The 7 Best HCM Software Platforms of 2024

The longer you work in HR (or related fields), the clearer it becomes: nothing replaces good leadership and a positive work environment. But to lead effectively across a scaling organization, you absolutely need the right tools. That’s where Human Capital Management (HCM) software becomes essential.

The best HCM platforms streamline day-to-day tasks and automate repetitive admin work related to payroll, HR, and talent engagement. This frees up your HR leaders to focus on what truly matters — making thoughtful, strategic decisions that drive growth and foster the culture you want to see. They also provide powerful data management and reporting tools to help you make smarter decisions about your workforce.

HCM software is more than just a tool — it’s the future of managing your workforce.

But not all HCM systems are the same, and not every HCM company is a good partner for your organization. To help you make the best decision, here’s a guide to the seven best HCM platforms on the market for 2024.

At a Glance: 7 Best HCM Software Platforms

Here’s a quick look at the top 7 HCM platforms. See more details below.

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HCM Software Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the right HCM software for your business is all about understanding your needs. Take inventory of your existing processes, identify areas for improvement, and leverage data to determine which features and systems will provide the greatest value and return on investment (ROI).

Ultimately, the best HCM software empowers your team to work smarter, not harder. Here’s what to consider as you make your decision:

Cost vs. Value

When buying any new software, your price tag matters, but it’s not about finding the cheapest or most expensive solution — it’s about getting the most value for what you’re paying. An HCM platform that costs too much diminishes your ROI. For most companies, the workforce is their biggest investment, which makes it crucial to find effective HR management software. Choose a platform that delivers power and efficiency, not unnecessary features.

On the other hand, if the software seems too cheap, it’s worth questioning whether the system can truly deliver. Often, the lowest-priced options come with limitations that won’t be clear until after you’ve committed. Remember, most HCM platforms are quote-based, so don’t hesitate to seek out detailed pricing information to compare against your budget and expectations.

Cultural Fit

Your HCM platform should be more than just a tool for managing tasks. It should support your company’s culture and values, empowering your employees while making processes easier and more efficient. The right platform will enhance your ability to execute HR initiatives at scale, without losing the personal, human touch that’s crucial in people management.

Consider how the platform can help improve your work environment. Does it offer features that promote employee autonomy, such as self-service portals? Does it align with your values to support initiatives that matter to your workforce?

Software Structure

Don’t be fooled by platforms that boast endless features. If those features don’t integrate well, you’ll only create more silos within your organization. True HCM systems allow seamless communication between modules.

For instance, any platform offering time tracking should ensure that all relevant data (e.g.,  employee details like wage rates and location) flows smoothly into payroll for automatic pay calculations.

Be cautious with systems built from acquired components, as these often lack cohesive integration and come with major synchronization issues. Look for a unified, solution built from the ground up that allows your team to trust the data and use it more intelligently.

Payroll Capabilities

Since labor is often an organization’s biggest expense, human capital management always includes a financial or resource-management component. When searching for HR software, you’ll often encounter terms like “HRIS,” “HRM,” and “Workforce Management Software.” While these categories can overlap, true HCM platforms will always include payroll (or offer it as an option). Be sure any platform you choose meets the needs of both your HR and finance teams.

Configurability

Unfortunately, many platforms lack flexibility and expect you to conform your processes to their system. But your HR and payroll needs won’t always align with a one-size-fits-all approach.

Look for a solution that can be configured to fit your workflows. A good HCM platform should offer intelligent implementation support, integrate with your existing systems, and be customizable to your unique requirements. When you need customizations, your HCM provider should be willing to listen and adapt where possible.

Ease of Use

Even the most powerful software in the world is useless if no one can figure out how to use it. Your HCM platform needs to be user-friendly, not just for IT or HR professionals, but for every employee — regardless of their tech skills. Intuitive design and mobile access are essential to full adoption.

Customer Service

With HCM software, customer service is crucial, given the high need for configuration and support. Look at the people behind the platform — will they be a true partner for your organization’s unique goals? Will they listen to your needs and tailor the software accordingly? Good customer service and implementation services aren’t just a luxury with HCM software. They’re necessary for realized ROI.

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The 7 Best HCM Software Companies: In-Depth Reviews

Based on the criteria above, let’s take a closer look at how these 7 HCM platforms stack up against each other in features, functionality, customer service, and user experience.

