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HR · head to head

Cezanne HR vs SmartHR

Cezanne HR logo

Cezanne HR

HR

Mid-market HR system for UK and multi-country European employers, with per-country configuration and EU or UK data hosting

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartHR logo

SmartHR

HR

Japanese back-office cloud for labor management, payroll and talent management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cezanne HR there is no payroll calculation, so every country needs its own payroll provider and an export that someone maintains when statutory formats change.; SmartHR no specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cezanne HR and SmartHR actually diverge.

Attributes where Cezanne HR and SmartHR differ
AttributeCezanne HRSmartHR
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cezanne HR

  • Per-country configuration
  • Data residency choice
  • Absence management
  • Performance management
  • Onboarding
  • Career and succession
  • Timesheets
  • Reporting

Only in SmartHR

Nothing recorded that Cezanne HR does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cezanne HR

  • A UK company with subsidiaries in France, Germany and Spain that needs different absence rules under one systemnot SmartHR
  • An organisation whose data protection assessment rules out US-hosted HR systemsnot SmartHR
  • A mid-market employer that has outgrown a small business HR tool but will not fund an enterprise HCM programmenot SmartHR
  • A professional services firm that needs timesheets against projects alongside HR recordsnot SmartHR

SmartHR

  • Reducing combined processing time by 88% across HR functionsnot Cezanne HR
  • Centralizing employee information through onboarding to offboardingnot Cezanne HR
  • Distributing payroll and salary statements via mobile appnot Cezanne HR
  • Automating document distribution and employee communicationsnot Cezanne HR
  • Integrating with 120+ external systems for extended functionalitynot Cezanne HR

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cezanne HR

  • There is no payroll calculation, so every country needs its own payroll provider and an export that someone maintains when statutory formats change.
  • Modules are licensed separately, so the quoted per employee price for core HR rises considerably once performance, recruitment and onboarding are added.
  • The interface is functional rather than modern, and organisations that expect employees to adopt it enthusiastically without prompting are usually disappointed.
  • The report builder is capable but has a genuine learning curve, and most customers end up with one or two people who can write reports rather than self-service across the business.
  • The mobile app covers common employee tasks but not administrative work, so HR staff are tied to a desktop for anything beyond approvals.

SmartHR

  • No specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Requires direct quotation for customized pricing
  • Multiple plan options create complexity in pricing structure

Pricing, plan by plan

Cezanne HR

On request
  • Cezanne HR$undefined/year
    • Priced per employee per month on annual terms with volume banding
    • Core people management included
    • Performance, recruitment, onboarding and timesheets licensed as modules

SmartHR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SmartHR review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cezanne HR if

  • You need per-country configuration.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want data residency choice.
Cezanne HR review

Choose SmartHR if

Nothing in the data separates SmartHR from Cezanne HR on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

SmartHR review

Questions people ask

Is Cezanne HR or SmartHR better?
Neither clearly leads. Cezanne HR starts at On request and SmartHR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cezanne HR or SmartHR?
Cezanne HR starts at On request and SmartHR at On request.
Does Cezanne HR or SmartHR run on more platforms?
Cezanne HR runs on Web, iOS, Android. SmartHR runs on Web.
What is Cezanne HR best used for?
Cezanne HR is most often used for a uk company with subsidiaries in france, germany and spain that needs different absence rules under one system, an organisation whose data protection assessment rules out us-hosted hr systems, a mid-market employer that has outgrown a small business hr tool but will not fund an enterprise hcm programme, a professional services firm that needs timesheets against projects alongside hr records. Of those, a uk company with subsidiaries in france, germany and spain that needs different absence rules under one system and an organisation whose data protection assessment rules out us-hosted hr systems are not what SmartHR is typically brought in for.
What can Cezanne HR do that SmartHR cannot?
Cezanne HR covers Per-country configuration, Data residency choice, Absence management, Performance management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cezanne HR: Does Cezanne HR run payroll?

No. It holds the HR record and exports to payroll providers in each country. Payroll remains a separate contract.

SmartHR: How much does SmartHR cost?

SmartHR pricing is customized per organization based on features and user count. The vendor does not publish standard pricing rates. Customers must use the estimation tool or contact the vendor directly to receive a personalized quote. No additional charges are assessed beyond monthly usage fees.

Source
Cezanne HR: Where is our data stored?

You choose between UK and EU hosting, which is the reason many public sector, education and works-council-sensitive buyers shortlist it.

SmartHR: What is SmartHR's free tier?

SmartHR offers a free plan (¥0プラン) for small businesses with up to 30 employees. This tier provides basic employee data management without additional charges, making it suitable for very small organizations or trials.

Source
Cezanne HR: Can it handle different rules per country?

Yes. Absence, calendars, working patterns and documents are configured per country within a single instance rather than needing separate systems.

SmartHR: What are SmartHR's plan options?

SmartHR provides multiple plans including HR Strategy Plan (labor and talent management), Essential Plan (labor management focus), Talent Management Plan (employee growth focus), and a specialized plan for companies with 50 or fewer employees. Optional add-ons including payroll, attendance tracking, and recruitment are available.

Source
Cezanne HR: What size organisation is it for?

Roughly 100 to 3,000 employees. Below that it is more system than needed; above it, enterprise HCM products become competitive.

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