Quick Summary
We tested 8 employee management platforms on features, pricing, and ease of use. Checkwriters stands out for its all-in-one approach and dedicated support, while ADP is great for large enterprises and Connecteam works well for mobile teams. Use our comparison table to find your fit.
Seamless Employee Management Starts With the Right Software
Managing employees is more complex than ever. HR professionals juggle onboarding, time tracking, benefits administration, and performance reviews while dealing with precision, consistency, and efficiency demands.
More than half of HR departments are understaffed, with 57% of professionals working beyond capacity. The right employee management software isn’t nice to have, it’s essential for simplifying workflows, cutting manual tasks, and giving overextended teams some much-needed breathing room.
We reviewed the 8 best employee management software to help you find the right fit for your team.
Why Listen to Us?
At Checkwriters, we’ve built a customer-centric HR and payroll platform for HR professionals.
From applicant tracking and onboarding to payroll and compliance, our tools help simplify your day-to-day work. Our clients report increased efficiency and satisfaction, highlighting our commitment to helping you manage the entire employee lifecycle with ease.
What is Employee Management Software (and Why Should You Care)?
Employee management software automates the core HR tasks that eat up your day: hiring, onboarding, payroll, time tracking, and benefits administration. Instead of juggling spreadsheets and manual processes, you get a centralized system that handles everything from posting jobs to processing performance reviews.
The real value goes beyond automation:
- Eliminates errors in payroll and employee records through centralized data
- Keeps you compliant with real-time updates on labor law changes
- Delivers actionable insights through real-time reporting and analytics
- Improves employee experience with smooth onboarding and transparent processes
- Frees up strategic time by automating administrative busy work
For example, Checkwriters lets HR professionals manage performance reviews from one place while getting updates on global labor laws.
With more than half of HR departments understaffed, the right software transforms overwhelmed teams into strategic powerhouses focused on building great employee experiences and driving business results.
8 Best Employee Management Software for HR Success
| Software | Starting Price | Key Strengths | Best For | Free Trial/Plan | Payroll Integration |
| Checkwriters | Custom pricing | All-in-one platform, dedicated support, biometric time tracking | Organizations wanting complete HR & payroll integration | Demo available | ✅ Built-in |
| ADP Workforce Now | Custom pricing | Global reach, reliable payroll, comprehensive reporting | Large enterprises with complex needs | Contact for demo | ✅ Built-in |
| Zoho People | $1.50/user/month | 360° feedback, affordable pricing, Zoho ecosystem integration | Small to medium businesses using Zoho products | ✅ Free up to 5 users | ⚠️ Add-on required |
| Deel | $29/employee/month | Global compliance, 150+ countries, remote team focus | International/remote-first organizations | Contact for demo | ✅ Built-in |
| Connecteam | Free up to 10 users | Mobile-first design, GPS tracking, frontline worker focus | Deskless and field teams | ✅ Free plan available | ❌ Export to 3rd party |
| Zimyo | $4/user/month | Multi-language support, statutory compliance, affordable | SMBs in Asia/emerging markets | Contact for demo | ✅ Built-in |
| Justworks | $50/month + $8/user | PEO services, benefits administration, compliance support | Small businesses needing benefits & compliance | Contact for demo | ✅ Built-in |
| PeoplesHR | Custom pricing | Real-time data, self-service portal, regional focus | SMBs in Asia and Africa | Contact for demo | ✅ Built-in |
1. Checkwriters
Checkwriters is a comprehensive, all-in-one payroll and HR platform built for organizations of all sizes. HR professionals leverage it to streamline the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to retirement by integrating applicant tracking, onboarding, time tracking, payroll, and HR management. This way, you have all you need to reduce manual work and improve accuracy without unnecessary complexity.
We emphasize a customer-centric approach, offering dedicated support and training to ensure you have all the tools you need for an effective HR strategy. It is the right tool if you want to save resources and be more organized and efficient.
Key Features
- Applicant Tracking & Background Screening: Simplifies recruitment by managing job applications and conducting background checks.
- Onboarding: Offers a digital onboarding system for new hires, including document handling and training.
- Payroll Automation: Simplifies wage calculations, customizable pay types, direct deposit, and general ledger entry to save time and reduce payroll errors.
- Attendance Tracking: Tracks worked hours, overtime, and leave through mobile clock-ins, biometric terminals, or web punch tools, all connected to payroll.
- Performance Management: Offers tools for evaluations, goal-setting, and feedback cycles, with templates that can be tailored to each department or role.
- Scheduling Tools: Prevents scheduling conflicts and helps control labor costs through reusable templates and real-time alerts.
- Compliance Tools: Notifies employers of changes to laws and regulations, empowering informed decision-making without providing legal advice.
- Customizable Reporting: Generates reports and analyzes HR data to support strategic planning.
Pricing
Checkwriters offers custom pricing based on your organization’s size and needs. Schedule a meeting to get a demo and a custom quote.