1. Criterion HCM

Best Overall HCM

• Target Industries: Construction, Engineering, Nonprofits, Financial and Professional Services, Education, Government, Franchises.
• Payroll: Yes, Criterion HCM includes native payroll processing built on the same database as all other modules. It is optimized for payroll processing in the United States, Canada, and the UK.‍
• Customer Service Rating: Best in class. Every client has a dedicated support representative, providing personalized, highly responsive service.

Criterion HCM is a truly unified platform designed to meet the needs of real HR professionals. With three core modules (HR, Payroll, and Talent Engagement) built on a single unified database, Criterion ensures that data entered into one module automatically updates across the entire system. This seamless structure eliminates the need for patchwork solutions and reduces errors, making it an incredibly efficient and scalable platform for HR teams.

One of Criterion’s biggest strengths is its configurability. Even users without a technical background can easily make adjustments to the system to meet their specific needs. Criterion is SQL-based, which means the entire system is interconnected, and users have access to all backend settings for further customization. This makes it an ideal solution for organizations with complex HR and payroll requirements, especially for nonprofits and industries like construction, education, and financial services.

Many organizations choose Criterion for its built-in payroll capabilities, which handle complex scenarios like multi-state, multi-union payroll calculations with ease. Users can upload new collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) to automatically update union worker rates, significantly streamlining payroll processes.

The platform also excels in managing positions and benefits, offering tools to support internal mobility, career development, and intelligent scheduling based on employee certifications and skills.

With an open API, Criterion is designed to integrate with any platform, including popular ERP and project management platforms like Sage Intacct and Procore. Its intuitive interface, combined with powerful HR and payroll capabilities, makes it the best HCM platform available for mid-market and enterprise companies.

Notable Features

• Simplified Complex Payroll and Reporting: Ideal for handling multi-state, multi-union payroll with variable wage rates and heavy reporting requirements.
• Easy Certified Rate Tables: Automatically update rates for union workers by uploading new CBAs.
• Robust Position and Benefits Management: Support internal mobility, career development, and customized pay structures with ease.
• Intelligent Scheduling: Leverage employee data to create efficient schedules that accommodate complex staffing needs.
• Streamlined Recruiting-to-Onboarding: End-to-end tools for managing the entire employee lifecycle, plus customizable preboarding and training workflows.
• Mobile App Access: Provides on-the-go functionality for HR teams and employees — with geofencing and asynchronous time tracking for remote job sites.
• Open API: Allows seamless integration with any third-party platform (even custom, in-house software).
• Completely Configurable: Tailor the platform to your unique organizational needs without a technical background.
• Endless Reporting Options: Build custom reports from any field within the system and pull data from other platforms for visibility into any aspect of your organization.

Who Is Not the Ideal User?

While Criterion HCM is highly configurable and versatile, it may not be the best fit for very small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Companies that need only the most basic HR and payroll functionalities may find Criterion’s powerful and comprehensive feature set to be more than they require.

2. Workday

Best HCM for Global Enterprises

• Target Industries: Medium to large enterprises, especially in finance, healthcare, technology, and retail sectors. Best for Fortune 500 companies and global organizations with complex HR needs.
• Payroll: Yes, Workday includes payroll processing as part of its unified platform. It integrates with HR functions and supports multi-country payroll management. However, it’s only localized for the US, Canada, UK, and France. Companies with workforces outside these regions will need a third-party solution.
• Customer Service Rating: Mixed reviews, though generally positive for large enterprises. Some find the team dedicated and responsive, others less so.

Workday is a cloud-based HCM platform that positions itself as an all-in-one solution, catering primarily to large organizations with global operations. It offers a unified platform for HR, payroll, and recruiting/talent management, plus some financial management tools. Workday is known for its strong data management and analysis capabilities, which provide detailed, real-time insights into workforce metrics. It also has some AI-driven features, like Skills Cloud, which helps track workforce skills and match talent to business needs.

However, while Workday is powerful, it is also a premium offering, with a high cost to match. It may be a good fit for enterprises with the resources and time to fully implement the platform. However, smaller businesses or those without dedicated IT teams may find it difficult to implement and maintain.

Plus, its steep learning curve and higher cost may limit the ROI for many companies. Some even say the system is too complicated to navigate without strong guidance from customer service.

Workday’s global compliance features are a plus for large enterprises, but the limited payroll localization might be a drawback for truly global operations.

Notable Features

• Real-Time Analytics: Offers powerful insights and reporting, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.
• Mobile Access: Provides flexibility with mobile-friendly access to all major features.
• Skills Cloud: Uses AI to track and catalog employee skills, allowing for intelligent talent management.
• Advanced Security: High-level security measures, good for handling sensitive employee data.

