Best HRIS platforms for small businesses in 2025
High inflation, rising labor costs, and market volatility have pushed many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to freeze hiring or cut budgets. But core HR responsibilities like payroll, onboarding, and compliance didn’t go away — and they’re often left to one overstretched generalist.
Manual processes and scattered tools only add to the friction, increasing risks and wasting time. That’s where a purpose-built HRIS (human resources information system) becomes invaluable.
A well-suited HRIS centralizes HR workflows, reduces errors, and enhances the employee experience — even with limited resources.
Use this guide to compare the top HRIS platforms for small businesses. You’ll get side-by-side features, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right fit for your team.
🤩 Connect every stage of the employee lifecycle
Leapsome’s HRIS combines intuitive dashboards, visual reports, and people enablement tools for streamlined processes and data-based decisions.
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*The information below is based on our research in April and May 2025. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms (like G2 and Capterra) in April and May 2025.
How to choose the best HRIS for your small business
Most HRIS platforms are built for companies with a full-time HR team. You need one that can support lean operations, where HR tasks are just one part of your role. To make sure your platform of choice actually takes work off your plate and drives real efficiency, consider the following must-haves:
Core HR infrastructure
Does it centralize employee data, records, time off, and contracts in one place? A strong foundation here is critical to reduce risk and manual overhead.
Speed & usability
Is it intuitive and easy to adopt? Look for platforms with clean interfaces, thorough documentation, and customizable templates. Most SMBs don’t have time for a lengthy implementation process; they need to get things up and running quickly.
Automation that fits your workflows
Look for built-in workflows that cover onboarding, approvals, reviews, and recurring HR tasks. You should be able to trust automations to fire reliably, adapt them without support, and slot them into the way your team already works.
Practical performance & engagement tools
Look for solutions that help you spot problems early and act before they escalate (like pulse surveys, structured review cycles, and goal tracking). These tools keep team members aligned, supported, and more likely to stick around.
Clean handoff to finance & operations
Can you export what you need for payroll, audits, and compliance without time-consuming manual work? Integrations and export-ready reports reduce admin and risk.
Scalability without complexity
Choose a system that works for a team of 10 and can still support you with a team of 100. Look for modular features you can add on as you grow, so you won’t have to overhaul your system in the future.
1. Leapsome
Leapsome is the HR platform of choice by many lean People teams worldwide. The modular software combines HRIS features like absence management, payroll preparation, and time tracking with performance, learning, and engagement features — all in one user-friendly, highly scalable system.
Top HRIS features
- Core HR capabilities: Tackle data management, workflow management, reporting and analytics, document management, compliance tracking, and organization management.
- Time tracking & attendance: Organize time off and track employee time to ensure everyone uses their PTO and doesn’t exceed the hours agreed upon in their employment contract. This data helps HR teams keep accurate records and comply with applicable regulations.
- Payroll preparation: Centralize and prepare employee data (salaries, bonuses, absences, contract updates) for export to your payroll provider, streamlining the payroll preparation process with built-in approvals and employee self-service capabilities. Direct payroll processing is not included, but payroll integrations are available.
- Onboarding & learning: Automate onboarding steps, provide easy access to training resources so new hires can settle in smoothly, and provide pertinent development materials throughout the employee lifecycle.
- Performance management & engagement: Streamline performance reviews, set goals, send out surveys, and exchange feedback without needing a large human resources team to take care of all the steps in between.
Why Leapsome is a great HRIS for small businesses
Leapsome gives you an all-in-one system to manage HR tasks without a large team. Its modular design means you work with exactly what you need, so no bloated setup or unused features.Built-in performance, learning, and engagement features make it the go-to choice for teams looking for a streamlined, interconnected system to help them enable and retain their best people while keeping `core HR processes running smoothly.
- Brings HRIS and people enablement features together within a single platform
- User-friendly interface with powerful analytics tools
- Useful for both HR professionals and company employees
- Effective for in-person, hybrid, and remote teams
- People-first software solution
- Strong customer support
- Supports 38 languages
- Advanced AI tools included in all plans
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- Some HRIS features are still in development
- The range of features can cause an initial learning curve
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Leapsome is saving us lots of time during our performance appraisals and helps us build an open, value-oriented feedback culture. We’ve compared several platforms, and Leapsome stood out convincingly — it’s user-friendly, intuitive, and highly customizable. As a manager, I love how fast and openly the team at Leapsome reacts to our feedback and suggestions.
Dr. Christian Grobe
Leapsome enhances meaningful feedback and employee engagement. It’s a must-have for every company at any stage. We are growing toward 750 employees, but the rollout was easy, fast, and successful nonetheless. The great customer support helped us through the whole onboarding process.
Thore Schӓck
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With the help of the people analytics, you can quickly understand the significance of the results. We also frequently use the 1:1 function, which, although very simple, is extremely useful.
