Decision Factors: How to Choose the Right HR Management Product

Choosing the wrong HR management software can have major consequences, from delayed or inaccurate payroll to decreased employee satisfaction or compliance issues.. There are countless options, each promising to streamline your HR processes. It’s easy to get lost in the marketing jargon and struggle to determine which solution fits your organization’s unique needs.

This guide simplifies the process by analyzing real user feedback on key features and attributes. We’re highlighting the areas where there are high levels of score variance. In simple terms, this means that the features and attributes highlighted in this article are the most controversial, with the most mixed reviewer feedback. These are the areas we feel you need to take a closer look at to ensure you’re selecting the best product for your business needs.

HR Management Specific Features

When it comes to choosing the best HR management software, it’s all about the features, right? But with so many options out there, how do you know which ones matter? We’ve dug into tons of user reviews to see what features truly make or break the HR tech experience. Whether you’re hunting for payroll perfection, seamless compliance tracking, or anything in between, let’s break down the key HR software features that companies are raving (or ranting) about. We’ll highlight the top-rated products for each so you can confidently find the right fit for your team’s needs.

The features listed here have high levels of variance in their scores, meaning that the scores differ widely across HR management products. Since these are some of the most controversial features in the category, you’ll want to pay close attention to them if they’re make or break for your organization.

Corporate Goal Setting

Corporate goal setting allows users to define organizational objectives and/or vision statements within the HR management system. This feature enhances clarity regarding company-wide goals and individual roles in achieving them. User feedback indicates there’s room for improvement with this feature, giving an average score of 6.7/10. Rippling scores the highest amongst the HR management category for this feature, with a score of 9.3/10.

Rippling helps Analytic Partners keep their goal-setting and performance review processes in one place.

“We can set goals and track against them in Rippling, and then when it’s time to do performance reviews we have those goals right there to reference. This helps keep all the necessary info in one place.” – Alec Traaseth, PhD, Marketing Science Analyst, Analytic Partners, Marketing & Advertising, 201-500 employees

Applicant Tracking

This feature enables recruiters to categorize and track candidates through different recruitment phases, providing visibility into their status for the entire team. Integrating robust applicant tracking within an HR management system centralizes recruitment workflows and may eliminate the need to invest in and manage a separate ATS, potentially saving time and money. Most users are fairly satisfied with the applicant tracking capabilities provided by their HR management tool, giving an average score of 7.7/10. isolved is the highest-rated product for applicant tracking capabilities with a 9.5/10 score.

isovled’s AI-enabled applicant tracking saved this Director of HR time.

“The AI tool for applicant tracking is awesome! A big time saver.” – Verified User, Director in Human Resources, Transportation/Trucking/Railroad Company, 11-50 employees

Pre-Built Reports

For HR and compliance professionals, pre-built reports are crucial for efficiently monitoring key workforce metrics such as employee retention. These readily available reports streamline data analysis, enabling proactive identification of trends and potential issues, and facilitating data-driven decision-making to ensure regulatory compliance and optimize HR strategies. Users typically find the pre-built reports available adequate, giving an average score of 7.0/10. Vibe HCM is the highest-rated product for this feature with a 10/10 score.

Compliance Data (COBRA, OSHA, etc.)

Management of COBRA and OSHA compliance can be streamlined through HR systems, which centralize pertinent data. This facilitates adherence to regulations, aids in the avoidance of penalties, and supports the maintenance of a legally compliant workplace. HR professionals benefit from the time savings associated with tracking and reporting, the support for informed decision-making, and the assurance of legal soundness. While overall system scores may vary, the average score across the category is 7.2/10. ADP Vantage HCM demonstrates particular strength in this area of compliance data management with a score of 9.3/10.

Pay Calculation

Pay calculation automates the computation of employee pay, including all necessary state and federal deductions, ensuring accurate and compliant compensation. This automation minimizes the risk of errors, legal penalties, and employee dissatisfaction by handling complex tax requirements. Efficient pay calculation streamlines the payroll process, saving time and resources while maintaining trust and accuracy in employee compensation. Reviewers generally rate this feature highly, with an average score of 8.0/10, though user sentiment varies widely across the category. APS Payroll is the highest-rated product for this feature with a perfect 10/10 score.

HR Management Product Functionality and Vendor Relationship

Selecting the best HR management system requires evaluating more than just specific features. While category-specific features are important, so are “attributes”, which are category-agnostic scores that TrustRadius collects to help you evaluate the overall performance of the product, as well as the quality of the relationship the vendor has with its customers. Selecting the right HR management system goes beyond simply comparing features. While core functionalities like payroll and compliance are essential, the system’s daily usability, vendor support, and integration capabilities with existing tools are equally critical. 

TrustRadius analysis of user feedback reveals key HR software attributes where opinions widely vary. These are the factors that truly differentiate good systems from great ones and deserve careful consideration during your selection process. Understanding the diverse experiences of other users can help you identify your organization’s specific needs and prioritize the functionality and vendor relationship aspects that will ultimately lead to a successful HR technology implementation.