Pros and Cons

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3. Rippling

Best HCM for Startups

• Target Industries: Small businesses and startups.
• Payroll: Yes, payroll processing is included.
• Customer Service Rating: Generally positive, but mixed. Some users find the support team responsive and helpful, while others report issues with more automated and impersonal service.

Rippling is a strong contender for small businesses looking to streamline their HR processes through automation. The platform is centered around eliminating as many manual tasks as possible, acting as a virtual assistant for HR teams. This is especially helpful for startups with smaller HR teams that need an efficiency boost. By focusing on automation and unifying data, Rippling ensures that any changes made to employee data in one module are reflected across the platform. This saves time and prevents errors, which is critical for businesses with limited resources.

While Rippling excels in automation, there are some downsides to consider. For example, mobile access to key features is somewhat limited, which could be problematic for teams that rely on remote or multi-location usage. Also, Rippling’s customer support, though praised by many, can feel impersonal at times due to the platform’s reliance on automation — even in support functions.

Overall, Rippling is ideal for small businesses that need an intuitive, easy-to-use platform without a steep learning curve. However, its limited scalability means it may not be the best option for companies anticipating rapid growth or those needing advanced features.

Notable Features

• Unified System: Ensures that changes made in one module automatically update across the entire system, improving efficiency — much like Criterion’s unified database.
• Customizable Automations: Allows users to set rules for repetitive tasks. For example, if you mark an employee as promoted in the system, Rippling will adjust permissions within certain features, add the employee to appropriate communication channels, and assign them with other tools necessary for the job.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Simplifies security by allowing users to log in to multiple platforms with one set of credentials.

Pros and Cons

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4. UKG Pro

Best HCM for Complex Workforce Management

• Target Industries: Large enterprises like financial institutions, franchises, and other sizable organizations.
• Payroll: Yes, payroll processing is integrated.
• Customer Service Rating: Generally negative. Larger businesses using UKG Pro often report long wait times and impersonal service.

UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) Pro is designed for large enterprises that require complex HR management and payroll features with workforce analytics. The platform aims to improve the employee experience through AI-powered insights, helping organizations make data-driven decisions about their workforce.

However, a significant drawback to UKG is its fragmented structure. UKG was formed in 2020 after a merger between Ultimate Software and Kronos, two competitors in the HR software space. This merger left UKG with a patchwork of acquired systems that don’t always work well together.

While UKG Pro offers powerful scheduling, time management, and reporting tools, the platform's disconnected modules often create frustrations for users. Many complaints about UKG stem from its lack of cohesion, making it difficult to customize or scale across different departments.

UKG also suffered a significant data breach in December 2021, affecting many major companies and organizations. While UKG has worked to address this, the event raised questions about the platform’s security measures.

Notable Features

• AI-Powered Analytics and Reporting: Provides insights based on workforce data, identifying trends to improve productivity and satisfaction.
• Complex Scheduling and Time Management: Streamlines scheduling for global, multi-location businesses.
• AI Alerts: Warns users when they’re at risk of missing budget goals or violating compliance regulations.

Pros and Cons

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5. Paylocity

Best HCM for Automation

• Target Industries: Ideal for organizations with complex payroll needs such as those in legal, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail. Suitable for companies with 200 to 10,000 employees.
• Payroll: Yes, Paylocity specializes in payroll processing.
• Customer Service Rating: Quite positive. Known for helpful and responsive support, often going the extra mile.

Paylocity is well-regarded as an all-in-one platform with particular strengths in payroll and workforce management. It can work well for companies with multi-state or global payroll. It also manages a wide range of employee types, including full-time, part-time, and contract workers.

However, while Paylocity excels in payroll-related features, it can be somewhat rigid, lacking the flexibility that some organizations need for complex payroll. The platform offers many automated tools to handle garnishments, taxes, and currency differences, but users have reported that some of these features don’t always work as seamlessly as advertised.

Because payroll is their main focus, HR and talent management functions often take a back seat in Paylocity's platform. This could be a drawback for companies that need a robust solution for both payroll and broader HR tasks (like recruiting and onboarding). What’s more Paylocity’s reporting formulas can be limiting in edge cases, and retrieving certain tax information is a pain point for some users.

Notable Features

• Payroll Management: Handles complex payroll scenarios such as garnishments, multi-currency payments, and automatic time-tracking integration.
• AI Scheduling Tools: Uses AI to predict the cost of executing employee schedules, connecting staffing decisions with budget forecasting.
• Benefits Administration: Includes tools to simplify open enrollment and track employee contributions.
• Mobile App: A strong mobile app allows managers to respond to employee requests on the go.

