Compare
CypressHR vs. spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are free and familiar. They also mean chasing texts, emails, and paper. Here is a plain comparison.
Time off
- Spreadsheets
- Someone updates a sheet after a text or email.
- CypressHR
- Employees ask in the portal; managers approve; balances update.
Hours
- Spreadsheets
- Typed or copied by hand each week.
- CypressHR
- Weekly hours with approvals and a payroll-ready file.
Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Folders, email attachments, and paper.
- CypressHR
- Company papers and each person's files in one place.
Handbook sign-offs
- Spreadsheets
- Printed, signed, and scanned.
- CypressHR
- E-sign on Pro at $1 per completed signature, plus applicable sales tax.
New hires and exits
- Spreadsheets
- A checklist you hope someone remembers.
- CypressHR
- Welcome and exit checklists with progress you can see.
Who changed what
- Spreadsheets
- Hard to tell.
- CypressHR
- A record of who changed what.
Cost
- Spreadsheets
- Free.
- CypressHR
- Essentials $350/mo or Pro, flat per company. Founding price: $500 a month for companies that sign up by December 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Central). Standard price is $700 a month after that. Plus applicable sales tax. No per-employee fees.See pricing
When spreadsheets are the better choice
- You have only a few people and very little HR paperwork.
- You don't need approvals, sign-offs, or an employee portal.
Questions
- Can I bring my spreadsheet in?
- Yes. You can import people from a CSV, and setup help is free.
- Do my employees need to install anything?
- No. They use the employee portal in a web browser, on a phone or computer.
- Does CypressHR run payroll?
- Not yet. Payroll is in development and coming soon. Today it keeps approved hours and gives you a file to bring to whoever runs your payroll.
Want a person to help with HR too? Ask us.