The Best Onboarding Software 2024

Need the best onboarding software to hire and welcome new employees smoothly? This review evaluates top-rated options, helping you choose the ideal onboarding platform for your business.

With numerous options available, it’s important to find one that aligns with your company’s requirements and brings a smooth onboarding experience for new hires.

For this article, I tested platforms based on how easy they are to use, how customizable they are, and how well they work with other HR tools. Whether you’re a small business or a big company, this guide will help you pick the right onboarding software.

Best Onboarding Software Solutions 2024

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Best Onboarding Software Solutions 2024
2. What is Onboarding Software?
3. The Best Onboarding Software Reviewed
4. Deel — Best for Onboarding International Employees & Contractors
5. GoCo — Best for Digitized Onboarding Process
6. BambooHR — Best for Startups Looking to Automate HR Onboarding
7. Rippling — Best for Simplifying Onboarding with Single Sign-On Capabilities
8. Workable — Best for Hiring and Onboarding Teams
9. ClearCompany — Best for Upgrading Onboarding with Employee Lifecycle Management
10. Connecteam — Best for Onboarding Hourly and Deskless Workers
11. iSpring Learn — Best for Building Customized Multilingual Onboarding Training
12. Absorb LMS — Best for Advanced Learning Management Features in Onboarding
13. Guru — Best for Centralized Knowledge Base and Onboarding
14. The Best Onboarding Software - Compared
15. Key Benefits of Using Employee Onboarding Software
16. Different Types of Onboarding Software
17. How Much Does Onboarding Software Cost?
18. Trends in Onboarding Software 2024
19. How to Choose the HR Onboarding Software
20. FAQs
21. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Best Onboarding Software Solutions 2024
2. What is Onboarding Software?
3. The Best Onboarding Software Reviewed
Show Full Guide
4. Deel — Best for Onboarding International Employees & Contractors
5. GoCo — Best for Digitized Onboarding Process
6. BambooHR — Best for Startups Looking to Automate HR Onboarding
7. Rippling — Best for Simplifying Onboarding with Single Sign-On Capabilities
8. Workable — Best for Hiring and Onboarding Teams
9. ClearCompany — Best for Upgrading Onboarding with Employee Lifecycle Management
10. Connecteam — Best for Onboarding Hourly and Deskless Workers
11. iSpring Learn — Best for Building Customized Multilingual Onboarding Training
12. Absorb LMS — Best for Advanced Learning Management Features in Onboarding
13. Guru — Best for Centralized Knowledge Base and Onboarding
14. The Best Onboarding Software - Compared
15. Key Benefits of Using Employee Onboarding Software
16. Different Types of Onboarding Software
17. How Much Does Onboarding Software Cost?
18. Trends in Onboarding Software 2024
19. How to Choose the HR Onboarding Software
20. FAQs
21. References

Top Features to Look For in Onboarding Software

To ensure you get the most out of your human resources onboarding software, ensure it includes the following key features:

• Simple Interface — New hire onboarding should be easy, and that includes the platform being used. The onboarding system should offer an intuitive interface that is easy to access and handle.
• Customizable Workflows — Your business is unique, and your staff onboarding tool should be customized to fit your workflows and requirements.
• Mobile app — The best employee onboarding software will have an employee self-service app that new employees can use to integrate seamlessly with the business.
• Automations — HR teams must handle multiple repetitive tasks when it comes to staff onboarding. That’s why you need to be able to automate tasks and have automatic reminders to help keep everyone on track.
• E-signature — Digital documents and e-signatures are a must for onboarding systems today. This makes it easier for new hires to sign contracts and for HR teams to collate new hire documentation.
• Data and Analytics — Reporting capabilities support businesses in making better decisions, and with employee data, HR personnel can improve the onboarding process and staff retention.

The Best Onboarding Software Reviewed

We’ve done hands-on testing with our team and put the best onboarding platforms through their paces, including how they work, how easy they are to use, and how much they’ll cost you.

Deel — Best for Onboarding International Employees & Contractors

Why We Picked It

Deel is my top choice for onboarding global teams and managing international contractors due to its rich suite of features and user-friendly interface. I found it particularly impressive how Deel handles the complexities of international labor laws with its EOR plan and works with compliance and regulations in 150+ countries.

Key Features

• Automated Onboarding Compliance — It’s a smart feature that saves you time on paperwork by using technology tools to automate and streamline documentation processes.
• Interview Scheduling — Deel’s 1-on-1 plugin is a way to schedule check-ins, draft an agenda in advance, track talking points across meetings, and collect feedback in real-time.
• Onboarding Overview — This allows you to get a comprehensive overview of your onboarding pipeline, which is especially useful for bigger teams.

