6 alternatives to Payfit for more flexible payroll management tailored to your business
Payfit has been the rock star of HR tools for some years now: intuitive, automated, designed for SMEs... but it's not necessarily the miracle solution for everyone.
If you're an HR manager and feel that your company needs a more complete, flexible or simply different software solution, you're not alone. Many professionals today are looking for an alternative to Payfit more suited to their internal processes, business compliance or growth.
👉 In this comparison, we present 6 HRIS solutions that cover a wide range of needs: from payroll management to HR administration, onboarding, employee tracking and data centralization. Our aim is to help you save time, automate time-consuming tasks and choose the HR tool that really fits your organization.
What is Payfit?
Payfit is a payroll and human resources management software designed for French SMEs. Created in 2015, it has established itself as an all-in-one solution for automating payroll, centralizing HR data and streamlining administrative processes: leave, absences, expense reports, social declarations... everything is integrated into an intuitive interface.
✅ On the benefits side, Payfit shines through its ease of use, its automatic compliance with legal obligations (DSN, bulletins, social charges), and its SME orientation, with tailored support.
But despite its qualities, Payfit is not a universal solution. Some companies complain about its lack of customization, its limitations when it comes to complex payroll cases, and its pricing progression, which is not well suited to fast-growing structures. Hence the growing interest in more flexible alternatives, some of which are more comprehensive or better scaled to meet specific needs.
PayFit
Why consider an alternative to Payfit?
Payroll cases too complex for Payfit
Payfit was designed to simplify payroll management in "standard" SMEs. But as soon as you move beyond :
- multi-company,
- multi-activity,
- complex overtime,
- specific collective agreements,
- variable bonuses,
- flexible working hours...
...the solution shows its limitations.
HR staff then find themselves having to fiddle with exports, or contact support for adjustments that should be automated. The result: wasted time and the risk of errors in payroll data.
A need for more comprehensive HR tools
Payfit is first and foremost a payroll software package, with a few peripheral HR functions (leave, absences, expense reports). But as soon as you want to structure a real HRIS, with :
- training modules,
- annual interviews,
- GPEC,
- talent management,
- or even integrated recruitment...
... you reach your limits.
For an HR department that wants to manage the entire employee lifecycle from a single platform, it's best to turn to alternative tools that offer a unified view of HR data and automate more cross-functional tasks.
A lack of flexibility in the interface and processes
While Payfit's interface is attractive at first glance, some HR managers deplore its lack of flexibility:
- lack of field customization
- fixed workflow logic,
- and reports or exports that are sometimes too basic to meet the company's analysis needs.
It is impossible, for example, to create customized alerts, automate HR reminders or adapt the tool to internal processes. On the other hand, certain alternative solutions enable a finer adaptation to the realities on the ground.
Customer service struggling to keep up
With Payfit's strong growth, some customers have noticed a deterioration in support:
- longer response times,
- turnover in support teams,
- or overly generic answers to specific questions.
In a field as critical as payroll, where every error can be costly in terms of time (and penalties), it's essential to be able to rely on a dedicated , responsive contact.
Fast-rising rates for growing SMEs
Payfit's business model is based on a fee per employee, which may seem affordable at the outset... but quickly becomes a budgetary brake as the company grows. Added to this are sometimes optional HR modules, or premium support costs.
Some companies realize that for an equivalent or even lower price, they can access more comprehensive solutions, or benefit from an outsourced payroll + HR service provider.
Comparative table of the 6 best alternatives to Payfit
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| PayFit |  ADP |  BestPaye |  Cegid Payroll |  Gusto |  Openpaye |  Sage 100 Paie & RH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For companies with 2 to 250 employees | For all companies | For companies with 2 to 50 employees | For companies with more than 250 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees | For companies with more than 1 employees |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about PayFit | Learn more about ADP | Learn more about BestPaye | Learn more about Cegid Payroll | Learn more about Gusto | Learn more about Openpaye | Learn more about Sage 100 Paie & RH |
Our top 6 alternatives to Payfit
ADP
ADP is one of the longest-established players in payroll and human resources management. Present in over 140 countries, the solution offers a robust, modular offering designed for companies looking for reliable, compliant software at every level.
