HR & recruiting

JazzHR is the best applicant tracking system for small businesses hiring a few roles a year in 2026, with a full ATS on its Hero plan for $1,000 a year. Breezy HR suits small teams that hire often and want unlimited users, from $157 a month billed annually. Homebase and Zoho Recruit have free plans, and Manatal is the cheapest paid option at $15 per user per month billed annually.

1. 1. JazzHR8.6
2. 2. Breezy HR8.5
3. 3. Manatal8.5

Rippling is the best HR software for growing companies that want records, onboarding, time off, payroll and IT access on one employee profile in 2026, from $8 per employee per month plus a base fee. BambooHR suits small and midsize companies that want an easy HR database with onboarding and PTO, from $10.25 per employee per month. Factorial also starts at $8 per user per month, and Gusto bundles payroll with basic HR from $49 a month plus $6 per person.

1. 1. BambooHR8.7
2. 2. Gusto8.7
3. 3. Rippling8.7

Gusto is the best HR software for small businesses without an HR department in 2026, bundling payroll, tax filing, PTO and onboarding from $49 a month plus $6 per person. Rippling suits small teams that expect to grow and want HR, payroll and app access on one employee record, from $8 per employee per month plus a base fee. Connecteam is free for up to 10 users, and Eddy is the cheapest paid HR system here at $4 per person per month plus a $50 base fee.

1. 1. Gusto8.9
2. 2. Rippling8.6
3. 3. OnPay8.5

Gusto is the best payroll software for small businesses paying a handful of employees and contractors in 2026, from $49 a month plus $6 per person. OnPay suits owners who want one plan with free data migration, at $49 plus $6 per worker. SurePayroll is the cheapest full-service option at $29 a month plus $7 per employee, and Square Payroll pays contractors only for $6 per person.

1. 1. Gusto8.9
2. 2. OnPay8.8
3. 3. Square Payroll8.4