Erica Ancobia
We see the People team as a partner team rather than an admin team. We want to focus on our employees and not on processes. With Leapsome, we have automated the manual work around feedback and career development so that we can spend our time with our people: understanding their needs, guiding them through their very own DCMN lifecycle, and helping them find purpose in what they do.
Theresa Jasaraj
Connect every stage of the employee lifecycle
Learn how Leapsome can automate, connect, and simplify your HR processes.
Book a demo2. Personio
Personio is an all-in-one HR platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in Europe. It centralizes HR processes, from onboarding to payroll, into a single, user-friendly system, helping teams reduce administrative workload and improve compliance.
Top HRIS features
- Employee data management: Organize team member records with customizable fields and workflows, ensuring accurate and accessible employee information.
- Time tracking & absence management: Monitor working hours, manage leave requests, and support compliance with labor regulations.
- Payroll: Take care of payroll administration and automate salary calculations and payments (not available in all locations).
- Recruitment & onboarding: Access tools to manage job postings, applicant tracking, and streamlined onboarding processes.
- Performance management: Run performance reviews, set goals, and support employee growth and progress.
Why Personio is a great HRIS for small businesses
Personio aims to reduce manual HR admin. Its prebuilt workflows and simple UI make it easy to manage core HR processes without needing technical setup or HR expertise, though it does lack some native people enablement features, like a built-in learning and development tool.
- Combines HRIS capabilities and engagement features
- User-friendly interface with intuitive navigation
- Comprehensive features covering the entire employee lifecycle
- Strong focus on compliance with European labor laws
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- Primarily tailored for European markets, which may limit applicability elsewhere
- Some advanced features may require additional setup or customization
- Some missing engagement capabilities, like an integrated LMS
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3. HiBob
HiBob is an HRIS platform that’s focused on the employee experience, retention, and productivity while offering must-have HR features. It’s built to be easy for both People professionals and the employees they manage, with innovative tools and plenty of customization options.
Top HRIS features
- Core HR capabilities: Organize employee data and documentation, org charts, time off, compensation, and document management with customizable workflows.
- Time tracking: Manage PTO and track working hours with location-specific compliance and holiday rules.
- Onboarding: Automate preboarding and onboarding tasks, introduce new hires to teammates, and track progress with built-in workflows.
- Performance management: Run structured reviews, 1:1 check-ins, and set up goal cycles with flexible templates and scheduling.
Why HiBob is a great HRIS for small businesses
HiBob offers small businesses a comprehensive HR solution that combines essential HR functions with tools to enhance employee engagement and company culture. Its customizable features and user-friendly design make it an interesting choice for teams looking to streamline core HR processes. However, as with Personio, HiBob doesn’t include built-in tools for employee learning and development.
- Flexible workflows, fields, and dashboards that adapt to different organizational structures
- Intuitive interface with social features designed to increase engagement
- Built-in workflows for onboarding, reviews, and time off reduce manual admin
- Supports localized compliance across multiple regions
- Integrates with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Greenhouse, and some payroll providers
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- Doesn’t have robust performance and development tools, especially around goal setting and continuous feedback
- No built-in learning feature or native content creation tools
- Lacks advanced AI capabilities for survey analysis or predictive insights
- SMBs may find the setup heavier than needed for leaner operations
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5. Lattice
Lattice is an HR platform that’s designed to help growing teams manage performance, engagement, and development. It centralizes tools for feedback, reviews, and goal tracking to support managers and drive consistent employee growth.
Top HRIS features
- Employee data management: Take care of day-to-day HR admin, like record management, reporting, and payroll administration.
- Onboarding workflows: Automate onboarding processes with customizable workflows, ensuring a consistent experience for new team members.
- Performance management: Facilitate continuous feedback, 1:1 meetings, and customizable review cycles to support employee growth.
- Employee engagement: Manage engagement surveys, pulse checks, and feedback mechanisms to gauge team member sentiment.
Why Lattice is a great HRIS for small businesses
Lattice helps small businesses by integrating performance and engagement tools into everyday workflows. While it doesn’t offer the broader infrastructure of a comprehensive HRIS, it includes basic HRIS capabilities like employee record management and organizational charts. Meanwhile, the platform’s user-friendly design and automation capabilities reduce administrative tasks and minimize human error.
- User-friendly interface that’s accessible for managers and team members
- Comprehensive performance and engagement tools in one platform
- Built-in HRIS capabilities
- Customizable workflows and surveys to fit unique business needs
- Comprehensive analytics for informed decision-making
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- The learning curve may be steep for smaller businesses without dedicated HR support
- Better suited for US-based businesses (rather than European or global)
- Some newer modules are still in development
- Some users flag a lack of customization options
- Some users feel there aren’t enough reporting or dashboard automations
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7. Rippling
Rippling integrates HR, IT, and finance functions into one system. It offers businesses of all shapes and sizes a wide range of features to streamline their HR processes and boost efficiency.
