Free HRMS Software

Growth in any organization brings both opportunity and complexity. As teams expand, so does the volume of paperwork, payroll entries, and performance data. However, this often leaves Human Resources (HR) managers struggling to stay on top of it all. More often than not, the issue is not a lack of commitment; it is the absence of the right tools to keep operations organized.

This is where Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS) prove beneficial. Designed to automate and centralize core HR functions, these platforms make everything easier from attendance and recruitment to payroll and performance tracking. Simply put, these tools allow HR teams to shift the focus from spreadsheets to people, so more time can be spent on improving workplace culture rather than managing routine tasks.

But for businesses, high subscription fees make advanced HRMS platforms feel out of reach. Thankfully, a number of free and open-source options now provide reliable functionality without the financial burden.

To make the choice easier, here’s a look at some of the best free HRMS software available today, each with a unique set of tools.

Horilla HRMS is a feature-rich, open-source platform designed to handle the full spectrum of HR operations. The software provides a broad suite of modules, including (but not limited to) attendance and shift management, leave tracking, payroll (with allowances, deductions, and tax rules), and a help-desk feature for internal queries.

As open-sourced (licensed under LGPL-2.1) software, organizations have the freedom to self-host or adapt the code (instead of being forced into a rigid ‘one-size’ mold). The software also supports multiple languages, which makes it useful for multinational or regionally diverse workforces.

For those looking to automate and centralize multiple HR functions in one system while retaining control and customization, Horilla can be a compelling option.

Limitations With Free Plan: Horilla gives full access to its code. However, any support or advanced add-ons may require paid services.

Key Features

• Asset Management Software: This module tracks company assets through categorization, import/export, and batch numbering. It allows admins to assign, reassign, and monitor assets via detailed records and approval processes
• Recruitment Management Software: The software allows job postings, candidate lifecycle tracking and onboarding process through a unified system
• Performance Management System (PMS): Horilla supports structured goal setting through Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). It enables 360-degree feedback from managers and peers. The system also tracks performance over set time periods

Pros And Cons

Beeja is yet another HRMS that comes with modules beyond core HR (such as employee loan and inventory management). The platform allows for extensive customization with personalized settings options. 

It features a structured dashboard where administrators can oversee staff information, configure payroll settings, and monitor approvals in real time. Each module functions independently but connects within the same environment. This allows data to flow between HR tasks such as onboarding, attendance tracking, and payment processing.

Beeja’s key advantages include its scalability (from smaller teams up to larger ones) and its 'all-in-one' design, which means fewer disconnected tools.

Limitations With Free Plan: Beeja is forever free and is built for ‘limitless growth.’

Key Features

• Payroll And Payment Processing: The platform allows starting a pay run from a dashboard. It helps make edits of bonuses/deductions before finalizing pay slips, and the export of financial data
• Employee Loan Management: The system supports loan requests, approval workflows, repayment tracking with status, and alerts for overdue payments
• Timesheet Management: This module enables employees to log hours from any device, lets managers see real-time team time usage, supports one-click timesheet submission and approval, and offers custom fields per department 

Pros And Cons

Sentrifugo is a free and open-source HRMS tool built under the GNU GPL v3 license. The platform brings together multiple modules, including expense management, asset management, and talent acquisition, among others. All of this helps make management more organized and consistent

This platform lets organizations shape the system around the way they already work. This way, teams are able to set up their own roles, approval steps, and workflows instead of following a fixed structure.

Because the software operates through a web-based architecture, it is easy to use via standard browsers on local or cloud servers. Also, the software is self-hosted. Therefore, organizations keep full ownership of their data.

Limitations With Free Plan: Using the free version implies self-hosting and community support. However, paid add-ons or enterprise support may cost extra.

Key Features

• Performance Appraisal: Sentrifugo helps managers evaluate employee performance, gather self-assessments, and identify training needs. The module also helps organizations structure customized appraisal processes
• Employee Self-Service Portal (ESS): Employees gain access to update personal information, submit leave/attendance requests and view records
• Advanced Reporting And Analytics: The system offers dashboards and customizable reports that highlight key HR metrics like turnover, attendance trends, and performance data

Pros And Cons

OrangeHRM serves small businesses that want to keep their HR information organized and secure. It’s a practical option for teams looking for flexibility and control, especially since it doesn’t require any upfront licensing cost.

The software uses a modular approach and can be deployed either in the cloud or self-hosted. This flexibility allows teams to adapt the system to their own workflows or connect it with existing IT infrastructure. The latter is a useful option for organizations that prioritize data control, customization, or on-site operations.

