A Zoho People alternative for small business
Zoho People's free plan is up to 5 users, and reviews and surveys are in Premium at $3 per employee a month. Hiring is a separate product, Zoho Recruit, paid extra. PapaHR is free up to 25 employees, and reviews, 1:1s, goals and hiring are $1.50 per employee.
No card. Zoho People prices are from zoho.com/people as of Oct 27, 2026, plans for countries outside the US.
What a month costs
Paying for a year, before taxes. PapaHR prices are from our pricing page.
PapaHR Free vs Zoho People Essential HR, $1.25 per employee
PapaHR Pro vs Zoho People Premium, $3 per employee
PapaHR and Zoho People: what is included
| PapaHR | Zoho People | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ up to 25 employees, no time limit | ✓ up to 5 users: profiles, time off, documents |
| Core HR with onboarding | ✓ in Free | Essential HR — $1.25 per employee (yearly), minimum 5 |
| Reviews, OKR, surveys | ✓ in Pro (surveys in Free) | Premium — $3 per employee (yearly) |
| Hiring (ATS) | ✓ in Pro | a separate product, Zoho Recruit, paid extra |
| Time tracking | timesheet included, no clock-in/out | ✓ from Professional — $2 per employee |
| Ukrainian interface | ✓ yes | — no |
| HR methods and templates | ✓ Mike Pritula Academy built in | — |
In the US Zoho People has other plans and prices. Check the current prices before you decide.
Why teams switch to PapaHR
- Free for a team up to 25 people, not 5.
- Hiring inside PapaHR — no second system to buy.
- A Ukrainian interface — Zoho People does not have one.
- Daily nudges: probation ending, a time-off request, a missed 1:1.
- Mike Pritula Academy methods built in: onboarding templates, 1:1 questions, review forms.
When Zoho People is the better fit
If you need only core HR without reviews, already use other Zoho products, or need time tracking and shift rosters. Essential HR costs less than PapaHR Pro — but without reviews, goals and hiring.
How to switch
- Export your employee list from Zoho People to Excel.
- Upload the file to PapaHR — profiles, departments and managers appear by themselves.
- Invite managers: they approve time off and run 1:1s.
Questions
Is PapaHR cheaper than Zoho People?
Up to 25 employees PapaHR is free, Zoho People only up to 5. With reviews and surveys for 40 people it is $1.50 vs $3 per employee for Zoho People Premium. Core HR alone is cheaper at Zoho People: $1.25 per employee.
Can I move my data?
Yes, through Excel: export your employee list and upload it to PapaHR.
Which languages?
English, Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish.
What does PapaHR not have?
Clock-in, shift rosters, an LMS for your own employee courses and integrations with other Zoho products.
Try it with your team
Free up to 25 employees, no card and no demo — your first time-off request can go through PapaHR today.