Overview

IceHrm brings employee records, leave, attendance, payroll, recruitment, performance reviews, expenses and timesheets together. Employee self-service, role-based permissions and an audit log support both staff tasks and administrative oversight. That range can reduce the need to split routine HR work across separate tools, though teams seeking only a single function may not need such a broad platform.

Its editions make a consequential distinction: Open Source covers core functions, while premium extensions are reserved for Cloud or IceHrmPro and cannot be purchased separately. Organizations choosing Open Source should confirm that its included capabilities are enough before committing.

For a wider category comparison, browse HR Software; teams focused on document workflows can explore HR Document Management Software.

Key features

Leave, attendance and time

Leave balances update live, with accruals, manual adjustments, multi-level approval chains and company and team holiday calendars. Employees can clock in and out from web or mobile with work location captured, and timesheets support submission and approval. These workflows suit organizations that need structured oversight of both leave and attendance rather than a simple shared calendar.

Payroll, expenses and records

Payroll supports custom columns, pay groups, multiple currencies and payslip design. Employees can submit expense claims with receipts for approval and reimbursement through payroll, keeping a related process within the same platform. Employee records and document handling round out the administrative core; Open Source includes employee profiles, documents, payroll and reports.

Recruitment and performance

Recruitment pipelines include candidate profiles and interview scheduling. Performance management supports review cycles, goals and 360-degree feedback, which gives teams a way to handle hiring and ongoing reviews alongside core HR administration.

Integrations, access and security

A REST API with bearer-token authentication supports connections to external systems and custom applications. The editions comparison includes Microsoft Entra ID, SAML 2.0 and LDAP/Active Directory sign-on options. IceHrm says cloud personal data is encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption, files are privately stored and encrypted, and customer data is backed up in at least two locations. Its security policy describes availability, integrity and confidentiality as goals, with regular internal audits. IceHrm also says it complies with the CISPE Data Protection Code of Conduct and that customers own their data and may request deletion.

Pricing

IceHrm uses a freemium model and offers a free plan and a 14-day trial. The published plan terms matter: Cloud is priced for a small starting cohort, while IceHrmPro carries a much higher starting cost for larger deployments.

IceHrm Open Source: Price not listed. Includes employee profiles, attendance and clock-in/out, payroll, documents, projects and timesheets, and reports. Community support is listed. It is the entry point for teams that can manage their own deployment and do not need premium extensions; those extensions are neither included nor sold separately.
IceHrm Cloud: 12.00 USD per month, billed $ 12 /mo total for up to 6 employees; $1.10/employee. Managed hosting, email support and listed pricing up to 100 employees are included; contact for custom pricing over 100. It is the clearest fit for a small team wanting hosted service, but the starting total covers only six employees.
IceHrmPro: 1799.00 USD per month, billed From $1,799 for up to 50 employees, up to 500. The starting price covers up to 50 employees, with plans listed up to 500. Its starting cost makes it a consideration for organizations needing the larger deployment range, not a low-cost upgrade for a small team.
IceHrm Enterprise: Price not listed; unlimited employees. It is the stated option for organizations whose workforce exceeds the listed Cloud and IceHrmPro ranges, but pricing is custom.

Cloud and IceHrmPro are the routes to premium extensions. Open Source gives up access to those extensions, so a low-cost or self-hosted choice may not suit teams that rely on them.

Platforms

IceHrm supports web, iOS and Android, as well as self-hosted deployment and an API. Its dedicated mobile app supports iOS and Android, and a mobile web experience is also described. This combination suits organizations needing both mobile staff access and deployment flexibility.

Who it's for

IceHrm is a strong fit for organizations bringing employee records, leave, attendance, payroll and talent processes together, especially when approvals and employee self-service matter. Small teams can consider Cloud for managed hosting, while larger organizations can assess IceHrmPro or Enterprise. It is a weaker fit for buyers who need premium extensions but want to stay on Open Source, or who need only a narrow HR function.

Pros and cons

Pro: Leave, attendance, timesheets, payroll, expenses, recruitment and performance reviews span several recurring HR workflows in one platform.
Pro: Cloud combines managed hosting with mobile access and email support, useful for teams that do not want a self-hosted setup.
Pro: A REST API and role-based permissions support integration and controlled access.
Con: Premium extensions are unavailable on Open Source and cannot be bought separately, making an edition change necessary for teams that need them.
Con: Cloud's listed monthly total covers up to six employees, so growing teams must account for per-employee pricing and custom pricing above 100.
Con: IceHrmPro starts at 1799.00 USD per month for up to 50 employees, a substantial commitment compared with Cloud.

Alternatives

Zoho People is worth considering for teams seeking a freemium HR option with a free plan for five users and web and mobile platforms.

Efalia HR ECM is an alternative with web, desktop, mobile and self-hosted platform support; pricing varies by company size, storage, users and features.

Employment Hero is a paid alternative without a free plan, with Pro plans organized around AI video interview quantities.

MHR iTrent is a paid alternative whose listed plan directs prospective customers to book a demo.

Sense HR is a paid alternative with a free trial and an annually billed Team plan listed at 20.00 GBP per month.

Sesame HR is a paid alternative with a free trial and an Essential plan listed at 45.00 USD per year, with a 15-employee minimum.

Deputy is a paid alternative with a Lite plan at 5.00 USD per month per user.

timeware HRMS Document Management is a paid alternative with a plan listed at 8.00 GBP per month per employee.

Verdict

Choose IceHrm if your organization wants one platform for core HR administration, payroll, attendance and talent workflows, with mobile access and a free Open Source route. Its breadth and API are compelling, but the premium-extension restriction and Cloud employee pricing deserve close attention. Look elsewhere if you need premium extensions without moving off Open Source, or if IceHrmPro's starting price is out of proportion to your team's needs.

	IceHrm	Softra HR
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	—	GHS 588/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, self-hosted, Web	Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Employee records	Yes	Yes
Time-off management	Yes	Yes
Employee onboarding	Yes	Yes
Performance management	Yes	Yes
Time tracking	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	Yes	—

IceHrm vs Softra HR

IceHrm

Softra HR