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PeopleHR vs Employment Hero: detailed side by side analysis 

PeopleHR and Employment Hero both offer all-in-one HR and payroll platforms for UK SMEs, but they take a different approach to pricing, implementation, and what is included as standard. This comparison looks at where each platform delivers, covering pricing transparency, payroll, AI capabilities, and day-to-day usability, so you can make a confident decision for your team.

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Quick Overview

PeopleHR is built for UK SMEs that want transparent pricing, native payroll, and a platform they can get up and running quickly. With four published pricing tiers, a built-in ATS, CPD-accredited learning content, Ripple workflow automation, and a free 14-day trial, it is designed around the practical needs of lean HR teams from day one. 

Employment Hero is an AI-powered Employment Operating System covering HR, payroll, recruitment, and global hiring, trusted by over 25,000 UK businesses. It offers a free payroll tier alongside paid HR plans, with strong AI hiring tools, an Employer of Record service in 150+ countries, and an employee superapp. Pricing requires a demo to confirm, and independent reviews note that implementation can take longer than smaller teams expect.

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Comparing Platforms: PeopleHR and Employment Hero Features

Both platforms cover the core HR and payroll essentials, but they differ when it comes to pricing transparency, implementation experience, and what is included without needing additional setup. The table below highlights the practical differences that matter most to UK SME buyers.

Plan Type
Features:
PeopleHR
Employment Hero
Core HR (records, absence, docs)
✅ Included across all tiers
✅ Included across all plans
Mobile app & employee self‑service
✅ Mobile app + self‑service
Mobile app & employee self-service
Performance management
✅ From Pro tier
✅ Included in HR Engage plan and above
Payroll
✅ Integrated options
✅ Native UK payroll; free payroll tier available with no employee limits
Time tracking / timesheets
✅ Time tracking & timesheets available
✅ Time and attendance included; syncs with payroll
Built-in ATS
✅ Full ATS included within platform tiers; no separate module required
✅ Integrated ATS with AI SmartMatch and AI Recruitment Agent
Workflow automation
✅ Ripple workflow automation available
✅ Automated workflows; AI triggers actions across HR and payroll
Open API & integrations
✅ Open API + broad integrations catalogue
✅ Open API + integrations with payroll, accounting, and third-party tools
AI features and capabilities
✅Dedicated Evo Copilot assistant covering regulatory guidance, payroll insights, and document drafting
➕ AI across hiring, payroll, and onboarding workflows; no single dedicated HR assistant for regulatory guidance
Managed payroll bureau
✅ Fully managed outsourced payroll bureau available
✅ Managed payroll service available
Transparent pricing
✅ Four published per-employee tiers; no sales call needed to budget
➕ Plan names published; specific per-employee rates require a demo to confirm
CPD-accredited learning content
✅ CPD-accredited content built into the platform for employee self-development
➖ LMS included; in-platform content not confirmed as CPD accredited
Free trial
✅ 14-day self-serve trial; no sales call required
➕ Free payroll tier available; full HR platform requires a demo to access
Scale focus
Built for UK SMBs
UK SMEs to enterprise; global hiring in 150+ countries

Pricing Comparison

How a platform charges you matters as much as what it includes. As your team grows and your HR needs evolve, a pricing model that scales clearly with you keeps budgeting simple and avoids unexpected costs down the line.

PeopleHR

PeopleHR operates on a per-employee, per-month model across four published tiers: Starter at £3, Core at £5.50, Pro at £8, and Elite+ at £9.50. Optional modules including Ripple workflow automation, timesheets, and employee benefits can be added as needed. Payroll is also available, including a fully managed bureau option, and a free trial gives you the chance to explore the platform before making any commitment. 

Employment Hero

Employment Hero publishes its plan names (HR Essentials, HR Engage, HR Accelerate) and offers a free payroll-only tier for UK businesses with no employee limits. Specific per-employee pricing for the HR platform is not listed publicly and requires a demo to confirm, with a minimum of £30 per month applying to UK accounts. A managed payroll service and HR advisory add-on are also available at additional cost. 

