10 best software platforms for streamlining HR and payroll in 2025

The right HR and payroll software can save you hours every pay cycle by connecting your systems and automating data updates. When your HR and payroll work together smoothly, you get more accurate paychecks and happier people.

We’ve reviewed the leading HR and payroll software to help you find the best option for your business, whether you’re trying to save time, reduce errors, or set up systems now that will support your future growth. HiBob stands out because its no-code Payroll Hub lets you keep your current provider(s).

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Prospective users are encouraged to conduct their own research to make the best decision for their organization.

Quick guide: 10 best software for HR and payroll

1. HiBob: The best overall platform for easy HR and payroll integration
2. Workday: Enterprise solution with constant payroll calculations
3. Namely: Mid-market choice with timesheet-to-payroll flow
4. Gusto: Entry-level option for businesses with fewer than 50 people
5. SAP SuccessFactors: Enterprise system for corporations
6. Rippling: All-in-one choice that syncs across HR, IT, and finance
7. BambooHR: Simple HR software with basic payroll sync
8. UKG: Designed for shift differentials and hourly pay rules
9. ADP: Traditional provider offering outsourced payroll processing
10. Personio: Option for European companies with basic payroll needs

How we chose the best HR and payroll system

When you’re looking for a system that streamlines HR and payroll, you’ll want software that integrates with your current payroll provider. You’ll also want the flexibility to create your own custom workflows and approval processes. We evaluated each platform based on how well it handles HR data management and payroll processing, along with real user reviews from sites like G2.

• Automatic data updates: Does your people data move automatically from HR to payroll?
• Time savings: Will it cut down on duplicate data entry and manual updates?
• Accuracy improvements: Does its automation reduce payroll mistakes and compliance risks?
• Growth potential: Will it handle more complicated payroll scenarios as your company grows?
• International support: Can it manage payroll across multiple countries?
• Ease of use: Is it simple for HR teams to manage the entire process?

The 10 best HR and payroll services

1. HiBob: Best overall HR and payroll software

HiBob offers native payroll in the US and the UK as a complete end-to-end solution. In other countries, you can connect your existing payroll provider using Payroll Connect’s no-code wizard—no IT team or complex integrations required. Visual tracking shows you exactly what’s changing before you run payroll, and smart notifications flag anything that needs your attention before pay cycles finish.

Payroll Hub provides a centralized place to manage everything. All your people and finance information syncs automatically, cutting out both repeated data entry and the expensive mistakes that happen when your systems don’t work together. This cuts your payroll processing time and reduces errors. 

Whenever you update your people’s information, your changes—everything from new hire data, terminations, benefits elections, address updates, and tax withholding changes—flow automatically to payroll. The Time and Attendance module sends overtime, sick days, and vacation time through without any manual input from your team. Even mid-cycle adjustments like bonuses or commission changes update instantly, so your next payroll run captures everything.

You get the flexibility to run payroll however your growing business needs it. HiBob handles unlimited pay cycles and multiple payroll systems, whether you need weekly payroll in the US, monthly in Europe, or bi-weekly for contractors. The Compensation Management tools automatically process tasks like retroactive pay adjustments and multi-state tax calculations. This means you can process payroll in minutes instead of hours, knowing everything is accurate.

HiBob’s key features

• Real-time payroll updates with visual tracking so you always know what’s changing
• No-code setup wizard that connects to your existing payroll provider without IT help
• Benefits administration built right into your payroll workflow
• Run unlimited pay cycles in any frequency you need, across multiple countries
• Time-off and overtime automatically calculated and added to payroll
• People Analytics that turn your payroll data into insights you can use
• Mobile app lets you approve changes and run payroll from anywhere
• Core HR automation that eliminates manual onboarding and paperwork

HiBob pros and cons

Pros:

• “Streamlined our HR operations and made it easy” – verified review
• “Simplify processes from onboarding to payroll” – verified review
• “Saves time by having all personnel information in one place” – verified review
• “The automation…saves us a lot of time and resources” – verified review
• “We couldn’t have hired as many people without HiBob” – verified review
• “Made a huge difference to the insight and efficiencies” – verified review
• “Great platform that’s landed really well in our business” – verified review

Cons:

• “The benefits module could be improved” – verified review
• “Sometimes have to click around to find what you need” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

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2. Workday: Enterprise solution with continuous payroll calculations

Workday automatically moves your changes from HR to payroll without manual work. You get a single view of all your payroll providers through Global Payroll Connect’s pre-built connections, helping reduce your processing time.