I really like Deel because it offers a strong foundation for international onboarding and management. Its easy-to-use interface and automated compliance tracking make it a valuable tool for managing a global workforce efficiently.

Pricing Plans

Here are the main Deel plans you might need for onboarding:

The core HR platform, Deel HR, which I found to be most useful for onboarding, is free for companies with up to 200 employees. This version lets you collect and organize work documents, automate your workflows, and collate employee data.

Overall, Deel’s pricing plans are flexible and can be customized to meet your business’s specific needs. For example, you can add Deel Engage for only $20 per employee/month and get access to career development tools, performance management, and a learning management system.

Who’s It Best For

Deel is best suited for businesses with a global workforce that needs to manage international payroll, compliance, and contract management.

It’s particularly valuable for companies with remote teams or contractors located in multiple countries. Besides, Deel’s all-in-one platform can be great for businesses looking to integrate reliable accounting software with their onboarding and HR processes.

GoCo — Best for Digitized Onboarding Process

Why We Picked It

GoCo revolutionizes onboarding with its modern, digital-first approach. This platform moves away from paper-based processes and offers an engaging, interactive experience for new hires.  Its intuitive interface, customizable workflows, and focus on employee engagement make it a reliable choice for businesses that want to automate their onboarding process and make a positive first impression on new hires.

Key Features

• Digital Offer Letter — This simplifies the offer acceptance process and reduces paperwork, making it easier for new hires to join the company.
• Interactive Onboarding Workflows — With this feature, you can create engaging and personalized onboarding experiences that match your company culture and values.
• Benefits Enrollment — This makes it easy for employees to understand and enroll in their benefits plans online. This can reduce the administrative burden for HR and improve employee satisfaction.

Since GoCo is primarily focused on the onboarding stage, Rippling would be a better option for teams that need to track employee progress beyond onboarding, such as conducting performance reviews.

Pricing Plans

All GoCo plans include Premium HR. Generally, GoCo is priced on a per-employee-per-month basis, starting at $5 per employee/month.

I was disappointed to find that GoCo doesn’t disclose much pricing information since you get a unique quote built just for your business. Therefore, there’s only 1 pricing edition. A free product tour online of GoCo is also available.

Who’s It Best For

I’d say GoCo is for businesses that want to create a modern, digital onboarding experience and automate their HR processes. It’s especially suitable for companies that want to make a positive first impression on new hires.

However, it doesn’t suit complex international payroll or compliance needs. For that, opt for Rippling or Deel.

BambooHR — Best for Startups Looking to Automate HR Onboarding

Why We Picked It

BambooHR is yet another reliable onboarding software that landed on my list thanks to its simplistic approach (user-friendly interface), affordable pricing, and focus on small businesses, mainly startups. Its automated workflows and employee self-service portal make it easy for startups to onboard new hires efficiently and effectively without overwhelming their small HR teams.

Key Features

• Automated Onboarding Workflows — Eases up the onboarding process by automating tasks and sending reminders to new hires.
• Employee Self-service Portal — Allows employees to access and update their information, request time off, and view their benefits online.
• Time Tracking — Once the hire jumpstarts, you can easily track their hours and calculate payroll accurately.

I found that BambooHR is often praised for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it a good choice for someone who wants to minimize training time for HR staff, whereas with other providers you’ll have a slight learning curve.

Pricing Plans

BamboooHR offers three pricing plans but only includes pricing information for the flat rate plan, which is $75/month/10 employees + $4.25/month per additional employee. For the other two (Core and Pro) every business gets a unique quote based on their business needs.

It’s worth mentioning that there’s a 7-day free trial, so you can test it out risk-free.

Overall, I believe BambooHR pricing is generally competitive for businesses with limited budgets, and compared to Rippling, its price for an additional employee is slightly lower.

Who’s It Best For

BambooHR is best for startups and small businesses looking for a user-friendly and affordable HR onboarding tool. It’s beneficial for companies that want to automate routine HR tasks and encourage hires to manage their information.

Rippling — Best for Simplifying Onboarding with Single Sign-On Capabilities

Why We Picked It

I selected Rippling to be on the list as it’s great for businesses that want a simple onboarding process with single sign-on (SSO). This not only enhances security but also significantly improves the user experience for new employees, as they only need one set of credentials. With Rippling, HR teams can automate the onboarding process, from creating employee records to setting up their payroll, benefits, and work tools, all within a few minutes.

