Compare/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.

Starting price

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

$8/employee/mo

Mid-market HR, IT and finance platform with payroll, devices and an ATS on one bill. From $8 per employee a month plus a base fee, 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-quoted$8/employee/mo
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
  • Monthly base fee on top of the per-employee 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 4 Nov 2026

Rippling

$8/employee/mo

Rippling plans start at $8 per employee per month, plus a monthly base fee. The total depends on the products you choose, and Rippling sends a custom quote. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 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?

All MHR alternatives All Rippling alternatives Every HRIS tool

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