The HR software guidebook
A place to trust for evaluating HR software.
HRCritic brings together leading HR platforms — from applicant tracking and payroll to background checks and compensation data — with plain-language editorial ratings, written from an HR practitioner's point of view.
- Categories
- 10
- Platforms
- 108
- Rating levels
- 5
HR software directory
Search across every category, or pick one to focus on.
Top Applicant Tracking (ATS) platforms
Software for posting jobs, managing candidates and running hiring pipelines.
#1SupportFinity
Editor's ChoiceRecruiting platform for managing job openings and candidate pipelines.
Read SupportFinity SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: supportfinity.comExceptional- #2
Greenhouse
Hiring software built around structured interviews and scorecards.
Read Greenhouse SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: greenhouse.comVery Good - #3
Lever
Combined ATS and CRM for nurturing and tracking candidates.
Read Lever SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: lever.coVery Good - #4
Workable
Recruiting software with job posting to many boards and candidate tracking.
Read Workable SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: workable.comVery Good - #5
iCIMS
Enterprise talent acquisition suite for high-volume hiring.
Read iCIMS SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: icims.comAverage - #6
Ashby
All-in-one recruiting platform with built-in analytics and scheduling.
Read Ashby SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: ashbyhq.comVery Good - #7
SmartRecruiters
Enterprise hiring platform with a marketplace of recruiting integrations.
Read SmartRecruiters SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: smartrecruiters.comAverage - #8
JazzHR
Affordable ATS for small businesses hiring regularly.
Read JazzHR SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: jazzhr.comAverage - #9
Bullhorn
ATS and CRM built for staffing and recruiting agencies.
Read Bullhorn SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: bullhorn.comVery Good - #10
Teamtailor
Employer-branding-led ATS with career site builder.
Read Teamtailor SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: teamtailor.comVery Good - #11
Jobvite
Talent acquisition suite for mid-market and enterprise.
Read Jobvite SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: jobvite.comAverage - #12
Breezy HR
Visual pipeline ATS for small and growing teams.
Read Breezy HR SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: breezy.hrAverage
Top Talent Sourcing platforms
Tools to find and engage passive candidates before they apply.
#1SupportFinity
Editor's ChoiceSourcing tools for finding and reaching potential candidates.
Read SupportFinity SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: supportfinity.comExceptional- #2
LinkedIn Recruiter
Search and message members of LinkedIn's professional network.
Read LinkedIn Recruiter SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: linkedin.comVery Good - #3
hireEZ
Outbound recruiting platform that searches candidate profiles across the web.
Read hireEZ SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: hireez.comVery Good - #4
SeekOut
Talent search platform with diversity and technical-talent filters.
Read SeekOut SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: seekout.comVery Good - #5
Gem
Recruiting CRM and outreach sequencing for sourcing teams.
Read Gem SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: gem.comVery Good - #6
Entelo
Candidate sourcing and engagement software for recruiters.
Read Entelo SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: entelo.comAverage - #7
Fetcher
Automated candidate sourcing with outreach sequences.
Read Fetcher SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: fetcher.aiVery Good - #8
Findem
Attribute-based talent search and pipeline analytics.
Read Findem SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: findem.aiVery Good - #9
Loxo
Recruiting CRM with contact data for sourcing.
Read Loxo SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: loxo.coAverage - #10
ContactOut
Email and phone finder for candidate outreach.
Read ContactOut SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: contactout.comAverage - #11
Beamery
Talent CRM for enterprise sourcing programs.
Read Beamery SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: beamery.comAverage
Top Payroll platforms
Run pay, file payroll taxes and manage deductions.
- #1
ADP
Long-established payroll and HR services provider for businesses of all sizes.
Read ADP SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: adp.comVery Good - #2
Gusto
Payroll, benefits and HR for small and mid-sized businesses.
Read Gusto SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: gusto.comExceptional - #3
Paychex
Payroll, HR and benefits outsourcing for small and mid-sized employers.
Read Paychex SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: paychex.comAverage - #4
Rippling
Payroll connected to HR, IT and device management in one system.
Read Rippling SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: rippling.comExceptional - #5
Paycom
Single-database HR and payroll software for mid-sized and larger firms.
Read Paycom SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: paycom.comVery Good - #6
Deel
Global payroll and contractor payments across many countries.
Read Deel SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: deel.comVery Good - #7
Paylocity
Payroll and HR software for mid-sized employers.
Read Paylocity SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: paylocity.comVery Good - #8
Paycor
Payroll and HCM for small and mid-sized businesses.
Read Paycor SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: paycor.comAverage - #9
QuickBooks Payroll
Payroll add-on tightly linked with QuickBooks accounting.
Read QuickBooks Payroll SWOT report & rating breakdown - #10
OnPay
Straightforward full-service payroll for small businesses.
Read OnPay SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: onpay.comVery Good - #11
Remote
Global payroll and employer-of-record services.
Read Remote SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: remote.comVery Good
Top Background Checks platforms
Criminal, identity and history screening for candidates.
