Compare/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.

Starting price

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

DetailClayHRZoho People
Starting price$7/employee/mo$1.25/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record30 day free trial
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underHRISHRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.4 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 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 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.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?