Remote costs $29/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Remote, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Remote vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $29/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frappe HR | open source | GPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 8.5k | Remote vs Frappe HR → |
| Horilla HR | open source | LGPL-2.1 | Self-host | ★ 1.4k | Remote vs Horilla HR → |
| OrangeHRM Starter | open source | GPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 1.1k | Remote vs OrangeHRM Starter → |
| Connecteam Small Business Plan | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Remote vs Connecteam Small Business Plan → |
The picks
3 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Frappe HR
open sourceGPL-3.0Self-host8.5kaug 2026A complete HR suite without the license bill; the server, backups and upgrades are now in your job description.
The catch vs RemoteIt stores employee data but does not replace Remote's legal employment, payroll, benefits and compliance services.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Launch its Docker Compose stack, or install hrms and ERPNext into an existing Frappe Bench
- setup
- The full Frappe/ERPNext stack brings Docker, MariaDB, Redis, proxy/TLS and version-compatible app upgrades
- your data
- Each Frappe site has its own MariaDB database plus private/public files directories; backups are SQL dumps and file archives under the site
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
Horilla HR
open sourceLGPL-2.1Self-host1.4kjul 2026Hire-to-leave HR in Docker; free forever means you own the updates and backups.
The catch vs RemoteIt cannot assume employment liability, run localized payroll or provide Remote's global compliance network.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
- setup
- Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
- your data
- HR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
OrangeHRM Starter
open sourceGPL-3.0+Local or hosted1.1kjun 2026The old-school HR suite: records, leave, attendance and approvals, with a real server and no fashion budget.
The catch vs RemoteIt is an HR system, not an employer-of-record or international payroll service.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Use the free hosted Starter signup, or upload the release to an Apache/PHP/MySQL server and complete the web installer
- setup
- Self-hosting requires Apache, PHP and MySQL/MariaDB plus security and backups; the hosted path starts with a 30-day trial before conversion to lifetime-free Starter
- your data
- Hosted Starter keeps employee records in OrangeHRM's cloud; self-hosted Starter stores them in MySQL/MariaDB with uploaded files in application storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 04
Connecteam Small Business Plan
freeproprietary, freeHostedDirectory, documents, leave and onboarding for ten people; employee eleven is the business model.
The catch vs RemoteIt handles ten people's records but cannot supply Remote's employer-of-record, localized payroll, benefits or compliance.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee records, documents, schedules and time data in Connecteam's cloud; schedules and timesheets export to Excel, PDF, CSV or payroll-specific files
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Remote open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Remote?+
The top free alternative to Remote is Frappe HR (open source, GPL-3.0). A complete HR suite without the license bill; the server, backups and upgrades are now in your job description. Other popular Remote replacements include Horilla HR, OrangeHRM Starter, Connecteam Small Business Plan.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Remote?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Remote, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Frappe HR (GPL-3.0), Horilla HR (LGPL-2.1), OrangeHRM Starter (GPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from Remote to a free alternative save?+
Remote starts at $29/month per seat ($348/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Frappe HR saves $1,740 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Remote clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Remote is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Remote, maintain employee records and leave approvals without payroll or employer-of-record services. The hard boundary is global entities, payroll, benefits, compliance, payments, and employment expertise, plus compliance, payroll, and regulated integrations.
What is the catch when switching from Remote to Frappe HR?+
It stores employee data but does not replace Remote's legal employment, payroll, benefits and compliance services.