Keep in mind that you’ll need full-time HRIS staff to manage Workday, both during setup and after you’re live, and your HR team may need a few weeks to learn how to use it. The pricing makes sense for large enterprises that have dedicated HR teams and thousands of people on staff, but smaller companies may find they’re paying for features they’ll never use.

Workday key features

• AI for automatic HR-to-payroll updates
• Real-time payroll calculations
• Global Payroll Connect for worldwide management

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the Workday website as of the publication date.)

Workday pros and cons

Pros:

• “Workday centralizes HR, payroll, and time tracking into one platform, reducing manual work” – verified review
• “I don’t have to toggle from one system to another” – verified review
• “It cuts down on manual work and back-and-forth emails” – verified review

Cons:

• “One potential drawback of Workday HCM can be the complexity of implementation and configuration, which may require significant time and resources” – verified review
• “Not the fastest or nicest looking platform.” – verified review
• “Workday is a complex tool, and I went through a steep learning curve to navigate the platform.” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. Workday – See which fits your business best>>

3. Namely: Mid-market choice with timesheet-to-payroll flow

With Namely, your HR, benefits, and timesheet data flow directly into payroll through one centralized system. Your benefits elections and time-off balances automatically update in payroll calculations, and the connected timesheets keep everything accurate. You don’t have to waste time double-checking information in different systems.

Namely could make sense if you have between 25 and 1,000 people on staff. Larger organizations often find they need more customization options than the platform provides, especially since you’ll need to work within its standard reporting templates instead of being able to create fully custom reports.

Namely key features

• Fully integrated platform for synced data flow
• Single system of record for all people data
• Automated synchronization for benefits and time off

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the Namely website as of the publication date.)

Namely pros and cons

Pros:

• “User are also able to easily access tax documents, which saves our team time” – verified review
• “Great one stop shop for easy benefits, HRIS and payroll usage” – verified review
• “helpful throughout the payroll process” – verified review

Cons:

• “It lacks flexibility to create our own forms, particularly for performance management. The reporting option is too limited” – verified review
• “Reporting is difficult. Most times I have to run a report in HRIS and in Payroll to get what I want.” – verified review
• “The payroll side does NOT flow well” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

4. Gusto: Entry-level for businesses with fewer than 50 people

With Gusto, your payroll automatically handles all tax calculations for you and pulls in team hours, PTO, and holidays. You get health insurance, 401(k), and workers’ comp all working together by default, which can help cut your payroll processing time significantly.

Gusto works well for teams of around 50-75 people. If you grow beyond that size, you might find yourself missing features for more complicated scenarios, like multi-state tax situations, shift differentials, or specialized deductions.

Gusto key features

• All-in-one platform with automatic sync
• Automated data transfer streamlining HR to payroll
• Single platform for all benefits and compliance

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the Gusto website as of the publication date.)

Gusto pros and cons

Pros:

• “Reduced payroll processing from one full day to less than an hour” – verified review
• “It only takes 30 seconds to generate the payroll” – verified review
• “From the initial setup to running payroll—it is a breeze” – verified review

Cons:

• “Sometimes the loading times can be annoying, especially if I have to open Gusto multiple times a day” – verified review
• “I’ve noticed that some of the reporting tools are a bit limited or not as customizable as I’d like.” – verified review
• “The settings are not intuitive, there are constantly adjustments to the accounts, syncing issues, and limited options for tracking purposes” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

5. SAP SuccessFactors: Enterprise system for corporations

SAP SuccessFactors’ Employee Central Payroll is designed for enterprises. It can handle multiple currencies, tax jurisdictions, and compliance requirements across your business. You can process payroll for thousands of people without worrying about tricky pay structures or country-specific regulations.

All these capabilities mean you’ll need technical expertise for both initial configuration and ongoing maintenance—implementation usually requires dedicated IT resources and takes several months. The built-in payroll processing covers 49 countries, so if you operate elsewhere, you’ll need to add third-party providers like CloudPay.

SAP SuccessFactors key features

• Fully integrated Employee Central Payroll
• Single source for all people data
• CloudPay connector for 130+ countries

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the SAP SuccessFactors website as of the publication date.)