Pros
- Fast, intuitive, and accurate payroll process.
- An extensive library of instructional videos for every feature.
- Personalized support for a great user experience.
- Fast job posting across multiple job boards with the click of a button.
- Supports biometric, desktop, and timesheet clock-ins.
- Scales easily with growing teams.
- Manage benefits and employee updates in one place.
Cons
- Initial setup can take time, but personalized support ensures a smooth start
2. ADP Workforce Now
ADP Workforce Now is an enterprise-grade HR platform built for global payroll processing and compliance. The cloud-based system handles human resource management, time & labor tracking, and workforce analytics without the complexity of managing multiple vendors.
Check out our list of the best ADP alternatives if you’re considering a switch from ADP.
Key Features
- Payroll Processing: Automates payroll with real-time processing and error detection alerts.
- Benefits Administration: Streamlines enrollment and provides intuitive employee access via mobile or desktop.
- Time & Attendance: Integrates time tracking with payroll, offering real-time insights to manage labor costs.
- Talent Management: Supports recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning.
Pricing
ADP Workforce Now offers tiered packages. However, the prices of these packages are based on your organization’s requirements. Kindly contact ADP directly for a personalized quote.
Pros
- Integrates multiple HR functions into one platform.
- Reliable and accurate payroll processing.
- Customizable reports for better insights.
Cons
- Complex implementation for services not related to payroll
- Reporting can be complicated and cumbersome.
3. Zoho People
Zoho People is a cloud-based HR software solution from Zoho Corporation. It centralizes onboarding, time tracking, attendance, performance management, and engagement tools into a single place to help businesses manage their HR processes. It also seamlessly integrates with other Zoho apps and third-party services to help you manage your workforce and ensure consistency.
Key Features
- Employee Database: Organizes and grants secure access to personal and employment data.
- Performance Appraisals: Sets goals, captures continuous feedback, and runs 360° reviews.
- Shift Scheduling: Assigns, rotates, and reminds users about shifts.
- HR Help Desk: Handles internal support cases and tracks resolution SLAs.
Pricing
- Free: Up to 5 users with basic leave and onboarding tools.
- Essential HR ($1.50/user/month): Includes database, document management, and basic shift handling.
- Professional ($2.50/user/month): Includes attendance, timesheets, and shift schedules.
- Premium ($3.50/user/month): Includes performance, compliance analytics.
- Enterprise ($5/user/month): Includes help desk, LMS, sandbox.
- People Plus: Combines HRMS, payroll, engagement, and helpdesk.
Pros
- Supports 360° feedback and KPI tracking
- Secures data with encryption, MFA, and activity logs
- Offers customizable workflows to automate HR processes
Cons
- Facial login errors frustrate users
- Paid plan users report slow support
4. Deel
Deel is a global HR and payroll platform for managing international employees and contractors. It automates onboarding, compliance, and payments across 150+ countries, helping HR teams reduce manual tasks while staying ahead of regulatory challenges. It’s ideal for distributed or remote-first organizations.
Key Features
- Global Payroll: Pays employees and contractors in 150+ countries, with localized tax and benefits compliance.
- Automated Compliance: Generates region-specific contracts and tracks legal changes with built-in alerts.
- Onboarding: Supports self-service onboarding for employees and contractors, including e-signatures and ID verification.
- Benefits Management: Offers localized health, retirement, and perks packages for global teams.
Pricing
Deel offers separate pricing for payroll services and HR tools:
Payroll & Employment Services:
- Global Payroll: $29/employee/month
- Contractor Management: $49/contractor/month
- EOR (Employer of Record): $599/employee/month
- Contractor of Record: Starting at $325/contractor/month
- PEO (HR + Payroll support): $95/employee/month
- US Payroll: Custom pricing
HR Tools (Add-ons):
- Deel Engage (performance, surveys, career tracking): $20/worker/month
- Deel Compensation (global pay structures): $15/employee/month
- Deel Workforce Planning (organizational change modeling): $18/employee/month
Pros
- Payment processing arrives earlier than expected.
- Handles compliance and tax documentation automatically.
- Supports multiple payment methods and currencies
- Automatically generates legally compliant contracts.
Cons
- Very expensive, especially for small teams.
- Withdrawal and conversion fees may be high.
5. Connecteam
Connecteam is a mobile-first employee management platform designed for deskless and frontline teams.
It combines HR tools, scheduling, time tracking, communication, and task management into one easy-to-use app. Available on iOS, Android, and desktop, Connecteam is ideal for industries like construction, retail, and healthcare where mobility and real-time coordination are important.
Key Features
- Time Clock: Tracks employee hours with GPS verification and geofencing.
- Job Scheduling: Creates and manages shifts with templates and auto-assignments.
- Task Management: Assigns tasks with checklists and real-time updates.
- Employee Communication: Facilitates team chat, announcements, and surveys.
