Pick a replacement by listing every people job you run today and checking which ones each platform covers end to end. Some options are HR software you run yourself, while others pair software with an HR and payroll service. Small teams usually need fewer modules than they think, so start with the jobs, not the feature list.
Before you look at a single platform, write down the people jobs your business runs. For most small and growing companies it's some mix of these:
- keeping employee records and documents in one place
- hiring, from job ads to offers
- onboarding new starters
- holiday, sickness and time off
- performance reviews and one-to-ones
- payroll and benefits
Below are eight HR platforms for teams moving on from Sesame HR, in no particular order. They're grouped by how much they do for you, then listed A to Z.
What still ends up in a spreadsheet
Sesame HR describes itself as all-in-one HR software covering time tracking, payroll, recruitment and more. The thing to test in any replacement is which of your people jobs it covers from start to finish, and which ones still leak into a spreadsheet or someone's inbox.
Go back to your list and mark each job against each platform: fully handled, partly handled or not covered. Partly handled is where the hidden work sits, such as a review process that lives in the system but a pay rise that's recorded somewhere else, or hiring that ends with someone retyping a new starter's details. The fewer gaps, the more time you'll get back.
Don't skip the employee side either. Staff will use the platform to book time off, check payslips or update their details, so ask for the employee view in every demo and try it on a phone. If it's awkward, people will email HR instead, and you'll be back to managing requests by hand. It's also worth asking how managers approve requests and whether they can do it without logging in to a separate system.
Software only, or software plus people
BambooHR, HiBob, Humaans, HRpartner and CharlieHR are platforms you run yourself. They hold records, automate onboarding and time off, and in some cases connect to payroll, but the HR decisions stay with you. They suit companies with an office manager or a small people team.
Justworks, TriNet and Namely pair software with services, such as human support, payroll and benefits handling or managed HR help. They suit owners who'd rather hand some of that work to a provider than build an HR function in-house.
HR platforms in a table
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| BambooHR | HR platform with AI assistant | An established HR platform adding AI help |
| CharlieHR | HR software for small teams | Small companies without a dedicated HR person |
| HiBob | HR, payroll and finance platform | Linking people data with payroll and finance |
| HRpartner | Employee management for SMBs | Leave, records, recruiting and onboarding in one portal |
| Humaans | AI-powered HR for global teams | Onboarding and people data across countries |
| Justworks | HR software with human support | Owners who want real people on hand to help |
| Namely | HCM platform with managed services | Payroll, benefits and compliance with managed help |
| TriNet | HR provider with payroll and benefits | Handing payroll, benefits and compliance to one provider |
Each platform in brief
Alphabetical and in no particular order. Each line reflects how the vendor describes its own product.
BambooHR
Best for: HR teams wanting a well-known people platform; the vendor's current pitch is moving from HR platform to HR partner with its own AI.
CharlieHR
Best for: Small companies that don't have HR staff yet; the vendor describes it as software built to be your first HR hire, automating routine tasks.
HiBob
Best for: Mid-size companies joining up HR, payroll and finance processes, with automation the vendor says cuts the noise.
HRpartner
Best for: Small and medium businesses needing leave tracking, employee records, recruiting, onboarding and an employee portal; the vendor names a free trial.
Humaans
Best for: Teams spread across countries that want onboarding automated and global people data kept in one place, per the vendor.
Justworks
Best for: Founders who want HR software backed by real human support, which is the vendor's main pitch.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Namely
Best for: Employers wanting payroll, benefits, compliance and analytics on one human capital management platform, with managed services available, per the vendor.
TriNet
Best for: Businesses that want payroll, benefits, risk management and compliance handled in one place, according to the vendor.
Advice on switching HR systems
Plan the move around your payroll calendar. Switch at the start of a pay period or a new tax year where you can, so you're not reconciling two systems mid-month. Export every employee record, contract, holiday balance and review note before you cancel anything, and check the new platform has imported them correctly with a few spot checks against real files.
Employment law, payroll rules and data protection duties vary by country and sometimes by region, so check what applies to you with your regulator or an employment adviser, and don't assume any platform handles compliance for you. Tell staff what's changing and where they'll now book time off. For more on the people side, see how payroll software can help with employee retention and how hiring software helps an HR department.
Do you make HR or people software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What should small businesses look for in HR software?
Start with the jobs you run most often, usually records, time off and onboarding. Add hiring, reviews and payroll only if you need them now.
What's the difference between HR software and an HR service provider?
HR software gives you tools to manage people yourself. A service provider pairs software with people who handle payroll, benefits or HR support on your behalf.
Does HR software handle employment law for me?
No platform replaces advice. Employment law varies by country and region, so check with your regulator or an employment adviser.
Can I move employee data from my old HR system?
Usually, through exports and imports. Check holiday balances and documents carefully after the move, because they're the details that cause problems later.
When is the best time to switch HR platforms?
Ideally at the start of a pay period or a new tax year, so payroll and holiday balances line up cleanly in the new system.
Do I need payroll in the same system as HR?
Not always. Keeping them together reduces retyping, but plenty of small companies run HR software alongside a separate payroll provider.
