SFDIFY
For most US small businesses, the best HR platform is the one that pays people correctly and covers the HR basics without a high monthly floor, and Gusto is the simplest place to start at $49/mo + $7/mo per person [1]. Choose BambooHR if you want a dedicated HR system of record (from $10 per employee/month) [2], Justworks if you want a PEO that bundles benefits and HR support ($79/month/employee for PEO Basic) [3], and Deel if your team works across several countries [4].
How we chose
We compared six tools a US company with roughly 2 to 100 employees is likely to shortlist when it searches for the best HR software: four payroll-and-HR platforms (Gusto, Justworks, Rippling and Deel), one HR information system (BambooHR) and one applicant tracking system (Breezy HR). We compared starting prices, entry-plan coverage, benefits, multi-state and international support, and how the bill grows with headcount.
Every product fact comes from the vendors' own homepages and pricing pages, checked on 2026-11-08. We did no hands-on testing, and prices exclude payroll taxes, insurance premiums and promotions. Gusto, Deel and Breezy HR links are affiliate links; the order is based on fit for a typical US small business.
Best HR software compared
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | US payroll plus HR basics | $49/mo + $7/mo per person [1] | Unlimited payrolls per month on Simple [1] |
| BambooHR | A dedicated HR system of record | $10 USD per employee/month; flat $250/mo for 25 employees or fewer [2] | Payroll and benefits administration are add-ons [2] |
| Justworks | Outsourced HR and benefits through a PEO | Payroll $8/month/employee + $50/month base fee [3] | "No Implementation Fee" [3] |
| Rippling | Growing teams that want HR, IT and finance together | From $8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee, by quote [5] | HR, payroll, IT and finance on one platform [6] |
| Deel | Global and remote teams | $49 per contractor per month [4] | Employer of record in 130+ countries [4] |
| Breezy HR | Recruiting and applicant tracking | $157/mo billed annually [7] | Unlimited users and positions on every plan [7] |
Gusto — the default pick for US payroll and HR basics
Gusto is the tool to price first if your team is mostly in the US and your main HR job is paying people and filing taxes correctly. Its pricing page describes "Payroll, benefits, and HR all in one place" and promises "No hidden fees. Cancel any time." [1]
Verified features: The Simple plan includes unlimited payrolls per month, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO policies and holiday pay [1]. Plus adds time tracking and scheduling, multi-state payroll and contractor invoice management [1]. For benefits, Gusto helps you compare medical, dental and vision plans, with "No Gusto administration fees" on health insurance [1]. A global contractor payments add-on covers contractors "in more than 120 countries" [1].
Pricing: Simple is $49/mo + $7/mo per person, Plus is $99/mo + $12/mo per person, and Premium is $179/mo + $22/mo per person [1]. By our math, a 10-person team pays $119 a month on Simple or $219 on Plus before add-ons. Our Gusto pricing guide breaks down the add-on fees.
Strengths: Low entry price, predictable per-person pricing, and no health insurance administration fee.
Limitations: Simple is described as "Run basic payroll in one state." [1], so a team with employees in several states needs Plus. HR guidance and tools sit in Premium [1], a big step up in per-person cost. For performance reviews and compensation planning, BambooHR goes further.
Best fit: US small businesses that want payroll, benefits and onboarding in one place without a PEO.
BambooHR — the HRIS for people management
BambooHR is an HR information system first, with payroll and benefits administration sold as add-ons [2].
Verified features: Core includes employee records, a custom report builder, workflows and approvals, job posting and time-off management [2]. Its applicant tracking allows 5 job openings on Core, 25 on Pro and 50 on Elite [2]. Pro adds performance management with 360-degree review cycles and 1:1s, and Elite adds compensation planning and salary benchmarking [2]. International hiring is offered through "Global Employment (powered by Remote)" [2].
Pricing: Listed prices are $10 USD (Core), $17 USD (Pro) and $25 USD (Elite) per employee/month [2]. For companies with 25 employees or fewer, BambooHR charges a monthly flat rate of $250 USD/mo for Core, $425 for Pro and $650 for Elite [2]. Combining Payroll and Benefits Administration with any plan earns a 15% discount [2].
