If you’re looking for alternatives to Cezanne HR, you’re probably searching for an HR system that’s a better fit for your business. The right choice depends on your priorities, whether that’s simpler HR, UK payroll, absence management, recruitment, or managing the entire employee lifecycle in one place.
Cezanne HR is a popular cloud-based HR platform, but it won’t suit every organisation. Some businesses need a system that’s easier to use, faster to implement, or better suited to their budget and payroll setup. This guide compares eight Cezanne HR alternatives for UK businesses and explains what each one is best for and how to choose.
What is HR software?
HR software gives businesses one place to manage employee information and everyday people tasks. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, emails and paper forms, HR teams, managers and employees can access the information they need and complete tasks themselves.
A good HR system can help you:
- Store employee details in an employee directory with contracts and policies securely
- Manage holiday, sickness and other types of leave
- Make onboarding new starters easier
- Track goals and run performance appraisals
- Store documents and collect digital signatures
- Create useful reports and insights based on HR metrics
- Reduce time spent on manual admin
For UK businesses, it is also important to choose a system that supports local requirements, such as statutory leave, right-to-work checks, payroll processes, pensions and data protection.
What to look for in Cezanne HR alternatives
The best HR system should solve the problems your team deals with every day. Before comparing alternatives to Cezanne, think about which tasks are currently taking too much time or creating unnecessary admin.
Easy employee self-service
Employees should be able to update their details, request holidays, access documents and find important information without needing to contact HR for every small change.
A simple self-service portal, especially one that works well on mobile, can make life easier for office-based, hybrid and remote teams.
Holiday and absence tracking
Managing leave is a key part of HR. Look for a system that makes it easy for employees to request holidays, managers to approve it and everyone to see team availability.
It should also support sickness, parental leave and other absences, helping managers plan cover and helping HR understand absence trends.
Onboarding and document management
A good HR system makes joining a company smoother. It can help during the onboarding to collect employee information, share policies, complete paperwork and make sure nothing is missed before a new starter begins.
This saves HR teams from repeating the same manual steps every time someone joins.
UK payroll support
Not every HR platform includes payroll, but it should work well with your existing payroll provider. Look for systems that make it easy to manage employee data, pay changes, overtime, leave and other payroll-related information.
Reducing manual data entry can help prevent errors and save time during payroll runs.
Useful reporting
HR reports should help answer important business questions, such as:
- Which teams have high absence levels?
- How long does recruitment take?
- Are performance reviews being completed?
- Which employee records need updating?
- Where are employees leaving most often?
The best systems provide clear insights that help you make decisions, rather than overwhelming you with unnecessary data.
Cezanne HR alternatives at a glance
Cezanne HR is a cloud-based HR platform that helps businesses manage areas such as employee records, absence, recruitment, onboarding, performance and learning. It is commonly used by growing and mid-sized organisations looking to bring HR processes into one system.
Its modular approach to pricing where customers purchase a core plan and then choose the add-ons they require allows businesses to pay only for the features they need. However, some organisations may prefer a simpler package with everything included, while others may look for stronger specialist tools for payroll, scheduling or employee engagement.
| Cezanne HR alternatives | Main features | Starting price* |
|---|---|---|
| Factorial | AI-powered platform combining HR, finance and IT. Core HR, recruitment, onboarding, time tracking, expenses, performance, reporting and modular add-ons. | From £5.40 per user/month |
| Breathe HR | Employee records, leave management, sickness tracking, document storage, self-service and HR reporting. | From £24/month |
| BambooHR | Employee records, onboarding, recruitment, leave management, performance and employee self-service. | From £8.10 per employee/month |
| HiBob | Core HR, onboarding, performance, employee engagement, reporting and workflows for hybrid teams. | Custom pricing |
| Sage HR | Employee records, leave, timesheets, shifts, expenses, performance and Sage payroll integrations. | From £5 per employee/month |
| Ciphr | Core HR, recruitment, learning, payroll, reporting and UK-focused HR tools. | Custom pricing |
| Employment Hero | HR, payroll, employee benefits, onboarding, leave management and employee self-service. | From £4 per user/month |
| Personio | Employee records, recruitment, onboarding, leave management, performance and reporting. | Custom pricing |
*Pricing is indicative and is subject to change. Always consult the official pricing page/sales team of each vendor before making a purchase.
When comparing Cezanne HR alternatives, focus on how well each platform fits your team’s needs and workflows, rather than choosing the system with the longest list of features.
List of Cezanne HR alternatives for UK businesses
Altough Cezanne HR works well for many organisations, it is not the best fit for everyone. The right HR software alternative depends on your business needs, team size and the tasks you want to give the HR automation treatment the most. Below, we look at eight Cezanne HR alternatives and explain who they are best suited for.
