Business Intelligence · head to head
Databox vs People HR
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Databox data sources are the billing unit, and the $159 Pro plan still includes only 3 before charging $5.60 for each additional one; People HR pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
- They diverge on capability: Databox covers Pre-built Dashboards, People HR covers Employee Database.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Databox and People HR actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Databox
- Pre-built Dashboards
- Goal Tracking
- Alerts
- Scorecards
- Mobile App
- HubSpot
- Google Analytics
Only in People HR
- Employee Database
- Absence Management
- Document Management
- Performance
- Recruitment
- Self-Service Portal
- Slack
- Microsoft 365
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Databox
- Building business dashboards from multiple SaaS data sourcesnot People HR
- Tracking KPIs and metrics across marketing, sales and finance toolsnot People HR
People HR
- HR management for startups and growing teamsnot Databox
- Integrated payroll and HR operationsnot Databox
- Employee management with compliance featuresnot Databox
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Databox
- Data sources are the billing unit, and the $159 Pro plan still includes only 3 before charging $5.60 for each additional one
- The $64 Analyst plan is capped at 5 data sources and a single user
- The free plan allows 3 data sources, 10 custom metrics and one user
- AI credits are metered monthly, from 50 on free to 4,000 on Growth
- Every published price assumes annual billing, with monthly costing 20% more
People HR
- Pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
- Payroll SaaS Pro and Elite+ pricing not published
- Combined plans mark no distinction between HR and payroll components
Pricing, plan by plan
Databox
Free- FreeFree
- 3 data sources
- 1 user
- 1 dashboard/report
- Analyst$64/month
- 5 data sources
- 1 user
- Unlimited dashboards and reports
- Pro$159/month
- 3 included data sources (additional at $5.60/month)
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited dashboards, reports, custom metrics
- Growth$399/month
- 3 included data sources (additional at $5.60/month)
- Unlimited users
- All Pro features plus full datasets and forecasting
People HR
Free- Starter$3/month
- per-employee pricing
- ideal for startups
- Core$5.5/month
- per-employee pricing
- growing teams
- Pro$8/month
- per-employee pricing
- larger companies
- Elite+$9.5/month
- per-employee pricing
- advanced HR
Which should you pick?
Choose Databox if
- You need pre-built dashboards.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Tv.
- You also want goal tracking.
Choose People HR if
- You need employee database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want absence management.
Questions people ask
- Is Databox or People HR better?
- Neither clearly leads. Databox starts at Free and People HR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Databox or People HR?
- Databox starts at Free and People HR at Free.
- Does Databox or People HR run on more platforms?
- Databox runs on Web, Mobile, Tv. People HR runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Databox for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Databox best used for?
- Databox is most often used for building business dashboards from multiple saas data sources, tracking kpis and metrics across marketing, sales and finance tools. Of those, building business dashboards from multiple saas data sources and tracking kpis and metrics across marketing, sales and finance tools are not what People HR is typically brought in for.
- What can Databox do that People HR cannot?
- Databox covers Pre-built Dashboards, Goal Tracking, Alerts, Scorecards. People HR covers Employee Database, Absence Management, Document Management, Performance. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Databox: How much does Databox cost?
Databox is free for basic use with 3 data sources and 50 AI credits. Paid plans start at $64/month for the Analyst tier, $159/month for Pro, and $399/month for Growth (most popular). Prices shown are for annual billing; monthly billing costs more. Custom enterprise pricing is available.
SourcePeople HR: How is PeopleHR pricing calculated?
Pricing is per employee per month (PEPM). Starter: £3, Core: £5.50, Pro: £8, Elite+: £9.50. Users can add/remove employees as needed.
SourceDatabox: What is the difference between Databox plans?
Free plan limits users to 1 with 3 data sources. Analyst tier allows 1 user with 5 data sources and API access. Pro tier adds unlimited users and hourly syncing. Growth tier (most popular) provides 15-minute sync, full forecasting, and a dedicated customer success manager.
SourcePeople HR: Do I get a discount for annual billing?
Yes, annual customers receive discounts compared to monthly billing. Exact discount percentages not specified on the pricing page.
SourceDatabox: How many users can I add to Databox plans?
Free and Analyst tiers are limited to 1 user. Pro, Growth, and Custom tiers offer unlimited users with no per-seat fees.
SourcePeople HR: What add-ons are available?
Optional add-ons cost £1.50-£2 PEPM for most features. Specific add-ons not listed on the pricing page.
SourcePeople HR: Can I combine HR and Payroll services?
Yes, combined HR + Payroll plans are available: Core+ (£7 PEPM), Pro+ (£9.50 PEPM), Ultimate+ (£11 PEPM). Support and implementation included.
SourceRelated pages
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