Key Features

• Single Sign-On (SSO) — Hassle-free login for new hires, granting them access to all necessary applications with a single set of credentials.
• Automated Tool Provisioning — One unified place to set up, manage, and disable all of your employee apps.
• Centralized Employee Data — Manages all employee information in a single system, providing a comprehensive view and reducing administrative overhead.

What’s also interesting is that Rippling takes a unique approach that aims to include everyone, from recruiters to HR managers and department heads, in the hiring and onboarding process.

Pricing Plans

Rippling’s pricing is customized based on the HR features you need and the number of employees using the platform. It starts at $8 per employee per month and increases with additional features. While there’s no free trial, you can check out the platform via the demo.

While I noticed that Rippling’s pricing can be more expensive for smaller businesses than other leading providers like GoCo, it offers a comprehensive suite of features and is well-suited for bigger firms with complex HR needs.

Who’s It Best For

I would recommend Rippling for companies that want to simplify onboarding and HR operations, especially those with many employees or complex needs.

However, if you prioritize a more comprehensive HRIS platform with deeper analytics and reporting capabilities, you might consider other options like BambooHR.

Workable — Best for Hiring and Onboarding Teams

Why We Picked It

If you’re searching for a comprehensive hiring and onboarding platform, Workable is definitely worth considering. Its powerful applicant tracking, efficient scheduling, and personalized offer letters make it a great match for businesses of all sizes. I found that you can create a welcoming onboarding environment with Workables document organization and progress tracking that helps HR teams streamline the process and keep everything in one place.

Key Features

• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — Provides tools for sourcing candidates from various channels, including job boards, social media, and referrals.
• Interview Scheduling — Offers pre-employment assessments to evaluate candidates’ skills and qualifications.
• Offer Letter Generation — Automated letter generation eases the job with customizable workflows and automated tasks.

While other providers like Deel and GoCo include these features in their HR plans, Workable especially focuses on hiring and onboarding solutions. Some attributes I found that can also be useful are candidate sourcing, recruitment processes, and HR management.

Pricing Plans

Workable has 3 main plans:

The Starter plan is for occasional hiring and essential HR (up to 20 employees), the Standard plan is for consistent hiring and enhanced HR (from 1 up to 500 employees), and the Premier plan is for strategic hiring and HR. A huge bonus – there’s a 15-day free trial, so you can test the platform.

Workable offers flexible pricing plans that are more customizable than platforms like ClearCompany. Also, it has varying monthly and annual options, which I discovered other providers on this list lack.

Who’s It Best For

Workable is perfect for companies that need a complete solution for hiring and onboarding new employees. It’s especially useful for businesses with lots of applicants or complicated hiring processes.

ClearCompany — Best for Upgrading Onboarding with Employee Lifecycle Management

Why We Picked It

I chose ClearCompany as one of the best onboarding tools as it is great for businesses that want to improve onboarding and manage employees throughout their careers. Its tools cover everything from hiring to retirement for businesses in the US and Canada. An interesting and time-saving feature is the Smart Forms. These forms pre-fill previously entered information and validate the data for accuracy (and formatting). It’s part of a wider system that includes compliance, background checks, and I-9 management.

Key Features

• Employee Lifecycle Management — This one gives a full-featured suite of tools for managing the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding.
• Talent Management — Gives lots of tools for identifying, developing, and retaining top talent.
• Onboarding Automation – Automated internal new hire setup tasks and repetitive actions for onboarding. Useful for bigger teams.

Besides, I found that ClearCompany has, indeed, clear and customizable workflows and automated tasks not only for onboarding but also for benefits administration and time tracking.

Pricing Plans

ClearCompany offers only custom pricing plans based on the specific needs of each organization, so they don’t disclose any information regarding prices.

However, I found that you can request a free demo to look around how the product feels like. This makes is difficult to compare its pricing with other leading software on the list, which gives it a slight drawback.

Who’s It Best For

ClearCompany is a great choice for businesses that want to improve onboarding and manage employees throughout their careers. I’ve tried the demo version and found it especially helpful for large companies or those that focus on developing their employees’ skills.

Connecteam — Best for Onboarding Hourly and Deskless Workers

Why We Picked It

I’d highly recommend Connecteam for businesses that have hourly or deskless workers. Its mobile-first approach and focus on tasks make it perfect for onboarding and managing remote or on-site teams. The platform not only supports onboarding and initial employee training but also compliance with its document feature. This will be useful for HR teams to create custom, mobile-first training workflows that, in turn, make intuitive and accessible onboarding.

