Introduction
Choosing the right HR and payroll software is not only about functionality but also about long-term costs and scalability. In this article, we compare four major platforms — Odoo ERP, Deel, Remote, and Workday — across their HR modules and cost of ownership. The analysis highlights how each system handles recruitment, payroll, organizational structure, absences, analytics, and integration with ERP, as well as how their pricing models scale from 50 active users to 500 employees.
This article is for HR Directors, HR Managers, and business owners who are looking for an HR system for their company. We compare Odoo ERP, Deel, Remote, and Workday by functionality and cost of ownership — and share key conclusions to help you choose the right solution.
Table 1. HR Systems Functional Comparison
| Criterion | Odoo ERP (HR + Payroll) | Deel | Remote | Workday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment | ✅ Recruitment module, job postings, candidate pipeline. | ❌ No ATS, API only. | ❌ No ATS, focus on EOR. | ✅ Advanced talent acquisition with AI and LinkedIn integration. |
| Payroll | ✅ Full payroll with localization per country. | ⚠️ Limited payroll, EOR focus. | ✅ Automated payroll in 70+ countries. | ✅ Global payroll with compliance and tax handling. |
| Organizational structure | ✅ Departments, positions, hierarchy. | ⚠️ Basic roles only. | ✅ Global org. structure across subsidiaries. | ✅ Comprehensive org. structure and workforce planning. |
| Absences & leave | ✅ Time Off module with approval workflows. | ❌ Not included. | ✅ Leave, sick days, public holidays. | ✅ Leave and hybrid work management. |
| Analytical cost tracking | ✅ Analytic accounts (projects, departments, business units). | ❌ Not available. | ⚠️ Limited to country/department level. | ✅ Strong cost analytics with finance integration. |
| Employee personal data | ✅ Full profiles, GDPR compliant. | ✅ Employee cards. | ✅ Local compliance (KYC, contracts, taxes). | ✅ Rich employee profiles, training, development. |
| Bulk payments | ✅ Mass payments through bank integration. | ❌ Not available. | ✅ Global bulk, multi-currency payments. | ✅ Supports bulk and international payments. |
| ERP integration | ✅ Native integration (Accounting, Sales, Purchase, Inventory). | ⚠️ API-only. | ⚠️ API-only, limited ERP integration. | ✅ ERP integration via Oracle/SAP middleware, limited flexibility. |
| Multi-company support | ✅ Full multi-company, intercompany transactions, consolidated reporting. | ❌ No multi-company support. | ✅ EOR model — Remote acts as legal employer. | ✅ Global company support, but costly. |
Table 2. Cost and Flexibility Comparison for 50 users + 500 employees
Cost of Users and Employees Assumptions
In this section we compare the total cost of ownership for 50 active users working in the system and 500 employees managed in HR. The calculation also includes hosting costs and flexibility options such as self-hosting and customization.
| Criterion | Odoo ERP (HR + Payroll) | Deel | Remote | Workday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost for 50 active users | ≈ €18,000/year (30 €/user/month × 50 × 12) | ≈ €3,600/year (6 €/user/month × 50 × 12) | ❌ No per-user pricing. Costs tied to payroll % (EOR). | ≈ €50,000–80,000/year(enterprise SaaS, varies by modules and regions). |
| Cost for 500 employees (not users) | ✅ 0 € — employees can be managed without licenses. | ⚠️ ≈ €6,000–12,000/year (1–2 €/employee/month). | ❌ Very expensive: 200–600 €/employee/month → from €1.2M/year. | ❌ Calculated by FTE. Costs may exceed €100k/year. |
| Hosting (ERPixel) | €950/year (fixed, on-premise). | ❌ SaaS only. | ❌ SaaS only. | ❌ SaaS only, no self-hosting. |
| On-premise/self-hosting | ✅ Full support for self-hosting, Docker, Kubernetes. | ❌ Not possible. | ❌ Not possible. | ❌ Not supported. |
| Custom modules & extensions | ✅ App Store + custom modules (onboarding, analytics, BI). | ❌ Closed SaaS. | ❌ Closed SaaS. | ⚠️ Limited. Modules available, but customization restricted. |
| Resource & project tracking | ✅ Project, Timesheets, HR integration for workload tracking. | ❌ Not supported. | ❌ Not supported. | ✅ Workforce planning for enterprise, but less flexible than Odoo in SMB/scale-ups. |
Key Takeaways
- Odoo ERP offers the most balanced cost-to-functionality ratio:
- Licenses apply only to active users, meaning HR records for hundreds of employees are free.
- Includes HR, payroll, invoicing, procurement, finance, budgets, and project management in one license.
- Self-hosting and customization allow full control over data and processes.
- Deel & Remote are strong in global hiring and EOR compliance, but:
- Costs increase dramatically with more employees.
- They lack ERP functions, requiring extra systems for accounting, procurement, CRM, and analytics.
- Workday is a powerful enterprise solution:
- Advanced HR analytics and talent management.
- But significantly more expensive and usually requires integration with other ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle).
- Limited customization, SaaS-only model.
⚠️ For a fair TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) comparison, keep in mind:
- With Odoo, ERP modules (invoicing, procurement, accounting, projects) are already included.
- With Deel, Remote, and Workday, these require additional software investments.
Table 3. Quick Comparison: Odoo ERP vs Other Systems
| Software | Advantages over Odoo ERP | Disadvantages vs Odoo ERP |
|---|---|---|
| SAP SuccessFactors | More advanced HR (talent management, training, AI recruiting). | No built-in ERP modules, high cost, complex integration. |
| BambooHR | Simpler and cheaper for SMB quick start. | Payroll limited to US, no multi-company support, no ERP features. |
| Personio | Localized for Europe, strong HR + payroll for SMEs. | No ERP integration, weaker analytics, no project/budget management. |
| HiBob | Modern UX, strong employee engagement focus. | No finance, procurement, or projects; requires extra tools. |
| Papaya Global | Stronger than Odoo in global payroll and compliance (EOR model). | No ERP functions, very expensive as workforce grows. |
| Oracle NetSuite | Stronger finance and reporting, globally recognized ERP. | HR weaker than Odoo, expensive, less flexible. |
| Microsoft Dynamics | Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration (Teams, Office, Power BI). | HR weaker, customization costly, no free employee records. |
| Zoho People/One | Affordable, fast deployment for basic HR + CRM. | Weak payroll, limited finance, no multi-company support, poor scalability for larger firms. |
About ERPixel
ERPixel is an official Odoo partner with over 10 years of ERP implementation experience. We help companies in Europe, the US, and Asia automate sales, finance, procurement, HR, and production processes. Our team combines deep expertise in management accounting and IT, delivering ready-to-use modules, tailored customizations, and ongoing support throughout the digital transformation journey.
