Factorial vs OrangeHRM (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Factorial if

• Fits if your staff work shifts and clock in by QR code or location
• Works for firms that want HR, expenses and company devices in one place

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a full price on the page, as only $8 and up is published
• Not for you if you want to try it first, as no trial is on record
• Pricey if you add lots of modules, since each one is quoted on top
• Watch out: monthly plans bill for everyone on staff at the start of each month
• Watch out: the site gives both 12 and 120 customer countries and doesn't list where payroll works

Pick OrangeHRM if

• Fits if you have someone who can run a server and want free HR software
• Works for small firms that need leave, records and recruiting without a subscription

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you can't host software, as Starter runs on your own server
• Tight if you want support, as Starter has only a user forum
• Tight if you want onboarding, rosters, training or surveys, which are Advanced only
• Watch out: Advanced has no published price, only a quote form

Factorial

• Only the $8 starting figure is published; the real price comes in a quote that depends on the modules and the headcount.
• Monthly plans bill for the employees present at the start of each month; annual plans bill extra only in months above the agreed count.
• Offices are in Spain, Germany and Mexico; the about page says both 12 and 120 countries for its customers and does not list where payroll works.
• The free-trial links on its pages lead to a missing page, so a trial could not be confirmed.

OrangeHRM

• Starter has no support from the vendor beyond a user forum, and you host it yourself.
• Advanced prices are not published; a quote is requested through a form.
• Onboarding, roster, training, surveys, request desk and Citra AI are Advanced only.

Factorial

Core HR and documents

Every plan has the employee directory, onboarding and offboarding, payslip distribution, bulk document sending, fillable PDFs and legal e-signatures.

Time off and time tracking

Unlimited time-off policies and custom absence types, plus clock-ins by geolocation or QR code with overtime compensation.

Shift planning

Build shifts in bulk, set rotating patterns or generate them automatically, and share the schedule with staff.

Recruiting, reviews and training

Post jobs to several boards with AI CV parsing, run 360-degree performance reviews, track goals and manage training with certificates.

Expenses, projects and IT

Read receipts with OCR, route expenses through multi-step approvals, log hours to projects, and manage devices and SaaS licenses.

One, the AI assistant

An AI agent that searches and analyzes company data, builds reports and prepares policies, contracts and payroll documents for review.

OrangeHRM

Employee records

Both editions hold employee profiles and databases, work schedules, an organization chart, a corporate directory and document templates.

Leave and time tracking

Leave management and time tracking are in the free Starter edition, and Advanced adds a roster for scheduling.

Performance and recruitment

Starter includes performance management and recruitment; Advanced adds 360-degree reviews and individual development plans.

Advanced HR modules

Advanced adds onboarding, a request desk, career development, training, surveys, employee voice, discipline and an AI assistant called Citra AI.

Hosting choice

The vendor says Advanced is available as a cloud service or on premises with the same capabilities, and Starter can be hosted as you prefer.

Factorial

• Tailored plan$8

  per user / month and up

  Factorial Core (directory, onboarding, payslip delivery, bulk documents, e-signature) plus the modules chosen. Quoted and sold through sales.

OrangeHRM

• Starter$0

  Open-source edition you host yourself, with core HR, leave, performance, recruitment and time tracking.

• AdvancedCustom

  Per employee per month, by quote. Pick and mix modules including onboarding, roster, training and surveys.