PeopleMuster

Best HR software for small business

PeopleMuster ranks first for a small business that runs client work. At $3 per person a month, with no seat minimum and no base fee, a 30-person team pays ninety dollars with every module included: attendance, leave, timesheets, capacity and client projects. BambooHR ranks second for depth of HR practice, at $10 per employee on Core.

How this was judged

Ranked on what a services company of about 30 people pays, and how much of its working week that one price covers.

Eight products were compared in September 2026, and every price was re-read from the vendor's own pricing page on 24 September 2026, quoted in its published currency. Rippling, HiBob and Keka publish no single figure, so the total-cost comparison leaves them out. ADP Workforce Now is ranked on its published package structure.

The ranking

01

PeopleMuster

$3 per person a month from the first person, every module included. No seat minimum, no base fee, no setup fee; 14 days free with no card.
Who it suits
A 30-person services firm that wants attendance, leave, timesheets, capacity and client projects together.
Where it wins
The lowest published per-person price of the eight here, no tier gates, and the delivery side sits on the same person record.
02

BambooHR

Core $10, Pro $17, Elite $25 per employee a month. Flat from $250 a month at 25 or fewer. Verified September 2026.
Who it suits
A US small business that wants a dedicated HR system.
Where it wins
Payroll, benefits, time off and reporting in one place, with the tiers printed on the page.
Where it falls short
Pro is $17 against Core's $10. No client project delivery.
03

Deel

HR Core from $5 per employee a month. Verified September 2026.
Who it suits
A small company with people or contractors in more than one country.
Where it wins
A low published HR core, on top of serious global hiring machinery.
Where it falls short
Each capability is a separate purchase, and no client project delivery.
04

HarmonyHR

HRIS + Survey from $5 per employee a month; annual billing saves 20%; ATS $32.50 per recruiter a month. Verified 24 September 2026.
Who it suits
Small firms that want an HRIS with employee surveys attached.
Where it wins
Free migration and onboarding are included.
Where it falls short
Hiring is a separate line at $32.50 per recruiter a month.
05

Gusto

Simple $49 a month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12; Premium $180 plus $22. Verified 22 September 2026.
Who it suits
A US team whose first software problem is paying people correctly.
Where it wins
Payroll is the product. At 30 people the base fee spreads thinly.
Where it falls short
Simple covers a single US state. Very small teams pay heavily for the base.
06

Personio

From €7.60 per month per employee on Core. Verified 22 September 2026.
Who it suits
A European small business that wants European HR practice.
Where it wins
Fits European employment habits, and publishes an entry figure.
Where it falls short
Only the entry price is public. Everything above Core needs a demo.
07

Factorial

Quote-led from $8 per user a month with add-on modules. Verified September 2026.
Who it suits
A firm that would rather buy three modules than a tier.
Where it wins
Modular, so the bill follows what is switched on.
Where it falls short
The starting figure is a starting figure. The real number needs a call.
08

ADP Workforce Now

Gated. Select, Plus and Premium packages, with no figures published. Checked 24 September 2026.
Who it suits
US employers that want payroll and HR from a payroll provider.
Where it wins
Three packages to choose between.
Where it falls short
No published price, so sizing it takes a sales call.

Questions people ask

What is the best HR software for a business with under 50 employees?

For a services business under 50 people, PeopleMuster: $3 per person a month from the first person, with no seat minimum, no base fee and no setup fee. We set it up with you, and you get 14 days free with no card. Every module is included, from attendance to client projects.

Why does PeopleMuster rank first?

Because the criterion is what 30 people pay and what they get. Three dollars a head covers every module, and client delivery sits on the same record as HR. None of the other seven puts both halves under one published price.

What is the cheapest HR software for a small team?

Of the eight ranked here, PeopleMuster is lowest at $3 per person a month, then Deel HR Core and HarmonyHR from $5, then Personio from €7.60 and Factorial from $8. Quote-gated vendors cannot be placed in that order.

How often are these prices rechecked?

Each figure carries the date it was read. This set was re-read on 24 September 2026 from each vendor's own pricing page. Check the vendor's page before you sign, because HR pricing moves.

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