Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Factorial · 🧑💼 hr
Factorial vs Horilla HR
Documents, onboarding, leave and rotating shifts in Docker; administration is the free-plan limit. Here is how Horilla HR ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Factorial ($8/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Horilla HR
$0.00/mo · LGPL-2.1
Factorial vs Horilla HR Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Factorial (Paid) | Horilla HR (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $8 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $96 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $96) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $480 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $480) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $960 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $960) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source LGPL-2.1 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 1.4k (active jul 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Factorial to Horilla HR
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Its administration, integrations and polish lag Factorial, and deployment, security, backups and upgrades are yours.
How to deploy Horilla HR
Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
What it takes to run
Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
Where your data lives
HR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
Why fork Horilla HR instead of vibe-coding a Factorial clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Factorial, track documents, leave, schedules, and onboarding without payroll calculations. The hard boundary is hr workflows, time, payroll integrations, compliance, analytics, and support, plus compliance, payroll, and regulated integrations.
Factorial vs Horilla HR FAQ
Is Horilla HR a good free alternative to Factorial?+
Yes. Horilla HR is a verified open-source (LGPL-2.1) replacement for Factorial. Documents, onboarding, leave and rotating shifts in Docker; administration is the free-plan limit.
What is the catch when switching from Factorial to Horilla HR?+
Its administration, integrations and polish lag Factorial, and deployment, security, backups and upgrades are yours.
How much do you save switching from Factorial to Horilla HR?+
Factorial costs $8/mo ($96/yr) per seat, whereas Horilla HR is $0/mo. Switching saves $96/yr for a solo user, $480/yr for a 5-person team, and $960/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Horilla HR instead of Factorial?+
Install: Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented. Setup: Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