Features
- Core HR capabilities: Features for managing employee data, taking care of reporting, and adjusting accessibility.
- Time tracking and attendance: These integrated tools show who worked when and ensure fair and quick payouts.
- Performance management: Smart tools for goal setting and tracking.
- Onboarding: Onboarding tools to help new team members get settled into their roles.
- Comprehensive integrations with other business systems
- Strong focus on automation and efficiency
- User-friendly interface
- Powerful analytics tools
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- Higher pricing compared to some competitors
- Some users report a steep initial learning curve
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7. Workday
Workday is a comprehensive human capital management (HCM) platform that integrates HR, finance, and planning functions into a unified system. While it’s widely used by large enterprises, Workday also offers solutions that are tailored to SMBs, providing tools to streamline HR processes and support organizational growth.
Top HRIS features
- Core HR & employee data management: Organize employee data, organizational structures, and HR processes for efficient management.
- Time tracking & absence management: Track employee hours, leave management, and attendance records.
- Payroll & benefits administration: Support payroll processing and benefits management, ensuring compliance with various regulations.
- Talent management: Access tools for recruiting, onboarding, performance evaluations, and succession planning to nurture employee development.
- People analytics & reporting: Get real-time insights and generate customizable reports to inform strategic HR decisions.
Why Workday is a great HRIS for small businesses
Workday’s enterprise-grade tools and unified platform are well-suited to SMBs with complex operational needs or long-term scaling plans. It helps you manage HR, finance, and planning in one place, while built-in analytics provide the visibility needed to stay compliant, control costs, and adjust quickly as your business grows. However, it may be an overly advanced or expensive solution for SMBs that need a simpler, more straightforward solution.
- Integrated platform combining HR, finance, and planning functions
- Robust analytics and reporting capabilities
- Modular platform lets you expand capabilities as needed
- Real-time data updates across modules to support better decision-making
- Comprehensive global compliance features
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- Complex implementation process may require dedicated resources
- Despite the modular system, it may be less cost-effective for small businesses with simpler needs
- Implementation requires significant planning and resources, which may necessitate a dedicated team
- Ongoing updates and maintenance require continuous administrator training
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8. Deel
Deel is designed for businesses that manage international employees and contractors. It combines HRIS functionality with global payroll, compliance, and contractor management tools, making it especially useful for distributed or remote-first teams.
Top HRIS features
- Global payroll: Manage multi-country payroll from one platform, with built-in compliance and tax calculations.
- Contractor & EOR management: Hire and pay international employees or contractors legally without setting up local entities.
- Onboarding: Automate document collection, equipment provisioning, and access setup for new hires across regions.
- Compliance tracking: Monitor legal, tax, and labor law compliance across different jurisdictions with regular updates.
Why Deel is a great HRIS for small businesses
Deel simplifies international workforce management by consolidating HR, payroll, and compliance. Its user-friendly interface and automation capabilities reduce administrative overhead, making it an efficient solution for small businesses operating across borders. However, it doesn’t have the in-depth people enablement capabilities that dedicated platforms like Leapsome have.
- Comprehensive global payroll and compliance features
- User-friendly interface with strong self-service options
- Automated onboarding and HR workflows
- Centralized document management with enterprise-grade security
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- Doesn’t have extensive people enablement capabilities
- Advanced payroll and compliance features may be unnecessary for businesses without international operations
- Some users feel it’s an expensive solution
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Why customers love us
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Leapsome has been an absolute game-changer for me in terms of my professional growth and development. What I love best about Leapsome is how it has empowered me to take control of my career journey. The user-friendly interface and intuitive design of Leapsome have made it incredibly easy for me to navigate and utilize the platform.
Victor J.
Enterprise (1000+ employees)
Leapsome stands out as a best-in-class platform that seamlessly addresses a spectrum of organizational needs, excelling in performance management, employee engagement, OKRs, and learning. Its unparalleled strength lies in its deep integration with existing tools, effortlessly connecting with our HRIS, Slack, Calendar, and Jira.
Jamie S.
Mid-market (50-1000 employees)
Our company is new to Leapsome, but the onboarding has been fantastic. Our Leapsome contact has worked with us every step of the way to make sure that the review process will be easy on HR and all employees. He has walked us through the process step by step to create a review that will be ready to roll out pretty much immediately.
Karen H.
Mid-market (50-1000 employees)
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Pricing questions
- An HRIS (human resources information system) focuses on core HR tasks like employee data management, reporting and analytics, document management, compliance tracking, and payroll.
- An HRMS (human resources management system) encompasses most HRIS functionalities but adds performance and talent management tools.
- HCM (human capital management) systems go further by integrating strategic planning and analytics features to manage the entire employee lifecycle.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our comprehensive article on HCM vs. HRIS vs. HRMS platforms.
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