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12 Free Grove HR Alternatives Ranked by Real Users (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to Grove HR — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

12 top free Grove HR alternatives, compared

Quick answer

The Grove HR alternatives worth knowing first are WebHR, Access People HR and tomHRM. WebHR earns the top SpotScore (9.2) and a 4.36★ rating. See how all 12 stack up on score, rating, and price below.

Switching away from Grove HR is easier when you know which tools actually deliver. These 12 hr software free alternatives earned their spots on SpotScore (verified user satisfaction plus market presence), star ratings, and pricing. Our editors vet each one. The table gives you the quick comparison; the sections below give you the why.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
WebHRTransforming HR for a modern workforce.9.2★★★★ 4.36(149)Freefrom $2 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
Access People HREmpower your HR with People HR.9★★★★ 4.08(502)Freefrom $2.41 /user/monthteams of all sizes
tomHRMEfficient HR management made simple.8.6Not yet ratedFreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
BrainyHREfficient HR management made easy for every team.8.4Not yet ratedFreefrom $20/moteams of all sizes
OysterEffortless global employment made simple.8.4★★★★ 4.43(388)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
PaycorTransform your workforce with Paycor.9.6★★★★ 3.9(552)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
TimetasticStreamline your leave management with ease.9.8★★★★★ 4.87(115)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
BambooHRStreamline your HR processes for better business results.9.8★★★★★ 4.74(1093)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
CalamariStreamline your leave management with Calamari.9.7★★★★ 4.47(22)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
LatticeBoost sales performance with Lattice.9.7★★★★★ 4.67(1206)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
HomebaseStreamline team collaboration with Homebase.9.7★★★★ 4.41(131)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
WorkableEfficient hiring, simplified for small businesses.9.6★★★★ 4.35(225)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes

9.2

SpotScore

WebHR - HR Software

WebHR

Transforming HR for a modern workforce.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is WebHR?

WebHR is an affordable yet feature-rich software for Human Resources, by Human Resources. The software features intuitive dashboard, employee self-service portal and robust reporting & analytics modules. The software is SaaS (Software as a Service) which means no capital expense, seamlessly ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

WebHR offers custom pricing plan

9.0

SpotScore

Access People HR - HR Software

Access People HR

Empower your HR with People HR.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Access People HR?

Access PeopleHR is a cloud-based HR and payroll software platform designed for UK businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Built for HR professionals, operations teams, and people managers, the platform helps streamline HR processes like employee onboarding, absence ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

8.6

SpotScore

tomHRM

tomHRM

Efficient HR management made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is tomHRM?

tomHRM is a simple cloud-based HR software solution. It manages employment records including salaries, absenteeism, time-off management, bonuses and performance analytics. It can also be used to manage recruitment, payrolls and training for both the managers and employees. The software is ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

8.4

SpotScore

BrainyHR - HR Software

BrainyHR

Efficient HR management made easy for every team.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is BrainyHR?

BrainyHR is an HR management platform built for small businesses and distributed remote teams that need core HR features — employee profiles, leave management, and time tracking — at a low price point. It consolidates essential HR functions into one system that can be set up and managed without ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

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8.4

SpotScore

Oyster - HR Software

Oyster

Ideal for Startups

Effortless global employment made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Oyster?

Oyster is a global employment platform that helps companies hire, onboard, pay, and manage international employees and contractors without setting up local entities. It automates compliant contract creation using region-specific labor rules and supports payroll in 140+ currencies from a single ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $25/employee/month

9.6

SpotScore

Paycor - HR Software

Paycor

Recommended

Transform your workforce with Paycor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Add to compare

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What is Paycor?

Paycor is a human capital management platform for mid-size businesses and nonprofits that need payroll processing, time tracking, benefits administration, and employee onboarding managed in a single system. It eliminates the need for separate payroll and HR tools by centralizing people ...

Read more about Paycor
Free TrialTry Free →·

Paycor offers custom pricing plan

9.8

SpotScore

Timetastic - Leave Management System

Timetastic

Streamline your leave management with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Timetastic?

TimeTastic is a Leave Management System, tailored to suit business or organization needs. It provides with improved employee scheduling, improved reporting and analysis of working time, improved payroll processing by integrating with time and attendance systems, and other related services. It ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

9.8

SpotScore

BambooHR - HR Software

BambooHR

Streamline your HR processes for better business results.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

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What is BambooHR?

BambooHR is an HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses — typically 10 to 500 employees — covering employee records, onboarding, time-off tracking, and performance management in one system. It replaces fragmented spreadsheets and disconnected tools by centralizing all employee data ...

Read more about BambooHR
Free TrialTry Free →·

BambooHR offers custom pricing plan

9.7

SpotScore

Calamari - Leave Management System

Calamari

Streamline your leave management with Calamari.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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What is Calamari?

The Leave Management System by Calamari is a simple and intuitive suite of interactive report cards designed to closely monitor and measure company's performance. Allowing user to view and print comprehensive reports, receive instant notifications and alerts, automatically tailor reports to ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $10/Month

9.7

SpotScore

Lattice - Performance Management System

Lattice

Boost sales performance with Lattice.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Lattice?

