Our Full Review
Sage HR (formerly CakeHR, acquired by Sage in 2017) is a straightforward cloud HR platform from the well-known accounting software company. It aims to provide core HR functionality without overwhelming complexity.
After testing Sage HR, our verdict: it's a solid, if unspectacular, HRIS for small-to-medium businesses that want basics done well. Great for companies already in the Sage ecosystem, less compelling if you're not.
Who Should Use Sage HR?
- Existing Sage customers using Sage accounting/payroll products
- Small teams (20-200 employees) with straightforward HR needs
- Companies wanting simplicity over advanced features
- Budget-conscious businesses seeking affordable HRIS
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Teams needing advanced analytics — reporting is basic
- Companies with complex HR needs — feature set is limited
- Growing companies (200+) — you'll likely outgrow it
- Design-focused teams — interface is dated
Core Features
Sage HR covers the essentials:
- Employee database — profiles, documents, custom fields
- Leave management — PTO requests, approvals, balance tracking
- Time tracking — clock in/out, timesheets, attendance
- Shift scheduling — create and assign shifts, manage availability
- Employee directory — searchable contact info
- Document storage — centralized file repository
The features work as advertised. Nothing fancy, but reliable.
Leave & Absence Management
This is Sage HR's strongest area:
- Multiple leave types (vacation, sick, personal, etc.)
- Flexible accrual rules
- Approval workflows
- Calendar view of team absences
- Carryover and blackout date support
- Balance visibility for employees
The leave management is genuinely good—intuitive for employees, powerful enough for complex policies.
Time & Attendance
Time tracking is included:
- Web and mobile clock in/out
- Timesheet approval process
- Overtime tracking
- Export to payroll
Basic but functional. Not as sophisticated as dedicated time tracking tools.
Performance Reviews
Performance features are available on higher tiers:
- Review cycles (annual, probation, custom)
- Self and manager assessments
- Goal setting
- Feedback tracking
Adequate for basic performance management. If performance is critical, dedicated tools offer more.
Recruiting (Add-on)
Sage HR offers basic ATS features:
- Job posting
- Candidate tracking
- Interview scheduling
- Hiring workflow
Good enough for light hiring. Heavy recruiters should look at specialized ATS platforms.
Mobile App
The mobile app is solid:
- Request and approve leave
- Clock in/out
- View timesheets
- Access employee directory
- Check schedules
Employees appreciate the convenience. HR admin is still best done on desktop.
Reporting
Reporting is Sage HR's weakest area:
- Pre-built reports for common needs
- Export to Excel for custom analysis
- Limited customization
You can get basic data out, but analytics-driven HR teams will find it limiting.
Integrations
Sage HR integrates with Sage products and select third parties:
- Sage ecosystem: Sage Business Cloud Payroll, Sage Accounting
- Payroll: ADP, Paychex (limited)
- SSO: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
- Slack: Notifications
- API: Available for custom integrations
Integration ecosystem is smaller than BambooHR or competitors. If you're all-in on Sage, it's great. Otherwise, limited.
Pricing
Sage HR has transparent pricing:
Essential: $5.50/employee/month
- Employee database
- Leave management
- Time off tracking
- Employee self-service
- Mobile app
Professional: $8/employee/month
- Everything in Essential
- Performance reviews
- Custom reports
- Advanced workflows
- Expense management
Example costs:
- 50-employee company on Essential: $275/month ($3,300/year)
- 100-employee company on Professional: $800/month ($9,600/year)
Pricing is competitive. Good value for basic features.
Support
Support is decent:
- Email and live chat support
- Help center with articles and guides
- Video tutorials
- Implementation assistance available
Response times are reasonable. Not as hands-on as premium platforms, but adequate.
The Bottom Line
Sage HR is a straightforward, no-frills HRIS. It does the basics well—leave management, time tracking, employee records—at an affordable price.
It's best suited for:
- Existing Sage customers wanting HR to match their accounting/payroll setup
- Small businesses with simple HR needs
- Teams prioritizing ease of use over advanced features
If you need sophisticated analytics, advanced recruiting, or cutting-edge employee engagement features, look elsewhere. Sage HR is the reliable sedan of HRIS—practical, affordable, but not exciting.
For companies who value Sage's established reputation and want straightforward HR software, it's a safe choice.