9 Free HR Management Tools for Startups – Our Top Picks

HR management tools help you manage your employees more effectively.

They digitize and optimize your workflows, making it easier to implement HR practices and attract and retain good talent.

In this article, I have shared the nine free HR management tools that are well-suited for startups. The list covers basic apps, robust tools, and budget-friendly platforms.

What Is HR Management and What Tools Are Best For Startups

HR management is a process of managing the employee lifecycle and improving the department’s workflows.

It typically involves staffing, payroll management, performance tracking, employee engagement, and compliance.

If you are a startup company, you’d probably be working with limited resources. HR tools would cut down your team’s workload and provide a system to create your processes.

Top Features to Look For In An HR Management Tool

• Core HR functions.
• Employee database.
• Analytics and reporting.
• Integration capabilities.

Let’s check out the list to discover the best HR management tools for startups that are free of cost.

1. HR.My

HR.My is a multi-user human resources app.

It’s completely free and supports unlimited employees.

With HR.My, you can digitize all core HR functions and manage documentation online. You’ll be able to create an onboarding workflow, record your employee’s billable hours, maintain attendance, and process payroll.

Everything is trackable to make things easier for you.

Your staff receive self-service portals to check their leave balance, submit time-off requests, and apply for expense claims. Plus, they can update their details and access the contact information of their colleague.

Some team collaboration tools are also available to build a better work culture. You can create a forum for sharing ideas and encourage feedback.

You can perform several side functions as well. For example, you can build an incident management system and let your staff anonymously report unusual incidents.

Core Features

• Onboarding, SOPs, and policy management.
• Time tracking and attendance recording.
• Leave planner and statistics.
• Approval workflows for expense and leave requests.
• Payroll processing.
• Incident management module.
• Team collaboration and document sharing.
• Announcement or notice board.
• Self-service portals for employees.
• Automated alerts.
• Mobile apps.

Price

You can access HR.My Online. Mobile versions are available on both Google Play and the Apple Store.

2. OrangeHRM

Next on the list is OrangeHRM.

It’s an open-source cloud software with over 5 million active users.

The app is incredibly robust and covers all the core functions. You’ll get over a dozen sub-modules to manage various HR tasks.

Tech support is excellent here, and AI is integrated into the system. You can oversee routine work from your smartphone and offer self-service portals to your staff.

The great thing about OrangeHRM is that the platform offers both online and on-premise solutions. You can either use its built-in features for free or integrate it into your system and tailor the processes.

One more thing. OrangeHRM keeps an audit trail of all actions. You can identify unauthorized changes to the data and see who made the updates.

You can connect OrangeHRM with several third-party tools. The platform supports around thirty applications.

Core Features

• Recruitment and onboarding.
• HR administration, including policy publishing.
• Employee database and organization chart.
• Shift scheduling, time tracking, and attendance.
• Leave and overtime management.
• Payroll integration.
• Requisition management.
• Performance management.
• Training and career development.
• Reporting and analytics.
• Mobile app.

Price

OrangeHRM offers two packages. The starter plan is free, and the advanced plan comes with a 30-day free trial.

3. Horilla

Horilla is another good option for those who want a robust but free HR app.

It’s an open-source cloud software that has several HR administration capabilities.

Some of the things you can do with Horilla include recruitment, payroll, leave management, and performance tracking. You’ll get workflows for both onboarding and offboarding and an asset management system to allocate the company’s resources.

Workflows are available for both fixed and temporary employees. You can create flexible contracts with different pay rates and work schedules and manage your staff shifts.

You can also create a ticketing system to provide a place where employees can get information and submit disputes.

Overall, Horilla is user-friendly and comes with a mobile app for easy access. You can scale it to support your growing business and tailor the modules to meet your department’s requirements.

Core Features

• Recruitment and contract generation.
• Onboarding and offboarding.
• Employee database and shift management.
• Time and attendance.
• Leave management and payroll.
• Help desk module.
• Asset management and tracking.
• Performance tracking and 360° feedback.
• Customization and third-party integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

Horilla is completely free. You can download the app on desktop and mobile from your browser. Here’s the installation guide.

4. ZOHOPeople

ZOHOPeople is perfect for companies that are looking for a budget-friendly app with a free plan to get started.

The platform sells a comprehensive HR management app, offering free access to five users.

The free plan contains employee and document management, leave handling, standard reports, and a smart assistant. It’s a bit restricted, but it allows you to explore the app interface and check its basic features.

You can manage multiple organizations in the free version and provide a self-service portal to your team. ZOHO can be integrated with an e-signature app to help you digitize your documentation process.

What makes ZOHOPeople a good option is its affordability. Should you decide to purchase it in the future, you’ll only have to pay $3 to $5 per month.

Not only that, but you can find relevant apps inside the platform to extend your software’s functionality. ZOHO has built a complete ecosystem, so users don’t need to look elsewhere for side functions.

ZOHOPeople works well on both desktops and smartphones. You can also integrate it with third-party applications.

Core Features

• Employee database and documentation.
• Onboarding workflow.
• Time and attendance.
• Roster and project management.
• Performance tracking and 360° feedback.
• Compensation management and payroll integration.
• Learning and development.
• Employee engagement and helpdesk.
• Reporting and analytics.
• AI and automation.
• Third-party integrations and mobile app.

