What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about open-source hr management software — measured weekly across 4 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-02 · 56 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 56 AI answers · Window: Jul 5, 2026 – Aug 2, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (42 answers)
Across 56 sampled AI answers from 4 engines, OrangeHRM is recommended most often — appearing in 83.9% of recommendations, followed by Frappe (80.4%) and Odoo (51.8%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 4 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OrangeHRM orangehrm.com Best for: AI recommends OrangeHRM most when buyers ask “best open-source HR management system for a company that wants to keep employee data on-premise” (100% of those answers) | 83.9% 95% CI 72.2–91.3% 47 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 51.1% | — | GEMINI 81%CHATGPT 85.7%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 90.5% | Claim |
| 2 | Frappe frappe.io Best for: AI recommends Frappe most when buyers ask “best open-source HR management system for a company that wants to keep employee data on-premise” (100% of those answers) | 80.4% 95% CI 68.2–88.7% 45 mentions · avg pos 4.6 first pick 20% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CHATGPT 71.4%CLAUDE 85.7%PERPLEXITY 90.5% | Claim |
| 3 | Odoo odoo.com Best for: AI recommends Odoo most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (100% of those answers) | 51.8% 95% CI 39–64.3% 29 mentions · avg pos 10.2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 76.2%CHATGPT 57.1%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 4 | Frappe HR Best for: AI recommends Frappe HR most when buyers ask “best self-hosted HRMS for a mid-size company handling leave, payroll, and performance reviews” (75% of those answers) | 48.2% 95% CI 35.7–61% 27 mentions · avg pos 4.2 first pick 22.2% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 38.1% | Claim |
| 5 | ICE HRM icehrm.com Best for: AI recommends ICE HRM most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (87.5% of those answers) | 46.4% 95% CI 34–59.3% 26 mentions · avg pos 4.9 first pick 7.7% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 61.9% | Claim |
| 6 | Horilla horilla.com Best for: AI recommends Horilla most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source HR tools for small businesses that don't need a full enterprise HRMS” (87.5% of those answers) | 46.4% 95% CI 34–59.3% 26 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 3.8% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 76.2% | Claim |
| 7 | ERPNext erpnext.com Best for: AI recommends ERPNext most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (100% of those answers) | 44.6% 95% CI 32.4–57.6% 25 mentions · avg pos 10.1 first pick 12% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 85.7%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 38.1% | Claim |
| 8 | Sentrifugo sentrifugo.com Best for: AI recommends Sentrifugo most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source HR tools for small businesses that don't need a full enterprise HRMS” (75% of those answers) | 42.9% 95% CI 30.8–55.9% 24 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 8.3% | — | GEMINI 61.9%CHATGPT 71.4%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 9 | Open HRMS openhrms.com Best for: AI recommends Open HRMS most when buyers ask “best self-hosted HRMS for a mid-size company handling leave, payroll, and performance reviews” (50% of those answers) | 30.4% 95% CI 19.9–43.3% 17 mentions · avg pos 5.2 first pick 5.9% | — | GEMINI 38.1%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 38.1% | Claim |
| 10 | MintHCM minthcm.org Best for: AI recommends MintHCM most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source HR tools for small businesses that don't need a full enterprise HRMS” (62.5% of those answers) | 25% 95% CI 15.5–37.7% 14 mentions · avg pos 9.1 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 38.1%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 11 | Odoo HR Best for: AI recommends Odoo HR most when buyers ask “best self-hosted HRMS for a mid-size company handling leave, payroll, and performance reviews” (50% of those answers) | 21.4% 95% CI 12.7–33.8% 12 mentions · avg pos 2.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 47.6%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 12 | Bitrix24 bitrix24.com Best for: AI recommends Bitrix24 most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (50% of those answers) | 19.6% 95% CI 11.3–31.8% 11 mentions · avg pos 4.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 13 | Dolibarr Best for: AI recommends Dolibarr most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (62.5% of those answers) | 19.6% 95% CI 11.3–31.8% 11 mentions · avg pos 9.1 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 14 | PostgreSQL postgresql.org Best for: AI recommends PostgreSQL most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (87.5% of those answers) | 17.9% 95% CI 10–29.8% 10 mentions · avg pos 12.2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 23.8%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 15 | Frappe Framework | 16.1% 95% CI 8.7–27.8% 9 mentions · avg pos 4.4 first pick 11.1% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 16 | Docker docker.com Best for: AI recommends Docker most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (87.5% of those answers) | 16.1% 95% CI 8.7–27.8% 9 mentions · avg pos 4.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%CHATGPT 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 17 | Jorani Best for: AI recommends Jorani most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (50% of those answers) | 16.1% 95% CI 8.7–27.8% 9 mentions · avg pos 5.3 first pick 11.1% | — | GEMINI 23.8%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 18 | TimeTrex timetrex.com Best for: AI recommends TimeTrex most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (37.5% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.4–25.7% 8 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 19 | Django djangoproject.com Best for: AI recommends Django most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (62.5% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.4–25.7% 8 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 20 | MySQL mysql.com Best for: AI recommends MySQL most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (87.5% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.4–25.7% 8 mentions · avg pos 12.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 21 | NGINX nginx.org Best for: AI recommends NGINX most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (75% of those answers) | 10.7% 95% CI 5–21.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 23.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 22 | Odoo Community | 10.7% 95% CI 5–21.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 32.3 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 57.1%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 23 | MariaDB mariadb.org Best for: AI recommends MariaDB most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (62.5% of those answers) | 8.9% 95% CI 3.9–19.3% 5 mentions · avg pos 22.2 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 24 | SimpleHRM | 7.1% 95% CI 2.8–17% 4 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 25 | Node.js nodejs.org Best for: AI recommends Node.js most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (37.5% of those answers) | 7.1% 95% CI 2.8–17% 4 mentions · avg pos 13.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19% | Claim |
