Best HR Software for Companies Under 50 Employees
Once your team hits 10+, you need more than spreadsheets. These HR platforms are built specifically for companies under 50 employees.
Best HR Software for Companies Under 50 Employees
You dont need an enterprise HRIS. But you do need more than spreadsheets once your team hits 10+. Here are the best HR platforms built for small companies.
Top 5 HR Platforms
1. Gusto - Best All-in-One
$40/mo + $6/person. Payroll + HR + benefits in one platform. Onboarding, PTO tracking, org charts, employee surveys, performance reviews. The most complete SMB HR solution.
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2. BambooHR - Best Pure HR
$6.19/person/mo (Essentials). Dedicated HR platform without payroll. Employee database, time-off tracking, onboarding, reporting, performance management. Clean interface loved by HR teams.
3. Rippling - Best for IT + HR
$8/user/mo base. Unique combination of HR + IT management. Automatically provisions devices and software when you hire. Best for tech-forward companies.
4. Homebase - Best for Hourly Teams
Free for 1 location, 20 employees. Scheduling, time tracking, team messaging, hiring. Perfect for retail, restaurants, and service businesses.
5. Deel - Best for Remote/International Teams
$49/mo per contractor, $599/mo per EOR employee. Hire and pay internationally without setting up foreign entities. Compliance handled automatically.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | BambooHR | Rippling | Homebase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Yes | Add-on | Yes | Add-on |
| Onboarding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| PTO tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Benefits admin | Yes | Add-on | Yes | No |
| Performance reviews | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Scheduling | No | No | No | Yes |
| Device management | No | No | Yes | No |
| Free tier | No | No | No | Yes |
When to Upgrade from Spreadsheets
Signs you need HR software:
- Tracking PTO in a shared spreadsheet is causing errors
- Onboarding new hires takes more than 2 hours of admin work
- You cant easily answer "how many sick days has X taken?"
- Compliance documentation is scattered across folders
- Employee records are in multiple systems
Our Recommendation
- Under 10 employees: Gusto (payroll + basic HR)
- 10-30 employees: BambooHR + payroll add-on or Gusto
- 30-50 employees: Rippling for tech companies, Gusto for others
- Hourly workforce: Homebase (free tier is excellent)
- International team: Deel
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