Yes, openHR is genuinely free payroll software for South Africa with advanced HR features included. We’ve built this system using modern web technologies that keep things fast and efficient. Originally designed for small businesses, we’ve improved it to make it publicly available to support businesses of all sizes and contribute to job creation.

openHR’s features span Payroll (payslips, EMP201, UIF, IRP5s, tax directives), HR Admin (leave, contracts, disciplinary code, transgressions, confirmations), Employee Lifecycle (onboarding, self-service, organograms, training), Finance (advance forms, expense claims, refunds), and Strategic Oversight (audit trails, reports, surveys, AI onboarding) - each cluster designed to assert dignity, traceability, and legacy-aware control across the employee journey. Most of these features are free without any limits, for paid features, please view our pricing and features pages.

openHR.co.za was developed for the South African market and fully comply with all SARS requirements. On top of all the payroll features that automatically update with changing legislation, openHR also offers advanced HR features like employee reviews, surveys and even an asset manager.

openHR.co.za offers a self-help service for employees through WhatsApp that is as easy as a chat. This frees up time for you to do what matters most.

On openHR.co.za all employee and company data is encrypted and securely stored in the cloud. Loadshedding safe. Payslips are also safely stored behind passwords.

openHR is one of the easiest systems available today with free professional human support. We also offer step by step video guides that is available for free under our resources section and on YouTube.