Happy HR vs HollyHR

Happy HR is a cloud-based HR platform for employee records and processes across the employee lifecycle. Its listed functions include recruitment, onboarding, performance management, time-off management, time tracking, safety, training, surveys, and asset management. Free recruitment software includes job advertising, candidate matching, and talent pool management. The site also describes a 30-day trial that requires at least one employee and does not require a credit card. Free rostering and timesheet management are included. Paid plans show a minimum of 10 employees and subscription terms of 12, 24, or 36 months. Self-guided and Pro are listed at $12 a month for a 12-month term, plus GST; Pro also has a one-time setup fee, with its amount not listed. Plans include 15 minutes of dedicated HR support per month, and Pro customers receive a qualified HR consultant. Payroll and learning are available as add-ons, and the platform integrates with accounting, rostering, ERP, and other app partners. Happy HR is available on web, Android, and iOS.

HollyHR is core HR software for small UK teams, bringing people records, working patterns, leave, documents, starter processes and reports together. Teams can manage leave requests and approvals, balances, sickness records and UK public holidays, with a shared Who’s Away calendar. Reusable onboarding packs create individual journeys with due dates and owners; private files, right-to-work evidence and policy acknowledgements stay with employee records. Built-in headcount, turnover and time-off reports export as CSV or PDF. Organisation export includes CSV data, available uploaded files and a manifest. HollyHR connects with services including Zapier, Make, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Claude, Google Calendar, Outlook and Xero Payroll UK, with differing capabilities and availability. Approved leave can be sent to Xero after employees and leave types are matched, but salary, tax, bank, pay-run and employee-creation data do not sync. API reads and signed webhooks are available on every plan; creating records through the API or integrations requires Standard and System Admin permission. A free plan covers up to 10 active employees; Standard starts at £2/user/mo. The service runs on web and through an API.