Key Features

• Mobile-First Onboarding — Connecteam’s mobile app makes onboarding easy for hourly and deskless workers. Unlike most onboarding platforms, Connecteam takes into consideration that lots of users (including myself) might start onboarding on their phones.
• Task Management — This lets you assign tasks, track progress, and communicate with employees easily.
• Time Tracking — As with most of these features, it allows you to simplify timekeeping and payroll for hourly workers.

Other useful features I found were Messaging (which provides a platform for internal communication between employees and managers, which is quite important for onboarding) and document management.

Pricing Plans

Connecteam has four pricing plans based on complexity and business size.

The Small Business Plan is for really small teams (up to 10 people), so it’s free. However, if your team is bigger, you’ll need a Basic plan, which is $29/month and covers up to 30 people.

Then, we have an Advanced plan, which is the most popular plan. It’s also for up to 30 people but has more features like smart groups and admin permissions, advanced filtering and bulk actions, and more. If you want to onboard more people than 30, it’s $1.5/month/user.

What I also liked is that you can try all of the plans with Connecteam’s 14-day free trial.

Overall, Connecteam offers affordable pricing plans that are competitive compared to other providers, like Deel, offering similar features (free plans for a limited amount of employees).

Who’s It Best For

I’d say Connecteam is best for agencies with hourly or deskless workforces, such as retail, construction, or field service.

It is particularly valuable for companies that need to manage remote or on-site teams and ensure that employees have access to the information and tools they need to be productive.

iSpring Learn — Best for Building Customized Multilingual Onboarding Training

Why We Picked It

If you’re looking for a powerful tool to create custom, multilingual onboarding training, iSpring Learn is definitely worth considering. It’s a learning management system (LMS) with authoring tools, interactive features, and gamification capabilities that impressed me and made it a good option for engaging employees.

Key Features

• Multilingual Authoring Tools — This allows you to create training courses in multiple languages, which is so useful for global teams.
• Interactive Content Creation — This feature lets you create engaging training materials, such as quizzes, simulations, and role-playing scenarios.
• Gamification Features — Adds a fun and engaging element to your onboarding training, motivating employees to learn and complete courses.

I also liked the feature called Course tracking and analytics. It tracks employee progress and provides insights into learning outcomes.

Pricing Plans

iSpring Learn offers 4 plans based on the number of users.

The pricing structure seemed pretty straightforward to me, as the price depends on the number of users. However, the best value-for-money plan is for 500 users, with the price being $3.72 per user/month (billed annually).

iSpring Learn also offers a generous 30-day free trial and a free demo.

Compared to other options on this list, iSpring Learn comes as one of the most affordable providers overall. And while it servers for small and mid-sized companies, it has offerings for bigger teams, too.

Who’s It Best For

iSpring Learn is best for global companies that need to create custom onboarding training and provide it in different languages. I discovered its authoring tools, interactive features, and gamification features make it great for engaging employees.

Absorb LMS — Best for Advanced Learning Management Features in Onboarding

Why We Picked It

Absorb LMS landed on my list as it is a top-notch LMS platform for effective onboarding and training, designed with multiple learning paths. What sets it apart is its ability to track employee progress closely and provide valuable insights. This helps companies measure the effectiveness of their training programs and identify areas for improvement.

Key Features

• Mobile Learning Capabilities — Conveniently, this allows employees to access training materials on their mobile devices. This is especially important in our day and age.
• Gamification Features — Encourages employee engagement and motivation through gamified elements.
• Onboarding Courses — Absorb LMS also has multiple courses like company introduction training, services overview training, policy, sign-offs training, and so forth. This kind of structured leanring path boosts the onboarding process and makes it exciting for employees, too.

Pricing Plans

One downside I discovered about Absorb LMS is that it doesn’t disclose its prices, and you need to contact them directly to find out what the quote could be.

Besides that, there’s a demo version you can view and a 30-day free trial, which is useful, since you don’t know how much it will cost.

While it’s nice that you can try the service out, the unknown prices make it hard to compare it to other options on my list.

Who’s It Best For

In my opinion, Absorb LMS is particularly well-suited for businesses that need to track employee progress closely and provide a high-quality learning experience.

