General HR
Factorial Alternative: HRlab in a Direct Comparison
Marlen Kothen
on July 17, 2026 • 4 min. reading time
Anyone looking for an alternative to Factorial often ends up considering HRlab. Both position themselves as modern, cloud-based all-in-one HR software. We compare both solutions using verifiable criteria: scope of features, target audience, data protection, pricing model, and support.
Scope of features: what both tools offer
Before we get into the differences, it's worth looking at the shared foundation: HRlab and Factorial both cover the central core HR processes.
- Digital personnel file with self-service functions for employees (viewing master data, documents, pay statements)
- Time and absence management, including vacation requests and approval workflows
- Recruiting / applicant management with a digital applicant pool and multiposting functions
- Payroll interface to common payroll software (including DATEV integration)
- Talent and performance management for goal agreements and employee development
- Mobile app for iOS and Android
The differences lie less in the "whether" and more in the "how": in level of detail, modularity, pricing structure, and the degree of personal support—more on that in the overview below.
Quick overview
| Criterion | HRlab | Factorial |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience (per provider) | Mid-sized companies, approx. 20–2,000 employees | Small to medium-sized companies, from approx. 1 to 200+ employees |
| Origin | Germany, based in Berlin | Spain, multiple international locations |
| Pricing model | Modular: base plan "Core" starting at €6/user/month + freely selectable add-on modules | Starting at €8/user/month, as of July 2026, current pricing |
| Add-ons / additional modules | Time & Absence, Talent Management, Recruitment (booked separately) | Modularly expandable, including time, talent, finance, and IT management |
| Data processing | Exclusively in certified high-security data centers in Kempten and Berlin. 100% GDPR-compliant standards. Transfer of data to third countries is excluded. | Hosted within the EU and processed within EU territory. As a rule, Factorial engages service providers that are likewise located within the European Economic Area or in countries recognized as having an adequate level of data protection. In some cases, data collected by Factorial is transferred to processors in third countries. Source |
| Languages | German, English | Multilingual (internationally oriented) |
| Support | Phone, email, dedicated personal point of contact, knowledge base | Email/helpdesk, chat, phone, knowledge base |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial available | Yes | Yes |
Other Factorial alternatives
There are many other Factorial alternatives on the market. To get a good overview here, independent evaluations are useful, such as the provider comparison "Professional User Rating: Human Resources 2026" conducted by techconsult.
In it, 39 HR software providers were rated directly based on practical experience, drawing on feedback from 5,940 users who work with HR software daily. Among them are four other providers who likewise qualify as alternatives to Factorial and were considered in a direct comparison with HRlab:
- Personio
- HR Works
- Sage
- SAP
Which HR tool is best suited for whom?
HRlab clearly positions itself for the German small and mid-sized business (SME/Mittelstand) market, with a focus on close, personal support and German data protection law. Factorial is internationally oriented, headquartered in Spain, with customers in more than 40 countries—well suited for companies with international locations or multilingual teams.
If a dedicated, personal point of contact and German data protection law are especially important to you: HRlab may have the advantage here. If you're looking for a tool that can be used internationally: Factorial is more strongly geared toward that.
Decision aid: our checklist to download
To help you keep an overview among the large number of providers and make a focused decision, we've summarized the most important criteria for you. Here's what to consider:
- How to prepare optimally with a clear requirements profile
- Which factors you should pay particular attention to when choosing a provider
- Which questions you should ask yourself in a direct software comparison
For a purchasing decision, we recommend verifying current prices and feature scopes directly with both providers, as terms and conditions can change at any time. And: test both providers thoroughly through a trial access to try out your individual requirements directly. Here's the link to HRlab's free trial version.