SAP SuccessFactors pros and cons

Pros:

• “Provides a single system to manage all HR-related activities” – verified review
• “All critical data points feed into Compensation” – verified review
• “We can easily create reports in core HR” – verified review

Cons:

• “Maintenance cost is high and integration is complex.” – verified review
• “Some parts of the interface feel a bit outdated and not very intuitive.” – verified review
• “Standard reporting tools can be less flexible than other HCM systems, often requiring IT support for custom reports.” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. SAP SuccessFactors – See which fits your business best>>

6. Rippling: Choice for teams needing payroll across HR, IT, and finance

Rippling combines your payroll, HR, IT, and finance systems. You can set up custom workflows to automatically enforce your rules across every process, from onboarding to offboarding. The platform offers a 100% error-free payroll guarantee and completes tax calculations and compliance checks quickly.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to use Rippling for all these functions—you can’t mix and match with other tools you might already have and prefer. Some teams find it has more features than they need, and smaller organizations often find that the combination of base pricing and module costs goes beyond their budget.

Rippling key features

• All-in-one platform with shared people data
• Advertised 100% error-free payroll guarantee
• Custom automated workflows across HR and payroll

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the Rippling website as of the publication date.)

Rippling pros and cons

Pros:

• “Eliminates duplicate data entry” – verified review
• “Rippling has helped us overcome challenges in HR and payroll management” – verified review
• “It saves us time and money and is very easy to use” – verified review

Cons:

• “The platform is cluttered and disjointed. I either experience multiple notification about features and issues irrelevant to my organization or having to dig through confusing sub menus and help articles to find a clear answer to a question” – verified review
• “Many of the issues we’ve experienced have been caused by a poor sales experience that promised functionality that either doesn’t exactly exist as presented, or only exists in higher tiers” – verified review
• “While support has improved, there’s still room for better follow-through on commitments.” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. Rippling – See which fits your business best>>

7. BambooHR: Option for basic payroll sync with simple HR needs

BambooHR automatically sends your people records, PTO balances, and benefits information from HR into payroll. You’ll follow a three-step payroll process that handles tax calculations and filing for you. The platform guides you through registration and setup with prompts along the way, which can be helpful if you operate across multiple states.

Note that payroll processing only covers the US—if you have team members in other countries, you’ll need a separate solution for them. The mobile apps let you handle basic tasks on the go, but you’ll still need to use the desktop version for more detailed payroll work and reporting.

BambooHR key features

• Automatic data updates between HR and payroll systems
• Three-step payroll process with automated tax filing
• Time tracking that connects directly with payroll

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the BambooHR website as of the publication date.)

BambooHR pros and cons

Pros:

• “I like that payroll is fairly easy to process” – verified review
• “What used to take half a day now takes about a half hour” – verified review
• “It has allowed me more time to do other tasks” – verified review

Cons:

• “While the simplicity of Bamboo is beneficial for navigation, it’s also a negative because it limits the ability to handle complex HR situations” – verified review
• “It doesn’t integrate with many of our other systems which makes reporting, tracking, and other HR components difficult.” – verified review
• “Your company set up needs to be fairly cookie cutter to get the most efficiencies out of BambooHR” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. BambooHR – See which fits your business best>>

8. UKG: Designed for shift differentials and hourly pay rules

UKG keeps your HR, payroll, and time management in sync with real-time updates. Because everything runs from one database, your data stays consistent across the board. You can handle tricky pay scenarios that other platforms struggle with, like shift differentials, people working multiple positions, or union contracts with specific rules.

You’ll need significant resources for implementation, which typically takes three to four months with dedicated project teams. UKG’s pricing reflects its enterprise focus—it’s designed for companies with large hourly workforces, not straightforward salaried teams.

UKG key features

• Ongoing calculations based on real-time data syncs
• Unified HCM platform eliminating data silos
• Pre-built connectors with bidirectional sync

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the UKG website as of the publication date.)

UKG pros and cons

Pros:

• “This reduces work time and increases efficiency and quality” – verified review
• “The payroll/timekeeping is easy to process” – verified review
• “Improved workflows; reduced paperwork; efficiency with time spent on tasks” – verified review

Cons:

• “The implementation team was more worried about ‘checking boxes’ than actually completing the tasks” – verified review
• “Their customer service is very slow and it takes days to get issues resolved.” – verified review
• “Learning and training are a bit more difficult to navigate” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. UKG – See which fits your business best>>

9. ADP: Traditional provider offering outsourced payroll processing

ADP Workforce Now essentially outsources your payroll—it handles tax filings, compliance updates, and year-end reporting for you. ADP has been doing this for decades, so you get tried-and-tested processes with strong coverage in the US. You can also connect many of your existing business apps through ADP Marketplace.

