Personio Review: Personio is an all-in-one HR software based in Germany that offers tools for payroll, HR process automation, recruiting and onboarding. It is aimed at small and medium-sized companies with between 10 and 2,000 employees.
The software saves up to 60 hours of manual work per month and has dozens of features, provided you choose the most expensive plan.
In this article, we will review Personio’s features and pricing model, as well as present some alternatives that may better suit your business. If you are looking for an ATS for SMEs, we will explain why it is not necessary to pay for the full Personio package and which tool can meet your hiring needs at a more affordable price.
Table of Contents
Personio—Key Features
Personio is an HR software whose main functionalities are dedicated to the effective management of your workforce. It can help you automate workflows, manage your payroll more efficiently and create customized reports on individuals, teams and the entire company.
Personio also has an ATS, but the recruiting features are not part of the core functions, they are optional, as are its performance and development functionalities. You’ll have to pay extra to manage your hiring process. If you decide to do so, know that Personio is a complete HR solution that lacks the simplicity of ATS software that only deals with requisition management.
The tool also includes the possibility of creating contracts with electronic signature, which speeds up the entire contracting process and many other internal processes. However, the electronic signature is not available in the lowest plan.
As for candidate management, Personio automates the posting of job offers on more than 600 job portals (mainly with a European audience) and helps you create a page dedicated to your career. It has an independent control panel where you can easily manage your candidates and review their applications at every step of the selection process.
Other noteworthy features include:
List of All Features for Recruiters
Overall, Personio has over 50 features, but the essential plan only unlocks 10 of them, and you’ll have to pay extra for everything else, including the basic ATS. You’ll also have to pay extra for automatic job posting, regardless of which plan you choose.
We’ll focus on the recruitment functionalities and show you what Personio offers in the table below:
| Recruiting Features | Essential | Professional | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant management | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Career page | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Job multiposting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Smart interview scheduling | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CV parsing | 𝗫 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Applicant evaluation forms | 𝗫 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Recruiting XML feed | 𝗫 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Recruiting API | 𝗫 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Recruiting per sub-company | 𝗫 | 𝗫 | ✔ |
Downsides of Using Personio
Despite its wide offering of useful features, Personio is a complex solution and can be difficult to use, especially if you are not familiar with HR software.
The main problem with Personio is the learning curve involved. The integration process is so complex that the company has a dedicated implementation manager for each client. Some employers have stated that they contact customer service every time they want to change something for fear of messing up other settings. The complexity of the product is evident in its contracting component, as Personio lacks the simplicity and ease of use that dedicated ATSs have.
Other users have complained about the fact that vacations cannot be customized, and it can be confusing to manage individual employees.
Another aspect to consider about Personio is the price. The total fee depends on the size of the company, with the cheapest plan costing €99 per month, which unlocks only 10 features for a company with up to 25 employees.
The basic functionalities do not include any recruitment tools.
Unlocking the full potential of Personio for a company of the same size can cost up to €530 per month, which is a high price for HR software, especially for a small company or a startup.
Another problem is the discrepancy between the prices listed and the calculator that Personio provides on the pricing page, which we’ll delve into later.
Personio—Integrations
Personio supports 100 integrations. Some of the most popular ones include:
Personio Pricing
When you visit Personio’s pricing page, you’ll find enticing starting prices for their plans. The Essential plan begins at $4.25 per month per user, while the Professional plan starts at $6.55 per month per user.
As you select the number of employees, the lowest option covers 0-25 employees, resulting in a base pay for the Essential plan. However, it’s important to note that the base cost only includes a limited set of features (excluding recruiting) and might not accurately reflect your final expenses.
One concern is that the pricing page’s calculator does not align with the calculations done independently. For instance, when you opt for the Essential plan without any add-ons and for 0-25 employees.
Personio offers more than 40 optional features, and the total price can add up quickly. For example, if you take the cheapest rate for the smallest company size and add recruiting options, the price rises. This unlocks just four additional features and allows you to set up to 5 open positions.
Using the price calculator, Personio offers three tariffs with the following monthly prices (for a company with up to 25 employees):
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
If you only want to use the company’s ATS, you’ll still need to pay for the core HR functions. The Essential plan, with all possible additional options selected, comes with a monthly fee of €422. This puts Personio among the more expensive solutions, especially for small businesses with up to 25 employees.
Personio—Customers
Since Personio is based in Munich, Germany, with offices in six other European cities, most of its customers are from Europe, and its services are quoted in Euros. The software is available in English, German, French, Dutch and Spanish.
Personio has over 6,000 companies using its software, including:
FAQ’s
What sets Personio’s recruiting features apart from dedicated ATS software?
While Personio offers an ATS and recruiting features, it’s essential to note that it lacks the simplicity and focus on requisition management that dedicated ATS software provides. Personio’s recruiting features are part of a broader HR solution, making it more suitable for companies seeking comprehensive HR management tools rather than just specialized recruiting functionality.
Can I use electronic signatures for contracts in Personio’s lowest plan?
Unfortunately, the lowest plan of Personio does not include the option of creating contracts with electronic signatures. This feature is only available in higher-tier plans, which may be a consideration for businesses that require seamless and efficient contract management.
How many features does Personio offer in total, and what is included in the essential plan?
Personio boasts over 50 features, but the essential plan only unlocks 10 of them. Businesses using the essential plan will have access to basic functionalities but may need to pay extra for additional features, including the essential ATS functionality.
What is the main downside of using Personio, according to user feedback?
The primary downside of using Personio, as reported by users, is the steep learning curve and complexity of the software. The integration and implementation process can be challenging, requiring dedicated assistance from the company’s implementation manager. Some users have mentioned relying on customer service for changes, which can lead to concerns about making adjustments independently.
Can Personio’s pricing be a disadvantage for small companies or startups?
Yes, Personio’s pricing can be relatively high, especially for small businesses or startups. The total fee depends on the company’s size, with the cheapest plan starting at €99 per month for up to 25 employees. Unlocking the full potential of Personio can cost up to €530 per month for the same size of the company. This pricing structure may pose challenges for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
Mike DaVinci HighTechBlogging.com
Mike DaVinci is a skilled content writer with a talent for storytelling. He specializes in creating captivating narratives that engage readers and leave them feeling inspired. His writing has been featured in various publications, including magazines, blogs, and business websites. Mike’s particular interest in human interest stories allows him to uncover the heart of any story and convey it to his readers in an emotional and authentic way. He believes that storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with people and inspiring positive change in the world.
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