Guru — Best for Centralized Knowledge Base and Onboarding

Why We Picked It

Guru is a great tool for businesses that need a central place for information and onboarding. It’s easy to use, has a powerful search, and works well with other tools. I can see how it helps different teams access important information efficiently during onboarding. Its customizable templates help make the onboarding process more streamlined and easily adaptable for each new hire’s needs. Plus, it’s affordable and offers a free trial.

Key Features

• Centralized Knowledge Base — Provides a single source of truth for company information, making it easy for hires to find the answers they need.
• Card-Based Interface — Offers a visually appealing (personally, that’s an important element for me) and intuitive interface for organizing and accessing information.
• Search Functionality — Lets employees find the information they need using powerful search capabilities.

Pricing Plans

Guru offers three plans to choose from.

Guru calls its 30-day free trial its Free plan, which, in my opinion, isn’t strictly necessary. However, the All-in-One plan is the main one that includes the AI-driven platform, including Enterprise AI search + Intranet + Wiki. The Enterprise plan scales with your company; hence the price will depend on your unique needs.

Guru’s flat rate per employee is very similar to Rippling but is higher than most of the competitors. However, I found that the total price can change a lot if you decide to add any extras.

Who’s It Best For

Guru is the ideal onboarding software for companies that need a central place for information and want to help hires work together better. It’s perfect for companies with remote teams or those that need easy access to information from anywhere.

The Best Onboarding Software – Compared

Find the best onboarding software for your company. I’ve compared the top options, considering all the ins and outs:

Key Benefits of Using Employee Onboarding Software

Onboarding software can significantly improve your business operations in several ways. Here are some of the benefits:

• Automate Administrative Tasks — Reduce the administrative workload on HR departments, so they focus on more strategic initiatives.
• Improve New Hire Engagement — Make new employees feel welcomed and valued from the start — this will help to improve their engagement, integration into the company culture, and overall job satisfaction.
• Stay Compliant — The software can manage legal documents, effective communication of company policies, and minimize the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
• Accelerate Productivity — Help new employees become productive quicker and contribute to their teams sooner.
• Support Remote Onboarding — Facilitate the onboarding of remote employees. This is key in today’s increasingly remote workforce.
• Improve Communication — Onboarding software facilitates effective communication between new hires and their teams.
• Track Onboarding Effectiveness — The software provides valuable data on your onboarding process and identifies areas for improvement.
• Integrate with Other HR Systems — Many onboarding software integrate with other HR systems, such as payroll, benefits management, and performance tracking, for streamlined HR workflow.

Different Types of Onboarding Software

Onboarding software comes in three main types:

• HRIS — A platform for managing all HR aspects, including onboarding.
• LMS (Learning Management System) — Designed for training and development, best for onboarding new hires.
• Task Management — Useful for organizing and tracking onboarding tasks.

HRIS often includes onboarding features, while LMS focuses on training. Task management tools can help with onboarding tasks but may lack specific features. Choose the type that best suits your organization’s needs and priorities.

How Much Does Onboarding Software Cost?

Onboarding software prices will mainly depend on several criteria: the number of employees in your company, features offered, and the provider’s pricing model. While some basic options may be free or offer limited free plans, others can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars monthly.

My advice — be aware of hidden fees that may not be included in the initial pricing like additional charges for extra features, integrations, or support services.

Before choosing onboarding software, get quotes from different companies and compare what they offer.

Trends in Onboarding Software 2024

Onboarding software is evolving rapidly. Key trends this year include:

• AI-Powered and Personalized Experience — For example, a series of onboarding emails that are personalized based on your job role and experience level. 40% of new employees report delays in getting answers from HR. Automation can improve this by eliminating repetitive tasks and managing all the necessary documents.
• Remote Strategies — With the rise of remote workforce, companies must adapt their training methods, foster connections, and provide support for new employees in virtual or partially virtual workplaces.
• Employee Wellbeing — Companies are prioritizing mental and physical health more than ever before, recognizing that a healthy workforce is a productive one. Onboarding software incorporates features that promote employee well-being, such as wellness resources or stress management tools.
• Interaction — Another trend is making onboarding more engaging and interactive rather than just reading through boring documents. Innovative onboarding methods like video-based, gamified, and virtual experiences can increase motivation by encouraging active participation.
• Learning and Development — Companies are integrating more and more LMS for a seamless transition into your job. These can include interactive elements like clickable diagrams, drag-and-drop exercises, and videos.

How to Choose the HR Onboarding Software

If you’re still unsure of what things to look at when selecting a reliable onboarding tool, I’ve got you. Here’s what to consider when choosing onboarding software:

FAQs