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Software · head to head

Namely vs Personio

Namely logo

Namely

Software

The HR platform that employees love

From
$18/employee/month
Rated
-
Personio logo

Personio

Software

All-in-one HR software for SMEs

From
$5/employee-per-month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Namely limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions; Personio payroll processing only available in Germany, UK, and Ireland, limiting multi-country deployment
  • They diverge on capability: Namely covers Benefits Administration, Personio covers Recruiting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namely and Personio actually diverge.

Attributes where Namely and Personio differ
AttributeNamelyPersonio
Starting price$18/employee/month$5/employee-per-month
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile (iOS, Android)
Founded20122015

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Namely

  • Benefits Administration
  • Time Off Management
  • Greenhouse

Only in Personio

  • Recruiting
  • Time Tracking
  • Offboarding
  • DATEV

Both cover

  • HR Management
  • Payroll
  • Performance Management
  • Onboarding
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • LinkedIn
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Where each one falls short

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

Namely

  • Limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions
  • Payroll limitations: better served for less complex organizations and struggles with complex time-and-attendance or multi-FEIN scenarios
  • Missing ATS and surveys: lacks built-in applicant tracking system and pulse survey capabilities
  • Slow support response times: pod-based support model has led to slow response times for customers
  • Designed for specific market segment: best fit is mid-sized companies with 50-350 employees

Personio

  • Payroll processing only available in Germany, UK, and Ireland, limiting multi-country deployment
  • Recruiting module lacks advanced reporting and LinkedIn integration functionality
  • Limited reporting customization requires manual exports and workarounds
  • Mobile app has reduced capabilities compared to desktop experience

Pricing, plan by plan

Namely

$18/employee/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.

Personio

$5/employee-per-month

No published plan breakdown. See the Personio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Namely if

  • You need benefits administration.
  • You also want time off management.

Choose Personio if

  • You need recruiting.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android).
  • You also want time tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Namely or Personio better?
Neither clearly leads. Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Personio at $5/employee-per-month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namely or Personio?
Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Personio at $5/employee-per-month.
Does Namely or Personio run on more platforms?
Namely runs on Web. Personio runs on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android).
What can Namely do that Personio cannot?
Namely covers Benefits Administration, Time Off Management, Greenhouse. Personio covers Recruiting, Time Tracking, Offboarding, DATEV. Both handle HR Management, Payroll, Performance Management, Onboarding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namely: Does Namely support global payroll?

Namely primarily focuses on mid-sized US-based companies with 50-350 employees. While it can handle complex payroll scenarios, it is better served for less complex organizations and does not have extensive global payroll capabilities compared to enterprise platforms.

Source
Personio: Does Personio offer payroll processing in my country?

Personio provides native payroll support in Germany, UK, and Ireland, with limited support in other European markets through integrations. Coverage varies by country.

Source
Namely: What is included in Namely's Premium pricing?

Premium plans cost $18-24 per employee per month plus implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs. Plans include payroll, HR, benefits administration, time management, and talent management features.

Source
Personio: What is Personio's pricing model?

Personio uses a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) model starting at $5-15/employee/month depending on the plan and features. There is no public pricing page, and exact pricing requires a sales consultation.

Source
Namely: Does Namely include performance management features?

Yes, Namely offers customizable performance review modules enabling dynamic, ongoing feedback rather than traditional annual-only reviews. This is one of Namely's standout features.

Source
Personio: Can Personio integrate with other tools?

Yes. Personio provides a public API and maintains a marketplace of pre-built integrations. The Core Pro plan is required for API access and custom integrations.

Source
Namely: How long does Namely implementation typically take?

Namely is designed for mid-sized companies and implementation timelines vary based on complexity. The platform includes implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs in addition to monthly per-employee pricing.

Source

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