Are you looking for an all-in-one HR software for you small to medium-sized business (SMB)? If you’re unsure which software to invest in, this is the list for you. A good HR management tool needs to cover a wide range of HR functions including time tracking, PTO management, and capabilities to conduct performance reviews. We’ve compared several all-in-one solutions to help you make an informed decision and choose the one that’s right for your business needs. Let’s dive into the top Sage HR alternatives for SMBS in 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HR Software Solutions – What Should You Look For?
First, let’s look into the features and functions that make up a powerful all-in-one HR management tool. Typically, HR software automates time-consuming tasks such as approving PTO requests, filing employee documents, and recruiting top talent. HR management applications are designed to manage, digitalize, and centralize a wide array of HR processes to save HR teams time and effort – especially if they have limited resources. Having a high-quality HR tool is increasingly becoming a must when it comes business management.
The goal is to create efficient workflows to focus more time on growing the company. With SMBs, the HR team is likely a single person department, meaning an overwhelming amount of paperwork to sort through and manually inputting data on a weekly, if not daily basis. HR software tools want to alleviate this pressure and workload so your HR manager can focus on enhancing employee satisfaction, boosting team morale, and onboarding new hires.
Key Features of Good HR Software:
- Time Management: Keep track and manage all aspects of your employees’ time tracking, shift planning, absence management, etc.
- Talent Management: Manage your workforce from one platform that includes tools like onboarding & offboarding, training, recruitment, performance reviews, etc.
- Payroll and Compensation Management: Salary processing, expense management, company credit cards, etc.
- Document Management and HR Reports: Safely and securely stores employee documents, contracts, vendor information, etc.
- Integrations & Interfaces: Integrates seamlessly with other digital tools you use such as google calendar, slack, etc.
- Security and Data Protection: Adheres to strict data policies and maintains the highest standards of data security.
Additionally, features like usability and provider support play an important role. As a business owner or HR manager, it’s important to understand what is important for your team and what you’re looking for in a HR management tool. A common HR solution is Sage HR; however, there are many Sage HR alternatives to consider.
HR Management Software Benefits
HR software tools offer a wide range of benefits including automation for SMBs, HR managers, and CEOs. A popular solution is Sage HR due its design to simplify daunting admin tasks. Additionally, various Sage HR alternatives offer similar benefits. Here are some key features and benefits of HR software solutions:
- Automates complicated workflows such as PTO requests, onboarding, and performance reviews
- Centralizes documents, employee data, and essential company information including SOPs
- Streamlines the recruitment process to hire quicker and more efficiently
- Customizable widgets within the platform
- Cost efficient for scaling SMBs
Top Sage HR Alternatives For SMBs
Sage HR
Sage HR is a popular choice as a HR management tool and one of many software solutions offered by Sage. This cloud-based software mainly targets small and medium-sized businesses which allows employers to do a variety of functions. It has an employee chat function, allows users to access their documents, and provides a visual overview of an org chart. In addition, leave and absence management is automated through Sage HR. On top of a desktop version, an app is available for both managers and employees to always stay connected.
However, features like time management, payroll, and shift planning are not included in the basic model. Sage offers different products for each of these making Sage HR out of reach for SMBs on a tight budget. Although it makes for a more robust platform for SMBs to tackle each of these issues, it
If you’re seeking a comprehensive HR solution, Sage HR might seem overly complex, not intuitive with bulky designs, and out of budget. Check out the best alternatives to Sage HR for a HRIS geared towards SMBS:
1. Factorial ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Top of the list of Sage HR alternatives is Factorial. Similarly to Sage HR, Factorial is a cloud-based all-in-one software that stands out for its user-friendliness and clarity. It enables users to manage personal data, track working hours, and handle PTO requests or other absences. Furthermore, it covers all key business management needs, from shift planning to performance tracking to fit all of your business needs.
In addition, Factorial’s document management system and digital employee files are accessible via both desktop and mobile app. The dashboard provides a clear overview with widgets displaying hours worked, team activities, and notifications for both employees and managers. Meaning everyone is up-to-date and informed with essential information in a matter of seconds.
Factorial makes an excellent Sage HR alternative due to their standout onboarding feature. It allows new employees to submit information and electronically sign documents before their first day. This ensures managers are able to welcome new hires to the team without all the document fuss. Moreover, Factorial also simplifies the recruitment process with AI-powered CV screening and an applicant tracking system (ATS). A powerful ATS and onboarding features allows companies to create tailored career pages and publish job listings to expand their talent pool and match with the top talent.
Discover of Factorial can transform your business management!
2. BambooHR ⭐⭐⭐⭐
BambooHR is another all-in-one alternative to Sage HR that offers high-quality features. Including time tracking, ATS, and document management, however, it primarily relies on integrations of other tools to carry out these functions. The platform supports employee self-service, analysis tools, and additional HR management features. What makes BambooHR a worthy alternative to Sage HR is its ability to customize career pages and templates for onboarding tasks. Overall, HR teams can generate reports, gather feedback, and create strategies to scale their business.
3. HiBob ⭐⭐⭐⭐
HiBob is another alternative designed for small and medium businesses, particularly those expanding rapidly or operating internationally. Its focus is on employee satisfaction, automating HR tasks, and connecting teams virtually from anywhere in the world. Like Factorial and BambooHR, HiBob offers a digital management, HR analytics, and a structured organizational chart. Likewise, these features are accessible both on desktop and mobile for managers and employees alike to reference. Additionally, it offers recruitment tools include an ATS, customizable career pages, interview templates. Ultimately, HiBob is a fierce competitor with robust features for scaling companies, but can be overwhelming for SMBs with limited resources to configure the platform.
Choosing The Best Sage HR Alternative
Which Sage HR alternative is best depends on your company’s goals and challenges. Consider these key factors:
- Which HR processes do you need to streamline?
- How comprehensive does your HR management tool need to be?
- What’s your budget?
There are many options available, each with its own pros and cons. It’s important to determine which benefits you’re seeking and how they will help your team. Some platforms offer extensive support, while others provide limited user assistance, even during your subscription period. Considering budget, customization, and variety of features – Factorial is the overall winner for SMBs who are looking to streamline their admin workload. Learn more about how Factorial can transform your business!
