# HiBob vs OrangeHRM Starter (2026): Free Alternative to HiBob

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/hibob-vs-orangehrm-starter
Last updated: 2026-08-11

Compare HiBob (paid SaaS) vs OrangeHRM Starter ($0/mo open source GPL-3.0+ alternative to HiBob). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | HiBob | OrangeHRM Starter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | Paid | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | Paid | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | Paid | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | Paid | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | GPL-3.0+ |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | Hosted Starter keeps employee records in OrangeHRM's cloud; self-hosted Starter stores them in MySQL/MariaDB with uploaded files in application storage |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ 1.1k |
| Code Repository | None | https://github.com/orangehrm/orangehrm |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | Its interface, analytics and integration ecosystem are less modern and cohesive than HiBob's. |

## About OrangeHRM Starter
The old-school HR suite: records, leave, attendance and approvals, with a real server and no fashion budget.

- **Installation**: Use the free hosted Starter signup, or upload the release to an Apache/PHP/MySQL server and complete the web installer
- **Setup Notes**: 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
- **Data Storage**: Hosted Starter keeps employee records in OrangeHRM's cloud; self-hosted Starter stores them in MySQL/MariaDB with uploaded files in application storage
- **Supported Platforms**: web, self-hosted, self-host, real ops
- **The Catch vs HiBob**: Its interface, analytics and integration ecosystem are less modern and cohesive than HiBob's.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from HiBob to OrangeHRM Starter replaces paid vendor billing with a $0/mo free or open source solution.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is OrangeHRM Starter a good free alternative to HiBob?
Yes. OrangeHRM Starter is a verified open source (GPL-3.0+) replacement for HiBob. The old-school HR suite: records, leave, attendance and approvals, with a real server and no fashion budget.

### What is the catch when switching from HiBob to OrangeHRM Starter?
Its interface, analytics and integration ecosystem are less modern and cohesive than HiBob's.

## Related

- [All HiBob Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/hibob)
- [OrangeHRM Starter Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/orangehrm-starter)
- [hr Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/hr)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)