- #1
Checkr
Background check platform with criminal, MVR and identity screenings.
Read Checkr SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: checkr.comExceptional - #2
Sterling
Background and identity services, now part of First Advantage.
Read Sterling SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: sterlingcheck.comVery Good - #3
HireRight
Global background screening for employers.
Read HireRight SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: hireright.comAverage - #4
First Advantage
Background screening, verification and identity solutions.
Read First Advantage SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: fadv.comVery Good - #5
GoodHire
Background checks aimed at small and mid-sized businesses.
Read GoodHire SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: goodhire.comVery Good - #6
Certn
Fast international background and identity screening.
Read Certn SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: certn.coVery Good - #7
Accurate Background
Background screening for mid-market and enterprise.
Read Accurate Background SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: accurate.comAverage - #8
Asurint
Criminal background checks with tuned data sources.
Read Asurint SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: asurint.comAverage - #9
Vetty
Automated screening with candidate self-service.
Read Vetty SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: vetty.coAverage - #10
Cisive
Screening for regulated industries like healthcare and finance.
Read Cisive SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: cisive.comAverage - #11
Turn
Screening focused on gig and hourly workforces.
Read Turn SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: turn.aiBelow Average
Top Employment Verification platforms
Confirm a person's employment and income history.
- #1
The Work Number (Equifax)
Equifax database for automated employment and income verification.
Read The Work Number (Equifax) SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: theworknumber.comVery Good - #2
Truv
Consumer-permissioned income and employment verification.
Read Truv SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: truv.comVery Good - #3
Truework
Employment and income verification service.
Read Truework SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: truework.comVery Good - #4
Thomas & Company
Employment verification and unemployment cost services.
Read Thomas & Company SWOT report & rating breakdown - #5
Argyle
Payroll-connected data for income and employment verification.
Read Argyle SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: argyle.comVery Good - #6
Experian Verify
Employment and income verification from Experian data.
Read Experian Verify SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: experian.comAverage - #7
Pinwheel
Payroll-connected API for income and employment data.
Read Pinwheel SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: pinwheelapi.comVery Good - #8
Vault Verify
Verification of employment with direct employer outreach.
Read Vault Verify SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: vaultverify.comAverage - #9
Certree
Digital credential-based employment verification.
Read Certree SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: certree.comAverage - #10
Plaid Income
Bank and payroll income verification via Plaid.
Read Plaid Income SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: plaid.comVery Good - #11
Atomic
Payroll connectivity for verification and deposit switching.
Read Atomic SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: atomic.financialAverage
Top Market Compensation Data platforms
Benchmark salaries and build pay ranges with market data.
#1SalaryMarket.io
Editor's ChoiceMarket compensation data platform for benchmarking salaries and building pay ranges.
Read SalaryMarket.io SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: salarymarket.ioExceptional- #2
Payscale
Compensation data and pay-structure software.
Read Payscale SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: payscale.comVery Good - #3
Pave
Real-time compensation benchmarking from connected HR systems.
Read Pave SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: pave.comVery Good - #4
Carta Total Compensation
Salary and equity benchmarking for startups.
Read Carta Total Compensation SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: carta.comVery Good - #5
Radford (Aon)
Compensation surveys, notably for technology and life sciences.
Read Radford (Aon) SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: radford.aon.comVery Good - #6
Salary.com
Compensation data and market pricing software.
Read Salary.com SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: salary.comAverage - #7
Mercer
Global compensation surveys and benchmarking.
Read Mercer SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: mercer.comVery Good - #8
WTW
Compensation surveys and rewards consulting data.
Read WTW SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: wtwco.comVery Good - #9
Ravio
Real-time compensation benchmarks for European companies.
Read Ravio SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: ravio.comVery Good - #10
Levels.fyi
Crowd-sourced tech compensation data.
Read Levels.fyi SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: levels.fyiAverage - #11
Comprehensive.io
Compensation benchmarking from job posting data.
Read Comprehensive.io SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: comprehensive.ioAverage
Top HRIS & Core HR platforms
The system of record for employees, org charts and HR data.
- #1
Workday HCM
Enterprise human capital management suite.
Read Workday HCM SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: workday.comVery Good - #2
BambooHR
HR software for small and mid-sized businesses.
Read BambooHR SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: bamboohr.comExceptional - #3
HiBob
Modern HR platform for mid-sized, distributed companies.
Read HiBob SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: hibob.comVery Good - #4
Personio
All-in-one HR software popular with European SMBs.
Read Personio SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: personio.comVery Good - #5
UKG
HR, payroll and workforce management for larger employers.
Read UKG SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: ukg.comAverage - #6
Namely
HR, payroll and benefits for mid-sized companies.
Read Namely SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: namely.comAverage - #7
Zenefits
HR, benefits and payroll for small businesses.
Read Zenefits SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: zenefits.comAverage - #8
Oracle HCM
Enterprise HCM in Oracle Cloud.
Read Oracle HCM SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: oracle.comAverage - #9
SAP SuccessFactors
Enterprise core HR and talent suite.
