Frappe HR review: an open-source HRMS with payroll, leave, attendance, and recruitment modules. Explore features, pricing, pros, cons, and alternatives.
Category
HR
Pricing
Open Source / Usage-based hosting, from Free (self-hosted); Frappe Cloud hosting from $5/month
Frappe HR is an open-source human resources and payroll platform built on the Frappe Framework by Frappe Technologies. It was spun out of ERPNext's HR module into a standalone product in 2022, giving it dedicated branding and release cycles while sharing the same underlying architecture.
It covers more than a dozen HR functions including employee lifecycle management, leave and attendance, payroll and taxation, recruitment, performance management, and training, and can be self-hosted for free or run on managed Frappe Cloud hosting.
Key Features
Core modules include employee onboarding and exit management, configurable leave policies with regional holiday calendars, geolocation-based attendance tracking, payroll runs with tax computation, recruitment and applicant tracking, and performance management.
No-code customization lets administrators build custom fields, forms, and multi-level approval workflows without writing code, and the platform integrates with biometric devices and accounting software.
Pricing
The core software is free and open source under AGPL-3.0, and can be self-hosted at the cost of server infrastructure, typically around $40 per month for a basic VPS plus backup and security costs.
Managed Frappe Cloud hosting starts around $5 per month for a shared Sites plan, $20 per month for dedicated Servers, and $125 per month for Premium Servers, with pricing based on infrastructure usage rather than per-employee seat fees.
Key Features
Employee lifecycle management — Handles onboarding, promotions, transfers, and exit interviews with documented feedback in a single employee record.
Leave and attendance — Configurable leave policies, regional holiday calendars, and geolocation-based check-in and check-out with attendance reporting.
Payroll and taxation — Salary structure configuration, automated payroll runs, tax computation, and payslip generation.
Recruitment and applicant tracking — Manage job openings, candidate pipelines, and interview scheduling within the same system as onboarding.
Performance management — Set goals, run appraisal cycles, and track employee performance history over time.
Expense claims and asset management — Employees submit expense claims and track company assets assigned to them, with approval workflows.
No-code customization — Create custom fields, forms, and multi-level approval workflows without writing code, using the Frappe Framework's DocType system.
Third-party integrations — Connects with biometric attendance devices and accounting software, including native integration with ERPNext.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Fully open source under AGPL-3.0, with no per-employee license fees for self-hosted deployments
Deep, full-featured module set spanning payroll, recruitment, performance, and attendance rather than a narrow HR tool
Highly customizable without code through the Frappe Framework's built-in workflow and form builder
Frappe Cloud hosting pricing is based on infrastructure rather than per-user seats, which can be cheaper at scale
Backed by a large open-source community and network of 200-plus certified implementation partners
Cons
Self-hosting requires ongoing server management, security, and backup responsibility
Steeper learning curve than narrowly focused commercial HR SaaS tools like Gusto or BambooHR
Smaller third-party integration marketplace compared to large commercial HRIS platforms
Advanced support (beyond community forums) typically requires paying for Frappe Cloud or a certified partner
Payroll tax rules for markets outside India may need additional configuration or a partner's help
Pricing
Self-Hosted (Open Source) Free N/A
Frappe Cloud - Sites From $5/month Monthly, usage-based
Frappe Cloud - Servers From $20/month Monthly, usage-based
Frappe Cloud - Premium Servers From $125/month Monthly, usage-based
Enterprise Contact for pricing Custom
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frappe HR free to use?
The core software is free and open source under AGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted at no license cost, though organizations still pay for server infrastructure or can opt into paid Frappe Cloud hosting.
How much does Frappe Cloud hosting for Frappe HR cost?
Frappe Cloud pricing starts around $5 per month for a shared Sites plan, around $20 per month for a dedicated Servers plan, and around $125 per month for Premium Servers, with custom Enterprise pricing for larger deployments.
Is Frappe HR the same as ERPNext's HR module?
Frappe HR originated as ERPNext's HR module and was spun out into its own standalone, independently branded product in 2022, though it still shares the same Frappe Framework architecture.
Does Frappe HR handle payroll?
Yes, it includes salary structure configuration, automated payroll runs, tax computation, and payslip generation as core modules.
Can Frappe HR be customized without coding?
Yes, the underlying Frappe Framework provides a no-code system for building custom fields, forms, and multi-level approval workflows.
Who maintains Frappe HR?
It is developed and maintained by Frappe Technologies, an open-source software company headquartered in Mumbai, India, founded by Rushabh Mehta.