Strengths: The deepest performance, compensation and reporting tools of the six.
Limitations: Because of the flat rate, a 6-person company pays the same $250 a month as a 25-person one, and that is before payroll. The Payroll and Benefits Administration add-ons are marked "US employees only" [2].
Best fit: Companies that have an HR lead, or are about to hire one, and want a proper system of record.
Justworks — the PEO for benefits and compliance help
Justworks calls itself "The HR platform and partner for every small business journey" and sells a payroll-only plan plus PEO plans [8, 3]. New to PEOs? Read our PEO vs EOR guide.
Verified features: PEO Basic includes payroll, HR consulting and tools, 24/7 support, 401(k) and an applicant tracking system; PEO Plus adds medical, dental and vision administration, HSA/FSA accounts, and mental health and fertility benefits [3]. Justworks says its PEO supports "over 4,000 tax localities" [8], and its team is reachable by phone, email or chat [8].
Pricing: The Payroll plan is $8/month/employee + a $50/month base fee. PEO Basic is $79 and PEO Plus is $124 per month per employee, with no base fee [3]. By our math, PEO Basic for 10 employees comes to $790 a month.
Strengths: HR support and benefits access in one bill, with published prices and "No Implementation Fee" [3].
Limitations: A PEO costs far more per head than payroll software: $79 per employee for PEO Basic [3] against $7 per person on Gusto Simple [1]. The international contractors add-on covers "over 60 countries" [3], fewer than Gusto's contractor payments or Deel.
Best fit: Teams that want competitive health benefits and expert compliance help, and can absorb the higher per-employee cost.
Rippling — for growing teams that want HR, IT and finance together
Rippling pitches "global HR, Payroll, IT, and Finance in one place" and says every product "is built on a unified platform" [6].
Verified features: HR covers benefits, recruiting, performance and a learning management system; IT can "Manage identity, access, and devices"; finance covers corporate cards, expenses, procurement and bill pay [6].
Pricing: "Rippling plans start at $8 per employee per month, with a monthly base fee," and the total depends on the products you choose, so you request a custom quote [5]. Eligible US VC-backed startups can get free access for 6 months [5].
Strengths: One employee record drives HR, payroll, app access and devices.
Limitations: Beyond the $8 starting point there is no public price list, so a full bill needs a sales conversation [5]. A five-person company rarely needs this many modules.
Best fit: Fast-growing or venture-backed companies that also manage laptops, software access and company spend. Our Deel vs Rippling comparison covers how the two differ for global teams.
Deel — for global and remote teams
Deel is built for hiring and paying people outside the US, as contractors or as full employees, without opening a local entity [4].
Verified features: Contractor management includes payments in 120+ currencies and worker classification compliance [4]. Its employer of record (EOR) service offers "Full legal employment in 130+ countries globally," and its US PEO covers all 50 US states [4].
Pricing: Contractors start at $49 per contractor per month, EOR at $599 per EOR employee per month, and the US PEO at $125 per US PEO employee per month [4]. Deel offers "flexible month-to-month pricing with no long-term commitments required" [4].
Strengths: The widest international reach here, with contractors, EOR employees and US PEO staff on one platform.
Limitations: For an all-US team, Deel is not the low-cost option: its US PEO starts at $125 per employee per month [4], against $79 for Justworks PEO Basic [3]. EOR at $599 per employee per month adds up quickly, though Justworks lists the same price [3].
Best fit: Remote-first companies hiring across borders, and US companies making their first hires abroad.
Breezy HR — for recruiting, not a full HR system
Breezy HR is recruiting and applicant tracking software. Its product menu covers advertising jobs, screening applicants and hiring, with onboarding and performance tools alongside [9]. It does not list payroll, so treat it as an add-on to one of the platforms above.
Verified features: The Startup plan includes posting to "50+ Job Boards," a branded career site, interview self-scheduling, candidate questionnaires and EEOC / OFCCP reporting [7]. Its AI, Breezy Intelligence, scores applicants on credits "starting at $30 per 100,000" [7]. HRIS integrations come with the Business plan [7].
