR software provides small businesses (SMBs) with the leeway to expand without wasting money.

However, there are too many products in the market, and selecting one can be confusing. It is the point at which we come to cut through the noise and make the decision easier.

This guide takes a look at some of the best budget-friendly HRIS options designed to help growing companies work smarter, reduce mistakes, and give employees a smoother experience.

Comparison Table

Software 

Best For

Main Features

Pricing

Deel

Businesses Overseeing Teams And Contractors Worldwide 

  • AI workforce
  • SSL encryption
  • Automated compliance

$5/employee/month

HiBob

Automating The Hiring And Talent Onboarding 

  • Automates preboarding and onboarding
  • Customizable workflows
  • Performance management

Custom pricing

BambooHR 

Simplifying Employee Management

  • Employee self-service portal
  • Tax filings 
  • Year-end forms

Starts at $10/employee/month

Paycor 

Businesses Needing Unified HR And Payroll 

  • Employee benefits management
  • Gamified learning system
  • Accessible mobile application

Custom pricing

OnPay 

New Ventures And Growing Startups 

  • Accruals 
  • Custom policies
  • W-2 and 1099 forms

Starts at $49/month and $6/person/month

Trinet 

Outsourced HR And Payroll Services 

  • 360 reviews 
  • Built-in compliance
  • Time tracking

Custom pricing

Gusto 

SMBs Centered On Payroll And Benefits Management 

  • Benefits management
  • Job boards
  • State-mandated courses

Starts at $49/month + $6/person/month

1. Deel – Best For Businesses Overseeing Teams And Contractors Worldwide

Deel stands out as a comprehensive international workforce platform, integrating HR, payroll, compliance, and contractor management services. Having a user-friendly interface and advanced automation tools, Deel reduces the amount of administrative overhead, providing viable service to both large and small businesses.

Standout Features

  • Deel AI workforce offers a suite of trained professionals that go beyond simple support by fully executing repetitive HR, payroll, and compliance tasks with speed and precision.
  • Streamlines payroll in multiple currencies, manages benefits with country-specific perks, and ensures automated adherence to local tax and labor laws.
  • Built on top-tier protections with enterprise-level encryption, two-factor authentication, and ISO 27001 certification, while also meeting GDPR, SOC, and other international data protection standards to keep employee information secure.

Pros And Cons

Pros

Cons

Global payroll and compliance ensure accurate, timely payments  

Automated onboarding save time and reduce HR stress 

Secure document storage keeps all your files organized and protected in one place 

Limited people enablement capabilities available 

Advanced payroll features may be unnecessary for local businesses 

Pricing

Deel offers a variety of modules like Deel IT, Deel Payroll, and Deel Services. Here’s the pricing breakdown of the Deel HR module:

  • Deel HRIS - $5/employee/month
  • Deel Compensation - $15/employee/month
  • Deel Workforce Planning - $18/employee/month
  • Deel Engage - $20/employee/month
  • Deel Benefits Admin - Custom pricing
  • Deel Talent - Custom pricing
  • Deel Immigration - Custom pricing
  • Deel Background Checks – Custom pricing

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

2. HiBob – Best For Automating Hiring And Talent Onboarding

HiBob is a contemporary cloud-based HCM/HRIS system designed to embrace all phases of the employee lifecycle. It offers a vast variety of tools that help to make the company more engaged, build a stronger company culture, and enhance productivity. Hibob is scalable for any work arrangement and is therefore an effective solution for small businesses looking to have a single HRIS system.

Standout Features

  • Automates preboarding and onboarding, connects new hires with teammates, and tracks progress through built-in workflows
  • Customizable workflows are highly adaptable, with options to build localized sites and task lists, and tailor processes to specific needs
  • Offers performance management tools like goal setting, structured performance reviews, and ongoing feedback

Pros And Cons

Pros 

Cons 

Adapts to diverse international HR needs with flexible customization 

Simplifies leave tracking for smoother employee experiences 

Enables seamless management of multiple employment types worldwide 

Reporting features are somewhat basic for an HRIS  

Performance module surveys need more customization options 

Pricing

The platform provides flexible pricing plans tailored to fit specific business needs and requirements.

3. BambooHR - Best For Simplifying Employee Management

BambooHR is among the most popular HRIS systems for small businesses, which provides a cloud-based solution where all the data about employees is arranged systematically in a single place. Its clear interface and easy design are particularly helpful in small and mid-sized organizations, where managers operating in various departments tend to utilize the available tools such as this to simplify HR operations.

Standout Features

  • Employee self-service portal puts employees in control of their own payroll information. Staff can quickly access pay stubs, update withholdings, and manage direct deposit details directly within their account.
  • BambooHR’s payroll add-on covers tax filings and year-end forms, helping you stay in compliance with state and federal laws.
  • Performance management tools allow employees to complete self-assessments, while managers and peers provide constructive feedback, turning evaluations into a meaningful development process.

Pros And Cons

Pros

Cons

Intuitive and user-friendly HR platform experience

Leave status, bookings, and reminders improve task management

Approval processes enable clear collaboration with comments between approvers

Learning tool limited to training tracking features

Payroll, time tracking, and benefits require paid add-ons

Pricing

The plan starts at $10/employee/month. The platform offers the following pricing plans at custom pricing and comes with a free trial:

  • Core
  • Pro
  • Elite

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

4. Paycor – Best For Businesses Needing Unified HR And Payroll

Paycor software is a cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) platform that brings HR, payroll, talent management, workforce management, and analytics together in one seamless system. Designed with small and mid-sized businesses in mind, it helps simplify HR processes, cut down on repetitive administrative work, stay compliant, and transform workforce data into meaningful, actionable insights. 

