6 of the Best Free HR Software Tools for Small UK Businesses
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We all need software to run our small businesses, but it can get expensive very quickly, especially if you can’t get everything in one place. We’re not at all surprised that so many people are looking for free HR software for small businesses as a way to save money.
If you’re on the lookout for great software to power your HR operations, you’re in luck. We’ve researched free HR software apps through the lens of a small UK business, to bring you this guide to the best options for your needs.
How we landed on this shortlist
Having worked both in our customer success team and our product team, I’ve done a lot of research on what other solutions offer on the market, and I took a particular interest in what free HR solutions can offer. As I studied their pros and cons, and used that knowledge to improve our own platform, I ended up with quite an interesting list of free HR software.
Through a mix of deep research, talking to team members and HR experts, and conversations with customers about their HR needs, I’ve been able to compile this list of the best free HR software tools for small businesses.
How to choose the best HR software for your team
Before choosing a free HR tool, check whether it fits the way your business actually works: legally, practically, and day to day.
When comparing free HR tools, look at:
-
UK compliance: Free HR software doesn’t always support the legal admin UK employers need to manage. For a small UK business, that’s a limitation worth checking before you commit. Make sure the tool can help you manage:
- HMRC starter checklists
- Right to Work checks
- UK GDPR
- Statutory leave entitlements
- Ease of setup: Free tools often require more manual work to compensate for missing features. That might mean spreadsheets alongside the tool, manual reminders, or workarounds to keep everything moving. The true cost of a free tool includes your time.
- Ease of use: Many free HR tools are entry-level versions of bigger platforms built for scale. The interface, language, and feature set often assume an HR professional is using them. If you’re a founder or office manager handling HR alongside another role, that can make the tool harder to use than expected.
- User limits: Almost every free HR tool has a user cap, often around 2, 5, 10, or 20 users. For a business growing from 5 to 15 to 30 people, this can create a cliff: the tool is fine until suddenly it isn’t, and switching mid-growth is painful.
A free tool may still be worth choosing if it gives you enough structure to stay organised now. The main thing is knowing where the limits are before those limits start costing you time.
6 free HR software tools for small businesses in the UK
I know your time is valuable, so let’s jump straight into the list. If you’re looking for a free HR software tool for your small business, these are the best options to consider. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one solution or an app for a specific job, there’s something on this list for every need.
Please note: Pricing checked May 2026 and confirmed using provider pricing pages. Prices are listed in the currency shown by the provider and may exclude VAT or local taxes.
1. Sling
Sling is an HR software app that offers a free plan for up to 30 users. It caters to shift-based industries, including restaurants, retail shops, hospitality businesses, healthcare teams, and call centres.
For small teams, Sling’s main value is that it keeps shift planning, time-off requests, available shifts, and staff messages in one centralised place.
It can be a strong option for small businesses that mostly need help scheduling hourly workers, managing availability, and keeping teams updated on mobile.
👍
You need free shift scheduling for up to 30 users
❌
You need broader core HR features
👍
Your team works changing shifts across one or more locations
❌
You need time clock functionality
👍
You want mobile-friendly team updates and private messaging
❌
You want one system for employee records, onboarding, documents, and compliance
Sarah, Capterra review
“This software was easy to use and implement, intuitive, colourful, well labelled, directive, fluid, and flexible. There are a lot of options available and it offers a lot of customisation during both set up and operation.”
What you get with this free HR software
Sling’s main features include:
- Shift scheduling and templates, including long-term scheduling
- Time-off requests: Approve or deny requests
- Shift alarm reminders for employees
- Announcements and news sharing
- Built-in private messaging
Price: Sling is free for up to 30 users. Beyond that, you’ll need to opt in to their Premium or Business plan which starts at $1.70 per user per month when billed annually.
Pros and cons: Sling free plan
✅
Free for up to 30 users
❌
Mobile time tracking is a paid feature
✅
Useful for managing shift schedules, time-off requests, available shifts, and team communication in one place.
❌
It doesn’t cover wider HR admin, such as onboarding, employee records, documents, or performance.
✅
Mobile-friendly, which helps if your team doesn’t sit at a desk.
