Head to head

MHR vs Rippling

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

MHR

Sales-quoted

MHR is a UK HR, payroll, and finance vendor. People First, iTrent, and MHR ERP are sold on bespoke quotes, not a public per-employee card.

Where MHR fits

  • UK mid-market employers combining HR and payroll
  • Frontline-heavy organisations that need WFM plus payslips
  • Finance leaders who want HR and finance in one MHR ERP conversation
  • Companies already on iTrent that need a path to People First

Rippling

Sales-quoted

Mid-market HR, IT and finance platform with payroll, devices and an ATS on one bill. Quote-based, with MCP enabled in-product.

Where Rippling fits

  • Mid-market companies unifying HR and IT
  • Teams that want payroll and devices on the same bill
  • Buyers replacing several separate tools
  • US mid-market employers

At a glance

DetailMHRRippling
Starting priceSales-quotedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underHRIS, Payroll, Workforce managementATS, Benefits administration, EOR, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.9 from 4,867 reviews

Where they pull apart

MHR

Stands out: People First puts workforce management, HR, and payroll on one platform so frontline staff can clock in, see a schedule, and open a payslip from the same login.

Watch out: Quotes track headcount, payroll frequency, modules (HR, finance, time, analytics, iTrent Shield), and whether you want software-only or fully managed payroll. A small People First entity is priced unlike a multi-entity iTrent rollout.

Not the right fit for

  • US SMBs that want Gusto-style $49/mo checkout
  • Teams that only need a lightweight HRIS without UK payroll

Rippling

Stands out: Payroll, IT device management and hiring on a single mid-market bill.

Watch out: Recruiting is one module of a much larger platform, not the product itself.

Not the right fit for

  • Staffing agencies
  • Talent teams that only want a tracker

Pros and cons

MHR

  • HR, payroll, and WFM in one UK vendor
  • People First aimed at frontline clock-in plus payslip
  • iTrent path for more complex multi-entity payroll
  • No public per-employee price
  • Implementation is a project
  • US payroll is not the core market

Rippling

  • Payroll, IT and hiring on one bill
  • In-product MCP plus an API
  • Replaces several separate tools
  • No published price
  • No public MCP endpoint
  • Recruiting is a module, not the focus

What each one costs

MHR

Sales-quoted

MHR does not publish a rate card. People First, iTrent, and ERP are quoted from headcount, modules, and software vs managed payroll. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Rippling

Sales-quoted

Quote-based. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try MHR or Rippling for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does MHR or Rippling have an MCP server?
Rippling 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?