OrangeHRM review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Open-source HR software with a paid Advanced edition
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OrangeHRM report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for a free HR system you host yourself
OrangeHRM has a free open-source Starter edition with employee records, leave, performance, recruitment and time tracking. You host it yourself and the only vendor support is a user forum. Onboarding, rosters, training, surveys and the AI assistant are in the paid Advanced edition, which has no published price.
Who OrangeHRM is for
- 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
Who OrangeHRM is not for
- 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
Why OrangeHRM gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyStarter is free but you have to host it on your own server, which makes it a C. Advanced is per employee per month by quote, with no price shown.
- BFree plan and trialStarter is free and open source with core HR, leave, performance, recruitment and time tracking, so one person could live on it. Advanced has a 30-day trial.
- CFeaturesRecords, leave and time, performance, recruitment and hosting choice. Onboarding, rosters, training, surveys and the AI assistant are Advanced only.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. Starter needs a server and your own install; Advanced is hosted but needs setup.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with no apps or integrations list on record.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from OrangeHRM's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/orangehrm#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/orangehrm.svg" alt="OrangeHRM: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where OrangeHRM stands among HR software
OrangeHRM's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 59 of 63) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 64 HR software we grade, cut by the letter each got. OrangeHRM’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 63, level with 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 59 of 63, level with 3
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 63, level with 39
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 63, level with 61
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 63, level with 21
Keep OrangeHRM, or make your own?
Keep it
The plain part of OrangeHRM you could make: employee records, time off, applicant tracking, time tracking and reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 0 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
OrangeHRM is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Employee records, time off, applicant tracking, time tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What this rests on. OrangeHRM’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is OrangeHRM?
OrangeHRM offers a free open-source Starter edition for employee records, leave, reporting, performance, recruitment and time tracking, and a paid Advanced edition that adds onboarding, rosters, training, surveys and more. Advanced is priced per employee per month by quote and can run in the cloud or on premises.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
OrangeHRM pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, OrangeHRM has a free plan.
- Starts at
- Not published
- Free plan
- Starter is free and open source: HR administration, employee management, leave, reporting, performance, recruitment and time tracking.
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of Advanced
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $0 | Open-source edition you host yourself, with core HR, leave, performance, recruitment and time tracking. |
| Advanced | Custom | Per employee per month, by quote. Pick and mix modules including onboarding, roster, training and surveys. |
Read from orangehrm.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with OrangeHRM before you buy.
OrangeHRM alternatives
- OrangeHRM vs BambooHR
Free trial · from $250/mo
- OrangeHRM vs Zoho People
Free plan · from $3/mo
- OrangeHRM vs Factorial
From $8/mo
Common questions
Does OrangeHRM have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. OrangeHRM is listed for Web.
Does OrangeHRM have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. OrangeHRM is listed for Web.
Is OrangeHRM open source?
Yes. OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.