Choosing HR software is a major decision. You'll use it daily, it holds sensitive employee data, and switching later is painful. That's why trying before buying isn't optionalâit's essential. This guide covers every major HR platform's free trial options, what to test, and how to make the most of your trial period.
HR software impacts everyone in your company. A bad choice means:
Free trials let you validate fit before committingâtesting real workflows with actual employees rather than trusting sales demos.
Full access to all features for a limited time (typically 7-30 days). No credit card required (usually). Converts to paid plan after trial ends.
Permanently free tier with limited features or employee counts. No time limit, no credit card ever required.
Hybrid approachâfree basic plan with paid add-ons for premium features.
Trial Details:
What You Can Test:
Trial Tips:
Trial Details:
What You Can Test:
Trial Tips:
Trial Details:
What You Can Test:
Trial Tips:
Free Plan Details:
What You Get Free:
What's Paid:
Best For: Startups and micro-businesses under 20 employees that only need basic HR functionality and can handle payroll elsewhere.
Get Zenefits FreeFree Plan Details:
What You Get Free:
Paid Tiers:
Best For: Small companies (under 50 employees) focused on recruiting and onboarding who handle payroll separately.
Get Freshteam FreeTrial Details:
What You Can Test:
Trial Process:
Best For: Mid-market companies (100-500 employees) wanting a guided, personalized trial experience.
Request Namely Demo| Platform | Trial Length | Credit Card | Free Plan? | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | 30 days | â No | â No | Small business | Can't run real payroll |
| Rippling | 14 days | â No | â No | Tech companies | Requires demo first |
| BambooHR | 7 days | â No | â No | SMB evaluation | Short timeframe |
| Zenefits | N/A | â No | â Yes (unlimited) | Startups | No payroll/benefits free |
| Freshteam | N/A | â No | â Yes (50 employees) | Small teams | Basic features only |
| Namely | Custom | â No | â No | Mid-market | Must schedule demo |
| Workday | Demo only | N/A | â No | Enterprise | No self-service trial |
| Zoho People | 30 days | â No | â Yes (5 employees) | Micro-business | 5 employee max on free |
| Paycor | Demo + custom | Varies | â No | Mid-market | Sales-driven process |
| ADP | Demo only | N/A | â No | Enterprise | No self-service trial |
The Problem: HR loves it, but employees find it confusing and won't adopt it.
The Fix: Invite 5-10 actual employees to test the employee portal. Get their honest feedback.
The Problem: "John Doe" and "Jane Smith" don't reveal real-world complexity (names with apostrophes, multiple time zones, etc.).
The Fix: Use real employee data (or at least realistic test data) to uncover edge cases.
The Problem: Most employees will use HR software on mobile, but you only tested desktop.
The Fix: Download the mobile app on day 1 and test every key workflow on phone.
The Problem: You assume integrations work, then discover critical limitations after purchase.
The Fix: Actually connect your accounting software, time tracking tool, etc. Verify data flows correctly.
The Problem: You'll need support eventuallyâdid you test how responsive they are?
The Fix: Submit 1-2 support questions during trial. Note response time and quality.
The Problem: You sign up for the trial but don't actually use it until day 12 of your 14-day trial.
The Fix: Block calendar time on day 1 to set up the trial. Treat it like a project.
The Problem: Finance needs accounting integration, IT needs SSO, recruiting needs ATSâbut you didn't include them in testing.
The Fix: Identify all stakeholders before starting trial. Get their requirements and include them in testing.
Need more time? Most vendors will extend trials if you:
Sample extension request email:
"Hi [Account Manager], we've been impressed with [Platform] during our trial, but our team needs more time to complete testing. Specifically, we'd like to test the benefits enrollment workflow with our broker and have our CFO review the accounting integration. Would you be able to extend our trial by 7-14 days? We're close to making a decision and this extra time would be very helpful."
Most free plans are designed to upsell you:
Most HR platforms (Gusto, BambooHR, Rippling, Zenefits) do NOT require a credit card for free trials. This is a good signâit means they're confident you'll see value and convert. Platforms that require credit cards upfront (rare in HR software) often auto-charge after trial ends, so read terms carefully.
Reputable platforms allow you to export your data even if you don't convert. BambooHR, Gusto, and Rippling all offer data export. Read the trial terms to confirm. Some platforms delete trial data after 30-60 days, so export anything important before trial ends.
Yes! It's actually recommended. Trial BambooHR, Gusto, and Rippling at the same time to compare side-by-side. Just manage your time carefullyâtesting 3 platforms in parallel requires organization. Create a shared evaluation spreadsheet with your team.
Probably yes, especially from BambooHR, Rippling, and Namely (sales-assisted models). Gusto is less aggressive. Zenefits and Freshteam (self-service platforms) rarely call unless you request it. You can ask to limit calls during sign-up.
Usually yes, especially if you're actively engaged. Most vendors prefer to extend trials rather than lose interested prospects. Just ask your account manager or support team. Extensions of 7-14 days are common if you have a good reason.
Yes, all major platforms (BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling) include support during trials. This is actually a great opportunity to test support qualityâsubmit a question or two and see how quickly and helpfully they respond. Support quality is a key differentiator.
During the trial, there's no contractâyou can walk away anytime. After converting to paid, most HR platforms require annual contracts (not month-to-month). Read contract terms carefully before committing. Some offer monthly plans at higher per-employee costs.
Import a representative sample (10-20 employees covering different roles, locations, employment types). Don't spend days importing 500 employees into a trialâthat's premature. You need enough data to test realistically but not so much that setup becomes a project.
Ask to see those features in a demo. Most platforms restrict some enterprise features (advanced reporting, custom workflows) to paid plans. If a critical feature isn't available in trial, request a demo or sandbox environment showing that specific feature.
Invite 5-10 employees to test the self-service portal during your trial. Have them request time off, update their profile, and view pay stubs. Survey them afterwardâwould they actually use this? Low employee adoption is the #1 reason HR software implementations fail.
Start with Gusto's 30-day trial if: You're a small business (5-100 employees) needing payroll + HR in one platform. The generous trial period lets you thoroughly test everything.
Try Rippling's 14-day trial if: You're a tech-forward company needing IT + HR integration with powerful workflow automation. Schedule the demo first to understand the platform scope.
Test BambooHR's 7-day trial if: You're focused on employee experience and HR efficiency (not payroll). Plan your testing carefullyâ7 days goes fast.
Use Zenefits free plan if: You're a startup under 20 employees needing basic HR without payroll. You can always upgrade later when you need more features.
Try Freshteam free if: You're under 50 employees and need recruiting + onboarding but handle payroll elsewhere. Great for companies focused on hiring.
Request Namely custom trial if: You're mid-market (100-500 employees) and want white-glove service with implementation support included from day one.
Last updated: February 2026 | SMB HR Reviews Home | All Guides | Tool Comparisons