Lattice is a performance management platform for HR teams and people managers at fast-growing companies who run quarterly or annual appraisal cycles with structured goal tracking and 1:1 preparation. It integrates with Slack and Google Calendar to reduce manual data entry between performance ...

Read more about Lattice
Free Trial·

Starts from $9/User/Month

9.7

SpotScore

Homebase - Employee Scheduling Software

Homebase

Streamline team collaboration with Homebase.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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Add to compare

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Watch Demo

What is Homebase?

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing administrative workload. The platform allows users to generate insightful ...

Read more about Homebase
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $0/ location / month when monthly, also offers free forever plan

9.6

SpotScore

Workable

Workable

Efficient hiring, simplified for small businesses.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Workable?

Workable is the simple, affordable Applicant Tracking System (ATS) purpose-built for small businesses. Features include Integrated Company Management (Shell), Receive, review and approve applicants from desktop or mobile device in real time, Attract more applicants than traditional ATS products ...

Read more about Workable
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $299/month when yearly

Why these tools made our shortlist

WebHR9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Integrates multiple HR functions, simplifying workflows and organizing data into a single, accessible platform.

Watch for: Occasional bugs and technical glitches that interrupt smooth operations and require follow-ups with support.

Access People HR9Best for teams of all sizes

Support staff are consistently praised for being helpful, patient, and responsive, often resolving issues promptly and professionally.

Watch for: Some users experience frustration with system integrations, reporting difficulties in achieving seamless functionality between PeopleHR and other tools.

tomHRM8.6Best for teams of all sizes

tomHRM streamlines payroll processing, helping to reduce errors and save time on administrative tasks related to salary disbursements.

Watch for: Integration options with other third-party software or tools might be limited, which could hinder businesses relying on various applications for their HR processes.

BrainyHR8.4Best for teams of all sizes

The system is simple to use and does not require extensive training, making it a time-saving solution for HR management.

Watch for: While BrainyHR excels in basic HR functions, it may lack some advanced features or customization that larger businesses or complex teams might require.

Oyster8.4Best for teams of all sizes

Clear and consistent communication during the hiring and onboarding process, making it stress-free and straightforward.

Watch for: Occasional delays in handling processes, with specific mentions of tax-related or off-cycle payment issues.

Paycor9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Covers payroll, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration in one platform.

Watch for: Customer service response times are consistently slow, with no assigned representatives and frequent case mismanagement.

Timetastic9.8Best for small & mid-size businesses

Simplifies the holiday request process, eliminating the need for spreadsheets and enhancing organization.

Watch for: Limited advanced features and customization options may not fully meet the needs of more complex organizations.

BambooHR9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Automates HR processes including document signing, onboarding, and payroll.

Watch for: Lacks advanced features found in more comprehensive HRIS platforms.

Calamari9.7Best for small & mid-size businesses

Easy to manage and quick to learn, with Slack integration for submitting requests without leaving the chat tool.

Watch for: User interface design is dated and needs a visual refresh.

Lattice9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Interface is structured for team appraisals with feedback loops and continuous improvement tracking.

Watch for: Some users find the tool a bit hard to learn initially, suggesting the need for more interactive demos.

Homebase9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Streamlines scheduling processes, making it easy to set and manage employee schedules.

Watch for: Limited customization options in the free version, with some advanced functionalities restricted.

Workable9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Simplifies recruitment by centralizing candidate information, increasing organization, and ensuring seamless collaboration across teams.

Watch for: Limited flexibility and customization options, such as restrictions on editing workflows and approval pathways, which can be a challenge for larger organizations.

Why teams look for a Grove HR alternative

Most Grove HR alternative searches trace back to a short list of frustrations:

  • Some features lack depth or scalability for medium and large enterprises, requiring more detailed customization or micro-management options.
  • Reports are often basic and not highly customizable, leading to reliance on Excel for advanced analytics.
  • Limited functionality and engagement in the mobile app beyond specific features like time-off requests.
  • Recruitment and onboarding workflows, while helpful, are occasionally unclear or lack advanced options, impacting usability for complex processes.

What to weigh when comparing Grove HR alternatives

What sets these 12 free alternatives apart, in the numbers: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2–$20, with WebHR the cheapest entry point; and Timetastic is the highest rated at 4.87 across 115 reviews.

How the list is built.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Grove HR are Timetastic (4.9★), BambooHR (4.7★), Lattice (4.7★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Grove HR, prioritize: Time Off Management, Recruiting Management, Performance Appraisal, Payroll Management, Onboarding, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Grove HR is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Which Grove HR alternative is right for you?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — WebHR, Access People HR and tomHRM let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Timetastic has the strongest star rating (4.87★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: WebHR has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.2) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Replacing Grove HR: how to switch

Migrating from Grove HR works best in stages. Export your data, confirm the new tool accepts it, and check that your essential workflows hold up. Try a short pilot before rolling out, and leave Grove HR running until you're confident. Most picks above offer free testing.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].