Pricing: Startup is $157 a month billed annually or $189 billed monthly, Growth is $273 or $329, and Business is $439 or $529; Custom Pro is priced by quote [7]. There is no free plan, but there is a 14-day trial with no credit card [7].
Strengths: Every plan includes unlimited users and unlimited open positions, and the price does not change as your company grows [7].
Limitations: The $157 monthly minimum is more than Gusto Simple costs a 10-person team, and a company hiring a few people a year may be fine with the job openings built into BambooHR [2] or the applicant tracking system in Justworks PEO Basic [3].
Best fit: Companies hiring for several roles at once that need a structured pipeline.
How to choose the best HR platform for your team
Start with where your people work. One US state: Gusto Simple has the lowest list price here. Several states: compare Gusto Plus with Justworks. Abroad: Deel is built for it, and Justworks and BambooHR offer international add-ons.
Decide whether you want a PEO. Justworks PEO Basic or Deel's US PEO costs far more per employee than payroll software but bundles benefits access and HR support. If you only need payroll and employee records, software is enough.
Separate payroll from people management. Gusto and Justworks lead with paying people; BambooHR leads with records, reviews and compensation.
Treat recruiting as its own decision. A handful of hires a year fits the applicant tracking in BambooHR or Justworks PEO Basic. Constant hiring justifies a dedicated tool like Breezy HR.
Price the monthly floor. By our math from the list prices above, a 10-person US team pays about $119 a month on Gusto Simple, $130 on Justworks Payroll, a flat $250 on BambooHR Core before payroll, and $790 on Justworks PEO Basic.
Plan for your other systems. If HR data must reach your CRM or dashboards and off-the-shelf integrations fall short, a custom CRM or integration layer can keep records in sync.
FAQ
What is the best HR software for small business?
For a US-only team, Gusto Simple is the easiest start at $49/mo + $7/mo per person [1]. For outsourced benefits and HR support, Justworks PEO Basic is $79/month/employee [3]. For performance and reporting, BambooHR Core is a flat $250/mo for 25 employees or fewer [2].
Which is the best HR payroll software for a team under 25?
On list price, Gusto Simple ($49/mo + $7/mo per person) [1] and Justworks Payroll ($8/month/employee + a $50/month base fee) [3] are close: by our math, 10 employees cost $119 and $130 a month respectively. Gusto Simple is limited to payroll in one state [1], so multi-state teams should compare Gusto Plus at $99/mo + $12/mo per person [1].
What are the best HRIS systems for remote teams?
Across countries, Deel offers employer of record coverage in 130+ countries and contractor payments in 120+ currencies [4], and BambooHR adds Global Employment, powered by Remote [2]. For a remote team inside the US, Gusto Plus includes multi-state payroll [1].
What is the best HR software for startups?
Rippling gives eligible US VC-backed startups free access for 6 months [5]. Bootstrapped startups usually start cheaper with Gusto, whose pricing page says you can "Cancel any time" [1].
Our recommendation
Start with Gusto if you are a US small business that mainly needs payroll, benefits and onboarding at a low monthly cost. Choose Justworks if you want a PEO to carry benefits and compliance, and add BambooHR once an HR lead needs a real system of record. Rippling suits fast-growing companies that also manage devices and spend, Deel is the pick when your team crosses borders, and Breezy HR earns its place when hiring becomes weekly work.
Sources
- Gusto Pricing, Plans & Fees (2026) | How Much Does Gusto Cost? — checked 2026-11-08
- BambooHR Plans and Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Justworks PEO & Payroll Plans Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Pricing | Transparent & Fair Pricing | HRIS Costs | Deel — checked 2026-11-08
- Rippling pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Rippling homepage: Workforce Management System | HR, IT, Finance — checked 2026-11-08
- Breezy HR pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Justworks: PEO & Payroll Solutions for Small Businesses — checked 2026-11-08
- Modern Hiring Software & Applicant Tracking System | Breezy HR — checked 2026-11-08