Limitations With Free Plan: OrangeHRM’s free Starter (open source) plan includes only the core HR functions needed by smaller teams (20–50 employees). It excludes the advanced modules, implementation services, SLAs, and richer functionality available in the Advanced (Enterprise) edition.

Key Features:

• Roster Management: This feature lets organizations create and share staff schedules using drag-and-drop tools while managing shifts across multiple departments or locations. Moreover, designated roster admins can handle scheduling without full HR access
• Employee Voice: This module lets staff submit grievances through customizable forms, with the option to stay anonymous. It helps HR teams manage and resolve issues through defined processes
• Citra AI: OrangeHRM’s chat assistant makes everyday HR tasks easier by letting employees handle leave requests or data checks through natural chat commands. This provides quick and conversational support in real time

Pros And Cons

Bitrix24 offers a full range of HRMS tools to automate HR processes. It stands out for its comprehensive ‘Work Management’ module, which brings together tools like task time tracking, work hour management, and task scoring. The system also promotes ‘Employee Engagement’ through built-in communication options such as polls, announcements, and appreciation badges, which help maintain structured workflows.

Beyond HR, it serves as a complete online workspace with Customer Relationship Management (CRM), website building, project management, and task tracking features. Built-in collaboration tools like video meetings and shared calendars, along with an AI-powered assistant, make the platform even more versatile.

Limitations With Free Plan: The Bitrix24 Free plan provides only 5 GB of storage. It excludes advanced HR tools, automation features, expanded marketing capabilities, and customer support services that are available in paid tiers.

Key Features:

• Information Management: The platform allows HR teams to create, edit, and securely store documents, manage employee records, and maintain a centralized knowledge base
• Culture And Engagement: This feature helps build a connected workplace through company news, polls, and employee recognition features
• Business Process Automation: It enables HR teams to set up rules, triggers, and smart workflows that automatically handle tasks like approvals, updates, and notifications

Pros And Cons

Frappe HR is a complete HR and payroll platform that manages the entire employee lifecycle. It covers key functions such as hiring, onboarding, attendance, payroll, performance reviews, and expense tracking.

Built on the Frappe Framework, it allows easy customization of workflows, forms, and reports without needing advanced technical skills. It also integrates smoothly with ERPNext and other systems. This means managers have access to HR and accounting functions in one place.

With its modular structure, Frappe HR can be scaled easily. This makes it a practical choice for organizations of any size.

Limitations With Free Plan: Frappe HR’s open-source version is fully free but needs to be self-hosted, so users are responsible for setup, maintenance, and security. Operating it usually costs around $40 per month for a VPS, along with additional expenses for email services, backups, and updates.

Key Features:

• Expense Management: Employees can submit expense claims or request advances, while HR teams set up approval workflows, link expenses to cost centers or projects, and reconcile advances with actual spending
• Payroll Tax And Reports: This feature enables organizations to define tax slabs, handle declarations and exemptions, and generate payroll reports like salary registers and tax computations for compliance and analysis
• Shifts And Attendance: It supports shift scheduling, mobile check-ins using GPS or biometric devices, roster management, and automatic attendance tracking integrated with payroll

Pros And Cons

IceHrm is an open-source HR platform developed by Glacies Technologies that helps managers with employee data management. It uses a modular framework. This means organizations can choose the modules they need rather than getting the entire system.

The platform is built with scalability in mind. Therefore, managers don’t have to worry about getting a new system when their business requirements change. One of its key features is the performance review module, which lets teams create custom evaluation templates and monitor employee goals from a single dashboard.

Limitations With Free Plan: IceHrm’s open-source version includes only basic modules such as employee records, payroll, and attendance management. More advanced features, like leave tracking, recruitment, and performance reviews, are available only in the paid Cloud or Pro editions.

Key Features:

• Leave, Attendance, And Time Tracking: IceHrm allows employees to clock in and out, request different types of leave, and follow multi-level approval workflows. It also automates leave calculations
• Document Management And Employee Records: The platform supports uploading, organizing, and sharing both company and employee documents with expiry alerts. Files are stored securely with controlled access permissions
• Employee Information Management: It offers a secure and searchable employee database with options for custom fields, job titles, work history, and access control based on organizational hierarchy

Pros And Cons

Managing payroll, attendance, and employee engagement manually is no longer practical, regardless of where your business stands in terms of size and scale. It is error-prone, time-consuming, and can adversely impact your business's overall growth trajectory. Therefore, it's imperative that you start using an HRMS that can meet your team's requirements. The free HRMS solutions mentioned above serve organizations of varying sizes and technical expertise. Each offers a different balance of automation, customization, and control, without the expense of recurring subscriptions.