To ease the excessive workload, most SMEs and large organizations have started using different kinds of HR software. There are cloud-based SaaS platforms besides the open-source HRMS at your forte. However, both platforms have their plus and minus.

Any business that wants to sustain and grow must ensure the proper use of information. In our times, the open-source HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems) plays a big role in managing business data effortlessly. It comes to lessen all the hassle of your company’s HR department. Moreover, it saves considerable time and investment.

Well, in this post, we are going to show you a highly curated pick of the best open-source HRMS to look for this year. Also, you can get a clear guideline on which HRMS suits you best between open-source and SaaS platforms.

Open-source HRMS vs SaaS HRMS: an overview

Before we get through which platform is more suitable for your business, let’s make it clear what is open-source and SaaS.

Open source quietly resembles its name. It allows you to customize the software simultaneously. The main idea of this software model is to offer a highly accessible platform to its core for anyone. Therefore, when you choose an off-the-shelf model, you can modify your tools by contributing and editing source code and adding third-party integrations and features. Thus, its performance is open to unlimited possibilities.

On the contrary, SaaS is a software distribution model that permits third-party providers to host applications and serve them to customers over the internet.

Cloud-computing revolutionized the software industries. SaaS is one of its three major components alongside IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service). It is more like an on-demand software service. If you decide to buy a SaaS model, you only need to choose a specific service and invest money. That’s what you require for your end. The rest (maintenance, update, etc) will be assured by your service providers.

So now you can focus on which platforms you need for your HRMS support like managing employee data, payroll, recruitment onboarding, performance evaluation, leave management, etc.

If you need a package HR software, don’t want to spend time on customizing, and have a sound investment, you can choose a SaaS platform.

On the other side of the coin, an open-source HRMS will allow you to start for free, choose whatever you need, and be open to enhancing your features and support anytime.

Top 5 open-source HRMS for your business

Before you go for an open-source HRMS, ensure that you really need one. Here we are mentioning some of the best reasons for choosing this platform for your company.

• You don’t feel SaaS or other familiar platform is going to meet your demand
• You love to customize your own HRM system
• Have a limited budget
• You have a dedicated tech team in your business
• Love to modify features, add third-party plugins
• You want to explore a bigger scope with your HRMS

However, since you have made decisions to run for it, here we have hand-picked some best open-source HRMS for you. Check them out.

1. Sentrifugo

Sentrifugo brings an easy and customizable open-source HRMS. They specialize in SMEs. Therefore, it’s free HR software. To manage a business of up to 1000 employees, you can start right away.

Though it’s new in the market, day by day it’s gaining popularity for its ease of use. The setup and configuration are simple. And they publish updates frequently. Either you have a startup or have an already established brand, Sentrifugo’s support is immensely effective and professional.

Top Features:

• Enhanced Human Resource Management
• Full-fledged performance appraisal
• Asset Management
• Employee self-service
• Reports and Analytics
• Comprehensive background check for the candidates
• Smart Leave Management
• Monitor and control disciplinary incident management process

Sentrifugo works with four simple steps. You just download it and install to your system. Then configure the setup and features. That’s it. You are ready to go with it. Furthermore, you don’t have to think about the pricing which is a big advantage for small companies.

2. WP ERP HRM

WordPress is an immensely popular CMS platform and a household name for the global open-source user. So when you have a WordPress site, you can consider WP ERP HRM as a full-fledged open-source HRMS. As a complete ERP system for SMEs and large organizations alike, WP ERP has four basic modules. They are- CRM, HRM, Accounting, and Project Manager. However, you can choose the HR module to turn your process into a robust HRMS.

WP ERP is a free HRMS software. It won’t take more than 5 minutes to install and configure the HRM module on your website. You just need to download the plugin from the WordPress repository, install it on your site, and configure it within simple steps. You are done!

Top Features:

• A complete HR management system
• Manage Employee Information
• Monitor the life cycle of the employees
• Employee evaluation made-easy
• Send or Add Private Notes
• Smart Leave Management system
• Scheduling and Announcement Management
• Rich Email Templates
• Highly effective HR reports and Analytics

However, all these highlighted features come with the free version. We believe this is enough for any business with a small and middle range of employees. Furthermore, if you need to manage more people with enhanced advantages and support, you can upgrade your free plan to the pro level. Open Source HRMS WP ERP has several premium pricing plans for your assistance.

3. Simple HRM

If you want a simple, intuitive, and cost-effective solution, you can take a look at Simple HRM. It’s also designed for small and medium enterprises. Hence, it offers easy downloads and hassle-free setups. Right now, it is being used in over 180 countries around the world as one of the fastest-growing open-source HR softwares.

Top Features:

• Personal Info Management at ease
• Employee Self-service
• Manage Travel Activities
• Scheduling employee meetups and holidays
• Leave Management
• Employee daily Reporting
• Manage Expenses
• Generate Reports and Analytics

Simple HRM is a free, open-source HRMS. It’s a bit light and limited if compared to WP ERP or Sentrifugo. Therefore, it has its own simplicity and solid performance to add to your business growth nonetheless.

4. Orange HRM

Orange HRM is one of the oldest names in the open-source HRMS community. Though it is both a SaaS and open-source service, the latter one is more popular among SME HR leaders.

The credit goes to its brand value and customer support. When you don’t have time to check out options, Orange HRM can stand out among the best ones. The functionality of your company’s HR process can be streamlined, effective, and flawless with these powerful HRMS tools.

Top Features:

• System administration and defining user roles
• Time and attendance management
• Recruitment assistance
• Enhanced Personal Information Management
• Leave and holiday management
• Tracking disciplinary activities
• Document Manager
• Training Module for the employees and managers alike

You can start with Orange HRM for a 30-day free trial. Then you need to upgrade to a premium plan. The pricing will vary depending on the size of your organization.

5. Open HRMS

We are completing our list with this self-efficient open-source HRMS. Open HRMS is reliable, affordable, and suitable for any type of business, whether it’s SMEs or large companies. Moreover, it offers special plans for freelancers and startups. The Open HRMS core is a component of the multi-functional ERP system Oodoo.

Top Features:

• Email integration
• Easy attendance management
• HR and Payroll management systems
• Timesheets and time management
• Control and manage leave requests with the smart calendar
• Performance monitoring and evaluation
• Manage your workflow
• Build an employee database

You can get the full package for free. For a handful of advanced-level features, there are plans too. However, if you want to improve your recruitment and employee onboarding processes, Open HRMS can be a suitable option for you.

Get the Best Open-Source HRMS and Improve Business ROI

An open-source HRMS strategically streamlines your human resource activities. It works across the organization, including the recruiting process, gathering and monitoring data, document management, and so forth. Also, it helps to create a knowledge base and ensure its proper utilization to turn your business into a growing one.

Now that you have read this post and seen the list, we believe you understand how they work and are compatible with different platforms. As a WordPress user, WP ERP HRM is a sure fit for your company to execute strategic human resource planning. However, you decide to make it after examining all the features and the size of your investment.

So, tell us which open-source HRMS has the right potential for you. If you have any particular suggestions, don’t forget to use the comments section.