# BrightHR vs HBHR

The clearest difference is rating: BrightHR at 4.8 against HBHR's 3.5. BrightHR also leads on ratings volume (166 vs 4). HBHR's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BrightHR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrightHR has 166 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of BrightHR's written reviews are positive against 56% of HBHR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrightHR | HBHR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brighthr/id1031619349/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hbhr/id1571892077/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **166** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 53.6% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 146 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BrightHR](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031619348) | [HealthBoxHR Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793336969) |

## What reviewers say

### BrightHR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brighthr/id1031619349)

This app simplifies HR tasks by allowing instant communication of attendance, sickness, and holidays. It provides secure access to important documents and notifications for changes, streamlining HR processes for both employees and managers.

**Highlights:** Instant attendance communication, Update sickness and holidays, Secure 24/7 access, HR info and time off in pocket, Shift and rota access, Document upload and access, Performance tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for booking holidays
- 🚀 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Helpful HR system
- 👍 Great for managing staff

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🐛 Frequent log-outs
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices
- 💰 Overpriced for the features
- 💰 Difficult to cancel/get out of contracts

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to enter emergency contact info
- Booked leave disappearing after app outage
- Unable to update/delete leave requests
- Clocking in/out feature not working consistently

**Requested features**

- Calendar integration for shifts and leave
- Dedicated leave types (sick, personal, etc.)
- Improved rota/schedule view
- Communication features between staff
- Dark mode option


### HBHR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hbhr/id1571892077)

This app provides a comprehensive HR solution for both employers and employees, managing everything from leave requests to mental health. It offers push notifications and SMS messaging for important updates and ensures security with single sign-on.

**Highlights:** Annual Leave requests, Mental Health management, Push notifications, SMS messaging, Single Sign-On (SSO)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrightHR free?

BrightHR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HBHR free?

HBHR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BrightHR or HBHR?

BrightHR is rated higher. BrightHR averages 4.8 out of 5 from 166 ratings, while HBHR averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do BrightHR or HBHR have ads?

BrightHR shows ads; HBHR does not.

### Which is updated more often, BrightHR or HBHR?

BrightHR ships an update weekly, and HBHR weekly. Most recently, BrightHR was updated on October 29, 2026 and HBHR on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*