CloverHR vs OrangeHRM
Long-running open-source HR software with a paid edition. 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 | OrangeHRM |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Self-hosted HR software for small and mid-sized teams in the United States and Canada. | HR software with a free open-source edition (Starter) and a paid edition (Advanced) with more modules. |
| Where it runs | Your own server: one-click deploy on StackBlaze, or a Docker image with Postgres 16 anywhere. | Cloud, or self-hosted (Starter runs on PHP and MySQL). |
| Price | Free in production for organizations under US $5 million in total finances a year; a commercial licence above that. | Starter is free; Advanced is quoted per employee per month. |
| Payroll | Not included. A per-pay-period export (CSV or JSON) for the payroll software you use. | Not included. |
| Canada | Built in: provincial holidays, overtime and break rules, TD1 forms and CAD, next to the same for every US state. | No Canada-specific rules found. |
| French | English and Canadian French, chosen by each person. | A French translation is available. |
| Source code | Source available (Business Source License 1.1; each version becomes GPL-3.0 after four years). | Starter is open source under GPL-3.0; Advanced is proprietary. |
| API | Read and write REST API with an OpenAPI reference, and signed webhooks. | REST API (Starter 5.5 and later). |
Facts about OrangeHRM come from its own website, checked on October 1, 2026. Prices and plans change; check its site for the latest.
Where CloverHR is different
- US and Canadian rules built in: holidays for every state and province, overtime and double time, meal and rest breaks, Form I-9, W-4 and TD1.
- Onboarding, benefits, compensation planning, scheduling, e-signatures and a payroll export in the free edition.
- A one-click deploy on StackBlaze with a setup wizard.
When OrangeHRM may fit better
- You need a fully open-source licence (GPL) today.
- You operate mainly outside the US and Canada.
- Your team prefers a PHP and MySQL stack.
Questions
Is CloverHR open source like OrangeHRM?
Not yet in the same sense. OrangeHRM Starter is GPL-3.0. CloverHR's source is public under the Business Source License 1.1, which allows free production use under US $5 million, and each version becomes GPL-3.0 four years after release.
Sources
- https://www.orangehrm.com/en/pricing
- https://github.com/orangehrm/orangehrm
- https://api-starter.orangehrm.com/
OrangeHRM is a trademark of its owner. CloverHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by OrangeHRM.