❌
You may need a separate system for UK employment admin, such as Right to Work checks or HMRC starter checklists
2. Connecteam
Connecteam is an employee management app with a free Small Business Plan for teams with up to ten users. The software is designed for businesses with deskless workers, where keeping people connected and organised can be harder when everyone isn’t working from the same place.
For small businesses, the big appeal is that Connecteam brings a lot of day-to-day team management into one app. It could be a good fit if your team works across different sites, shifts, or locations and needs mobile access to updates, tasks, and communication.
👍
You manage a very small deskless team
❌
You need free access for more than 10 active and archived users
👍
You want one app for team operations and basic HR
❌
You need more than one Time Clock or one Job Schedule
👍
You want free access to a broad feature set while your team is still small
❌
You only need a simple HR records tool and don’t want a broader employee management app
Renee, Capterra reviewer
“Connecteam's time tracking is amazing! To be able to select from multiple jobs and sub-jobs, add notes, and even attachments such as mileage, meals, hotels etc, it keeps our time tracking streamlined and simple.”
What you get with this free HR software
Connecteam’s free plan gives you access to all its hubs and features, including:
- Scheduling, time tracking, and GPS
- Clock-in and clock-out functions
- Document management
- Training and onboarding course creation and progress tracking
- One Time Clock and one Job Schedule
Connecteam’s
Small Business Plan is free to use if your company has up to ten employees. Beyond that, you’ll need to invest in a paid plan. Its Basic HR plan starts at $29 per month for up to 30 users.
Pros and cons: Connecteam free plan
✅
Free lifetime access for businesses with up to ten employees
❌
The free plan is limited to one Time Clock and one Job Schedule.
✅
Gives you access to scheduling, communication, training, documents, and HR tools in one app.
❌
You’ll need to stay within Connecteam’s Small Business Plan conditions, including the employee limit of fewer than 10 people.
✅
Includes room to manage training and employee documents, not only schedules.
❌
The wide feature set may be more than you need if you only want simple employee records or document storage, because you’ll have more tools to set up and manage from the start.
3. Homebase
Homebase is a free HR software tool built for small businesses with hourly teams. Its free plan focuses on basic scheduling, time clocks, and time tracking, which makes it most relevant for restaurants, retail shops, salons, cafés, and other shift-based businesses.
For small teams, Homebase’s main value is that it gives you a simple way to manage shifts and track hours before they’re ready for payroll. If your biggest HR admin need is knowing who’s working, when they’re working, and how many hours they’ve worked, Homebase could be a good fit.
👍
You need free basic scheduling and time tracking for an hourly team
❌
You need free onboarding, document storage, employee records, performance, or compliance features
👍
You want employees to clock in and out without paying for time clock software
❌
You need free team communication, onboarding, or HR compliance tools
👍
You’re happy to pay separately if you want to add payroll
❌
You want one free tool for scheduling, payroll, onboarding, and HR admin
“It's easy for my employees to use and it takes the hassle out of keeping up with hours manually.”
James, Capterra reviewer
What you get with this free HR software
The features are limited on Homebase’s free plan, but it does include:
- Basic scheduling and time tracking
- Point-of-sale integration
- Option to add payroll for a monthly fee
Homebase’s Basic plan is free for up to 1 location and 10 employees. Its optional paid payroll add-on costs $39/month plus $6/month per employee paid.
Beyond 10 employees, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan. Paid plans currently start at $24 per location per month when billed annually, with unlimited employees. You’ll also need a paid plan to access additional features like advanced scheduling and time tracking, team communications, time-off controls, and onboarding.
Pros and cons: Homebase free plan
✅
Free for one location with up to 10 employees.
❌
Payroll, team communication, onboarding, and HR compliance sit on paid plans.
✅
Includes basic scheduling, time tracking, and time clock functionality.
❌
More focused on shift and hours management than full employee lifecycle support.
✅
May be helpful if you need a simple way to prepare hourly timesheets before payroll.
❌
The one-location limit may be restrictive if you manage teams across multiple sites.
4. Monday.com
Monday.com is an AI work platform with a free plan that small businesses can use to organise basic HR tasks alongside the rest of their work. It combines project management, task tracking, CRM, goals, resource management, and business operations in one place.
Its HR features focus mainly on recruiting and new employee onboarding, while its SMB resources also list employee performance as a workflow small businesses can manage in the platform.