Implementation Rating

A quality implementation process is vital for HR software to ensure seamless integration and avoid disruptions. Effective implementation ensures accurate setup for payroll calculations, minimizing errors and legal penalties, while also guaranteeing proper configuration for compliance tracking with regulations like COBRA and OSHA. This meticulous approach streamlines the transition and maintains employee satisfaction by avoiding delays or mistakes in essential functions like pay processing. User sentiment varies substantially by product, and the average score is only 6.9/10, while UKG Pro’s customers rate it higher for ease of implementation than the competition, with a 9.8/10.

UKG’s implementation team offered extra support to this VP of Human Resources.

“We had internal turnover within the HR department which significantly impacted our already small staff. However, when I talked to my [UKG] system consultant about the issues I was facing, they were very supportive and offered as much assistance and support as they could do.” – Jack Klott, SHRM-SCP, VP Human Resources, Independent Bank, Banking, 501-1000 employees

Support Rating

Given the sensitive nature of HR and payroll responsibilities, high-quality customer support for HR management software is crucial. These systems manage confidential employee data, critical processes like payroll and benefits, and must comply with complex regulations. Timely and effective support minimizes disruptions from issues like incorrect pay or benefits errors, ensuring accuracy and preventing legal penalties or employee dissatisfaction. To put it simply, you want to be able to access support when you need it because taxes, payroll, employee healthcare, and compliance are business-critical, and issues must be addressed immediately. Users are moderately satisfied with the customer support they receive from their HR management solutions, giving an average score of 7.1/10. Rippling stands out from the rest with a score of 9.2/10, which is the highest support rating in the HR management category.

This Verified User says Rippling’s customer service is “the best”.

“The customer support is excellent. The best I have ever experienced.” – Verified User, Director in Other, Non-profit Organization Management Company, 1-10 employees

Likelihood to Renew

A high likelihood to renew indicates that users are generally satisfied with the HR software and find ongoing value in its features, functionality, vendor support, and overall impact on their HR processes. Switching HR software is time-consuming and can introduce real risk into an organization. After all, you don’t want to switch tools only to realize that it takes you twice as long to do payroll, or the new product makes it harder for employees to access their benefit information, for example. A high likelihood to renew score suggests that the software effectively meets the evolving needs of HR teams and delivers a return on investment, and that users don’t feel it’s worth the risk of trying a new tool. This is supported in reviewer feedback, since the average likelihood to renew score is fairly high at 8.2. That said, one product outranks the rest, and Namely has the highest rating of 9.9/10.

Usability

Ease of use is crucial for HR software to ensure widespread adoption and efficiency across various roles. This includes HR and payroll professionals who rely on the system for complex tasks, as well as employees utilizing self-service features. If employees can’t access or update their information, this is likely to cause a headache for the HR team, as they’ll need to assist. An easy-to-understand interface is crucial for an HR management tool! Generally, users feel that HR management products provide an acceptable level of usability, with an average score of 7.5/10 across the category. HiBob leads the pack with a 9.4/10, the highest rating for ease of use in the category.

This UX professional says HiBob is easier to use than other HR management platforms.

“I am in UX, and I can tell you that from that perspective, HiBob is really head and shoulders above the rest. If you are looking for a software that your managers and employees will love, this is it.” – Verified User, Contributor in Product Management, Computer Software Company, 201-500 employees

Ease of Integration

Seamless integration between HR management tools and other business software is crucial for several reasons. It eliminates data silos, allowing for a unified view of employee information across departments. This streamlines workflows, reduces manual data entry and the risk of errors, and improves overall efficiency. For example, integrating HR with payroll ensures accurate and timely compensation, while connecting with finance systems provides a holistic view of labor costs. This is particularly important for larger companies, who may want to integrate their HR tech stack with their Enterprise Resource Planning or Corporate Performance Management tools. Furthermore, integration with collaboration tools can enhance communication and employee engagement. Just like usability, users are fairly satisfied with the ease of integration across the category, giving an average score of 7.5. UKG Pro outperforms the category with a score of 10/10, making it the highest-rated HR management product for this attribute.

UKG’s easy integration process helped this Director, HRIS & Analytics, to thrive.

“Our environment presented numerous deeply rooted systems that we needed to UKG Pro to be able to integrate with. Their open platform, made this very simple.” – Julie Thompson, Director, HRIS & Analytics, QuVa Pharma, Inc., Pharmaceuticals, 1001-5000 employees

Key Considerations When Choosing HR Management Software

Begin your research on TrustRadius, where you can find comprehensive reviews and comparisons of HR management software. Utilize the category page and related resources to delve deeper into the features and attributes that matter most to your organization. Looking for something specific? We have several HR-related categories for you to browse.

• HR Management Software
• Payroll Software
• International Payroll Software
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• 401(k) Software
• Benefits Administration Software
• HR Compliance Software
• Employer of Record Software

TrustRadius Methodology

The data in this article is derived from vetted user feedback on the TrustRadius platform, offering authentic insights into the strengths and weaknesses of various HR management products. The scores listed are accurate as of May 8, 2025. Vendors cannot pay for placement or to remove negative reviews. Learn more about how we ensure we’re providing the most helpful content possible in our Promise to Buyers.