TalentHR review

TalentHR is the best pure HR database among the free options. The free plan for up to 10 users includes the employee database, time off tracking, file management with expiry dates for documents such as visas or certificates, reports, onboarding and offboarding checklists, benefits management and an applicant tracker for hiring. That covers all three basics a small team asks for, without the shift and chat tools that make Connecteam broader but busier. Calendar sync with Google and Outlook keeps leave visible. The limits are in the upgrade path. Custom fields, the API and Zapier start on Essential at $2 per user per month, and performance reviews, goals, time tracking and document signing need Premium at $4. Paid plans require at least 15 users, so a team that grows from 10 to 11 pays for 15 seats. Even then, $30 a month for 15 people on Essential is low for this category.

Who it is for

Office-based teams that want a classic HR database for free and a very cheap first upgrade.

Price

Free for up to 10 users; Essential $2 and Premium $4 per user per month, minimum 15 users on paid plans.

paid plans start at $2 per user per month. Paid plans require a minimum of 15 users
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Employee database and time off tracking on the free plan
• File storage with expiration tracking for employee records
• Automated onboarding and offboarding task lists
• Applicant tracking and benefits management
• Google and Outlook calendar sync and a TalentLMS connection

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free plan covers records, time off and onboarding together
• Strength: Paid plans from $2 per user are the cheapest upgrade on this list
• Strength: New accounts get a 14-day trial of Premium features
• Weakness: Custom fields, API and Zapier need the Essential plan
• Weakness: Performance reviews, time tracking and document signing sit on Premium
• Weakness: Paid plans start at 15 users, so an 11-person team pays for 15

Key facts

• Free plan: Up to 10 users
• Essential: $2 per user per month
• Premium: $4 per user per month
• Paid plan minimum: 15 users, changed in steps of 5

Where it ranks

TalentHR is No. 2 in our Best Free HR Software verdict.