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Written by:
Joe Hodges
If you’re looking for HR database software for your small business, you’re probably aware that there are a fair few HR database systems to choose from. In fact, there are so many options, it can feel pretty intimidating. Especially as they all purport to do the same thing and promise to revolutionise the way you run your business.
But the truth is that no single HR database can suit every business size or type. Different software does different things for different companies, so the key to finding the best HR database software is finding the one that most suits your business and its own unique needs.
In my role at Charlie, I study the pros and cons of other HR solutions in order to improve our own platform. I’ve spent a great deal of time researching HR databases, and I’ve narrowed down my findings and put the best HR databases into this guide.Let’s take a look at them… (Best HR database for small businesses? We’re one of them! Try Charlie for free and find out how effortless HR can be.)
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Compare HR database software
HR software
Ideal company size
Best for
Best Feature
- Small businesses and startups
Company size
- All-in-one HR software
Price
- Free for 7 days, then £4 per user, per month (no extra or hidden costs)
Price
Best Feature
- Global corporations
Company size
- Managing an international workforce
Price
- Starts at $49USD a month for the ‘Contractors’ module, and $599 a month for ‘EOR’ (hiring international employees)
Best Feature
- Large companies
Company size
- Businesses based in the States
Price
- On request and quoted on a case-by-case basis
Best Feature
- Up to 1000 employees
Company size
- Managing shift-working employees
Price
- £0.83 per user, per month (Essential HR) to £7 per user, per month (People Plus)
Best Feature
- Multinational corporates
Company size
- Advanced functionality
Price
- Multiple pricing options, talk to the sales team or use the online cost estimator
Top HR database softwares
CharlieHR
Best all-in-one HR database for small businesses
Data storage is only a small part of what makes Charlie the best HR database for small businesses. Charlie is packed with HR features, including onboarding, performance reviews, time off management, employee benefits and engagement surveys.
Plus:
- Charlie is designed to collect all employee data required by law, so there’s no chance you’ll ever forget anything — giving you confidence and peace of mind
- It works on a ‘self-service’ basis, where your employees are responsible for uploading their own information — all you need to do is enter their name and email address
- You’ll save hours on onboarding admin!
Charlie’s HR database software is also incredibly secure, being fully GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 certified:
- One secure place to store all employee data— shared drives and spreadsheets are not secure enough
- Easily manage permissions, so only the right people have data access
- Archive employee files — when you offboard a team member in Charlie, their records are archived but not deleted, so you can still access their profile.
For £4 per user, per month, you get all the HR processes your small business needs. With Charlie, you have everything for one cost, and in one place.
HR database software with Charlie:
Everything where you need it: store all your employee data, documents and policies on Charlie
Team member profiles: each employee has their own profile for their own data, documents and time off info
Employee handbook: company policies are arranged in a professional and easy-to-find handbook, for employees to review whenever they need
Org chart: a complete overview of your company structure split by teams and departments
Simple and fast: Charlie’s so easy to set up that there’s no training required!
One affordable price: all of Charlie’s features are included in the monthly cost
Perfect for small companies: Charlie’s built for small businesses by a small business
All-in-one HR software: data storage is just one of the available features — onboarding, time off, performance reviews etc. are all available with Charlie
Choose Charlie if
Don't choose Charlie if
👍
You want to comply with UK employment law
❌
You’re a company with over 200 employees
👍
You’re looking for all-in-one, secure HR software
❌
❌
👍
You’re a start-up or small business
❌
Bethan, Managing Partner @ Open Velocity
"One of the features that I appreciate the most is the employee self-service functionality. This allows my team to easily access and update their personal information, request time off and see important company information."
Reviews
Trustpilot
4.8/5
Capterra
4.8/5
Pricing
- £4 per user, per month
- Includes all of Charlie’s HR features – onboarding, time off tracking, 360 feedback, pulse perks & benefits etc.
- No hidden fees or added costs
CharlieHR
Best HR database software for global companies
International businesses use Deel’s HR database software to successfully manage, store and analyse their global employee data.
The HR database includes a people directory, org chart and document storage. Many of Deel’s most distinctive HR features are optional add-ons at an extra cost.
Employee & contractor information all in one place, wherever they are in the world
Extensive analytics & reporting
Global payroll for invoicing, payslips & contractor payments
Choose Deel if
Don't choose Deel if
👍
You’re looking for an employment engagement tool
❌
You need HR software that does more than just measure employee engagement
👍
You’re looking for an employment engagement tool
❌
You need HR software that does more than just measure employee engagement
Alastair, Trustpilot review
"Deel is a great platform for hiring overseas staff."
Reviews
Trustpilot
4.8/5
Capterra
4.7/5
Pricing
Pricing starts at $49USD a month for the ‘Contractors’ module, and at $599 a month for the ‘EOR’ (hiring international employees) module. Payroll and immigration support costs are available on request, and Deel is free for businesses with teams of under 200 employees.
