Do you really need HR software? We thought we didn't. Then we spent a week manually calculating PTO and realized we'd rather pay $40/month than lose another Friday afternoon to spreadsheets. These five tools are the ones we'd actually use — covering everything from simple US payroll to global EOR.
Your Shortlist
- 🥇 Gusto — Best all-in-one HR & payroll for US teams
- 🥈 BambooHR — Deepest HR features for growing teams
- 🥉 Deel — Best for global hiring and contractors
- #4 Rippling — HR + IT in one (innovative but pricey)
- #5 ADP — Enterprise compliance heavyweight
#5 — ADP: Overkill or Essential?
From $59/mo + $4/employee · Best for compliance-first businesses
ADP is the 800-pound gorilla of payroll. ADP Run ($59/mo + $4/emp) handles multi-state payroll, tax filing, and compliance with a dedicated support team. If you operate in multiple states, ADP's compliance infrastructure is unmatched. But for a simple 5-person team, it's overkill. The interface feels enterprise, and the pricing adds up fast.
Hidden gem: ADP's compliance team handles tax notices and audits so you don't have to.
#4 — Rippling: HR Meets IT
From $8/user/mo (HR core) · Best for tech-forward teams
Rippling is the most innovative platform here. When you hire someone, it automatically provisions their laptop, sets up Slack, Gmail, and Salesforce accounts, and adds them to payroll — all from one workflow. Offboarding reverses everything instantly. It's brilliant for tech teams but expensive à la carte. You're paying a premium for the convergence.
Who it's for: Tech-savvy businesses that want to replace 3-4 tools with one.
#3 — Deel: The Global Hiring Machine
From $49/mo per contractor · EOR from $599/mo per employee
Deel is the fastest-growing HR platform for a reason. Global compliance in 150+ countries, contractor payments, and full EOR services make it indispensable for remote teams. The free plan (contractor payments only) is surprisingly useful. If you need to hire someone in Argentina or Poland, Deel handles the legal complexity.
Who it's for: Any business with international contractors or employees.
#2 — BambooHR: Best HR Toolkit
From $6.50/employee/mo · Best for growing teams (10-200 people)
BambooHR's employee records, PTO tracking, performance reviews, and reporting are the best in this lineup. The org chart, eNPS surveys, and goal tracking give growing companies the HR infrastructure they need. The downside: no native US payroll. You'll need Gusto or ADP alongside it. That's two tools, two invoices, two support teams.
Who it's for: Teams that have outgrown Gusto and need serious HR features.
#1 — Gusto: The Safe Bet
From $40/mo + $6/employee · Best for most small businesses
Gusto wins because it's the complete package. Full-service payroll, benefits admin (health, 401(k), workers' comp), PTO tracking, and employee onboarding — all in one polished platform. The employee self-onboarding is the best in class: new hires complete tax forms, direct deposit, and benefits enrollment in under 10 minutes. For a 10-person US-based team, nothing beats Gusto's value.
Who it's for: 90% of US-based small businesses. Start here.
The Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Free Tier | Paid From | Global Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Best all-in-one HR & payroll | No (free trial) | $40/mo + $6/emp | ❌ US only |
| BambooHR | HR features for growing teams | 7-day trial | $6.50/emp/mo | ❌ US/Canada |
| Deel | Global hiring & contractors | ✅ Free for contractors | $49/mo per contractor | ✅ 150+ countries |
| Rippling | HR + IT management | Demo only | $8/user/mo (HR) | ✅ Global |
| ADP | Enterprise compliance & scale | Demo only | $59/mo + $4/emp | ✅ Multi-country |
Bottom Line
For most small businesses, Gusto is the easiest call we make all year. It works, it's affordable, and it includes everything. If you're growing fast and need deeper HR, BambooHR is worth the extra complexity. Global team? Deel is essential. Tech-first company? Check out Rippling.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. All reviews are based on actual usage and publicly available information.