1. Factorial: AI platform combining HR, finance and IT in one
Factorial is an AI-powered platform that brings HR, finance and IT management together in one place. It helps businesses manage everyday tasks such as employee records, time off, documents, onboarding, recruitment, expenses, performance and reporting.
For small and medium-sized businesses moving away from spreadsheets, Factorial provides a simple way to organise people processes. Employees can request leave, access documents and update their details, while managers get a clearer view of their teams.
Factorial is also modular, meaning businesses can choose the tools they need and add more as they grow. This makes it a flexible option for companies that want to build a system around their specific needs. It is a good choice for international teams that want to grow. Factorial offers support in several languages.
Why choose Factorial as a Cezanne HR alternative?
- AI-powered platform combining HR, finance and IT tools
- Easy-to-use experience for employees, managers and HR teams
- HR, hiring, onboarding, time tracking and performance features in one place
- Self-service tools that reduce admin work
- Modular setup that can grow with your business
- Reporting tools to support better decisions
Things to consider
- Check that payroll integrations meet your UK requirements
- Review which modules are included in your plan before choosing
Price
Factorial starts at £5.40 per month per user. Book a personalised demo for a quote tailored to your needs based on the modules you choose.
2. Breathe HR: simple HR software for small businesses
Breathe HR is designed for UK small businesses that want an easy way to manage everyday HR tasks. It helps you store employee records, manage leave, track sickness, organise documents and run basic HR reports.
Its simple design makes it a good choice for businesses moving away from spreadsheets or paper-based processes. It is quick to learn and helps managers handle routine HR tasks more easily.
Why choose Breathe HR as an alterantive to Cezanne HR?
- Designed for UK small businesses
- Easy to manage employee records, leave and sickness
- Quick to set up and easy to use
- Good choice for businesses that only need core HR features
- Helps managers approve requests and manage their teams
Things to consider
- It has fewer advanced features than larger HR platforms
- Check whether it offers the recruitment, performance or payroll tools you need
Price
Basic plans of Breathe HR start at £24 per month per business with 10 or fewer employees.
3. BambooHR: easy-to-use Cezanne HR alternative
BambooHR is a popular HR platform that helps businesses manage employee records, onboarding, time off, recruitment and performance in one place.
Its biggest strength is its simple, user-friendly design, making it a good choice for businesses that want an HR system employees and managers can learn quickly. It can work especially well for growing companies that already use a separate UK payroll provider.
Why choose BambooHR?
- Easy for employees and managers to use
- Core HR, onboarding and recruitment tools in one platform
- Employee self-service to reduce admin
- Simple leave management and shared absence calendars
- Good choice for growing businesses
Things to consider
- Some features are designed with US businesses in mind
- Check that it meets your UK payroll and compliance requirements
- Costs may increase as you add more features or users
Price
Core BambooHR plans start at just £8.10 per month per employee with add-ons available.
4. HiBob: Cezanne HR alternative for growing businesses
HiBob is an HR platform designed for growing businesses, especially those with hybrid or remote teams. It combines core HR with onboarding, performance management, employee engagement and reporting.
It is a good option for businesses that want more than basic HR. Alongside everyday HR tasks, HiBob helps employees stay connected, share company updates and manage their own information.
Why choose HiBob as a Cezanne HR alternative?
- Built for growing, hybrid and remote teams
- Core HR, onboarding, performance and engagement tools in one platform
- Modern employee self-service experience
- Strong reporting and people insights
- Helps improve communication and company culture
Things to consider
- It may have more features than smaller businesses need
- Check UK payroll integrations and overall pricing
- Plan your HR processes before implementation to get the most from the platform
Price
HiBob does not have publicly available pricing information.
5. Sage HR: Cezanne HR alternative for Sage users
Sage HR is a cloud-based HR system that helps businesses manage employee records, leave, timesheets, shifts, expenses and performance.
It is the best choice for businesses already using Sage software, as it can help connect HR with payroll and finance, reducing manual data entry. It also works well for businesses with shift workers or teams that need time and attendance tracking.
Why choose Sage HR over other Cezanne HR alternatives?
- Good choice if you already use Sage products
- Manages leave, shifts, timesheets and expenses
- Employee self-service on web and mobile
- Modular features you can add as your business grows
- Helps connect HR and payroll processes
Things to consider
- Costs can increase as you add more modules
- Check compatibility with your Sage payroll software
- Make sure the system is easy for your employees to use
Price
Sage HR has core plans starting at £5.00 per employee per month.
6. Ciphr: Cezanne HR alternative for growing businesses
Ciphr is a UK-based HR platform that includes core HR, recruitment, learning, payroll and reporting tools.
