Compare/Head to head

TalentHR vs Zoho People

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

Starting price

TalentHR

$2/user/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Low-cost HR system from Epignosis, the company behind TalentLMS, that bundles core HR, time off, onboarding and a simple applicant tracker. It is free for up to 10 users and $2 to $4 per user per month above that, so it suits small businesses where one person handles HR and hiring together rather than teams needing a dedicated recruiting tool.

Where TalentHR fits

  • Small businesses where one person runs HR and hiring
  • Startups wanting free HR for up to 10 people
  • Teams already using TalentLMS

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

DetailTalentHRZoho People
Starting price$2/user/mo$1.25/user/mo
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trial14 day free trial30 day free trial
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underHRIS, ATS, Onboarding, PerformanceHRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
Capterra4.8 from 64 reviews4.4 from 362 reviews

Where they pull apart

TalentHR

Stands out: Few HR systems put an ATS with a career page, CV autofill, AI job descriptions and a talent pool on a free plan, and Premium adds AI suitability scoring against each opening for $4 per user. It is rated 4.8 on Capterra across 64 reviews.

Watch out: Paid plans require at least 15 users, so a 12-person company pays for 15, and candidate scoring, performance reviews and time tracking are Premium only. The vendor does not list job board multiposting; openings publish to its career page and can sync to a WordPress site.

Not the right fit for

  • Recruiting teams hiring many roles at once
  • Agencies managing client pipelines
  • Companies of 11 to 14 people paying the 15-user minimum

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

TalentHR

  • Free plan for up to 10 users includes the ATS
  • AI suitability scoring on Premium for $4/user
  • Rated 4.8 on Capterra across 64 reviews
  • 15-user minimum on paid plans
  • Scoring, reviews and time tracking are Premium only
  • No job board multiposting listed

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

TalentHR

$2/user/mo

Free for up to 10 users with core HR, time off and applicant tracking. Essential is $2 per user per month and Premium $4 per user per month; paid plans need at least 15 users and change in steps of 5, and annual billing saves 20%. Every new account gets a 14-day Premium trial with no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 26 Sep 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 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is TalentHR cheaper than Zoho People?
Zoho People starts lower, at $1.25/user/mo against $2/user/mo for TalentHR. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try TalentHR or Zoho People for free?
TalentHR carries a free tier on our listing. TalentHR offers a 14 day free trial. Zoho People offers a 30 day free trial.
Does TalentHR or Zoho People have an MCP server?
Zoho People 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 26 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?