OrangeHRM Starter review

OrangeHRM Starter is one of the best known open source HR systems, and its free module list is long. It covers HR administration, employee management, PTO and leave, recruitment with applicant tracking, 180 degree performance reviews, time tracking, reporting and a mobile app. You can run it on the cloud or download it and host it yourself, and self-hosting gives you the source code and database to customize. With no user cap on your own server, it can serve a team that has outgrown the 5 and 10 user free plans above. The cost is effort. Somebody has to install, update and back it up, and help comes from the Starter community forum rather than a support desk. The interface is more traditional than Connecteam or TalentHR. OrangeHRM Advanced adds more modules and support, with a 30-day trial and pricing by quote, so its price check is pending.

Who it is for

Teams with some technical help that want a free, customizable HR system with leave and recruiting.

Price

Starter free and open source; Advanced pricing by quote (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• HR administration and employee management
• PTO and leave management
• Recruitment with applicant tracking
• 180 degree performance reviews and time tracking
• Mobile app, reporting and analytics

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free and open source, with access to the source code when self-hosted
• Strength: Wider free module set than most hosted free plans
• Strength: Can run on the cloud or on your own infrastructure
• Weakness: Self-hosting means you handle updates, backups and security
• Weakness: Starter support comes through a community forum
• Weakness: Advanced features and pricing need a sales conversation

Key facts

• Edition: Starter, free and open source
• Deployment: Cloud or self-hosted download
• Support: Community forum for Starter users
• Paid edition: Advanced, 30-day free trial

Where it ranks

OrangeHRM Starter is No. 5 in our Best Free HR Software verdict.