Softwr

HR · head to head

People HR vs SmartHR

People HR logo

People HR

HR

HR software that does the HR hard work

From
Free
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

  • Only People HR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: People HR pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear; SmartHR no specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where People HR and SmartHR differ
AttributePeople HRSmartHR
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: 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 People HR

  • Employee Database
  • Absence Management
  • Document Management
  • Performance
  • Recruitment
  • Self-Service Portal
  • Slack
  • Microsoft 365

Only in SmartHR

Nothing recorded that People HR does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

People HR

  • HR management for startups and growing teamsnot SmartHR
  • Integrated payroll and HR operationsnot SmartHR
  • Employee management with compliance featuresnot SmartHR

SmartHR

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

SmartHR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SmartHR review.

Which should you pick?

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.
People HR review

Choose SmartHR if

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

SmartHR review

Questions people ask

Is People HR or SmartHR better?
Neither clearly leads. People HR starts at Free and SmartHR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, People HR or SmartHR?
People HR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for People HR and On request for SmartHR.
Does People HR or SmartHR run on more platforms?
People HR runs on Web, iOS, Android. SmartHR runs on Web.
Can I use People HR for free?
Yes. People HR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SmartHR starts at On request.
What is People HR best used for?
People HR is most often used for hr management for startups and growing teams, integrated payroll and hr operations, employee management with compliance features. Of those, hr management for startups and growing teams and integrated payroll and hr operations are not what SmartHR is typically brought in for.
What can People HR do that SmartHR cannot?
People HR covers Employee Database, Absence Management, Document Management, Performance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

People 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.

Source
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
People 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.

Source
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
People 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.

Source
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
People 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.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on People HR

More on SmartHR

Keep looking

Other head to heads