Standout Features

  • Paycor’s mobile app makes HR simple for employees. They can view paychecks, download tax forms, request time off, review schedules, and even handle their benefits, all from their phone.
  • Paycor’s gamified learning system integrates gamification features like leaderboards and badges to make employee learning more engaging.
  • Benefits administration is built to be intuitive. Through the self-service portal, employees can shop for, compare, and enroll in plans.

Pros And Cons

Pros

Cons

New client promos sometimes waive setup fees 

Wide range of HR tools for varied tasks

Built-in employee engagement features available

Benefits, time tracking, and learning tools are add-ons 

Advanced tools included only in higher tiers

Pricing

Paycor offers the following pricing plans at custom pricing for small businesses with under 50 employees:

  • Complete + ASO
  • Core
  • Essential
  • Basic

For mid-sized businesses with over 50 to 1,000+ employees, the software offers a plan that is free for one month and includes advanced features like payroll, onboarding, analytics, and HR.

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

5. OnPay – Best For New Ventures And Growing Startups

OnPay payroll is an online payroll and HR software platform dedicated to making payroll, compliance, and HR services easier for small to medium-sized businesses. It handles the fundamentals, such as time tracking, employee records, and compliance, and does not make it complex or user-unfriendly.

Standout Features

  • OnPay takes care of payroll from start to finish. It calculates pay, withholds the right amount for federal, state, and local taxes, and even files everything on your behalf, including new hire reports.
  • Manage employees and contractors side by side in one system. OnPay processes both seamlessly and generates year-end W-2 and 1099 forms automatically.
  • You can set accruals, custom policies, and have employees request leave through the system. These requests flow into payroll workflows automatically.

Pros And Cons

Pros

Cons

Simple, user-friendly interface needs minimal training 

Free setup and data migration with great support 

Reliable payroll processing ensures strong compliance 

Occasional glitches cause slow load times or errors 

Payroll must be initiated manually 

Pricing

The platform offers one simple pricing plan based on the number of people, with a base fee of $49/month and $6/person/month.

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

6. Trinet - Best For Outsourced HR And Payroll Services

TriNet is unique in the HRIS market with the provision of HR services to small businesses in a fully outsourced form. It offers performance management, payroll, benefits administration, and time and attendance tools on its platform.

Standout Features

  • Employees get a complete feedback loop with 360 reviews from managers, peers, and self-assessments. Performance review tools make it simple to run structured review cycles that boost employee performance.
  • Employment laws are constantly changing, and keeping up can be time-consuming. Trinet’s experts monitor these shifts and handle the complexities, so your organization can remain compliant with confidence.
  • TriNet offers expert HR guidance, connecting you with experienced HR professionals who deliver real-time best practice guidance tailored to your industry, location, and business needs.

Pros And Cons

Pros 

Cons 

ASO service outsources HR/payroll with management control 

PEO frees managers to focus on business operations 

Employees gain access to enterprise-class benefits options 

Outsourcing requires ceding some management control 

Businesses may remain liable for compliance requirements 

Pricing

The platform offers customizable pricing plans based on business size and requirements.

7. Gusto – Best For SMBs Centered On Payroll And Benefits Management

Gusto’s HR software, equipped with a built-in Applicant Tracking System (ATS), streamlines hiring, onboarding, and payroll. The platform offers payroll, benefits, and self-service tools tailored for small businesses. Its compliance solutions relieve the stress of keeping up with compliance, and centralized compensation, time-off, and benefits systems keep everything under one roof.

Standout Features

  • Gusto supports benefits management, including commuter perks, FSAs, HSAs, and workers’ compensation. Gusto makes navigating employee benefits simpler with licensed advisors, smart technology, and built-in compliance support.
  • Gusto’s ATS connects with major job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter, making it easier to reach a broader candidate pool. It also files state new hire paperwork automatically to save time and keep you compliant.
  • The platform provides state-mandated courses, like harassment prevention, diversity, and security. These trainings help businesses stay compliant while ensuring their teams are informed and supported.

Pros And Cons 

Pros 

Cons 

Contractor-only plan ensures compliance with state new hire requirements 

Gusto wallet supports employee financial health tools 

Global payroll and EOR services simplify hiring and paying international teams 

Advanced tools reserved for higher-tier plans  

EOR services limited to only 12 countries 

Pricing

The platform offers the following pricing plans:

Pay my team:

  • Simple - $49/month + $6/person/month
  • Plus - $80/month + $12/person/month
  • Premium - $180/month + $22/person/month

Pay myself:

  • Solo - 49/month + $6/person/month

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

Choosing the right HRIS depends on how well the platform fits your company’s priorities and growth plans. Some small and mid-sized businesses prioritize affordable payroll automation, while others focus on global hiring, employee engagement, or advanced analytics.

The solutions mentioned above are all strong in their own way, be it international compliance formulation or cost-effective, all-inclusive HR and payroll solutions.

The wisest course of action is to consider your team size, budget, and future goals, and reduce the number of vendors capable of addressing your current needs and expanding with your future.