Compare/Head to head

HR Cloud vs Personio

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

Starting price

HR Cloud

Sales-quoted

HR Cloud is a modular HR platform for onboarding, core HR, and frontline employee experience. Modules are quoted by employee count.

Where HR Cloud fits

  • Frontline and deskless employers that need onboarding and an employee app
  • HR teams that want modular onboarding without moving payroll
  • Mid-market companies comparing a quoted HRIS with BambooHR or HiBob
  • Ops leaders who will keep ADP or Paychex for pay and add HR Cloud for experience

Personio

€7.60/employee/mo

HR platform for small and mid-sized companies, mainly in Europe, with HRIS, recruiting and payroll prep. Plans start from €7.60 per employee per month.

Where Personio fits

  • European SMBs consolidating HR tools
  • Companies wanting ATS and HRIS in one vendor
  • Teams running multiple legal entities
  • Buyers who want a large integration marketplace

At a glance

DetailHR CloudPersonio
Starting priceSales-quoted€7.60/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underEngagement, HRIS, OnboardingATS, HRIS, Payroll

Where they pull apart

HR Cloud

Stands out: Onboard, People, and Workmates are sold as modules, so a frontline employer can buy onboarding without a full HRIS rip-and-replace.

Watch out: hrcloud.com does not print a self-serve per-employee grid. Implementation is a project. This is not Gusto payroll.

Not the right fit for

  • Five-person startups that need payroll plus HR in one $49 Gusto login
  • Enterprises standardized on Workday with no modular gap

Personio

Stands out: Core HR, time tracking, recruiting and payroll prep in one system, with over 200 marketplace integrations.

Watch out: Prices are published in euros only. Every active user counts as a license, and API access for custom integrations is on the Core Pro plan, not Core.

Not the right fit for

  • US-only employers wanting US payroll
  • Buyers who need a published USD price

Pros and cons

HR Cloud

  • Modular onboarding and frontline EX, not an all-or-nothing HRIS
  • Fits employers who will not move payroll
  • Aimed at deskless and frontline populations
  • Quoted, no public per-employee rate
  • Payroll still lives in another vendor
  • Implementation is heavier than a Gusto signup

Personio

  • HRIS, time and recruiting in one system
  • 200+ marketplace integrations
  • Public API on Core Pro
  • Euro pricing only, no USD price
  • API access limited to Core Pro
  • Payroll is preliminary, not full US payroll

What each one costs

HR Cloud

Sales-quoted

HR Cloud quotes Onboard, People, and Workmates modules by employee count. hrcloud.com does not publish a self-serve per-employee grid. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Personio

€7.60/employee/mo

Personio's pricing page lists plans starting from €7.60 per employee a month; the page shows euro pricing only. Plans are Core and Core Pro, and the yearly subscription has a 12-month minimum term. Custom quotes come through a demo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try HR Cloud or Personio 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 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?