AppBreakup

Sesame HR alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sesame HR: minimum spend applies on each plan, and lighter reporting and integrations. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sesame HR, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Factorial currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Factorial logoFactorialPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 366.5
2Zoho People logoZoho PeoplePaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 459.6
3Homebase logoHomebaseFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 557.2
4Personio logoPersonioPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android0 of 052.1
  1. Factorial logo

    1. FactorialTop pick

    Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses that want affordable all-in-one HR with time tracking

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sesame HR

    Similar SMB all-in-one with stronger finance and IT tools.

    Pros

    • Low starting price per user
    • Strong time tracking and shift planning
    • Expenses and IT tools alongside HR

    Cons

    • Some modules thinner than specialist tools
    • Payroll depth varies by country
    • Pricing tailored by quote
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Factorial a good Sesame HR alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Starting price
    $8 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026factorialhr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    17,000+ companies
    Checked Oct 25, 2026factorialhr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Headquarters
    Barcelona
    Checked Oct 25, 2026factorialhr.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zoho People logo

    2. Zoho People

    Best for: Cost-conscious SMBs that want a customisable HRIS, especially Zoho users

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sesame HR

    Low-cost, customisable HRIS from Zoho.

    Pros

    • Low per-user pricing
    • Highly customisable forms and workflows
    • Connects to Zoho Payroll, Recruit and the wider suite

    Cons

    • Setup takes effort to get right
    • Interface less polished than newer HR tools
    • Payroll depends on Zoho Payroll coverage
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho People a good Sesame HR alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    30 days on all plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    1M+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Countries
    165+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing basis
    Per user
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Homebase logo

    3. Homebase

    Best for: Small businesses with hourly staff that need scheduling and a time clock

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sesame HR

    Free scheduling and time clock for US hourly teams.

    Pros

    • Free plan for one location and up to 10 staff
    • Scheduling, time clock and messaging in one app
    • Payroll runs straight from timesheets

    Cons

    • Per-location pricing adds up for multi-site businesses
    • Basic HR features
    • Mainly for the US and Canada
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Homebase a good Sesame HR alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    1 location, up to 10 employees
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinhomebase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Essentials plan
    $30/location/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinhomebase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    All-in-One plan
    $120/location/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinhomebase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days (All-in-One)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinhomebase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Workers supported
    3.5 million in 2025
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinhomebase.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Personio logo

    4. Personio

    Best for: European SMEs that want HR, recruiting and payroll preparation in one tool

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    52.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sesame HR

    Deeper recruiting and workflows for growing European firms.

    Pros

    • Strong absence, time tracking and recruiting
    • Built for European compliance needs
    • Workflow automation and integrations

    Cons

    • Quote-based and price rises at renewal reported
    • Reporting can feel limited
    • Strongest in German-speaking markets
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Personio a good Sesame HR alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Sesame HR alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Factorial logo

Best Sesame HR alternative for most people

Factorial

Similar SMB all-in-one with stronger finance and IT tools.

Homebase logo

Best Sesame HR alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Homebase

Free scheduling and time clock for US hourly teams.

Zoho People logo

Best Sesame HR alternative for iPhone and Android

Zoho People

Low-cost, customisable HRIS from Zoho.

Personio logo

Best Sesame HR alternative for working in the browser

Personio

Deeper recruiting and workflows for growing European firms.

Sesame HR alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sesame HR?

Factorial ranks first right now. Similar SMB all-in-one with stronger finance and IT tools. Zoho People and Homebase follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sesame HR?

Yes. Homebase (free plan + paid) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Sesame HR?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Sesame HR?

The complaints we hear most: minimum spend applies on each plan; lighter reporting and integrations; best fit in Spanish-speaking markets.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Sesame HR, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.