BrightHR vs Personio (2026): which should you pick?

Pick BrightHR if

• Fits if you run a small UK firm and want an employment-law advice line with the software
• Works for shift-based teams that need rotas and holiday cover on one screen

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are in the US, as no US edition was found
• Pricey if you add support: £21.20 for the advice line, £31.30 with health and safety
• Watch out: prices exclude tax, and insurance is quoted separately
• Watch out: contract length isn't stated beyond 'fixed-term', and the FAQ says quotes come from a demo

Pick Personio if

• Fits if you're a European company that wants HR, payroll and hiring together
• Works for teams that already use a separate shift planner

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to see a price before talking to sales
• Not for you if you want to plan shifts inside your HR tool, as that needs a partner app
• Tight if managers mostly work from their phones, as setup and most workflows need the web
• Watch out: the pages we read don't list the countries where its payroll works
• Watch out: the listing shows no performance reviews or onboarding, so ask before you buy

BrightHR

• Prices are in pounds, excluding tax, and the site is aimed at UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; no US edition was found.
• The FAQ says prices start from £3.00 per person depending on business size and that quotes come from a demo.
• The pricing page does not state the contract length beyond calling them fixed-term contracts.
• Insurance is not in the online prices; it is quoted separately.

Personio

• Prices could not be confirmed: personio.com and its help center answered with a bot check, so plans, prices and any trial are not recorded.
• It presents itself as built for Europe; the pages read do not list the countries where its payroll works.
• The mobile app covers absences, time, approvals and documents; other workflows and set-up need the web app.
• Shift planning comes through partner apps that sync with Personio, where shifts are created and changed.

BrightHR

Holiday and absence management

A staff holiday planner with booking and approvals, plus tools for recording sick leave and lateness across the team.

Shifts and rotas

Create and edit shifts across any working pattern, including an open shifts feature, and let staff clock in and out from the Blip app.

Expenses, documents and reporting

Expense tracking, HR document storage and a custom reporting system sit in the core package.

Advice lines and templates

Higher packages add a 24/7 HR and employment law advice line and a library of HR document templates.

Health and safety software

Accident and near-miss reporting, 600+ risk assessment templates, task reminders and hazardous substances management.

Payroll navigator and payroll service

A payroll navigator is in the core package, and a separate payroll software and managed payroll service is sold on its own pages.

Personio

Employee records and documents

One place for employee data and HR documents, which staff can open, download or share from the mobile app.

Absences and time off

Employees request time off and see their balance, and can check upcoming absences and team availability where the company allows it.

Working-time tracking

Staff record and review their hours on the web or phone, and approved times from partner apps can be sent back into Personio.

Inbox for approvals

Managers see open requests and tasks in one inbox and approve or decline them, including from the mobile app.

Recruiting

Applicants can be passed into Personio's recruiting module through its Recruiting API, alongside core HR and payroll.

API, webhooks and marketplace

Custom integrations read employees, attendance, absences and documents through the API, and webhooks push changes in real time.

BrightHR

• Core HR software£16.67

  per employee / month, excluding tax

  Holiday planner, rotas, absence, performance, overtime and expense tools, reporting, and a payroll navigator. £83.35 a month at 5 employees.

• Enhanced HR support£21.20

  per employee / month, excluding tax

  Core package plus a 24/7 HR and employment law advice line and document templates. Insurance is quoted separately. £106 a month at 5 employees.

• Full HR, health and safety support£31.30

  per employee / month, excluding tax

  Enhanced package plus health and safety software and advice and a wellbeing portal. £156.50 a month at 5 employees.

Personio

Pricing could not be confirmed. See personio.com.