Personio vs Sage HR — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Sage HR starts at $5.5/mo. Personio uses custom pricing — request a quote to compare.
European (Munich-based) HRIS positioned as the alternative to BambooHR and Workday for European mid-market (50-2000 employees). Distinctive for GDPR-native compliance and its focus on European payroll integration (which Workday charges heavily for). Priced opaquely, typically €6-€12/employee/month. Owned by Bregal Milestone + Meritech. Popular with Berlin/Munich startups and European mid-market companies.
Sage HR (formerly CakeHR) is Sage's cloud HR platform for SMBs. Core HR ~$5.50/employee/mo; add-on modules (Leave, Performance, Timesheets, Shift Scheduling, Recruitment, Expenses) priced separately per employee. 30-day free trial. UK-headquartered.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Personio monthly | Personio annual | Sage HR monthly | Sage HR annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | — / + Expenses | — | — | $1.5 | $1.5 |
| Mid tier 1 | — / + Performance | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / + Shift Scheduling | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 3 | — / + Timesheets | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 4 | — / Core HR + Leave Management | — | — | $5.5 | $5.5 |
| Mid tier 5 | — / + HR Advice Essentials | — | — | $100 | $100 |
| Pro / power | — / + Recruitment | — | — | $200 | $200 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Personio is worth it if… European mid-market companies (50-2,000 employees) that need HRIS + payroll + recruiting in one German-native platform — particularly if you value GDPR-first design and EU labor-law compliance. Custom-quoted by employee count and modules enabled.
Sage HR is worth it if… Sage HR is ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Personio over Sage HR if…
Choose Personio if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, custom pricing).
- You match the profile Personio is built for: European mid-market companies (50-2,000 employees) that need HRIS + payroll + recruiting in one German-native platform — particularly if you value GDPR-first design and EU labor-law compliance.
- You're building for recruiting.
Choose Sage HR if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $5.5/mo).
- You match the profile Sage HR is built for: ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Personio | Sage HR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | Custom pricing | $5.5/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 27, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Personio and Sage HR
- How much does Personio cost in 2026?
- Does Personio have a free plan?
- How often does Personio change prices?
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- How much does Sage HR cost in 2026?
- Does Sage HR have a free plan?
- How often does Sage HR change prices?
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