Head to head

ClayHR vs Factorial

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

ClayHR

$7/employee/mo

Modular HRIS for records, PTO, timesheets, onboarding, and reviews. Professional starts at $7 per employee per month.

Where ClayHR fits

  • Mid-size teams that want HRIS plus reviews
  • Companies that will grow into LMS and OKRs
  • HR teams that need a REST API on Enterprise
  • Offices adding biometric clocks later

Factorial

$8/user/mo

European small-business HR platform with an ATS, time tracking and documents, from $8 per user/month.

Where Factorial fits

  • European small businesses buying HR plus hiring
  • Teams that want time tracking next to the ATS
  • People teams that do not want a separate tracker
  • Buyers comparing all-in-one HR suites

At a glance

DetailClayHRFactorial
Starting price$7/employee/mo$8/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underHRISATS, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.3 from 320 reviews

Where they pull apart

ClayHR

Stands out: Professional prints a $7 per-employee monthly rate while API access sits on Enterprise at $9.

Watch out: API, LMS, OKRs, and expenses need Enterprise at $9 per employee per month. Enterprise++ is quote-only.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need API access on the $7 plan
  • Enterprises that only buy quote-built HCM

Factorial

Stands out: HR, hiring and time tracking on one small-business bill.

Watch out: Hiring is a module inside an HR platform rather than a dedicated recruiting tool.

Not the right fit for

  • Staffing agencies
  • Enterprise HCM selections

Pros and cons

ClayHR

  • $7/employee/mo Professional rate
  • REST API on Enterprise
  • Reviews, PTO, and timesheets included
  • API starts at $9/employee/mo
  • No published free trial
  • Enterprise++ is quote-only

Factorial

  • HR, hiring and time in one suite
  • Public API
  • Low published per-user price
  • No MCP
  • Hiring is a module, not the focus
  • Not an agency tool

What each one costs

ClayHR

$7/employee/mo

Professional starts at $7 per employee per month and covers records, forms, PTO, timesheets, onboarding, reviews, and analytics. Enterprise starts at $9 per employee per month and adds LMS, OKRs, career planner, skills, check-ins, expenses, and API access. Enterprise++ is price on request. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Factorial

$8/user/mo

Factorial starts at $8 per user per month, and plans are tailored on request rather than sold as fixed tiers. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 21 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is ClayHR cheaper than Factorial?
ClayHR starts lower, at $7/employee/mo against $8/user/mo for Factorial. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try ClayHR or Factorial for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?