CloverHR vs Rippling
A modular platform for HR, IT and finance with US and Canadian payroll. 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 | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Self-hosted HR software for small and mid-sized teams in the United States and Canada. | A modular cloud platform for HR, IT and finance, with payroll, sold one product at a time. |
| 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. | Quote only; most products are billed per employee per month, some with a base fee. |
| Payroll | Not included. A per-pay-period export (CSV or JSON) for the payroll software you use. | Its own US and Canadian payroll, including Québec, plus global payroll. |
| Canada | Built in: provincial holidays, overtime and break rules, TD1 forms and CAD, next to the same for every US state. | HR and native Canadian payroll. |
| French | English and Canadian French, chosen by each person. | French pay stubs for Canadian employees. |
| 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. | Public REST API. |
Facts about Rippling come from its own website, checked on October 1, 2026. Prices and plans change; check its site for the latest.
Where CloverHR is different
- Published, simple terms: free under US $5 million, rather than a quote per module.
- Every HR feature in one edition, with nothing sold separately.
- Runs on your own server, with your records in your own database.
- The whole app, its emails and its help pages in Canadian French.
When Rippling may fit better
- You want payroll in the US and Canada, including Québec, inside the same system.
- You also want IT and finance tools, such as managing devices and spending, in one platform.
Questions
Is CloverHR cheaper than Rippling?
For organizations under US $5 million in total finances, CloverHR is free to use in production; Rippling is quoted per module. You pay only for where CloverHR runs.
Does CloverHR do everything Rippling does?
No. CloverHR covers HR in depth but does not run payroll, manage devices or handle spending. It exports payroll data for your payroll provider.
Sources
- https://www.rippling.com/pricing
- https://www.rippling.com/blog/rippling-launch-canada
- https://developer.rippling.com/
Rippling is a trademark of its owner. CloverHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rippling.