Top Human Capital Management (HCM) Software (original) (raw)
Our picks for the top human capital management (HCM) software include:
- ADP Enterprise HR is the best for scalability
- isolved is the best for budget-aligned HR strategy
- Paycor is the best for succession planning
- Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM is the best for strategic workforce planning
- Workday HCM is the best for compensation strategy and execution
We picked our recommendations with you in mind.
First, we evaluated several of the most popular human capital management solutions on the market today. We used vendor demos, free trials, technical documentation, and user reviews from customers like you to compile our research.
We then narrowed our selections to platforms that address your top-of-mind concerns, such as advanced analytics, automations, and customization. As the market changes, we reevaluate our choices so you always receive the best insight for your purchasing decision.
- Sep. 22, 2025: Hanna Sillo updated the product cards to the latest version. She also replaced outdated stats and info in the discussions.
- Jun. 12, 2024: Jessica Dennis updated the formatting to improve readability.
- Sep. 18, 2023: Jessica Dennis restructured the page to put our expert recommendations front and center. We also added dynamic design elements to improve the visual flow of information and clarified the reasons behind our choices.
TechnologyAdvice is able to offer our services for free because some vendors may pay us for web traffic or other sales opportunities. Our mission is to help technology buyers make better purchasing decisions, so we provide you with information for all vendors — even those that don’t pay us.
Featured Partners
What is the top HCM software?
Human capital management (HCM) solutions support strategic alignment between a company’s workforce and overarching business objectives. An HCM platform’s broad toolset helps companies develop and leverage employee strengths on a broader scale to increase the return on investment (ROI) of the workforce.
Large companies that track and manage data in various departments outside HR need an HCM platform to acquire more complex analytical insights. These insights drive compensation strategies and succession planning, to name just a couple of examples.
These top HCM software solutions are designed to help businesses optimize their workforces and develop internal talent, but if none of these solutions fit your needs, check out our HR Software Guide.
Pros
- Add-on functionalities to scale as needed
- AI-generated “headlines” for data digests from ADP DataCloud
- Internal and external benchmarking data
- Variety of customizable dashboards
Cons
- Compliance services rather than built-in, automated compliance features
- Add-ons drive up cost compared to all-inclusive alternatives
- No built-in expense management to ensure budget-aligned HR strategy
Why I chose ADP Enterprise HR
ADP Enterprise HR stands out from the other vendors here in terms of the add-on options that other HCMs already include. This allows companies to scale up their capabilities as needed, adding tactical tools like recruiting later if they choose.
Pros
- Included features that other vendors offer as add-ons
- Expense management
- Predictive analytics with natural language processing
Cons
- Lack of automation in identifying and matching talent with job openings
- No external benchmarking data like ADP
Why I chose isolved
isolved expense and people analytics features are a main draw for companies needing to match overall business strategy with their budget. By forecasting data like turnover, companies can determine where to allocate funds to make the biggest impact on company culture, such as recruitment efforts or employee engagement.
Pros
- Benchmarking based on internal and external data
- Governmental data for macro-level comparisons
- Compensation planning with scenario testing for equitable, competitive compensation practices
- Career management tool to support succession planning
- Career management, talent development, and LMS as trifecta for optimal employee experience and retention
Cons
- Limited reporting and analytics customization
- Lack of natural language processing to navigate analytics
- Limited predictive analytics
Why I chose Paycor
Paycor combines advanced analytics with government benchmarking data to ensure compensation, recruitment, and talent strategies remain competitive. Adding this with Paycor’s career management features also means companies can support employee growth while developing successors to preserve and carry on the company’s mission.
Pros
- Internal talent promotion through opportunity marketplace
- Comprehensive data integration and modeling capabilities across HR, finance, and operations
- Collaborative strategic workforce planning
- Built-in “My Wellness” module to positively influence employee wellbeing
- Compensation management benchmarking data based on role and location
Cons
- Higher minimums and multi-year contracts
Why I chose Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM
Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM leverages AI and companies’ historic data to forecast future events. This allows companies to take a more proactive approach to planning company initiatives — like reorganizations, global expansions, recruitment strategies, or acquisitions — while still maintaining a healthy and happy workforce.
Pros
- Collaborative compensation planning
- Pay equity dashboards
- Concrete tools for building and improving a compensation package
- Recruiting-focused workforce planning
Cons
- Lacks the predictive modeling capabilities that Paycor’s compensation management has
- Workday offers a more robust scenario modeling versus Oracle
Why I chose Workday HCM
Workday HCM is excellent for organizations needing to develop a comprehensive compensation strategy by comparing industry benchmarks against employee performance data. Combined with Workday’s finance features, companies can see how changing employee pay impacts the bottom line. As a result, HR teams can craft a strategy that rewards top performers, promotes pay equity, and allows the business to remain profitable.
How to choose the best HCM software
To strategize and execute on the areas of HR that spell long-term growth for the company as a whole, a company needs to invest in the right solution that fits its priorities and goals. These HCM solutions support most or all the key areas that HR needs in order to successfully align people with business goals.
However, these are just a sampling of the top HCM vendors on the market, so if none of them address your current approach to HR strategy, check out our HR Software Guide.
TechnologyAdvice is able to offer our services for free because some vendors may pay us for web traffic or other sales opportunities. Our mission is to help technology buyers make better purchasing decisions, so we provide you with information for all vendors — even those that don’t pay us.