It may be useful if you already use Monday.com elsewhere in your business, or if you want a flexible place to organise basic HR tasks.
👍
You already use Monday.com for task management
❌
You don’t have time to set up your own HR workflows
👍
You want a flexible workspace for basic HR tasks
❌
You want dedicated HR software for records, leave, onboarding, and compliance admin
👍
You need a tool that can also support work outside HR
❌
You need automations or integrations on a free plan
Michael, Capterra reviewer
“The most impressive aspect of monday.com is its user-friendly interface that significantly enhances our team's ability to collaborate effortlessly on various projects.”
What you get with this free HR software
Monday’s free plan gives you access to key features like:
- Two seats
- Three boards
- Three real-time collaboration Docs
- Eight column types
- Access to 200+ templates
- On-the-go access with IOS and Android apps
Monday.com’s free version is available for small teams with up to 2 users. Beyond that, you’ll need to subscribe to one of its paid plans, which range from $9 per seat per month to $19 per seat per month.
Pros and cons: Monday.com free plan
✅
Useful if your team already uses Monday.com for projects or task management.
❌
The free plan is limited, including no automations or integrations.
✅
Flexible enough to organise basic HR workflows, including recruiting and onboarding.
❌
Takes setup work if you want to turn it into a useful HR workspace.
✅
Can expand beyond HR if you want one workspace for different parts of the business.
❌
Not a dedicated HR system, so it won’t manage core HR admin out of the box.
5. OrangeHRM
OrangeHRM Starter is a free, open-source HR software tool for businesses that want more control over how their HR system is set up. It brings together core HR features like employee management, leave management, recruitment, time tracking, reporting, and performance reviews.
For small businesses, the main appeal is that OrangeHRM Starter is a more HR-focused free option than many general work tools. It could be useful if you want free HR software with proper employee records and leave management, and you’re comfortable with a platform that may take more setup than a simpler app.
👍
You want free, HR-focused software with proper employee records
❌
You want the simplest possible setup
👍
You’re a small business with tech-savvy team members who can help with setup and training
❌
You only need scheduling, time clocks, or team messaging
👍
You need leave management, recruitment, time tracking, and reporting in one free tool
❌
You want public pricing before comparing paid plans
“OrangeHRM is more powerful than a spreadsheet but significantly less daunting than an enterprise system like SAP or Workday. If you value a simple UI and the ability to self-host, it’s arguably the best value on the market.”
Leonardo G., Capterra reviewer
What you get with this free HR software
OrangeHRM Starter includes:
- A central place to store employee profiles, job details, and team information
- Tools to manage holiday, PTO, and other leave requests
- Recruitment features for tracking candidates and job applications
- Time tracking for recording work hours
- Basic reporting and analytics
- Mobile access for employees and managers
- Performance review tools, including 180-degree reviews
- GDPR-related features for consent, audit logs, and employee or candidate data management
OrangeHRM Starter is free, open-source software. To learn more about pricing for its paid plans, which offer advanced admin and management features and dedicated vendor support, you can request a custom quote.
Pros and cons: OrangeHRM Starter
✅
Free and open source
❌
May take more setup than a simple hosted app
✅
More HR-focused than general work management tools
❌
Self-hosting may require technical support
✅
Includes GDPR-related controls for employee and candidate data
❌
Paid plan pricing isn’t listed publicly
6. Bitrix24 HR
Bitrix24 is HR software with a free plan that supports unlimited users. It gives small businesses a central place to manage employee profiles, company structure, and internal communication.
While the platform can handle leave, absences, work reports, and custom HR workflows, it's important to note that those specific automation and time-tracking features require a paid upgrade.
Bitrix24 also includes CRM, task management, collaboration, websites, and customer communication tools, so it may be useful if you want one free workspace for more than HR.
For a small business, the main appeal is the unlimited-user free plan, but the platform may feel too comprehensive if you only want a simple HR tool.
👍
You want a truly unlimited user count on a free plan
❌
You just want a simple, lightweight HR tool (the platform is massive)
👍
You want an all-in-one business workspace (HR, CRM, task management, and communication)
❌
You need automated HR workflows, absence management, and time tracking for free
Shenella S., Capterra reviewer
“The software took some getting used to as it is a little complicated to learn at first. However, once the initial hurdle is crossed it is a very helpful software because it integrates CRM and communication so there is no need to keep switching between apps to keep track of tasks and workflows.”
