Recruitment · head to head
Factorial vs People HR
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Factorial no published tier names or feature-based pricing breakdown; People HR pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
- They diverge on capability: Factorial covers HR Management, People HR covers Employee Database.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Factorial and People HR actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Factorial
- HR Management
- Time Off
- Time Tracking
- Documents
- Payroll
- Recruiting
- Shift Management
- QuickBooks
Only in People HR
- Employee Database
- Absence Management
- Document Management
- Recruitment
- Self-Service Portal
- Xero
- Sage
Both cover
- Performance
- Slack
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Factorial
- Managing employee records, onboarding and offboardingnot People HR
- Tracking time off, attendance and shiftsnot People HR
- Running recruitment and performance reviews alongside HR datanot People HR
People HR
- HR management for startups and growing teamsnot Factorial
- Integrated payroll and HR operationsnot Factorial
- Employee management with compliance featuresnot Factorial
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Factorial
- No published tier names or feature-based pricing breakdown
- Pricing customization requires sales consultation
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
Factorial
Free- FreeFree
- Basic HR
- Time Off
- Documents
- Business$5/month
- All Free features
- Payroll
- Performance
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 Factorial if
- You need hr management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want time off.
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 Factorial or People HR better?
- Neither clearly leads. Factorial 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, Factorial or People HR?
- Factorial starts at Free and People HR at Free.
- Does Factorial or People HR run on more platforms?
- Factorial runs on Web, Ios, Android. People HR runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Factorial for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Factorial best used for?
- Factorial is most often used for managing employee records, onboarding and offboarding, tracking time off, attendance and shifts, running recruitment and performance reviews alongside hr data. Of those, managing employee records, onboarding and offboarding and tracking time off, attendance and shifts are not what People HR is typically brought in for.
- What can Factorial do that People HR cannot?
- Factorial covers HR Management, Time Off, Time Tracking, Documents. People HR covers Employee Database, Absence Management, Document Management, Recruitment. Both handle Performance, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Factorial: What is Factorial's starting price?
Factorial starts at $8 per month per user. The company offers modular pricing where customers select features across categories including time management, talent management, finance management, and IT management.
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.
SourceFactorial: Can I customize my Factorial plan?
Yes. Factorial offers customizable plans for all businesses and budgets. A specialist will design a plan based on specific business needs. All plans include the Factorial Core platform with employee directory, onboarding/offboarding, payslip distribution, legal e-signature, and custom notifications.
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.
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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