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.
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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.
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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