What you get with this free HR software
Bitrix24’s free plan includes:
- Unlimited users
- Basic CRM for customers, sales funnels, and deals
- Task management
- Team collaboration tools, including chat, news feed, video calls, and calendar
- 5 GB cloud storage
- Website and landing page builder
- Contact centre tools for customer communication
- Basic integrations, including Google Drive and Zoom
Bitrix24’s free plan is automatically activated for new cloud accounts. If you decide you need access to its premium HR features later on, paid plans start at $49 per organisation per month when billed annually.
Pros and cons: OrangeHRM Starter
✅
Free and open source
❌
May take more setup than a simple hosted app
✅
More HR-focused than general work management tools
❌
Self-hosting may require technical support
✅
Includes GDPR-related controls for employee and candidate data
❌
Paid plan pricing isn’t listed publicly
Free HR software alternatives
Free HR software isn’t the only starting point for small businesses trying to keep HR admin organised. Plenty of teams start with tools they already know, such as spreadsheets, Notion, Trello, or Confluence. These tools sit close to HR needs, but they weren’t originally built to manage employee admin. They may work while your processes are still informal, but there comes a point where managing HR across several apps takes too much work.
Dedicated HR software starts to make more sense as your team grows, compliance requirements become harder to manage manually, and too much admin starts sitting with one person.
A few common HR software alternatives include:
-
Spreadsheets like
Google Sheets or
Excel: Good for keeping a basic record of employee details, holiday allowances, sickness absence, or onboarding tasks. The drawback is that someone has to keep the sheet updated and check that nothing has been missed. You can find out more in our HR software vs spreadsheets guide.
- Notion AI workspace and documentation tool: Helpful if you want one place for onboarding notes, company policies, checklists, and internal HR guidance. It’s stronger for organising information than running HR processes, so reminders, approvals, and employee records can still need manual management.
- Trello project management tool: A good fit for simple task-based processes, like tracking onboarding steps for a new starter. It works best when the process is simple, because reminders, records, and compliance checks can still need manual follow-up. See how Trello is holding your team back.
- Confluence team workspace and knowledge management tool: Useful if your team already uses it for documentation and wants a central place for policies or process notes. It’s best for storing information, so you may still need another way to manage tasks, reminders, and employee records.
These alternatives work best when your process is light and someone has time to keep everything updated. As your team grows, it’s worth checking whether the setup is still helping, or whether you’re paying the cost for a fragmented HR tech stack.
That’s often the point where dedicated HR software becomes easier to manage.
CharlieHR: An affordable alternative to free HR software
It’s tempting to choose a free HR software tool to save money, but free tools have real limits that sometimes can end up costing more than you’d expect. Many plans are only free for a certain number of users, and adjusting to the price jump can feel rough, especially when you’re still a very small business.
If you're on a strict budget and free software is your only option, one of the tools above should give you the foundation you need to get started. But if you have a small budget to play with, we’d recommend considering our affordable Charlie HR software.
Our goal with Charlie is to make HR feel effortless for UK-based small businesses, and it’s baked into every aspect of our software. From easy-to-use dashboards to HR automation tools and employee onboarding software, Charlie makes HR operation management smoother and more intuitive, whether you’re an experienced HR pro or running a company while wearing multiple hats.
What you get with Charlie
Charlie can support you across a range of HR functions with features including:
- Onboarding
- Leave management software
- Performance management
- Employee engagement surveys
- Perks and benefits
- Document management
- User-friendly employee self-service
- Integrations with other apps and tools
- Charlie Advice and Charlie Recruit also available
Charlie isn’t free, but it’s excellent value for money at just £20 per month for teams with up to 4 members. If you have £20 per month spare, you’re no longer limited to only free HR software. You can invest in Charlie for your brand new startup, small business, or growing team.