The interface takes time to learn, especially for smaller businesses without dedicated payroll staff. You should also know that Workforce Now and global payroll are separate systems—you’ll need additional integrations to share data between them. You’ll also need to follow how ADP works, since you can’t really adjust it to how your team already operates.

ADP key features

• Continuous payroll calculation with AI error detection
• Single login platform for all modules
• ADP Marketplace for easy app connections

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the ADP website as of the publication date.)

ADP pros and cons

Pros:

• “Saves our small HR Department loads of time” – verified review
• “ADP Workforce Now has streamlined our payroll and human resource functions” – verified review
• “The reporting feature is one of the better things about the system” – verified review

Cons:

• “The system is not intuitive and requires navigating multiple disconnected areas to complete even basic tasks.” – verified review
• “it’s difficult to create customized reports, and it’s easy to make manual errors that the system won’t catch.” – verified review
• “There are too many customer service reps who are unqualified and not knowledgeable about the service we need help with” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

10. Personio: Limited payroll option for European companies

Personio is designed for European companies that need straightforward payroll integration. If your payroll provider has a dedicated link, you can transfer data with one click. The Preliminary Payroll feature gathers all your HR and salary information to create export files, and when everything’s set up properly, all your people data stays synced between systems.

Personio’s direct payroll processing works in the UK, Ireland, and Germany—other countries need third-party providers. If your payroll system doesn’t have a pre-built connection, you’ll need to export files manually for each pay period. You’ll also need the premium tier to access payroll features, which can significantly increase costs for smaller teams.

Personio key features

• One-click data transfer to payroll providers
• Preliminary Payroll data aggregation
• Automated two-way sync for real-time updates

(This article includes platform features that reflect the information available on the Personio website as of the publication date.)

Personio pros and cons

Pros:

• “The best thing about Personio for me is how it takes care of payroll processing” – verified review
• “We have been able to develop and automate/scale many processes” – verified review
• “The tool is very user friendly and easy to configure” – verified review

Cons:

• “Its pricing can be a bit steep for smaller businesses or startups” – verified review
• “At renewal they decided to sneak in a new model where they changed the contract to commit us to many more seats than we ever needed” – verified review
• “The mobile app could benefit from additional functionality to match the desktop version” – verified review

(Pros and cons are compiled from reviews found on G2.)

<<Compare HiBob vs. Personio – See which fits your business best>>

Comparison summary: The best HR platforms for streamlining HR and payroll

1. HiBob

• Best for: Growing companies
• Ideal company size: 50-5,000+ employees
• Global support: 160+ countries
• Setup method: No-code wizard

2. Workday

• Best for: Large enterprises
• Ideal company size: 500+ employees
• Global support: 100+ countries
• Setup method: Complicated config

3. Namely

• Best for: Mid-sized companies
• Ideal company size: 50-350 employees
• Global support: US-focused
• Setup method: Standard config

4. Gusto

• Best for: Small businesses
• Ideal company size: <150 employees
• Global support: 120+ countries
• Setup method: Self-service

5. SAP

• Best for: Enterprises
• Ideal company size: 1,000+ employees
• Global support: 200+ countries
• Setup method: Complicated config

6. Rippling

• Best for: All-in-one needs
• Ideal company size: 50-1,000 employees
• Global support: Global coverage
• Setup method: Technical setup

7. BambooHR

• Best for: Basic needs
• Ideal company size: <350 employees
• Global support: 100+ countries
• Setup method: Standard config

8. UKG

• Best for: Shift-based workforce
• Ideal company size: 350-10,000 employees
• Global support: Global coverage
• Setup method: Complicated config

9. ADP

• Best for: Outsourced services
• Ideal company size: 50-500 employees
• Global support: 140+ countries
• Setup method: Consultant-led

10. Personio

• Best for: European companies
• Ideal company size: 10-2,000 employees
• Global support: 70+ countries (Europe focus)
• Setup method: Standard config

Easily connect to the tools your HR team uses every day

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What features should you prioritize in an HR and payroll system?

Look for features that actually save you time rather than just moving problems around: the HR and payroll system you choose needs to eliminate double work and manual errors. You want a system where updating someone’s address or tax withholding once automatically updates it everywhere else in the system.

Real-time syncing makes a huge difference to accuracy and efficiency. When someone takes PTO or works overtime, that information should move straight into payroll calculations automatically. HiBob’s Payroll Hub gives you visual tracking that shows exactly what’s changing before you process payroll, helping you catch and fix issues before they affect anyone’s paycheck.

