HRKit review
A self-hosted HR suite with broad workflows, a JSON API, and AI-assisted recruiting.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
HRKit is a self-hosted HR application for small and mid-sized companies that want to keep HR data on their own machine. It runs locally using Python and SQLite, with browser, command-line, and API access. The feature set spans employee master records, department hierarchies, roles, document storage, leave management, attendance, payroll, performance reviews, onboarding, exit management, and recruitment workflows. Developers can also work with its CRUD JSON API, while the open-source edition is free under AGPL-3.0.
Its main strength is breadth within a locally deployed HR system. Employee records include contact information, salary, managers, and photos; teams can manage leave balances and approvals, attendance check-in and check-out, payroll runs and payslips, performance review cycles, and onboarding checklists with owners and due dates. Recruitment uses a kanban workflow with AI-assisted candidate scoring. Integrations include Composio, Gmail, OpenAI-compatible AI endpoints, OpenRouter, and Upfyn. This makes HRKit a practical fit for technically capable teams that want to connect HR workflows to their own tools and infrastructure.
The trade-off is operational responsibility. Each installation runs locally, and there is no hosted SaaS version, so teams choosing HRKit should be prepared to manage a self-hosted application. Support channels are email and documentation. The product also lacks mobile apps, which may matter for organizations expecting mobile-first access. Choose HRKit when local data control, open-source licensing, and API access matter more than managed hosting or mobile applications. Teams seeking a hosted HR service or a less technical deployment model should consider an alternative.
HRKit pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free AGPL-3.0 edition covers core HR workflows
- CRUD JSON API and CLI support developer-led workflows
- Includes records, payroll, leave, attendance, and recruiting
- Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires local installation and maintenance
- No hosted SaaS version or mobile apps
- Commercial licensing is negotiated case by case
HRKit fact sheet, pricing and score →
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