CharlieHR
Best HR database software for businesses based in the States
Bamboo HR is one of the best HR databases out there for large, American companies.
As such, BambooHR uses date formats and terminology that cannot be amended and are incompatible with the UK — for example, you can’t integrate British public holidays into time-off calendars.
But if you’re based in the States, look no further than BambooHR. The database software streamlines and simplifies HR admin and employee performance management, and comes with many features — including self-service onboarding, and automated time-off approval and employee reviews.
Built for US-based businesses
User-friendly interface
Easy to set up
Choose BambooHR if
Don't choose BambooHR if
👍
You’re based in the US
❌
You’re a UK company
Review, Trustpilot
"We are using the Advantage package, which you would think covers everything since it costs $450 USD per month. But you have to pay extra for performance management."
Reviews
Trustpilot
2.9/5
Capterra
4.6/5
Pricing
Pricing is on request and quoted on a case-by-case basis. To access the majority of BambooHR’s features, you need the premium Advantage package, otherwise you get limited access via the Essential package.
CharlieHR
Best HR database software for shift-based teams
Zoho People is an HR database for scheduling shifts, and tracking and signing off employee working hours.
Zoho People is designed to scale as a company grows, and has the capability to support very large enterprises. To gain access to the HR database software, you need to set up a Zoho account.
Zoho People is a great HR database for businesses with employees who work shifts or irregular hours.
Schedule shifts and track attendance
Scalable database with built-in analytics
Learning and development system for virtual training
Choose Zoho People if
Don't choose Zoho People if
👍
Your employees work shifts or irregular hours
❌
You don’t employ a shift-working team
👍
You want access to your team’s timesheets via an app on your phone
❌
❌
You’re a startup or small business
❌
👍
You have to report on employee attendance
❌
Verified reviewer, Capterra
"Zoho People is a good option for businesses that are looking for a basic HR software solution, but it may not be the best choice for businesses that need more advanced features."
Reviews
Trustpilot
4.4/5
Capterra
4.3/5
Pricing
From £0.83 per user, per month (Essential HR) to £7 per user, per month (People Plus).
CharlieHR
Best HR database software for multinationals in need of advanced functionality
Oracle is a complex and advanced HR database designed for multinational companies requiring a high level of functionality.
Oracle’s sophisticated HR database software is best suited to organisations with offices in many different countries, who are looking for a multifunctional system to deliver solutions for enterprise performance management, customer relations, and supply chain management alongside their HR.
One system for HR data, workload management and development
High level of security
AI systems prevent human error
Choose Oracle if
Don't choose Oracle if
👍
You need an advanced and complex HR database
❌
You want a simple HR database that’s easy to use
👍
You have a substantial budget
❌
❌
You’re a small business
👍
You’re a multinational company
User review, gartner.com
"As one of the largest companies in the Asian region with a global presence which spans across several continents, we do have a lot of complex processes… As such, it's important for us to have a HCM system which aligns with our requirements."
Reviews
Trustpilot
2/5
Capterra
4.5/5
Pricing
Multiple pricing options for a huge range of possible service combinations. Request a quote from the sales team or use the Cloud Cost Estimator on the Oracle website.
FAQs
What is an HR database?
An HR database, or employee database software, is a system or platform where businesses safely store and manage data and documentation about their employees.
The kind of data stored in an HR database includes pay, work history, time off and attendance, and performance reviews.
Charlie is an all-in-one HR platform where small businesses can safely store their employee data and automate their HR processes and related admin. Try it free today.
How does an HR database help your business?
An HR database doesn’t just help your business, it’s essential for running it.Regardless of your business size, if you employ people then you need an HR database to safely store and manage information about them.
If you don’t have an HR database, you’ll likely have difficulty locating employee data when you need it, and are unlikely to be in compliance with UK employment law.
An HR database houses and organises employee data securely, so that it’s easily accessed, reviewed, and kept up-to-date.
A complete HR solution like Charlie is easy to use, affordable, and built for small business. Plus, data storage is just one of its available features — you can also automate and manage onboarding, time off, and performance reviews through Charlie.
Why do small businesses need an HR database?
Small businesses have lean teams, and manual HR tasks can take up a significant amount of time. An HR database automates all the necessary processes and keeps things in order — freeing you up to focus on the fun and strategic stuff.But can an HR database really revolutionise your small business? Well yes, actually it can…
- You’ll make fewer mistakes and stress less: if you’re currently without an HR database it's likely your employee data is disorganised and stored in various places — this causes errors, inefficiencies and frustration
- You’ll stop worrying about compliance: an HR database with compliance features means you’re automatically in line with data storage laws
- You’ll no longer be overloaded with paperwork: manual paperwork can quickly become overwhelming for small HR teams — an HR database removes the need for employee details form and employee database templates.
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