Compare/Head to head

Personio vs Varbi

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

Starting price

Personio

Sales-quoted

HR platform for small and mid-sized companies, mainly in Europe, with HRIS, recruiting and payroll prep. Pricing is quote-based.

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

Varbi

Quote-based

Varbi, sold by Grade, is a recruitment system for Swedish municipalities, regions, universities and agencies that must run a documented, skills-based and accessible hiring process. It is sold by quote through a Swedish price-request form, and Uppsala University and KTH collect applications through it.

Where Varbi fits

  • Swedish municipalities, regions and agencies
  • Universities hiring under public-sector rules
  • Employers that must anonymize selection

At a glance

DetailPersonioVarbi
Starting priceSales-quotedQuote-based
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underATS, HRIS, PayrollATS, Onboarding

Where they pull apart

Personio

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

Watch out: No published price. 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 price

Varbi

Stands out: Varbi builds Swedish public hiring rules into the product, with modules for priority rights, redeployment and holiday jobs plus anonymous selection. A skills-based module developed with Malin Lindelow generates interview and reference questions from each role's skills profile.

Watch out: The price request form is in Swedish and English-speaking buyers are offered only a free demo, so buyers outside Sweden may find contracting harder. Varbi names no AI features or public API, and its modules are designed around Swedish public-sector rules.

Not the right fit for

  • Private startups wanting self-serve signup
  • Employers hiring outside Sweden
  • Teams looking for AI screening

Pros and cons

Personio

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

Varbi

  • Priority-rights and redeployment modules built in
  • WCAG 2.1 AA plus ISO 9001, 14001 and 27001
  • Digital reference checks through Grade Refensa
  • No published price
  • Price request form only in Swedish
  • Built around Swedish public-sector rules

What each one costs

Personio

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Plans are Core and Core Pro; every active user counts as a license, and annual upfront payment gets 10% off software. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Varbi

Quote-based

Grade does not publish Varbi prices. Buyers request a price through a Swedish-language form, and the team replies with a quote. A free demo is available in English. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 27 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Personio or Varbi 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 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?