Think about your future needs, not just what you need today. Good platforms handle different pay schedules, multiple currencies, and varying tax rules as you expand. Look for no-code setup options that let you connect new benefits providers or adjust payroll schedules on your own. The best systems grow with you instead of making you switch platforms every few years.

How can a company streamline payroll processes effectively?

The key to streamlining payroll is setting up automatic data flow between your HR and payroll systems. Start by choosing software that connects your systems easily—the best platforms have no-code setup wizards that link to your existing payroll provider. You’ll want changes like address updates, PTO requests, and benefit choices to flow straight into payroll calculations. This automation turns payroll from a multi-day project into something you can complete quickly, freeing your team up for people-focused work instead of manual data entry.

When evaluating systems, test how they handle your most common payroll scenarios—such as mid-cycle changes, retroactive adjustments, and multi-state teams. The best systems let you see and verify changes before they process.

Why HiBob is the best HR and payroll software

HiBob is the best HR and payroll software because it lets you keep the payroll provider(s) you already trust, and adds automation that gets rid of manual data entry and syncs errors. With the visual change tracking in Payroll Hub, you can rest assured that every payroll run is accurate. 

The no-code Payroll Connect wizard lets you set up connections yourself without waiting for IT or specialist consultants. You get unlimited pay cycles and can sync with multiple payroll systems, meaning you can grow internationally and manage different employment types through your chosen providers. This flexibility is why growing companies choose HiBob when they need room to scale.

You’ll manage your people’s entire journey in one place—from onboarding someone on their first day to running performance reviews and processing their payroll. The Instagram-like interface means your team will enjoy using HiBob, and the time savings will let your HR team focus on developing your people instead of chasing down data discrepancies.

Get started with HiBob’s streamlined HR and payroll platform →

FAQs about HR and payroll software

What is the best HR payroll software?

HiBob is the best HR payroll software because it gives you the most complete solution for growing businesses. Payroll Hub connects with your existing provider through no-code setup, so you get real-time data syncing without switching systems. Our HR automation platform means you’ll save hours on every payroll cycle, while visual change tracking helps you catch errors before they affect paychecks—making HiBob the clear choice when you need flexibility and reliability.

What is an HR and payroll system?

An HR and payroll system connects the two essential parts of managing your team—keeping track of staff information, and paying people correctly. Think of it as a bridge that automatically carries details like time off, benefit changes, or raises straight into payroll calculations. You enter information once and it updates everywhere, which means fewer payroll mistakes and no compliance headaches. You can also manage compensation planning to maintain fair and competitive pay across your organization.

Which software is mostly used for payroll?

ADP remains the biggest name in traditional payroll, but the industry is shifting. More companies are choosing platforms that connect HR and payroll together because integrated systems save time and reduce errors. That’s why modern platforms like HiBob are gaining ground—everything works together with your payroll software and HR data completely synced.

Can HR software do payroll?

Yes, many HR platforms include payroll processing, but having the feature doesn’t always mean it’s the right fit. All-in-one systems often lock you into their payroll module even if you prefer your current provider. HiBob’s Payroll Hub takes a different approach—you keep using the payroll provider that works for you, and we make sure your data syncs properly between both systems. You get the benefits of integration without the hassle of switching.

How can a company streamline payroll processes?

The fastest way to streamline payroll is getting your HR and payroll systems to share data automatically. When someone updates their address, takes time off, or changes benefits, that information should flow straight into payroll without you needing to do anything. HiBob’s Payroll Hub shows you exactly what’s changing before you run payroll through visual tracking, turning what used to take hours into a quick review and approval. You’ll catch issues before they become problems and free up time for more impactful work.

Do payroll and HR work together?

Yes—payroll and HR are two sides of the same coin. Payroll needs accurate data from HR about who’s working, their salary, benefit selections, and time off. When these departments use disconnected systems, you get errors, compliance risks, and frustrated people who have to deal with paycheck mistakes. Modern platforms like HiBob keep everything connected, so both teams always work from the same up-to-date information. Everyone wins—HR, payroll, and especially your people.

Is a payroll administrator part of HR?

It depends. In some companies, payroll administrators report to HR since payroll relies heavily on people data and HR policies. Your exact structure will depend on company size and needs, but the reporting line matters less when you have the right tools. With connected HR and payroll software like HiBob, both teams can access what they need when they need it.