CloverHR vs Knit
Canadian payroll and HR for small businesses. CloverHR is self-hosted HR software for the US and Canada, free for organizations under US $5 million. Here is how they differ, and when each one fits.
At a glance
| Topic | CloverHR | Knit |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Self-hosted HR software for small and mid-sized teams in the United States and Canada. | Payroll and HR for Canadian small businesses, based in Toronto, with an employer-of-record service. |
| Where it runs | Your own server: one-click deploy on StackBlaze, or a Docker image with Postgres 16 anywhere. | Cloud only. |
| Price | Free in production for organizations under US $5 million in total finances a year; a commercial licence above that. | CAD, a base fee plus a fee per employee per month: Lite $40 + $6, Complete $50 + $8 (as listed on October 1, 2026); 30-day free trial. |
| Payroll | Not included. A per-pay-period export (CSV or JSON) for the payroll software you use. | Canadian payroll, including T4s, ROEs and workers' compensation remittances; no US payroll. |
| Canada | Built in: provincial holidays, overtime and break rules, TD1 forms and CAD, next to the same for every US state. | Canadian only. |
| French | English and Canadian French, chosen by each person. | Not stated on its site |
| Source code | Source available (Business Source License 1.1; each version becomes GPL-3.0 after four years). | Proprietary. |
| API | Read and write REST API with an OpenAPI reference, and signed webhooks. | Connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero. |
Facts about Knit come from its own website, checked on October 1, 2026. Prices and plans change; check its site for the latest.
Where CloverHR is different
- Covers US employees too, for teams in both countries.
- Deeper HR: hiring, compensation planning, benefits, scheduling, breaks and a report builder.
- A public API for every area, with webhooks.
- Free under US $5 million, on your own server.
When Knit may fit better
- You want low-cost Canadian payroll with HR basics in one hosted service.
Questions
Can CloverHR replace Knit?
For HR, yes; for payroll, no. Use CloverHR for HR and keep a payroll service for pay runs, fed by CloverHR's per-pay-period export.
Sources
Knit is a trademark of its owner. CloverHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by Knit.