Often capped at very small team sizes
Built to support small businesses as they grow
Usually focused on one area, such as scheduling or time tracking
Covers the wider HR workflow, including onboarding, time off, records, documents, performance, engagement, and perks
Often still needs manual tracking, reminders, and follow-up
Helps with assigning tasks, reminders, and keeps HR work moving
May need separate processes for UK employment admin
Built for small UK businesses, with HMRC admin and UK employment law in mind, including holiday records that must now be kept for at least six years
Make the most out of your HR budget
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Compare the best free HR software tools for small businesses
Sling
- You need free shift scheduling for up to 30 users.
- Free for up to 30 users. Paid plans start at $1.70/user/month, billed annually.
Connecteam
- You manage a very small deskless team and want one app for basic HR and team operations.
- Free for up to 10 employees. Paid plans start at $29/month for up to 30 users.
Homebase
- You need basic scheduling, time tracking, and time clocks for an hourly team.
- Free for one location and up to 10 employees. Paid plans start at $24/location/month, billed annually.
Monday.com
- You want a flexible workspace for basic HR tasks and wider business work.
- Free for up to two users. Paid plans range from $9–$19/seat/month.
OrangeHRM Starter
- You want free, HR-focused software and have support for setup.
- Free and open source. Paid plan pricing is available by custom quote.
Bitrix24 HR
- You want a free HR and business workspace with unlimited users.
- Free with unlimited users and 5 GB storage. Paid plans start at $49/organisation/month, billed annually.
Free HR software FAQs
You’ve got questions about free HR software, and we’ve got answers. Here’s our expert advice on the most frequently asked questions about free HR software for small businesses.
Free HR software is a term that covers any app, tool, or platform for HR management that happens to be free or offer a free plan. The HR software could be an all-in-one system, a core HR system, or focused on one area — like recruitment, scheduling, employee recognition, and more.
While many HR software tools offer free trials, there are only a limited number of options if you want a truly free plan. And these are often extremely limited in team size, so they’re designed for only the smallest of businesses.
Start with the job you need the software to do. Some free tools are good for shift scheduling, some are better for employee records, and others work more like a flexible workspace for basic HR tasks.
For a small UK business, it’s worth checking:
- UK compliance support
- User limits
- Setup time
- Ease of use
- What happens when your team grows?
Free tools are often entry-level versions of larger platforms, so they may assume an HR professional is using them. If you’re a founder, office manager, or operations lead handling HR alongside another role, choose something you can manage without adding more admin to your week. To help you with this, you can also run a current audit of your HR tech stack.
Free HR software usually comes with limits. Some tools cap the number of users, while others restrict features like onboarding, automations, integrations, documents, payroll, performance reviews, or compliance tools.
The biggest limit is often time. A free tool may still need workarounds, spreadsheets, manual reminders, or someone checking that every task has been done.
That doesn’t mean free software is a bad choice. It just means the true cost of a free tool includes the time it takes to manage it properly.
Some free HR software includes GDPR-related features, but you’ll need to check each provider carefully, especially as a small UK business.
Many HR platforms are built for international markets, so they may focus on US or global compliance rather than UK GDPR, UK employment admin, or the way small businesses here manage employee data.
Look at how the tool handles employee data, permissions, audit logs, consent, data retention, and deletion. You should also check where data is stored and whether the provider’s terms fit your own responsibilities under UK GDPR.
The software can help, but your business is still responsible for how employee data is collected, stored, and managed.
It may be time to upgrade when the free plan starts costing too much of your time, or when you need more confidence around UK employment admin.
Common signs include hitting user limits, managing HR across several tools, chasing tasks manually, improving your onboarding process, or needing better support for time off, documents, performance, and compliance.
For UK small businesses, compliance is a big part of that decision. If you’re starting to manage Right to Work checks, HMRC starter checklists, holiday records, contracts, or sensitive employee data manually, a paid HR system may be easier to manage than another workaround.
HR software tends to fall into one of three categories. These are:
- Human resource information system (HRIS) — a central platform that stores employee data that HR teams can use to power HR operations, administration, and day-to-day tasks like payroll, onboarding, and performance management
- Human resource management system (HRMS) — a suite of apps and features designed to enable HR operations including recruitment, benefits administration, time and attendance, and workforce planning
- Human capital management system (HCM) — a system focused on talent acquisition and retention, including onboarding, training, and offboarding
It’s not uncommon for one platform to encompass more than one of these areas, but it can be helpful to know what you’re looking for so you can find the best HRIS system— depending on your needs.