In France, ADP is winning over SMEs with products such as ADP Link and ADP Décidium, capable of meeting advanced HR needs: Multi-company payroll, HR tracking, employee portal, time management... It's not the most modern interface, but it's solid, designed for HR managers who want to automate complex processes without compromising on rigor.
🛠️ ADP's HR and payroll solutions offer the following functionalities:
- complete payroll management, including multi-company operations;
- automation of legal declarations (DSN, vacations, social charges, etc.);
- HR portal for employees and managers to facilitate interaction;
- human resources management (training, onboarding, employee file management);
- advanced HR reporting with customizable dashboards;
- working time management and scheduling modules;
- outsourcing of all or part of the HR function.
ADP
Bestpaye
Bestpaye is a French payroll management solution dedicated to VSEs and SMEs wishing to outsource their payroll without losing control of their data or monitoring. Bestpaye isn't just software, it's a complete outsourcing service, combining human expertise and a secure SaaS tool.
Unlike all-in-one platforms like Payfit, Bestpaye relies on a direct relationship with a dedicated payroll manager, while giving you access to a clear interface for transmittingyour variables, tracking your pay slips or accessing your social documents.
🛠️ Here's what Bestpaye has to offer in terms of functionalities and HR support:
- complete payroll outsourcing with expert monthly processing;
- secure employer portal for sending variables and consulting documents;
- guaranteed regulatory compliance, including social monitoring;
- automatic generation of social declarations (DSN, charges, etc.);
- employee access to view pay slips online;
- personalized support from a dedicated manager;
- transparent pricing tailored to SMEs.
BestPaye
Cegid Payroll
Cegid Payroll is a French HRIS solution dedicated to SMEs and SMIs looking for a powerful, modular and compliant tool to manage all their payroll processes. It is part of the Cegid ecosystem, a publisher renowned for its business solutions (accounting, finance, HR).
Cegid Payroll is not a simplified tool, but professional software designed for complex environments. It is aimed at organizations that need flexibility, fine-tuning and multi-conventional management, while maintaining a high level of automation.
🛠️ Cegid Payroll's main features for payroll and HR management include
- automated payroll processing, with advanced rule parameterization ;
- guaranteed legal compliance with continuous regulatory updates;
- multi-establishment and multi-company management;
- employee tracking (absences, vacations, working hours, variables);
- collaborative HR portal for managers and employees;
- customizable dashboards for HR data analysis;
- native integration with other Cegid modules (training, recruitment, finance).
Cegid Payroll
Gusto
Gusto is an all-in-one HR solution from the USA, designed to help SMEs easily manage their payroll, their employees and their entire human resources via an intuitive, comprehensive platform.
Extremely popular across the Atlantic, Gusto stands out for its polished user experience, advanced automation and integrated functionalities that go far beyond simple payroll. Although the solution is designed for the North American market, it remains relevant for international companies with a US presence or US employees.
🛠️ Here's what Gusto has to offer to simplify day-to-day HR and payroll management:
- automated payroll processing with calculation of local and federal taxes ;
- digitalized employee onboarding with electronic signature;
- complete HR portal for employees (payroll, documents, leave, benefits);
- time, absence and leave tracking integrated into the platform;
- benefits management (health insurance, retirement, etc.);
- automated tax and social security declarations;
- dynamic HR reports to visualize key data.
Gusto
Openpaye
Openpaye is a French outsourced payroll management solution, designed specifically for SMEs that want to delegate payroll production while retaining simple, secure access to their data via an online interface.
Unlike traditional software, Openpaye is based on a hybrid model: payroll is managed by an expert, but management remains in the hands of the company, thanks to a clear, jargon-free SaaS platform. It's an interesting alternative to Payfit for structures that want more human rigor, without sacrificing ease of use.
