Decision Support · Side-by-side

Namely vs Personio. Side by side.

Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.

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Namely

Best overall

Personio

Namely wins for US-based mid-sized companies that need a polished all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong mobile app. Personio is the better choice for European SMEs that prioritize GDPR compliance and automated recruiting workflows. The single biggest difference is geographic focus: Namely is built for US compliance and payroll, while Personio is designed for European labor laws.

Namely

Starting at $9/employee/month #2227 of 3,826 Web

Personio

#773 of 3,826 Web

Scores at a glance

NamelyPersonioPractical Versatility

Onboarding Ease

Ecosystem Fit

Market Value

Choose Namely if

You run a US-based company with 50-500 employees and want a single HR, payroll, and benefits platform.
Your team expects a polished mobile app to request time off, view pay stubs, and update personal info.
You need automated compliance reporting (like EEO-1) and don't want to file manually.
You're willing to invest 8-12 weeks in setup for a long-term unified system.

Choose Personio if

You're a European SME (50-500 employees) that must comply with GDPR and local labor laws.
You hire frequently and want AI-assisted resume screening to speed up recruiting.
You want automated onboarding that sends contracts, sets up accounts, and assigns training without manual follow-up.
Your team uses Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace and wants HR data to sync there.

Key differences

Namely is US-focused; Personio is European-focused — choose based on where your business operates.
Namely has a clear starting price ($9/employee/month); Personio hides pricing behind a sales call.
Personio offers AI-assisted candidate screening; Namely does not highlight AI in recruiting.
Namely has a dedicated mobile app for all employees; Personio's mobile capabilities are unconfirmed.
Personio integrates with Slack/Teams/Google Workspace out of the box; Namely's integrations are less specified.
Namely offers managed services (they run your payroll/benefits); Personio focuses on software-only.

Facts side by side

	Namely	Personio
Free plan
Mobile app
API access

Namely: strengths & weaknesses

Covers HR, payroll, time tracking, benefits, performance, and compliance in one place — you don't need five separate tools.
Mobile app lets employees view pay stubs, request time off, and update info from their phone.
Automated compliance reporting (like EEO-1) saves time for US businesses.
Managed services option means they can run your payroll and benefits for you.
Implementation takes 8-12 weeks — not a quick setup.
Pricing at $9/employee/month adds up fast for small teams (e.g., 10 employees = $90/month just for base).
Customer support quality has reportedly dropped after a recent acquisition.
Not designed for European payroll or GDPR — US-only focus.

Personio: strengths & weaknesses

Built specifically for European GDPR and labor law compliance — handles contracts, terminations, and data privacy correctly.
AI-assisted candidate screening helps you sort through resumes faster.
Automated onboarding workflows send documents, set up accounts, and assign training without manual work.
Integrates with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace for daily use.
Pricing is not publicly listed and can jump quickly as you add modules or more employees.
Reporting is rigid — if you need a custom report that isn't pre-built, you may struggle.
Initial data import requires significant cleanup; you can't just dump messy spreadsheets in.
Mobile app is not mentioned in the facts — unclear if it's fully featured for all employees.

Common questions

Is Namely better than Personio for a small US startup with 20 employees?

Probably not — Namely's $9/employee/month pricing means $180/month just for base HR, and the 8-12 week implementation is overkill for 20 people. Look at simpler tools like Gusto or BambooHR instead.

Can Personio handle US payroll and compliance?

No — Personio is built for European labor laws and GDPR. It does not support US tax jurisdictions, EEO-1 reporting, or Affordable Care Act compliance. Use Namely or a US-focused provider.

Which tool has a better mobile app for employees?

Namely — it explicitly offers a mobile app for all employee tiers. Personio's mobile app is not confirmed in available information, so Namely is the safer bet if phone access is critical.

How long does it take to get started with each tool?

Namely takes 8-12 weeks for full implementation. Personio also requires significant data cleanup and configuration, but the timeline is not specified — expect at least a few weeks for a smooth rollout.

Which tool is more affordable for a 100-person company?

Namely starts at $900/month (100 employees × $9). Personio's pricing is unpublished, but user reports suggest it scales quickly with modules — you'll need to request a quote to compare.

Namely wins for US mid-market companies wanting a unified HR/payroll/benefits platform with a mobile app; Personio is the pick for European SMEs that need GDPR compliance and AI-powered recruiting.

If you're in the US and want a polished, all-in-one HR platform with a great mobile app and managed services, go with Namely — just be ready for a longer setup. If you're in Europe and need GDPR-compliant HR with smart recruiting features, Personio is your match. For very small teams (under 50), consider simpler, cheaper alternatives first.

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Detail pages: Namely · Personio

Namely

Personio

Free plan

Mobile app

API access