How we score HR software
Rubric v1, published Oct 10, 2026 · See the ranking
We score each HR system on its entry plan (the cheapest paid plan that covers ten employees): cost for ten employees, included on the entry plan, free plan, support, using only what the company publishes on its own website. Every score is worked out by the formula shown for its criterion, and every fact behind it links to the page it came from, with the date we read it.
A fact the company does not publish counts as absent. We have not used these products ourselves; when we do, the method will say so and the rubric version will change.
The criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What a 10 and a 0 look like |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for ten employees | 40% | The entry paid plan's monthly cost for ten employees at the regular price (per-employee price x 10, or a base fee plus per-employee fees), annual prepay included. 10 at $20 or less, 0 at $200 or more, straight line between; 0 if not published. |
| Included on the entry plan | 30% | Which of five the entry paid plan includes: employee records, time-off tracking, onboarding, performance reviews, and an employee mobile app or self-service portal. 2 points each. |
| Free plan | 15% | 10 for a free plan, 6 for a free trial, 0 for neither. |
| Support | 15% | Support on the entry paid plan: phone and chat (or 24/7 chat) 10; one live channel 6; email or help centre only 3; not published 0. |
The overall score is 10 × the sum of weight × criterion score, from 0 to 100, shown as 0-10 with one decimal.
Version history
- v1, published Oct 10, 2026: Cost for ten employees 40%, Included on the entry plan 30%, Free plan 15%, Support 15%