| 26 | Apache Hop apache.org Best for: AI recommends Apache Hop most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (62.5% of those answers) | 7.1% 95% CI 2.8–17% 4 mentions · avg pos 15.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 27 | OpenHRApp | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 1.7 first pick 33.3% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 28 | CiviCRM civicrm.org Best for: AI recommends CiviCRM most when buyers ask “what open-source HRMS should a nonprofit use to manage volunteers and staff on a limited budget” (50% of those answers) | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 4.7 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 29 | OpenCATS opencats.org Best for: AI recommends OpenCATS most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (50% of those answers) | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 6.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 30 | Python python.org | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 7.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 31 | WaypointHR | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 8.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 32 | ADempiere | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 33 | Ubuntu ubuntu.com Best for: AI recommends Ubuntu most when buyers ask “how do I self-host an HR system that handles employee records, leave management, and org charts” (50% of those answers) | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 34 | Slack slack.com Best for: AI recommends Slack most when buyers ask “self-hosted HR software for a manufacturing company vs a remote tech team — what fits each” (37.5% of those answers) | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 11.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 35 | LiteHRM litehrm.com | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions · avg pos 11.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 36 | SourceForge sourceforge.net Best for: AI recommends SourceForge most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (50% of those answers) | 5.4% 95% CI 1.8–14.6% 3 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 37 | React react.dev | 3.6% 95% CI 1–12.1% 2 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 38 | PHPPayroll phphr.com Best for: AI recommends PHPPayroll most when buyers ask “self-hosted HR software for a manufacturing company vs a remote tech team — what fits each” (37.5% of those answers) | 3.6% 95% CI 1–12.1% 2 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 39 | Ubuntu Server | 3.6% 95% CI 1–12.1% 2 mentions · avg pos 22.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 40 | HiBob hibob.com Best for: AI recommends HiBob most when buyers ask “self-hosted HR software for a manufacturing company vs a remote tech team — what fits each” (37.5% of those answers) | 3.6% 95% CI 1–12.1% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 41 | Workday workday.com | 3.6% 95% CI 1–12.1% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 28.6% | Claim |
| 42 | Rippling rippling.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 43 | IceHrm Open Source Edition | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 44 | Zoho zoho.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 45 | Bahmni bahmni.org | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 46 | Railway railway.app | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 47 | Dolibarr ERP & CRM dolibarr.org | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 15 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 48 | Jetpack CRM wperp.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 16 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 49 | WP ERP | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 16 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 50 | Deel deel.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 23 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 51 | Reqcore reqcore.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 58 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 52 | NocoBase nocobase.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 72 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 53 | Redis redis.io | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 77 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 54 | Let's Encrypt letsencrypt.org | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 83 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 55 | OpenProject openproject.org | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions · avg pos 95 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 56 | Apploye apploye.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 57 | BambooHR bamboohr.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 58 | Checkwriters checkwriters.com Best for: AI recommends Checkwriters most when buyers ask “what open-source HRMS should a nonprofit use to manage volunteers and staff on a limited budget” (37.5% of those answers) | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 59 | Kubernetes kubernetes.io | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 60 | OpenAlternative openalternative.co Best for: AI recommends OpenAlternative most when buyers ask “open-source HR software alternatives to expensive cloud-based HR suites” (37.5% of those answers) | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 61 | Personio personio.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 62 | SoftwareSuggest softwaresuggest.com | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 63 | Springly springly.org Best for: AI recommends Springly most when buyers ask “what open-source HRMS should a nonprofit use to manage volunteers and staff on a limited budget” (50% of those answers) | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 64 | TalentHR's AI HR Policy Generator talenthr.io | 1.8% 95% CI 0.3–9.4% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 56 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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