Frappe HR vs Zoho People
Frappe HR
frappe.io
Zoho People
zoho.comSide by side
| Figure | Frappe HR | Zoho People |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | $1.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 11 |
| Spec score · HR Software | 9.5 (#1) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Core HR Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Deployment | Frappe HR can be self-hosted using installation scripts and is licensed under AGPL-3.0. | Zoho describes People as cloud-based and hosted over the internet, with a stable internet connection as the use requirement. |
| Employee records | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Frappe HR integrates with ERPNext accounting and can connect to biometric devices, banks and third-party software. | Listed integrations include Zoho Payroll, Zoho Analytics, Recruit, Projects, CRM, Books, Expense, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Workspace, QuickBooks, Xero, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, Zapier and Zoho Flow. |
| Licence | The Frappe HR product page identifies the software as AGPL-3.0 licensed. | Zoho’s terms prohibit sharing licences and reverse engineering, indicating a proprietary closed-source service rather than open-source software. |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Employee onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Performance management | Performance tools support goals, key-result areas, appraisals and continuous feedback. | Yes |
| Rating on G2 | 4.6 out of 5 from 4 reviews | 4.4 out of 5 from 408 reviews |
| Security | The product page describes role-based permissions, audit logs, and activity trails; it says Frappe Cloud provides regular backups and encrypted communication. | Zoho states that People uses AES-256 encryption at rest, multi-factor authentication, access controls, activity logs and replicated backups. |
| System requirements | Current framework prerequisites include Linux or macOS, Python 3.14, Node.js 24 or newer, Yarn 1.x, Redis 6 or newer, MariaDB 10.6 or newer, or PostgreSQL 13 or newer. | The web app requires no client installation; supported browsers include recent Chrome, Firefox and Chromium Edge versions plus Safari 14+, with JavaScript and cookies enabled. |
| Time-off management | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Frappe HR
- Frappe Cloud Sites$5 a month
- Frappe Cloud Servers$20 a month
- Frappe Cloud Servers - Dedicated$125 a month
- Frappe HR (open-source software)Free
- Self-hostFree
- Frappe Cloud Sites hosting$5 a month
- Frappe Cloud Dedicated Servers$125 a month
- Frappe Cloud Servers hosting$125 a month
Zoho People
- FreeFree
- Essential HRPriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
- PremiumPriced on request
- EnterprisePriced on request
- FreeFree
- Essential HR$1.25 a month
- Professional$2 a month
- Premium$3 a month
- Enterprise$4.50 a month
In their own words
Frappe HR
Frappe HR is open-source HR and payroll software for handling recruitment, employee lifecycle tasks, shifts and attendance, leave, expenses, performance, payroll, and income tax. Recruitment features cover staffing plans, job listings, applicant tracking, interviews, feedback, offers, and analytics. Payroll supports rule-based salary structures, bulk assignments, payroll runs, off-cycle payments, multi-currency payroll, employee loans, and timesheet-based payroll. Users can build custom forms, fields, workflows, reports, and dashboards with the Frappe Framework. The software integrates with ERPNext accounting and can connect to biometric tools, banks, and third-party software; a mobile app provides smartphone access. Its product page describes role-based permissions, audit logs, and activity trails. Frappe Cloud provides regular backups and encrypted communication. Frappe HR can be self-hosted using installation scripts and is licensed under AGPL-3.0. The software is listed at free, while hosting and implementation cost extra. Listed Frappe Cloud options start at $5 a month; self-hosted VPS costs are estimated to start around $40/month, with additional operating costs.