Factorial alternatives: 3 open-source picks
Factorial costs $8/mo — $96 a year. These 3 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Frappe HR, Horilla HR and ERPNext. All 3 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Employee documents, onboarding, leave and shifts in one full HR stack; you operate the stack.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installLaunch its Docker Compose stack, or install hrms and ERPNext into an existing Frappe Bench
dataEach Frappe site has its own MariaDB database plus private/public files directories; backups are SQL dumps and file archives under the site
the catch vs FactorialIt replaces Factorial's managed simplicity with a large ERP-adjacent stack whose operations and upgrades are your responsibility.
setupThe full Frappe/ERPNext stack brings Docker, MariaDB, Redis, proxy/TLS and version-compatible app upgrades
facts verified 2026-08-11
Documents, onboarding, leave and rotating shifts in Docker; administration is the free-plan limit.
licenseLGPL-2.1
runsyour server
installClone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
dataHR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
the catch vs FactorialIts administration, integrations and polish lag Factorial, and deployment, security, backups and upgrades are yours.
setupDocker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
facts verified 2026-08-11
Full ERP — accounting, inventory, HR, manufacturing, CRM — that rivals systems costing six figures.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: ERPNext
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Factorial alternative
Most proven
ERPNext, with 30,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 3, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Needs real ops to self-host
Frappe HR and ERPNext are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving Factorial
- HR workflows, time, payroll integrations, compliance, analytics, and support
- payroll rails
- tax and labor-law compliance
- benefits integrations
- identity checks and global employment infrastructure
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Factorial alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frappe HR | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 8,500 | 2026-08 |
| Horilla HR | LGPL-2.1 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 1,400 | 2026-07 |
| ERPNext | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | self-hosted, web | 30,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Factorial
People still pay for Factorial because HR platforms survive because mistakes affect pay, benefits, immigration, and legal obligations, not because forms are difficult to render. The recurring cost buys sensitive data, access, retention, audit, payroll calculations, filings, benefits, employment law, incident response, and support, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $96 a year.
questions about switching from Factorial
Is there an open-source alternative to Factorial?
Yes: Frappe HR, Horilla HR, ERPNext. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Factorial?
Our verdict is YES. ERPNext (30k stars), Frappe HR (9k stars), Horilla HR (1k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Factorial — self-host with real ops work and stop paying $8/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/factorial-hr.
What is the most popular open-source Factorial alternative?
By GitHub stars, ERPNext (30,000). Frappe HR is next with 8,500.