Pros and Cons

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6. Dayforce

Best HCM for Highly-Regulated Industries

• Target Industries: Ideal for mid-sized businesses in retail and highly regulated fields like healthcare, pharmacy, and banking.
• Payroll: Yes, payroll is built-in and integrated.
• Customer Service Rating: Mixed reviews. Some users appreciate the support, while others report poor experiences with unresolved issues.

Dayforce, now owned by Ceridian, is designed to be a comprehensive cloud-based platform offering payroll, benefits, time management, and talent management all in one. The platform is praised for its focus on compliance and real-time payroll calculations, which allow businesses to stay ahead of labor costs and overtime issues. However, users often mention that the interface isn’t very intuitive. It may require significant tech expertise to configure and use efficiently.

Similar to other large platforms, Dayforce has been critiqued for its customer service, with some users experiencing slow response times or impersonal support. This challenge may be related to Ceridian’s acquisition of Dayforce in 2012, which adds an extra layer of corporate complexity to service requests and updates.

Despite these drawbacks, Dayforce is recognized for its robust feature set, particularly for businesses needing global payroll and compliance management. At the same time, it faces some of the same service issues as competitors like UKG, which might frustrate those looking for personalized support.

Notable Features

• Performance Management Tools: Set employee goals, monitor progress, and provide feedback within the same platform.
• Continual Pay Calculation: Real-time payroll updates based on time off, bonuses, and work hours, allowing businesses to track payroll costs and adjust schedules proactively.
• Global Payroll: Supports payroll processing in over 200 countries and territories, handling tax filings and compliance.
• Real-Time Analytics: Delivers actionable insights from workforce data for better decision-making.

Pros and Cons

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7. Paycom

Best HCM for Employee-Led Payroll Management

• Target Industries: Manufacturing, retail, healthcare, hospitality, technology, and education. Popular among medium-sized U.S. companies with 50-200 employees and revenue between $10M-$50M.
• Payroll: Yes, Paycom was one of the first fully online payroll providers.
• Customer Service Rating: Generally positive, with users appreciating the dedicated point of contact for support.

Paycom is well-known for pushing automation to the next level. Its focus on minimizing manual work and data entry makes it a decent solution for businesses looking to streamline processes from hiring to payroll and benefits. Much like Criterion, Paycom is a unified platform, which combines talent acquisition, time and labor management, payroll, and HR management into one seamless system. This eliminates the need to juggle different programs, making it an efficient solution for companies focused on reducing errors and saving time.

A notable innovation from Paycom is its Beti system, which empowers employees to take control of payroll accuracy by notifying them to check and correct errors before payday. This has been praised for creating a culture of trust and autonomy while significantly reducing the HR team’s workload. However, this shift in accessibility might not suit all organizations, especially those with complex payroll compliance needs.

Paycom is a strong performer in automation and error reduction, but it has a few limitations. Integration with other systems can be challenging, which may be a drawback for companies that rely on multiple platforms to manage their operations. Plus, while it was one of the earliest online payroll systems, some users find the interface outdated and clunky compared to more modern platforms.

Notable Features

• Beti System (Error Correction Before Payroll): Employees are notified to review hours and deductions before payday, flagging and fixing mistakes, which saves time for HR.
• Automated Time Off System: Automatically processes leave requests, sends them to managers for approval, and updates schedules with leave accruals visible at any time.
• Customizable Automation: Users can create workflows that streamline work according to their specific needs, making the platform highly configurable.

Pros and Cons

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Criterion HCM: The Best HCM Software for Your Business

Without a powerful HCM platform, companies risk falling behind — especially in employee engagement. As more organizations recognize the importance of investing in their workforce, HCM software has become essential for delivering a positive and consistent employee experience.

But shopping for HCM software can be overwhelming. With countless features to compare, it can sometimes feel like you're looking at the same platform, just with different branding.

Criterion HCM is here to change that. Built with real customers in mind, our unified platform puts more control in your hands. We simplify payroll, recruiting, training, and employee data management in one fully configurable hub. Streamline time tracking to payroll, customize onboarding workflows, and manage positions and benefits with ease. Plus, with an open API for seamless integration with any platform, Criterion lets you put HR at the center of your operations.

Curious to see what Criterion can help you achieve? Book a demo to experience a truly unified HCM platform designed for HR leaders.