Head to head

ClayHR vs Zoho People

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

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo 30 day free trial

Cloud HRIS from Zoho with a free plan for small teams. Paid Essential HR is $1.25/user/mo billed annually, with a five-user minimum.

Where Zoho People fits

Small HR teams already in the Zoho suite
Orgs that can start on the free five-user edition
Companies that need leave and files before attendance
HR ops that will add performance on Premium

At a glance

Detail	ClayHR	Zoho People
Starting price	$7/employee/mo	$1.25/user/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	30 day free trial
MCP server	–No	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	HRIS	HRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
Capterra	Not enough reviews	4.4 from 362 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

Zoho People

Stands out: Low per-user pricing: Essential HR $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed yearly.

Watch out: Paid plans require five users, so Essential HR costs at least $6.25/mo. Attendance starts on Professional, and performance, LMS, and help desk sit higher.

Not the right fit for

US payroll-first buyers (payroll is a separate Zoho product)
Teams that need attendance tracking on the $1.25 plan

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

Zoho People

Free edition for up to five users
Essential HR $1.25/user/mo billed yearly
30-day trial, then you keep Free

Five-user minimum on paid plans
Attendance is not on Essential HR
Payroll is a separate Zoho SKU

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

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo

The Free edition covers up to five users. Essential HR is $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed annually, with a five-user minimum; monthly billing costs more. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is ClayHR cheaper than Zoho People?

Zoho People starts lower, at $1.25/user/mo against $7/employee/mo for ClayHR. 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 Zoho People for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Zoho People offers a 30 day free trial.

Does ClayHR or Zoho People have an MCP server?

Zoho People ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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?