In the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s business district, Nina—an HR lead at a growing tech startup sits frustrated in front of her screen. It's not the volume of work that’s stressing her out, it's the clunky HR software she's using. She tried approving leave requests through her mobile—again—and it just wouldn’t load. Payroll files keep misaligning. The interface feels like it's stuck in 2017. And onboarding? Let’s just say new hires feel more confused than welcomed.
If you’ve been using HReasily, Nina’s story might sound familiar.
HReasily earned its stripes by catering to the Southeast Asian market, offering modules that support government filings, e-leave, and basic payroll. But in 2025, HR is no longer just about salaries and sick leaves. It’s about employee experience, real-time performance tracking, and automated recruitment—all from your phone, not just a desktop browser.
So if you’ve been nodding along, it might be time to look at platforms that can actually keep up with your evolving HR needs.
Why HR Leaders Are Moving Away From HReasily
While HReasily does a decent job covering the basics, many HR professionals say it’s not built for growth. Here’s what’s driving them to explore other options:
- Mobile Headaches: Multiple users across Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have reported frustrating mobile experiences—glitches, lag, and limited functionality. For HR leaders managing hybrid or remote teams, that’s a dealbreaker.
- Weak Hiring Tools: As the war for talent intensifies in cities like Manila and Jakarta, recruitment needs have evolved. HReasily lacks depth in its applicant tracking and onboarding process—leaving many HR teams to manage hiring on Excel or third-party apps.
- Performance? What Performance? Reviews across platforms like Capterra and G2 repeatedly flag HReasily’s limited performance management features. This gap is hard to ignore in a world where continuous feedback is gold.
- Employee Self-Service That Isn’t Really Self-Service: Many users complain that the ESS portal is clunky, confusing, and still requires HR intervention.
All of this adds up to one painful truth: HReasily is great—if you don’t plan to grow.
What Modern HR Platforms Should Offer in Southeast Asia
A 2025-ready HR platform should feel like a strategic partner, not just a digital filing cabinet. Especially for Southeast Asian businesses navigating multi-country regulations, fast growth, and Gen Z expectations.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Truly Mobile-first Functionality: HR should work where your people are—on their phones. Leave approvals, performance reviews, and onboarding should all happen without desktop dependency.
- Full-Cycle Talent Management: From attracting candidates to onboarding, evaluating, promoting, and engaging—modern HR systems must cover the entire employee lifecycle.
- Localization with a Pulse: Tools should align with local tax rules (e.g., SSS, EPF, SOCSO), support regional languages, and reflect cultural nuances in workflows.
- Real Employee Empowerment: Let employees control their data, track benefits, and give feedback—without waiting on HR.
- Integration That’s Actually Useful: Syncing with tools like Slack, QuickBooks, or Google Workspace shouldn’t feel like a hackathon.
The Top 5 HReasily Alternatives Worth Your Time (and Budget)
1. peopleHum – All-in-One HR Software with Southeast Asia Scalability
peopleHum is a globally recognized HR platform with deep support for localized payroll, recruitment, and automation. For companies in the Philippines looking to scale or modernize their HR operations, peopleHum is a flexible and affordable alternative that covers every touchpoint—from hiring and onboarding to performance, engagement, and exit.
Features:
- Full hire-to-retire suite: ATS, onboarding, payroll, performance, exit
- Self-service portal for employees
- Mobile-friendly and easy to use
- Customizable workflows to match local processes
- Philippine payroll setup supportis available
Pros:
✓ Global scalability with local compliance flexibility
✓ Clean UI with deep HR automation
✓ Built-in engagement tools (pulse surveys, chat, etc.)
Cons:
x May require setup support for full PH payroll compliance
Pricing:
Starts at ₱100/employee/month
“peopleHum helped us move beyond spreadsheets and into structured HR processes. It’s like having an HR co-pilot!”
2. GreatDay HR – Mobile-First HR for On-the-Go Teams
If your workforce is mobile, field-based, or shift-driven, GreatDay HR (formerly Talenta) is a smart, localized choice. With facial recognition attendance and mobile-based workflows, it brings modern convenience to HR in the Philippines.
Features:
- Automated timekeeping with geotag and selfie validation
- Payroll with SSS, PhilHealth, HDMF, and BIR compliance
- Leave, OT, and shift scheduling tools
- Mobile-first UX
Pros:
✓ Strong for mobile & attendance-heavy industries
✓ Easy to roll out and adopt
✓ Government-compliant payroll
Cons:
x Reporting functions can be limited
x Better suited for operational teams than strategic HR
Pricing:
₱80–₱120/employee/month
3. Salarium – Filipino Payroll with Built-in Disbursement
Salarium is a payroll-first platform made in the Philippines. If your biggest challenge is accurate, compliant payroll and salary disbursement, this platform has you covered.
Features:
- Full PH government compliance: BIR, SSS, HDMF, PHIC
- Biometrics and timesheet integration
- SALPay e-wallet for seamless payout
- Attendance and scheduling included
Pros:
✓ End-to-end salary processing
✓ Disbursement-ready without external bank apps
✓ Fully localized features
Cons:
x Not built for talent management or engagement
x Add-ons needed for HRIS-type features
Pricing:
₱100/user/month (custom plans available)
4. PeopleCentral HRIS – Deeply Localized for Philippine HR Teams
PeopleCentral is a homegrown Philippine HRIS platform focused on automating compliance-heavy processes for local enterprises.
Features:
- Payroll automation and government remittances
- Timekeeping with biometric support
- Org charts, HR analytics, e-201 files
- Leave and approval workflows
Pros:
✓ Designed specifically for Philippine laws
✓ Useful HR analytics and reporting
✓ Supports remote and multi-branch teams
Cons:
x UI isn’t the most modern
x Full setup may require onboarding support
Pricing:
Starts around ₱3,000/month for small businesses
5. Swingvy – HR & Payroll for Modern Teams
Swingvy is a cloud-based HR platform designed for small to medium businesses in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. It automates payroll and people operations with a clean, modern interface.
Features:
- Cloud payroll with government compliance (Philippines included)
- Leave and attendance tracking
- Employee database and onboarding
- Benefits and claims
- Mobile app access
Pros:
✓ Clean and modern UI
✓ Easy to onboard and navigate
✓ Strong focus on employee experience
Cons:
x Limited customization for complex org structures
x No advanced modules like learning or succession planning
Pricing:
From ~$3/user/month (custom quote for payroll)
Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Stop Settling
If you’re in HR, your time is precious. So why spend it battling a tool that’s supposed to make your life easier?
HReasily had its moment. But the future is smarter, faster, and more human.
And platforms like peopleHum are leading that future with heart, local smarts, and a tech edge that makes HR a real strategic function—not just admin.
FAQs
Q: Is it hard to switch from HReasily to peopleHum?
Not at all. peopleHum offers dedicated migration support, onboarding specialists, and guided training to ensure a smooth transition.
Q: Is peopleHum affordable for SMEs?
Yes—pricing is tiered based on features and team size, making it flexible for startups, mid-sized firms, and even large enterprises.
Q: Will peopleHum handle local compliance?
Absolutely. Whether it’s CPF in Singapore or BIR in the Philippines, peopleHum is built to support region-specific rules.
Ready to switch from frustrating HR to future-ready HR?
Book a free peopleHum demo today and experience HR that actually works for you and your team.
👉 Schedule Your Demo Now