Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Remote · 🧑💼 hr
Remote vs OrangeHRM Starter
The old-school HR suite: records, leave, attendance and approvals, with a real server and no fashion budget. Here is how OrangeHRM Starter ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Remote ($29/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
OrangeHRM Starter
$0.00/mo · GPL-3.0+
Remote vs OrangeHRM Starter Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Remote (Paid) | OrangeHRM Starter (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $29 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $348 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $348) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,740 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,740) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,480 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,480) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source GPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 1.1k (active jun 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Remote to OrangeHRM Starter
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is an HR system, not an employer-of-record or international payroll service.
How to deploy OrangeHRM Starter
Use the free hosted Starter signup, or upload the release to an Apache/PHP/MySQL server and complete the web installer
What it takes to run
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
Where your data lives
Hosted Starter keeps employee records in OrangeHRM's cloud; self-hosted Starter stores them in MySQL/MariaDB with uploaded files in application storage
Why fork OrangeHRM Starter instead of vibe-coding a Remote clone?
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.
Remote vs OrangeHRM Starter FAQ
Is OrangeHRM Starter a good free alternative to Remote?+
Yes. OrangeHRM Starter is a verified open-source (GPL-3.0+) replacement for Remote. 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 Remote to OrangeHRM Starter?+
It is an HR system, not an employer-of-record or international payroll service.
How much do you save switching from Remote to OrangeHRM Starter?+
Remote costs $29/mo ($348/yr) per seat, whereas OrangeHRM Starter is $0/mo. Switching saves $348/yr for a solo user, $1,740/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,480/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host OrangeHRM Starter instead of Remote?+
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