What this means

Employment Hero's free payroll tier is a genuine draw for businesses starting out, and gives it a clear edge for payroll-only needs. However, for businesses that want to understand their full HR platform costs before speaking to sales, PeopleHR is the more transparent option. For businesses that want a clear, all-in per-employee model covering HR and payroll with a free trial to test before committing, PeopleHR is built precisely for that path. 

Pros and Cons of PeopleHR and Employment Hero

Both platforms have genuine strengths. The breakdown below gives an honest view of where each excels and where there are practical trade-offs to consider, particularly for UK SMEs making a decision on their next HR platform.

PeopleHR: Pros

Transparent, per-employee pricing with a free trial.

Four clearly published tiers and a 14-day self-serve trial mean you can budget accurately and explore the platform without speaking to sales first.

Ripple workflow automation and built-in ATS.

Ripple handles onboarding, approvals, and reminders without extra configuration. The built-in ATS supports the full recruitment cycle without needing a separate tool.

CPD-accredited learning content built in.

Employees can access CPD-accredited development content directly within the platform, without needing a separate learning tool or third-party subscription. 

Dedicated Evo Copilot AI assistant. 

Answers regulatory questions, surfaces payroll insights, and drafts HR documents directly within the platform. 

PeopleHR: Consider

Advanced features sit on higher tiers.
Premium Analytics and certain AI enhancements are available from Pro and Elite+ tiers. Worth factoring in when choosing your plan.

UK-first focus.
For businesses needing global hiring infrastructure or Employer of Record services across multiple countries, Employment Hero's international capabilities go further. 

Happy Employees

Employment Hero: Pros 

Free payroll tier with no employee limits. 
Employment Hero offers a free UK payroll product covering HMRC-compliant payroll, auto-enrolment, and payslips. 

Strong AI-powered hiring tools. 
The AI Recruitment Agent automatically scores, screens, and interviews applicants, while SmartMatch surfaces ready-to-hire candidates before you post a job ad. 

Employee superapp covering work, pay, and benefits. 
The Work app consolidates leave requests, payslips, earned wage access, benefits, and learning into a single employee-facing mobile app. 

Employment Hero: Consider

Implementation can be complex and time-consuming.

Independent reviews consistently note that setup takes longer than expected, with limited support availability at the outset. For lean HR teams expecting a fast go-live, this is worth factoring in.

Free trial availability.
The full HR platform is not available to try without a sales conversation first, making it harder to assess fit before committing. PeopleHR's 14-day self-serve trial removes that barrier entirely. 

Which is better for UK SMEs: PeopleHR or Employment Hero?

For most UK SMEs, PeopleHR offers a more straightforward starting point. Its published pricing, built-in ATS, CPD-accredited learning content, and native UK payroll give growing businesses everything they need without the setup complexity or pricing ambiguity some teams encounter with Employment Hero. 

Employment Hero is worth a serious look for businesses scaling internationally or wanting a platform that spans hiring, payroll, and benefits in one app-driven experience. For UK-focused SMEs, however, PeopleHR's transparency and dedicated AI HR assistant offer a more focused and accessible package. 

FAQs

Which platform is quicker to get started with?

PeopleHR offers a 14-day self-serve trial with no sales call required, and setup is built around lean HR teams. Employment Hero's managed or guided implementation provides more support but typically takes longer to go live. 

How do their pricing models differ?

PeopleHR publishes four clear tiers from £3 per employee per month, with a self-serve free trial. Employment Hero publishes plan names but specific per-employee rates require a demo to confirm, with a minimum of £30 per month for UK accounts. 

Which platform suits a UK SME looking to scale without switching systems?

PeopleHR's four tiers and optional add-on modules mean you can scale HR, recruitment, and payroll in one place as your team grows. Employment Hero scales well for businesses with international ambitions, but its modular structure can be more involved for smaller UK-focused teams. 

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