Remote

If you mean HRIS/HCM software people actually use for employee records, onboarding, payroll, benefits, time, compliance, and reporting, these are the brands I’d shortlist first in the U.S. market.

Best HR software shortlist

My practical recommendations by company type

• 1–50 employees: start with Gusto, RUN Powered by ADP, or BambooHR + payroll tool.
• 50–500 employees: look at Rippling, BambooHR, Paylocity, Paycor, or ADP Workforce Now.
• 500–5,000 employees: look at UKG, ADP Workforce Now/Vantage, Dayforce, Paylocity, Paycor, or Rippling.
• Enterprise/global: shortlist Workday, UKG Pro, Dayforce, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM.
• Remote/global contractor-heavy: shortlist Deel, Remote, Rippling, and possibly Oyster.

If I had to pick only 5 to demo

For most U.S. companies, I’d demo:

1. Rippling — best modern all-in-one choice.
2. BambooHR — best simple HRIS.
3. Gusto — best small-business payroll/HR.
4. ADP Workforce Now — safest big-brand payroll/compliance option.
5. UKG or Workday — choose UKG for workforce/time complexity; choose Workday for enterprise HR complexity.

One caution: don’t buy only on feature lists. Recent G2 research found many HR buyers are trying to reduce fragmented systems, but also that 78% evaluate total cost including implementation, services, and support—not just subscription price—and 63% see switching HR/payroll systems as manageable but time- and resource-intensive. So ask vendors to demo your actual payroll, PTO, onboarding, benefits, reporting, and approval workflows before signing. (research-hub.g2.com)

The "best" HR software depends on your company size, budget, and needs (payroll, onboarding, benefits, performance, global payroll, etc.). But these are the most widely used and highly rated options today:

All-Around Best for Small to Midsized Businesses

• BambooHR – Extremely popular for SMBs. Great for hiring, employee records, time-off tracking, and reporting. Easy to use.
• Gusto – Best if you need payroll + HR combined. Perfect for small businesses, with automated payroll, benefits, and compliance help.
• Rippling – Fast-growing favorite. Combines HR, IT (device management), payroll, and benefits in one. Excellent if you want automation and a modern feel.

Best for Mid-Market to Enterprise

• Workday – The enterprise leader. Used by large global companies for HR, finance, payroll, and talent management. Powerful but pricey and complex.
• UKG (UltiPro) – Strong for workforce management, scheduling, time tracking, and HR. Common in healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
• SAP SuccessFactors – Best for large global companies, especially those already using SAP. Strong performance and learning modules.
• ADP Workforce Now – One of the most widely used HR/payroll platforms. Great for US-based mid-market companies that need reliable payroll and compliance.

Best for Payroll-First HR

• Paychex Flex – Very popular for small to mid-sized businesses that need solid payroll, HR, and benefits administration.
• Paylocity – A great mix of payroll, HR, and employee engagement tools. Used widely by growing companies.
• Justworks – Good if you want PEO services (payroll, benefits, compliance) bundled with HR software. Great for startups.

Best for Global/Remote Teams

• Deel – The go-to for hiring and paying international contractors and employees. Handles local compliance, contracts, and payroll worldwide.
• Remote – Similar to Deel, excellent for global payroll, contractor management, and EOR (Employer of Record).

Best Free / Budget-Friendly

• Zoho People – Solid free/cheap HRIS for basic employee records, leave tracking, and workflows.
• Wave (not HR) – Just kidding. But Bitrix24 has a free HR module if you’re really tight on budget.

Bottom line:

• Small business with payroll needs → Gusto
• Small/mid company that wants HR + tracking → BambooHR
• Automation + IT + HR + payroll → Rippling
• Enterprise / global → Workday or SAP SuccessFactors
• Remote / international hiring → Deel

Pick based on your company size and whether you need payroll included. Most offer free demos, so test a couple before committing.