🛠️ Here's how Openpaye can help SMEs manage their payroll:
- complete outsourcing of payroll processing, handled by a dedicated administrator ;
- simple employer portal for transmitting monthly variables (leave, absences, bonuses, etc.);
- secure access to pay slips, URSSAF documents and certificates;
- real-time monitoring of payroll and social security declarations;
- employee portal for consulting pay slips and HR information;
- guaranteed legal compliance, with continuous regulatory updates;
- personalized, human and responsive support.
Openpaye
Sage 100 Payroll and HR
Sage 100 Paie et RH is a complete payroll and human resources management solution, designed for French SMEs with advanced compliance, reporting and administrative management needs. This software is aimed at companies looking for greater control, more parameterization, and solid support in a complex regulatory environment.
Recognized for its reliability, Sage 100 can handle large payroll volumes, while integrating strategic HR modules such as interview, training and skills management. It is particularly well suited to structures already organized around an HR team, or supported by an accounting firm.
🛠️ Here are the key functions offered by Sage 100 Payroll and HR for managing personnel:
- advanced payroll processing, in compliance with legal requirements ;
- precise configuration of payroll rules, agreements, bonuses and absences;
- automatic generation of social security and tax declarations;
- integrated HR modules: training, interviews, skills tracking;
- employee portal for access to HR forms and requests;
- detailed reporting with customizable indicators;
- interoperability with other Sage solutions (accounting, finance, management).
Sage 100 Paie & RH
How to choose the Payfit alternative that's right for you?
Summary table of the best alternatives to Payfit
| Software | Main focus | Key strengths | Ideal for... | Entry price |
| ADP | Compliance and complex payroll | Multi-company, outsourcing possible, reporting | Structured SMEs, complex contexts | On quotation |
| Bestpaye | Human outsourcing | Dedicated manager, simplicity, transparency | SMEs looking for human support | From €6.50 / month |
| Cegid Payroll | HR + customized Payroll | Advanced configuration, compliance, Cegid ecosystem | SMEs with extensive HR needs | On quotation |
| Gusto | Simplicity and automation | meticulous UX, integrations, benefits | U.S. SMBs or those with a U.S. presence | From €42.08 / month |
| Openpaye | Customized outsourcing | SaaS access, responsiveness, simplicity | Growing French SMEs | From €49 / month |
| Sage 100 Payroll | Advanced Payroll + HR | Advanced parameterization, integrated HR modules | SMEs with structured internal HR management | On quotation |
Criteria for selecting an alternative to Payfit
Before making your choice, identify your exact HR needs and constraints. Here are the essential criteria to consider when selecting the solution best suited to your company:
- Payroll complexity: if you manage several collective bargaining agreements, complex variables (overtime, bonuses, modulation, etc.), choose a robust tool like Sage 100 or Cegid Payroll, capable of handling advanced cases without friction;
- desired level of outsourcing: solutions like Bestpaye or Openpaye offer human support with simplified access to your data via an online interface;
- Extended HR functionalities: do you need to go beyond payroll: training, interviews, recruitment, GPEC? If so, turn to a complete HRIS solution like ADP or Cegid;
- ease of use and ergonomics: if your HR teams are not payroll experts, an intuitive tool will make all the difference. Payfit or Gusto offer a fluid user experience, even for non-technicians;
- budget and scalability : beware of fast-growing pricing models (price per employee, paid options). For greater cost visibility, providers such as Bestpaye or Openpaye may be more stable in the long term.
What's the best alternative to Payfit? It all depends on you
There is no single "best alternative to Payfit", but rather the solution that fits your organization, your challenges, your resources, and your level of HR requirements.
👉 Are you looking for human, simple and responsive support? Bestpaye or Openpaye are for you.
👉 Managing complex collective bargaining agreements or high volumes? Take a look at Cegid or Sage 100.
👉 And if you want a complete, structured tool? ADP remains a safe bet.
Clearly: define your needs, analyze your processes, prioritize your criteria.
Then choose the tool that will save you time, make you more reliable... and give you a little HR peace of mind.
Article translated from French