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Best HR and payroll software in 2026

HR and payroll platforms run payroll and taxes, manage benefits, onboarding, time off and employee records. Some specialise in hiring and paying people in other countries.

12 tools compared. Top picks first, then alphabetical. No paid placements.

Gusto

PaidTop pick

Easy payroll, benefits and HR for US small businesses.

Best for: US small businesses running payroll for the first time.

  • Full-service payroll
  • Tax filing
  • Benefits
  • Onboarding

Payroll and HR platform from the largest payroll provider.

Best for: Mid-size companies wanting an established provider.

  • Payroll
  • Benefits
  • Time and attendance
  • Talent management

BambooHR

Free trial

Friendly HR software for small and mid-size businesses.

Best for: Small and mid-size companies replacing spreadsheets for HR.

  • Employee records
  • Hiring and onboarding
  • Time off
  • Performance

Deel

Paid

Hire and pay employees and contractors in 150+ countries.

Best for: Companies hiring internationally.

  • Employer of record
  • Contractor payments
  • Global payroll
  • Compliance

HiBob

Paid

Modern HR platform for mid-size, distributed companies.

Best for: Mid-size, international companies focused on culture.

  • Core HR
  • Onboarding
  • Performance
  • Compensation

PEO giving small businesses payroll and big-company benefits.

Best for: US small businesses that want better benefits access.

  • Payroll
  • Benefits via PEO
  • Compliance
  • Time tracking

Payroll and HR services with dedicated support.

Best for: US businesses that want a human payroll specialist.

  • Payroll
  • HR services
  • Benefits
  • Time and attendance

Payroll and HR platform with employee engagement tools.

Best for: US mid-size companies.

  • Payroll
  • Benefits
  • Time and labor
  • Community (social intranet)

Personio

Free trial

All-in-one HR software for European small and mid-size companies.

Best for: European companies with 10 to 2,000 employees.

  • Employee records
  • Recruiting
  • Time off and attendance
  • Payroll preparation

Remote

Paid

Global employment platform for hiring in other countries.

Best for: Companies employing people abroad.

  • Employer of record
  • Contractor management
  • Global payroll
  • Free HRIS

Unified HR, IT and finance platform built around employee data.

Best for: Growing companies that want HR, payroll, devices and apps in one place.

  • Payroll (global)
  • HRIS
  • Device and app management
  • Spend management