In today's mobile-first workplace, employees and managers need HR access on the go. Whether clocking in from a job site, approving time-off requests between meetings, or updating personal information during their commute, mobile HR functionality is no longer optionalâit's essential.
Mobile HR applications transform how employees interact with HR systems:
Starting Price: $40/month + $6/employee
Gusto's mobile app delivers one of the smoothest HR experiences on mobile devices. Employees love the intuitive interface for viewing pay stubs, requesting time off, and managing benefits. Managers can approve requests with a single tap and receive smart notifications.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses (5-500 employees) prioritizing employee experience
Try Gusto FreeStarting Price: $8/employee/month (HR module)
Rippling's mobile app extends its powerful workflow automation to mobile devices. IT admins can remotely manage devices, employees can complete compliance training on the go, and managers have sophisticated approval capabilities.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: Tech-forward companies (20-1000+ employees) needing IT + HR mobile management
Start Rippling TrialStarting Price: Custom pricing (typically $5-8/employee/month)
BambooHR's mobile app empowers employees with comprehensive self-service capabilities. The clean, intuitive interface makes it easy for employees to manage their own HR needs without bothering HR staff.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: SMBs (20-500 employees) focused on employee experience and HR efficiency
Request BambooHR DemoStarting Price: $4.50/employee/month
Deputy is purpose-built for mobile-first workforces. Its mobile app excels at scheduling, time tracking, and shift managementâperfect for restaurants, retail, healthcare, and field service businesses.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: Shift-based businesses with hourly workers (restaurants, retail, healthcare)
Try Deputy FreeStarting Price: $2/employee/month
When I Work delivers solid mobile scheduling and time tracking at an unbeatable price point. The mobile app is clean, fast, and perfect for small teams that need basic HR functionality on the go.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: Small businesses (5-50 employees) needing affordable mobile scheduling
Start Free TrialStarting Price: Free (Essentials plan) or $8/employee/month
Zenefits offers a surprisingly capable free mobile app that includes core HR functionality. While not as polished as premium competitors, it's an excellent option for startups and small businesses on tight budgets.
Mobile Standout Features:
Best For: Startups and micro-businesses (under 20 employees) needing free HR mobile access
Get Zenefits Free| Platform | Starting Price | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Mobile Clock-In | Offline Mode | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $40/mo + $6/ee | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 | â Yes | â ď¸ Limited | Overall best mobile UX |
| Rippling | $8/ee/mo | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 | â Yes | â Yes | Complex workflows |
| BambooHR | ~$5-8/ee/mo | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | Add-on | â ď¸ Limited | Employee self-service |
| Deputy | $4.50/ee/mo | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 | â Yes (GPS) | â Yes | Shift workers |
| When I Work | $2/ee/mo | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | â Yes (GPS) | â ď¸ Limited | Budget scheduling |
| Zenefits | Free - $8/ee/mo | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | Paid plans | â No | Free option |
Most top HR platforms now offer feature parity between iOS and Android, but there are still some differences to consider:
iOS Advantages:
Android Advantages:
If you're managing company devices, consider:
Don't rely solely on demo videosâactually test the mobile app before committing:
Mobile HR apps access sensitive employee dataâsecurity is critical:
Yes, most modern HR platforms (Gusto, Deputy, When I Work, Rippling) offer mobile time clocking with GPS verification. This allows employees to clock in from their personal devices while preventing time theft through geofencing (employees can only clock in when physically at your location). Deputy and When I Work also support photo verification to confirm the right person is clocking in.
Partially. Most apps allow you to view cached data (recent pay stubs, PTO balance, schedule) offline, but actions requiring server communication (requesting time off, clocking in, approving requests) need an internet connection. Deputy and Rippling offer the best offline functionality, allowing employees to clock in offline with automatic syncing when connection returns.
For most major HR platforms (Gusto, BambooHR, Rippling), iOS and Android apps are nearly identical in features and quality. iOS apps typically get new features slightly earlier and have marginally better app store ratings, but the difference is minimal. Check specific app store reviews for the platform you're consideringâboth should be rated 4.0+ stars.
Yes, with limitations. Gusto and Rippling allow mobile payroll approval and running payroll from mobile, but complex payroll adjustments or troubleshooting typically require desktop access. Most HR admins prefer to run initial payroll setup on desktop and use mobile for quick approvals and emergency adjustments.
All reviewed platforms offer customizable push notifications. Employees typically receive notifications for: pay stub availability, schedule changes, time-off approvals, and policy updates. Managers receive notifications for pending approvals and time-sensitive requests. You can customize notification preferences in each app's settings. BambooHR and Gusto have particularly well-designed notification systems that aren't overwhelming.
This varies by platform. Rippling and Gusto support 10+ languages in their mobile apps (including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese). BambooHR offers English and Spanish. Deputy and When I Work are primarily English but offer Spanish interfaces. Check with each vendor for specific language requirementsâthis is especially important for multilingual workforces.
Gusto excels at mobile onboardingânew hires can complete I-9, tax forms, direct deposit, and benefits enrollment entirely on their phone. Rippling and BambooHR also support mobile onboarding but some complex benefits selections are easier on desktop. For best results, allow new hires to choose their preferred device and ensure forms are mobile-responsive.
BambooHR and Gusto have excellent tablet-optimized layouts that take advantage of larger screens. Rippling's tablet app works well for managers reviewing team data. Deputy is particularly good on tablets for schedule management. Most other HR apps simply stretch the phone interface to tablet size, which works but isn't ideal.
Minimal. HR apps are relatively lightweightâexpect 5-20 MB per month of typical use. Video training modules or large PDF documents can increase usage. All reviewed apps cache frequently accessed data (schedules, pay stubs) to minimize data consumption. This is rarely a concern even for employees with limited data plans.
Yes. Enterprise-tier plans (Rippling, BambooHR, Gusto) allow you to set mobile access policies by role. You can restrict certain features to specific locations (using geofencing), require VPN access, or limit mobile access to certain employee types. This is useful for compliance, security, and controlling what contractors or part-time employees can access on mobile.
Track these metrics to gauge mobile adoption:
Choose Gusto if: You want the best overall mobile experience with beautiful design, full-featured employee self-service, and excellent mobile onboarding. Perfect for SMBs (5-500 employees) across industries.
Choose Rippling if: You need sophisticated workflows, IT + HR management, and powerful automationâall accessible on mobile. Best for tech-forward companies (20-1000+ employees) with complex needs.
Choose BambooHR if: Employee self-service and HR efficiency are your top priorities. Great mobile performance management features. Ideal for 20-500 employee companies focused on company culture.
Choose Deputy if: You have hourly/shift workers who need mobile time tracking, scheduling, and shift swapping. Perfect for restaurants, retail, healthcare, and field services.
Choose When I Work if: You're a small team (5-50 employees) on a tight budget needing basic mobile scheduling and time tracking. Best value for simple use cases.
Choose Zenefits if: You're a startup or micro-business (under 20 employees) that needs a free HR mobile option and can tolerate a less polished experience.
Last updated: February 2026 | SMB HR Reviews Home | All Guides | Tool Comparisons