Read SAP SuccessFactors SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: sap.comAverage - #10
Factorial
Simple all-in-one HR for SMBs.
Read Factorial SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: factorialhr.comVery Good - #11
Paycor HR
Core HR bundled with Paycor payroll.
Read Paycor HR SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: paycor.comAverage
Top Performance Management platforms
Reviews, goals, feedback and engagement surveys.
- #1
Lattice
Performance reviews, goals and engagement surveys.
Read Lattice SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: lattice.comExceptional - #2
Culture Amp
Employee engagement surveys and performance tools.
Read Culture Amp SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: cultureamp.comVery Good - #3
15Five
Check-ins, reviews and manager development.
Read 15Five SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: 15five.comVery Good - #4
Leapsome
Performance, engagement and learning in one platform.
Read Leapsome SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: leapsome.comVery Good - #5
Betterworks
OKRs and continuous performance for enterprises.
Read Betterworks SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: betterworks.comVery Good - #6
Workleap
Engagement and performance for growing teams.
Read Workleap SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: workleap.comAverage - #7
Quantum Workplace
Engagement surveys and performance reviews.
Read Quantum Workplace SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: quantumworkplace.comAverage - #8
PerformYard
Flexible performance review software.
Read PerformYard SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: performyard.comVery Good - #9
Engagedly
Performance and learning for mid-sized firms.
Read Engagedly SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: engagedly.comAverage - #10
Peakon (Workday)
Continuous engagement listening by Workday.
Read Peakon (Workday) SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: peakon.comVery Good
Top Benefits Administration platforms
Enroll employees and manage health and other benefits.
- #1
Benefitfocus
Benefits administration software, now part of Voya.
Read Benefitfocus SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: benefitfocus.comAverage - #2
Employee Navigator
Benefits enrollment platform used by brokers and employers.
Read Employee Navigator SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: employeenavigator.comVery Good - #3
PlanSource
Benefits administration and enrollment technology.
Read PlanSource SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: plansource.comAverage - #4
Justworks
PEO giving small businesses access to benefits and payroll.
Read Justworks SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: justworks.comVery Good - #5
Ease
Benefits enrollment for small businesses and brokers.
Read Ease SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: ease.comVery Good - #6
bswift
Benefits administration for large employers.
Read bswift SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: bswift.comAverage - #7
Businessolver
Benefits administration with service support.
Read Businessolver SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: businessolver.comVery Good - #8
Benefitplace
Benefits enrollment for mid-market employers.
Read Benefitplace SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: benefitplace.comAverage - #9
Forma
Flexible lifestyle and spending benefits.
Read Forma SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: joinforma.comVery Good - #10
Nayya
Benefits guidance and decision support.
Read Nayya SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: nayya.comAverage
Top Learning & Development platforms
Training, onboarding courses and skill development.
- #1
Docebo
AI-assisted learning management system for enterprises.
Read Docebo SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: docebo.comVery Good - #2
Cornerstone
Learning and talent management suite.
Read Cornerstone SWOT report & rating breakdown - #3
TalentLMS
Cloud LMS for small and mid-sized teams.
Read TalentLMS SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: talentlms.comVery Good - #4
360Learning
Collaborative learning platform for internal experts.
Read 360Learning SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: 360learning.comVery Good - #5
Absorb LMS
Learning management for employee and customer training.
Read Absorb LMS SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: absorblms.comVery Good - #6
LinkedIn Learning
Library of business and technical video courses.
Read LinkedIn Learning SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: linkedin.comVery Good - #7
Udemy Business
Course marketplace for workforce upskilling.
Read Udemy Business SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: udemy.comVery Good - #8
Coursera for Business
University-grade courses for teams.
Read Coursera for Business SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: coursera.orgVery Good - #9
Lessonly (Seismic)
Enablement training for sales and support teams.
Read Lessonly (Seismic) SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: seismic.comAverage - #10
Degreed
Learning experience platform for skills tracking.
Read Degreed SWOT report & rating breakdownSource: degreed.comAverage
The five rating levels
Every platform is tested hands-on for at least 60 days and scored on six weighted criteria.
- Exceptional
Best in class; sets the standard for its category.
- Very Good
Strong choice with minor gaps.
- Average
Does the job; meets common needs.
- Below Average
Notable gaps for most HR teams.
- Poor
Hard to recommend today.
Methodology & disclosure
Ratings on HRCritic are editorial opinions based on hands-on evaluations of at least 60 days. Platform descriptions are short summaries based on each vendor's own public website, linked on every card. We don't publish pricing, testimonials or scores we can't support.
Relationship disclosure: SupportFinity's first-place, Exceptional and Editor's Choice placement in ATS and Sourcing, and SalaryMarket.io's first position in Market Compensation Data, are selected by HRCritic's founder. They are not the result of an independent comparative score.
All other platforms show Not yet rated until they complete the 60-day evaluation. Order within a category, other than featured placements, is not a ranking. Read the full methodology.