Price

ZOHOPeople’s basic plan is free, and premium packages come with a 30-day free trial. No credit card information is required to try the software.

5. Odoo

Odoo is a business management platform that sells a suite of applications.

For human resources, you’ll get around applications specializing in different tasks and the option to pick one for free.

If you go for its employee management app, you’ll be able to build an employee directory, categorize your staff, create onboarding workflows, and track the company’s assets.

The employee product also lets you record attendance, manage time off, and create courses.

If you want to extend the software’s functionalities, you can integrate the employee app with the other HR products. This would allow you to create a flexible recruitment process, improve your leave management, and handle performance appraisals.

Tons of other interesting apps are available on its app marketplace. For example, if you can afford it, you can integrate an expense module to collect receipts. Odoo provides project management, accounting, and productivity tools as well.

Core Features

• Recruitment and onboarding.
• Employee database and document management.
• Organization chart and asset tracking.
• Attendance monitoring and time-off workflows.
• Performance appraisal with survey templates.
• Training courses for employees.
• Referral management.
• Integration with other apps.
• Mobile app.

Price

Odoo offers one app for free and add-on modules for $10 to $14 per month. Odoo also provides both cloud and on-premise options.

6. Bitrix24

Bitrix24, like Odoo, is business management software.

It offers a suite of free productivity tools to help you digitize and streamline your workflows.

You can use Bitrix24 to build systems for various purposes, including HR management. Its HR module covers employee management, international communication, staff engagement, and documentation.

You can easily automate your day-to-day operations with Bitrix24 and use its AI-powered tools to improve work efficiency. The platform can also be integrated with tons of third-party applications.

Bitrix24 is a desktop app, but it works well on smartphones as well. Its mobile app is primarily designed as a messenger to help you stay connected to your staff. You’ll find the mobile app on both Google Play and the App Store.

If you need an app specifically for employee management, Bitrix24 is the best option.

Core Features

• Employee profiles.
• Information management system.
• Staff engagement and internal communication.
• Work scheduling and time tracking.
• KPIs and performance tracking.
• Standard and custom reports.
• AI and automation.
• API and integrations.
• Mobile app.
• Cloud and on-premise solutions.

Price

Bitrix24’s basic plan is forever free. You can add an unlimited number of users and access free tools.

For premium packages, the platform charges $61 to $499 per month. You can take a free trial.

7. Connecteam

Connecteam is another good option for staff management.

The app is specifically built for remote teams, delivering user-friendly and accessible tools to help you create better processes.

Top notable features of Connecteam are job scheduling, time tracking, communication, and a help desk. If you check its HR product, you’ll find some core HR functions, including documentation, time-off management, and employee training.

Several engagement tools are also built into the system. You can celebrate your team’s efforts and offer monetary incentives. You’ll have the flexibility to customize the reward.

For work management, Connecteam provides project management tools with an AI assistant. You can automatically create schedules, build courses, and draft messages.

Core Features

• Employee directory and knowledge base.
• Company feed and internal communication tools.
• Surveys and helpdesk.
• Job scheduling, project management, and time tracking.
• Recognition and rewards.
• Documentation and training.
• AI and automation.
• Time off management and payroll integration.
• Reporting.
• API and integrations.

Price

Connecteam is free for 10 users. The premium packages range between $29 and $99.

8. MintHCM

MintHCM is open-sourced, AI-powered, and rich in features.

It provides you with everything to manage your human resources department successfully.

Core capabilities of MintHCM are recruitment, employee database, time management, and leave tracking. You can set up roles for your staff and build an information system to store your employees’ history.

Onboarding, offboarding, and performance tracking are all included in the free package. You can even create a hybrid system and manage your office space and the company’s assets.

One other thing you can manage through MintHCM is travel expenses. You can plan trips for your staff and record the expenses.

MintHCM works well on both desktop and mobile.

Core Features

• Employee information system.
• Job description and recruitment.
• Onboarding and offboarding.
• Calendar and time management.
• Resource booking and travel expenses.
• Leave management.
• Analytics and reporting.
• Office space management.
• AI-powered tools.
• Gamification.
• Mobile app.

Price

MintHCM is a desktop app. You can download it from its official website.

9. Frappe

Frappe is customizable HR management software. It’s open source and specializes in both HR and payroll.

You can get started on Frappe via your Google account and access it from your smartphone. Frappe’s mobile app allows location tracking, time-off and expense requests approvals, and employee profile viewing.

The desktop app, on the other hand, covers your employees’ complete lifecycle from onboarding and attendance to shift management and performance tracking.

The recruitment module is also available for free. You can manage job requisitions, make staffing plans, post job ads, and arrange interviews.

You can customize the workflows on Frappe and automate some of your processes. Frappe offers enough flexibility to scale your system as you grow.

Core Features

• Job board posting and recruitment.
• Onboarding and offboarding.
• Leave and expense management.
• Attendance and payroll.
• Workflow automation.
• Performance tracking and promotions.
• HR administration and reporting.
• Mobile app.

Price

You can sign up for free here.

Conclusion

HR management tools offer tons of benefits.

They can help you establish HR practices, organize your data, optimize your processes, and improve employee communication.

Try any of the tools mentioned in the list to explore an HR app’s functions.

All of them are free and a good fit for startups. Good luck!