It is best suited to mid-sized and larger organisations that need more advanced HR features and UK-specific support. Businesses with complex HR processes or detailed reporting requirements may find it a better fit than simpler HR systems.
Why choose Ciphr over Cezanne HR?
- UK-focused HR, payroll and learning tools
- Good for larger businesses and more complex HR processes
- Covers recruitment, HR, payroll and learning in one platform
- Strong reporting and people insights
- Can reduce the need for multiple HR systems
Things to consider
- It may be more than a small business needs
- Implementation can take longer than simpler HR systems
- Compare the features included before choosing a plan
Price
Ciphr doesn’t have any pricing info published online either.
7. Employment Hero: HR and payroll in one platform
Employment Hero combines HR, payroll, employee benefits and learning in one platform.
It is a good option for businesses that want to manage HR and payroll together. Keeping employee records, leave and payroll information connected can reduce manual work and help improve accuracy.
Employees can also use the platform to book leave, access payslips, update their details and view company benefits.
Why choose Employment Hero as a Cezanne HR alternative?
- HR and payroll in one connected platform
- Employee self-service for leave, payslips and personal details
- Includes onboarding, policies and employee benefits
- Helps reduce manual payroll admin
- Can grow with your business as your needs change
Things to consider
- Check which payroll features are available for UK businesses
- Compare pricing and optional add-ons carefully
- Ask for a demo using your own HR and payroll processes
Price
Paid plans start at £4 per month per user.
8. Personio: Cezanne HR alternative for growing businesses
Personio is an HR platform built for small and medium-sized businesses. It includes employee records, recruitment, onboarding, leave management, performance tools and reporting.
It is a good choice for businesses that are growing quickly and hiring regularly. By managing recruitment and HR in one system, it makes it easier to move candidates into the onboarding process and reduce admin.
Why choose Personio over other Cezanne HR alternatives?
- Designed for growing small and medium-sized businesses
- HR, recruitment and onboarding in one platform
- Employee records, documents and leave management together
- Helps reduce manual HR tasks
- Useful reporting and workforce insights
Things to consider
- Check that it meets your UK payroll and compliance needs
- Make sure it integrates with your existing systems
- Review pricing as your business grows
Price
Personio does not publish prices publicly.
How to choose the right Cezanne HR alternative
The best alternative to Cezanne HR depends on your business and the challenges you want to solve. Start by identifying the HR tasks that take the most time or cause the biggest frustrations in your workdays.
For example, if managing leave is difficult, look for strong absence management features. If payroll is slowing you down, choose a platform with good payroll integrations. If onboarding is a priority, focus on software with automated onboarding tools.
When comparing Cezanne HR alternatives, ask yourself:
- Which HR tasks do we want to automate?
- Is the software easy for employees and managers to use?
- Which features are included, and which cost extra?
- Does it support UK payroll and compliance requirements?
- Will it integrate with our existing systems?
- Can it grow with our business as we hire more people?
Most providers offer a free demo, so it’s worth seeing how the software handles your everyday HR processes before making a decision.
The right HR system should reduce admin, improve the employee experience and give your HR team more time to focus on supporting the business.
Try Factorial as an alternative to Cezanne HR
Factorial is a strong Cezanne HR alternative for UK businesses that want a simpler way to manage people, finance and IT tasks. Its AI-powered platform brings HR, finance and IT together in one place, helping businesses manage tasks like holiday tracking, employee records, documents and onboarding.
With a modular setup, businesses can choose the tools they need and add more as they grow. This makes Factorial a flexible option for companies looking to reduce admin and create a smoother experience for employees. Book a free demo for a personalised introduction and see how Factorial can work for you.
Disclaimer: The information presented on this page is based on publicly available sources. Comparisons between Factorial and other vendors are intended solely to illustrate the features, pricing, and characteristics of each software. All information related to features, pricing, and integrations is subject to change without notice. Factorial assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. We recommend contacting the relevant vendors directly to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information. All applicable fair advertising and competition law standards are observed; for any questions, please feel free to contact us. The comparisons presented do not constitute a definitive evaluation or a recommendation of any vendor; they are intended solely as a source of information.
Cezanne HR Alternatives FAQs
Which is the best HR software depends entirely on your needs and the size of your business, but Factorial is a good choice for growing UK businesses that want to manage HR, time off, documents, onboarding and performance in one simple platform.
Simon Noble is the CEO of Cezanne HR. He took up the role in July 2024.
The cheapest option depends on the size of your team and the features or modules you need. In the UK, basic HR software plans can start from around £3 per employee per month, while Breathe HR has plans starting from £24 per month. Factorial starts at £5.40 per month.
