In short:
- HR management software centralises employee data and automates the tasks of the personnel department: file, leave, time, reviews, training, payroll preparation.
- It is not mandatory, but it helps meet precise obligations: single staff register from the first employee, monthly DSN, career path review every 4 years.
- No independent statistic identifies the most used software. Vendors state between 4,500 and 22,000 client companies depending on the case, figures taken on 7 October 2026.
- Published entry prices range from 3.05 to 6.90 euros per employee per month, for different scopes.
What is HR management software?
HR management software is a computer tool that brings together information about employees and automates the administrative tasks of the human resources department. It is also known by the acronym HRIS, for human resources information system (SIRH in French).
The CNIL, the French data protection authority, points out that these tools contain a great deal of information about employees. The employer can record in them the data needed for the administrative management of staff, the organisation of work and social benefits.
HR management software, HRIS, payroll software: the differences
| Term | What it covers |
|---|---|
| HR management software | General term for any tool that manages HR data and processes |
| HRIS | Set of HR modules linked together around a single personnel database |
| Payroll software | Tool that calculates payslips and produces social declarations |
| Time management software | Tool focused on working hours, schedules and time tracking |
Some vendors cover several of these families. Others focus on one and connect to neighbouring tools.
The features of HR management software and the obligations they cover
Each module addresses a task of the HR department, and often an employer obligation. The rules quoted below come from official Service-Public guides.
| Feature | What it is for | Corresponding rule |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel file | Centralising each employee’s information | The single staff register is mandatory from the first employee |
| Hiring | Preparing arrival documents | The pre-hiring declaration is sent at the earliest 8 days before hiring |
| Leave and absences | Tracking entitlements and requests | An employee earns 2.5 working days of leave per month of actual work |
| Working time | Tracking hours and overtime | Legal working time is 35 hours per week for a full-time job |
| Reviews | Scheduling and recording reviews | The career path review takes place every 4 years |
| Payroll | Preparing or calculating payslips | The payslip can be issued electronically, unless the employee objects |
| Social declarations | Sending data to the relevant bodies | The DSN is due on the 5th or the 15th of the following month, depending on headcount |
| Benefits | Managing meal vouchers, for example | The employer’s share is between 50% and 60% of the voucher’s value |
What the software changes day to day
- Information is entered only once, then reused by the various modules.
- Deadlines are tracked automatically, such as the date of the next career path review.
- Payroll data feeds directly into the DSN (nominative social declaration).
- Arrival documents rely on the same data as the hiring formalities.
The most used HR management software: what is really known
No public and independent statistic ranks HR management software by number of users in France. The only figures available are those the vendors publish on their own websites.
| Vendor | Figure stated by the vendor | Stated experience |
|---|---|---|
| PayFit | 22,000 client companies | Not found |
| Kelio | 20,000 clients | Not found |
| Factorial | More than 17,000 companies | Not found |
| Eurécia | More than 4,500 client companies and 400,000 users | 20 years of HR expertise |
| Lucca | More than 1,000,000 users | More than 20 years of expertise |
These figures were taken on 7 October 2026. They call for three precautions:
- They are commercial statements, not verified by any third party.
- They do not measure the same thing: some count companies, others users.
- Some vendors operate in several countries, and their figures do not necessarily relate to France alone.
This table therefore does not show which software is the most used. It only indicates that each of these five vendors claims several thousand client companies.
The best HR management software: the comparison in brief
The table below uses the information published by the vendors on 7 October 2026. The detail is in the full comparison of the best HR software.
| Software | Published entry price | Strength found | Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucca | €3.21 excl. tax per employee per month for core HR (more than 100 employees) | A public price for each module, no minimum commitment | Preparation and connectors |
| Kelio | From €3.05 excl. tax per employee per month (50 employees) | Time management, hosting and support in France | Payroll offered |
| Eurécia | From €4.20 excl. tax per employee per month | Broad HR scope, 30-day free trial | Preparation and checking |
| Factorial | From €2.9 per user per month (checked on 5 November 2026) | Free trial, finance and IT modules | Preparation and checking |
| PayFit | €26 per month per employee (business creation offer) | Payroll and DSN specialist | Core of the offer |
Parole de RH has not tested any of this software and has no commercial link with any vendor. The ranking proposed in the comparison is based on the transparency of the information published, not on quality in use.
Which software for which situation?
- Main need is payroll: PayFit and Kelio include payroll in their offer.
- Need to track time and schedules: Kelio, Eurécia and Factorial publish dedicated modules.
- Need to know the price in advance: Lucca and Kelio publish the most detailed grids.
- Need to test before deciding: Eurécia, Factorial and PayFit offer a free trial.
How to choose HR management software
Start from processes, not features
- List the tasks that take the most time: payroll, leave, schedules, reviews.
- Identify the obligations that cause problems today: missed deadlines, documents that cannot be found.
- Count the users concerned: employees, managers, administrators.
- Identify the tools already in place with which the software will have to exchange data.
Check data protection
HR management software processes personal data. The CNIL requires that only authorised people have access and that their actions are logged. These points are detailed in the article on HR software and personal data.
Look at artificial intelligence features
Several vendors highlight AI features. Those involved in sorting applications are classified as high-risk by the European regulation, as explained in the article on AI in recruitment.
Ask for a comparable quote
Public prices are starting points. To compare two offers, the quote must cover the same number of employees and the same modules, and state the cost of deployment.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a very comprehensive tool when the real need is limited to payroll or leave.
- Confusing software that prepares payroll with software that calculates it.
- Relying on the number of clients announced by the vendor to judge quality.
- Forgetting to check that the French payslip and the DSN come out correctly from the new tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is HR management software?
HR management software is a computer tool that centralises employee data and automates the tasks of the personnel department: administrative file, leave and absences, working time, reviews, training, recruitment and payroll preparation. It is also called an HRIS, for human resources information system. It helps the employer meet its obligations, for example the single staff register or the nominative social declaration.
Which HR management software is most used in France?
No public and independent statistic ranks HR management software by number of users. The only figures available are those the vendors state themselves. On 7 October 2026, PayFit announced 22,000 client companies, Kelio 20,000 clients, Factorial more than 17,000 companies, Eurécia more than 4,500 client companies and 400,000 users, and Lucca more than one million users. These figures are not comparable with one another.
How much does HR management software cost?
On 5 November 2026, Factorial showed the lowest entry price, from 2.9 euros per user per month (6.5 euros in the title of its pricing page). Kelio publishes a first plan from 3.05 euros excluding tax per employee per month (50 employees), Eurécia 4.20 euros excluding tax per employee per month for its Business plan, and Lucca charges for each module separately, for example 3.21 euros excluding tax for core HR. The final price depends on the number of employees and the modules chosen.
Is HR management software mandatory in France?
No. No text requires the use of HR management software. However, several employer obligations rely on a computer tool, in particular the nominative social declaration, sent every month from payroll.
Sources
- CNIL, Les règles pour la gestion du personnel, page dated 17 August 2023, consulted on 7 October 2026.
- Entreprendre.Service-Public, Procédure et formalités d’embauche d’un salarié du secteur privé and Déclaration sociale nominative (DSN), guides consulted on 7 October 2026.
- Service-Public, Congés payés du salarié dans le secteur privé, Durée du travail d’un salarié à temps plein, Entretien de parcours professionnel, Fiche de paie and Titres-restaurant, guides consulted on 7 October 2026.
- Websites of the vendors Lucca, Kelio, Eurécia, Factorial and PayFit (home pages and pricing pages), consulted on 7 October 2026. Factorial’s pricing page reviewed on 5 November 2026.