Pricing
- Small Business Plan: Free for up to 10 users.
- Basic ($35/month): For up to 30 users; $0.50 per additional user.
- Advanced ($59/month): For up to 30 users; $1.50 per additional user.
- Expert ($119/month): For up to 30 users; $3.00 per additional user.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Pros
- Offers a free plan ideal for small teams.
- Time clock features improve real-time attendance tracking.
- Supports onboarding and training with courses, certifications, and document tracking.
Cons
- No built-in payroll processing; you’ll need to export time data to third-party systems like QuickBooks.
- Deeper analytics and advanced custom workflows may require higher-tier plans.
6. Zimyo
Zimyo is a unified, cloud-based HRMS and payroll software that automates HR tasks and supports statutory compliance across multiple countries. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes, offering operations in 11 languages and serving over 2,000 clients in 38 countries. It aims to reduce manual tasks and enhance workforce management.
Key Features
- Payroll Automation: Processes salaries with statutory compliance and direct bank integrations.
- Attendance Management: Tracks employee attendance using geo-tagging and biometric integrations.
- Performance Management: Supports goal setting, feedback, and appraisal workflows.
- Employee Self-Service: Allows employees to access payslips, apply for leave, and update personal information.
Pricing
Zimyo offers three pricing tiers:
- Basic ($4/user/month): Includes core HR functions and employee self-service options
- Standard ($6/user/month): Adds advanced HR and time tracking options.
- Enterprise ($8/user/month): Offers performance management, global payroll, and more integrations.
Pros
- Affordable pricing, especially for small teams.
- Comprehensive features make it adaptable to your organization’s needs
- The implementation process is easy and doesn’t require heavy technical knowledge.
Cons
- Some features are less accessible on mobile compared to desktop.
- Limited third-party integrations compared to competitors.
7. Justworks
Justworks is a full-service PEO (Professional Employer Organization) and payroll platform built for U.S. small-to-mid-sized businesses. It centralizes payroll, HR, benefits, compliance, and time tracking in one intuitive dashboard. This makes it a strong choice for HR teams in schools or nonprofits seeking streamlined operations.
Key Features
- Payroll & Tax Filing: Automates W-2, 1099, federal, and state filings seamlessly.
- Time Tracking: Integrates geofenced clock-ins and PTO management with payroll sync.
- Benefits Administration: Manages health, dental, vision, 401(k), HSAs/FSAs, and commuter perks.
- Compliance Support: Includes federal/state tax registrations, EPLI, and workers’ comp access.
Pricing
- Payroll: $50/month base fee + $8/employee/month
- PEO Basic: $79/employee/month (tiers based on company size)
- PEO Plus: $109/employee/month (adds enhanced benefits & perks)
- EOR: $599/month/employee
Add-Ons:
- Time Tracking: + $8/employee/month
- International Contractor Payments: + $39/contractor/month
- EOR (Global Hiring): $599/employee/month
- Payroll + Health Insurance: $8/month per benefits eligible employee
Pros
- Delivers enterprise-level health and wellness perks to small teams
- Employees can control time tracking, PTO requests, benefits, etc.
- Centralized dashboard for managing time offs, leaves, sick days, and holidays.
- 24/7 customer support for a personalized experience
Cons
- Lack of flexibility in customizing features.
- Periodic downtimes with the app.
8. PeoplesHR
PeoplesHR is a cloud-based HRIS solution in Asia and Africa, built for small to mid-sized organizations. The platform centralizes employee lifecycle tasks like onboarding, attendance, payroll, performance, and engagement.
It also helps HR teams handle everyday challenges like employee classification, skill gaps, AI-driven changes, and the need for greater efficiency.
Key Features
- Employee Records: Stores all personnel data in one searchable system.
- Payroll Processing: Generates payslips and manages tax and deductions.
- Performance Appraisals: Enables goal setting, feedback, and 360° reviews.
- Self-Service Portal: Let employees access payslips, submit time off, and update info.
Pricing
PeoplesHR offers custom pricing based on your organization’s size and needs. Kindly schedule a meeting to get a custom quote.
Pros
- Real-time data capturing that provides up-to-date information at all times.
- Responsive customer support for a great experience.
- Self-service features allow employees to update their data.
Cons
- The interface may feel outdated to some users
- Occasional mismatch in leave figures
Choose Checkwriters as the Right Fit To Manage Your Team
Choosing the right employee management software can transform how you hire, onboard, and support your teams. If you’re looking for a complete, reliable solution, Checkwriters deserves a closer look.
At Checkwriters, we offer an all-in-one platform built to simplify HR and payroll operations. From applicant tracking to performance management, leave management, and benefits, we empower you with all the tools you need to manage the entire employee lifecycle efficiently and seamlessly.
Contact us today and see what better HR management looks like.Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. Employers should closely monitor the rules and regulations specific to their jurisdiction(s) and should seek advice from counsel relative to their rights and responsibilities.