The OrangeHRM Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about OrangeHRM in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
OrangeHRM
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source HR software with a paid Advanced edition
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among HR software, read from OrangeHRM’s own pages.
Made by OrangeHRM · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from OrangeHRM’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on OrangeHRM’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about OrangeHRM, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You host it yourself and the only vendor support is a user forum.
- 1
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.
- 2
There is a free plan
Starter is free and open source: HR administration, employee management, leave, reporting, performance, recruitment and time tracking.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Employee records
Both editions hold employee profiles and databases, work schedules, an organization chart, a corporate directory and document templates.
- 5
Leave and time tracking
Leave management and time tracking are in the free Starter edition, and Advanced adds a roster for scheduling.
- 6
Performance and recruitment
Starter includes performance management and recruitment; Advanced adds 360-degree reviews and individual development plans.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 41 of 63
That is against the other HR software we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
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 at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of Advanced
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- OrangeHRM, since 2005
- Category
- HR Software
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Starter 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Starter 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. |
| Features | C | Records, leave and time, performance, recruitment and hosting choice. Onboarding, rosters, training, surveys and the AI assistant are Advanced only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Starter needs a server and your own install; Advanced is hosted but needs setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with no apps or integrations list on record. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Technical teams that want to self-host an HR system
- Small companies starting on the free edition
- Larger firms wanting on-premises HR software
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
2
plans to choose from
OrangeHRM has a free plan.
Starter is free but you have to host it on your own server, which makes it a C.
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.
The free plan
Starter is free and open source: HR administration, employee management, leave, reporting, performance, recruitment and time tracking.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of Advanced
Read from orangehrm.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open-source HR software with a paid Advanced edition. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, time tracking, reports, applicant tracking, employee records, time off.
Records, leave and time, performance, recruitment and hosting choice.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
OrangeHRM is made by OrangeHRM, and has been around since 2005.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/63
Other HR software it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 59 of 63
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 63
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 63
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 63
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
BambooHR, Zoho People, Factorial, Personio and Cezanne HR
The 5 tools OrangeHRM is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
BambooHR
Free trial · from $250/mo
HR records, hiring, time off and reviews, with US payroll as an add-on.
- OrangeHRM has a free plan. BambooHR does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only BambooHR lists iOS and Android apps.
- OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Zoho People
Free plan · from $3/mo
Low-cost HR records, attendance, shifts and reviews from Zoho.
- Only Zoho People lists iOS and Android apps.
- OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
- OrangeHRM also covers time tracking and applicant tracking.
- 2.0GPA
Factorial
From $8/mo
HR, time, shifts, expenses and IT for small firms, quoted by module.
- OrangeHRM has a free plan. Factorial does not.
- Only Factorial lists iOS and Android apps.
- OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
- 1.8GPA
Personio
Paid
European HR platform for records, absences, time and recruiting.
- OrangeHRM has a free plan. Personio does not.
- Only Personio lists iOS and Android apps.
- OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Cezanne HR
Paid
Modular HR system for mid-sized organisations, quoted by headcount.
- OrangeHRM has a free plan. Cezanne HR does not.
- Only Cezanne HR lists iOS and Android apps.
- OrangeHRM is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is OrangeHRM free?
OrangeHRM has a free plan. Starter is free and open source: HR administration, employee management, leave, reporting, performance, recruitment and time tracking.
How much does OrangeHRM cost?
OrangeHRM lists 2 plans. Starter: $0.
What platforms does OrangeHRM work on?
OrangeHRM is available on Web.
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.
Does OrangeHRM have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day free trial of Advanced.
Who makes OrangeHRM?
OrangeHRM is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2005.
What are the alternatives to OrangeHRM?
The closest alternatives to OrangeHRM in our directory are BambooHR, Zoho People, Factorial, Personio and Cezanne HR.
How does OrangeHRM compare with other HR software?
OrangeHRM's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of OrangeHRM?
The plain part of OrangeHRM you could make: employee records, time off, applicant tracking, time tracking and reports.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from OrangeHRM’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by OrangeHRM. Prices change, so check orangehrm.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- OrangeHRM, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/orangehrm
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "OrangeHRM: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/orangehrm
Know someone choosing between HR software?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/orangehrm/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded HR software after OrangeHRM, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- HR Software Insider's GuideEvery one of the 64 HR software we grade, compared
- Breathe Insider's GuideUK HR software for small firms, priced per business, not per person2.6 GPA
- Leave Dates Insider's GuideAnnual leave planner and absence tracker for small teams2.6 GPA
- TalentHR Insider's GuideHR records, time off, hiring and reviews for small teams2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what OrangeHRM’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. OrangeHRM is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by OrangeHRM. Prices and plans change: check orangehrm.com before you buy.